The Story Behind the Board
Meet Asha and David. They're both in their mid-thirties, living full lives in a beautiful, cozy apartment in a big city. Their entryway is small, maybe six feet of wall space, but it's the first thing they see when they come home exhausted from long days.
Right now, it's functional enough. A basic console, a pile of mail, keys hanging on a pair of plastic hooks. But the space doesn't feel complete. It doesn't welcome them home or set the tone for the peaceful, effortless life they're trying to create.
This is what I had in mind when designing this board. I was thinking about that moment when you walk through the door after a very long day. How do you make that transition from work to home feel more intentional, more calm?
My Curation Process
I have this thing about anchor pieces: they have to feel substantial enough to carry the whole room, but not so precious that you're afraid to actually use them. Here, that piece was the black carved console. It immediately introduced sophisticated, grounded energy and checked the boxes for both presence and substance.
I considered other consoles, whether longer ones that would offer more storage, or different colors and finishes. At the end of the day, I wanted to feature the piece without it swallowing up the space. People still need to flow and move around it. Also, Asha and David, like most of us, don't have time for high-maintenance furniture. This piece, with its black carved surface, hides daily wear while still feeling elevated.
The console provides a platform and starting point for everything else. It also solves the shoe storage problem that every entryway faces.
From there, I built in warmth and light. The Calacatta marble lamp was essential, not only for function but because its organic veining breaks up the console's geometric lines. The white marble lifts the whole composition, preventing it from feeling too heavy or dark.
I chose the three console items at different heights, drawing the eye upward while allowing breathing room around each piece. This avoids that cluttered feel. I also pay attention to scale. You want pieces to serve their purpose without filling up the entire console top.
When thinking about colors, I start with an anchor piece in a grounding color, then decide on the overall tone. This time I went warm, which made sense for Asha and David's tastes and existing furniture. I make sure all pieces work within that temperature. I also limit the metals used, especially in small spaces, so the eye isn't pulled in too many directions. Here, the common metals are brass and black throughout.
My personal design rule: always include something personal in the space. Sometimes it's obvious, like a framed family photo. Other times it's a unique souvenir or your own travel photography that makes perfect art. This makes you feel connected to the space and evolves it from perfectly curated to one of a kind.
The Details That Matter
Let's talk about why I chose these specific materials and finishes.
The carved black console exemplifies everything I look for in furniture. It's beautiful enough to be a statement piece, but clean enough to work with whatever you bring to it over the years. The hidden storage means you can toss mail, dog leashes, or winter hats inside, and store shoes out of sight, while keeping your entryway looking pulled together.
The Calacatta marble lamp is what I call "attainable luxury." It's clearly high-quality, which you can tell by the marble's weight and natural veining variation. But it's not shouting for attention. This lamp will look as good in ten years as it does today, which matters when you're investing in pieces with staying power.
With not much else on the walls, I wanted the mirror to earn its spot. It needed to add visual interest while still being the right size for the space.
That brass bowl isn't just pretty. It's sized perfectly for wallets, keys, and whatever else might land there. I always think about these details because the wrong size catchall becomes clutter itself.
I went through several ottomans. They all had texture (a nice contrast to the console) and darker tones to handle wear and tear. But this one was the most timeless. Not too strong a style direction, usable in different spots as the home evolves, and appealing to multiple people without feeling dramatic.
The umbrella stand was intentional because of the rainy climate where the couple lives. They can keep umbrellas organized without creating clutter.
I added the fiddle leaf fig in the black aluminum planter because every entryway needs something alive. The planter's organic curves contrast beautifully against the console's geometric pattern while the dark finish keeps everything grounded without competing. The plant brings life and a bold green pop that complements the burgundy ottoman perfectly.
Bringing It Together
What I love about this composition is how it balances structure and softness, dark and light, geometric and organic. The black cabinet grounds everything. The white marble lifts it. The brass adds warmth, and the burgundy velvet introduces just enough personality to feel like home, not a hotel.
Every piece here can move with you. The console works in dining rooms as a bar cabinet or bedrooms as a dresser. The lamp travels beautifully to bedside or living room side tables where it adds that same luxurious feel. The ottoman becomes extra seating anywhere. The mirror and hooks work in bathrooms, bedrooms, or mudrooms. Even the planter can move to living room corners or bedroom window sills. This is investment styling: pieces that adapt as your life changes, whether you're moving cities, upgrading spaces, or simply refreshing rooms.
If you're looking to create a similar feeling in your own entryway, here are the pieces that inspired this board: Carved Pattern Cabinet, West Elm • Block Golden Calacatta Marble Table Lamp, CB2 • Camden Bowl, Arhaus • Santa Monica Ottoman by Brigette Romanek, Crate and Barrel • Carlotta Round Mirror, Lulu and Georgia • pixie double hook, San Francisco Hardware • Small Leather Umbrella Stand, Orient House • Rough Cast Black Aluminum Indoor Planter, CB2 • Lochlan Picture Frame, Lulu and Georgia
In the spirit of thoughtful curation, I only recommend products I believe will serve you well.