Bucks County Designer House Foyer Project
This Spring I had the incredible pleasure of participating in the Bucks County Designer House of 2025. While the original structure was built in 1720, the foyer that I designed was built in 1820. I chose to decorate the foyer because it allowed me to showcase my design skills without breaking the bank while also being the first impression room for each guest. Decorating an older foyer consisting of a narrow entryway and front staircase presented just enough of a challenge to keep it interesting.
My goal was to embrace the old farmhouse quirks but revive some of the energy with pops of vibrant color, modern touches and lots of Americana. Vintage touches honor its history, while playful patterns add charm. I wanted the foyer to instantly draw guests in and create a cheerful energy to set the tone for the rest of their designer house experience.
As you can see from the above pictures (before on the left and after on the right), the foyer was completely transformed. I chose teal blue for the accent color because it differs from the traditional American blue you normally see while still being a historical Williamsburg shade (called “Everard Blue”). I received many compliments on the teal accent color because it echoes with the current color zeitgeist. The floor runner shade is similar to this accent color and tied it all together, allowing me to branch out a little more with the rest of the accessories minus the teal flower pot. The front door happened to be painted this bright apple green, further complimenting my selected color palette by providing some contrast upon entrance. I do have some pops of green in the room with the plants and glass jar by the front door and I think those worked wonderfully.
Moving on to accessories, let me start with the settee and antique drop-leaf table by the front door. How adorable is the pop of red on this vintage settee? I found this at an antique store and it’s vintage from the 1970’s. To me, it fits with the Americana theme and also adds more pops of color and fills the space below the stairs. After adding the settee, it was easy to fill in the rest of the space with this cylinder stand and plant. Beside the front door I placed an antique drop-leaf table that filled the space beautifully. Because the table was on the shorter side, I added height by placing some horizontal books topped with some greenery and a deep blue ceramic bowl.
If you look around the back of the foyer space you will notice a few more accessories beside the back door. One of these items is none other than a vintage croquet set! I cannot tell you how many people commented fondly on this addition to the space. To me, it added some whimsy and nostalgia to the room in a tasteful way.
One of the items that drew the most positive attention was the light fixture on the ceiling. One person touring through the house titled the light fixture, “classic and traditional with a contemporary twist.” Exactly! As you can see from the before photo, the space really needed a special light fixture to center the room’s look. I know I wanted to find something black that had metal lines to give a contemporary vibe, but I did not necessarily envision the circular shape. When I found this light at a local store, I just KNEW it would tie the entire room together.
Now that we’ve covered the color, rug, settee and light fixture, we can move onto the room’s biggest focus—the art work! The art showstopper really is the stunning farmhouse painting by the front door. This is painted by a local Bucks County artist and features a real barn in the Bucks County countryside. This painting was one of the main inspirations for the entire space. I knew it would not only bring the room’s colors together but also set the right farmhouse mood. From there, I collected a series of paintings and artifacts to adorn the staircase wall that would bring together a true Americana look. I found antique maps, American flags and vintage mirrors and clocks to fill in the spaces between stunning paintings I sourced from a local art gallery. The wall grouping drew lots of positive attention from visitors and I was able to sell a few pieces taboot.
Overall, I had a rewarding experience doing this year’s Bucks County Designer House. I loved being able to insert my style into a classic farmhouse and set the mood for each guest’s experience. I love combining the charm of historic farmhouse architecture with a contemporary freshness and seeing how the room transforms. I hope you enjoyed reading about my journey!
