| Decorating Your Townhouse hallways in an elegant | | | | sight. This leaves space for a few well-chosen pieces |
| style helps it live up to the promises evoked from | | | | to convey the sophistication of the town-house look |
| the outside. This second part of our two part series | | | | and transform the hall from a passageway into a |
| provides you with specific decorating ideas and | | | | room with its own character and purpose. |
| suggestions for making the most of your townhouse | | | | Most halls are narrow, so hall furniture should be |
| hallway. | | | | relatively compact and pushed back against the wall |
| Style Pointers | | | | to allow free movement. A console table, fixed to |
| WALLS | | | | the wall with just a pair of supporting legs at the |
| Golden yellow is a favorite town-house color, | | | | front edge, provides an elegant punctuation point. |
| especially for creating a perpetually sunny hallway. | | | | A pair of hall chairs is an added refinement. If the hall |
| Instead of genuine wainscoting, gray-striped | | | | is wide enough, a small chest of drawers makes an |
| wallpaper absorbs the brunt of the day-to-day scuffs. | | | | effective substitute for a console table, with the |
| White-painted woodwork is typical of the | | | | bonus of providing a place to keep gloves, hats, and |
| town-house style. | | | | other items ready at hand. |
| FLOOR | | | | Fittings: Radiators are a feature of many hallways, |
| Traditional black and white checkerboard tiles are | | | | but although the warmth may be welcome, they are |
| virtually indestructible and easy to clean. A large coir | | | | not particularly attractive to look at. By encasing a |
| doormat spares the floor from the full onslaught of | | | | radiator in a boxed housing with a front grill or |
| dirty feet entering the house. | | | | fretwork panel, you can hide the eyesore and gain a |
| STORAGE | | | | useful display surface. |
| 'A place for everything and everything in its place' is | | | | Details: A fine mirror is an indispensable accessory for |
| a useful motto for keeping an open path through the | | | | the town-house hall - the larger the better. Victorian |
| hall. An umbrella stand keeps wayward walking sticks | | | | overmantel mirrors or plain gilt frames are ideal for |
| and umbrellas under control. A coat stand or boot | | | | siting over a console table. If you position the mirror |
| rack organizes hats, coats, and footwear in an equally | | | | opposite the entrance to the main living areas, you |
| efficient and stylish manner. | | | | set up internal views and create a good sense of |
| ACCESSORIES | | | | spaciousness. Other traditional town-house features |
| Certain practical accessories are a necessity in a | | | | include brass umbrella stands, antique or reproduction |
| well-equipped hall. A large mirror, for example, has the | | | | barometers, and grandfather clocks. |
| dual advantage of making a narrow hallway seem | | | | Hall walls are excellent places for a display. You can |
| wider and providing a last chance for a quick check | | | | treat the hall as a miniature picture gallery with |
| on your appearance before going out. Plaster plaques | | | | framed prints, paintings, and drawings, massed in |
| hanging on wide black ribbons or a gallery of framed | | | | rows or groups. For a supremely stylish look, create |
| prints look suitably elegant. Flower arrangements are | | | | your own print-room effect using cut-out |
| attractive and welcoming. | | | | photocopies of engravings applied directly to the wall. |
| FURNITURE | | | | For a final flourish, make good use of flower |
| To maintain free access through the hall, furniture is | | | | arrangements. Nothing looks more hospitable as you |
| kept to a minimum. A discreet semi-circular console | | | | walk through the front door than a vase of fresh |
| table, useful for leaving keys and mail, is fixed | | | | flowers. |
| unobtrusively to the wall. A small chair may be useful | | | | Details |
| when answering the telephone or changing shoes. | | | | Keep space and practicality as well as town-house |
| Furnishings | | | | elegance in mind when selecting accessories for the |
| Furnishings: In the average household, the hall often | | | | hall. Period-style mirrors, small chairs, and compact |
| ends up as a repository for items waiting to be | | | | console tables are all useful and enhance the setting |
| moved elsewhere - everything from mail to discarded | | | | at the same time. As tidiness is paramount for safe |
| boots. Make a clean sweep of the clutter and find | | | | access to and from the house, hunt for neat storage |
| other places to keep essential gear stowed out of | | | | ideas like an umbrella stand and a coat rack. |