Making and Keeping Tradition - Our Hall Tables

When we buy a new home, we walk in the fronttake your best friend out for a quick trip around the
door and build our first impression. The height of theblock. Return it to its convenient storage spot, and
ceilings, the way the light fills the space, the expansedon't move it unless you are ready to take her out
of floors and walls - this first impression often makesagain.
our decision for us. After we decide on the houseA few years pass, and now it's a baby who fills the
we will eventually make into a home, we furnish thisspace in your home. Park the stroller inside the front
space in a way that makes a great first impressiondoor, and stash the diaper bags under the hall tables.
to the rest of the world.It's best to store those essentials - spare diapers, an
It's a classic addition to the foyer or front hall of inextra sweater, and the rattle - right where you need
our homes-the hall table. Whether it rests across thethem.
wall directly across from the front door, or fills theThe kids are in school, and every year you've got
space in the front hallway, it becomes an importanttreasures to display. The award-winning art project,
piece of furniture in our homes. But because our hallthe straight-A report card, the prom pictures - they
tables do not work as hard or as frequently as thedeserve a place of honor in your home - propped up
other tables in our house - the kitchen table, theon your hall tables.
coffee table, our bedside tables, we may put themMaybe you like to add seasonal flair to your décor
there and not give them much thought. But this- spring flowers, summertime lanterns, autumn leaves,
gracious furniture works for us on a daily basis.and holiday keepsakes. You need to make space for
Think about your work day. You return home, walkthe decorations that appear in rotation. There's a
in your front door, and drop your briefcase, purse, orgood chance that the place to showcase these
keys - where? Chances are, it's on one of your halltreasures is on your hall tables.
tables. Maybe you stash shopping bags below theDecades pass, and the children who filled our homes
table and toss your keys in a drawer, or maybe justwith noise and clutter have homes of their own. But
leave everything on top of the tables. But there's nothe house is still filled with little footsteps and
confusion when it's time to leave the house the nextcovered with little handprints. You've got to spoil the
morning. You know where to look - the hall tables.little ones, yes? Where do we keep the candy jars?
Pick up your bag, pick up your keys, and go.Chances are, they're on the hall tables.
The first addition to your family comes along soon -Our hall tables - they're the temporary pedestal for
in the form of a puppy. It doesn't take long for herthe mementos in our lives - greeting cards, family
to learn to greet you at the front door at the end ofsnapshots, vacation souvenirs. We may not work our
the day. She's got her eye on the prize after waitinghall tables the way we do other furniture, but the hall
patiently all day for you - she wants a walk. Grab thetables work in tribute to the moments and the
leash from a drawer in one of the hall tables andobjects we hold dear.