From Drab to Dreamy: Our Foyer’s Stunning Neutral Transformation with Benjamin Moore

After weeks of dedicated effort, my hand feels almost permanently fused to a paintbrush! (Imagine Jim Carrey’s “The Claw” from Liar Liar, and that’s a pretty accurate visual of my current state. Run, Max, run!) But every ache and every drop of paint was unequivocally worth it. We’ve officially crossed another significant space off our home renovation checklist – at least where painting is concerned, and what a difference it has made!

Just a little over a month ago, when we first embarked on our journey in this new house, our foyer greeted visitors with an overwhelming sea of sunny yellow. While I appreciate the cheerfulness sunshine brings, this particular shade and its application were simply too much for the entryway of our new home.

Beyond the sheer quantity of yellow, the walls were adorned with a faux aging finish. This technique, while perhaps stylish in its prime, unfortunately made the walls appear perpetually smudged or dirty, rather than charmingly aged. The irony isn’t lost on me; in the world of farmhouse decor, we spend countless hours distressing furniture with chalk paint to achieve that perfect worn look. Yet, here we were, actively working to remove a similar “aged” aesthetic from our walls! It was a clear sign that a fresh, clean slate was desperately needed to truly reflect our evolving style.

The Foyer Painting Project: A Labor of Love and Teamwork

Transforming this multi-story foyer was no small feat. Between myself and my incredibly patient father-in-law, Robert, the project spanned several weeks of on-again, off-again work. This intricate space, with its soaring ceilings, detailed crown molding, and extensive trim work, tested our dedication. I might have, on more than one occasion, silently (or not-so-silently) retracted all my previous statements about wanting “lots and lots of trim and architectural details” in a house. (Shhh, don’t tell the crown molding I said that; it might get offended!) But now, seeing the final result, every minute of meticulous painting was absolutely worth it. The transformation is truly stunning.

The Power of White Trim: A Brightening Revelation

One of our most significant undertakings throughout the house has been painting every single square inch of trim. The previous owners had opted for an almond/beige color everywhere, a trend that was popular for many years. Initially, it wasn’t something I consciously noticed, but the moment we began painting the ceilings in Benjamin Moore Simply White, the almond trim suddenly became glaringly obvious. It appeared dark, dingy, and incredibly dated against the crisp new white.

The contrast was stark and immediate. The old trim seemed to absorb light, making rooms feel smaller and less vibrant. The moment we introduced the bright white, it was like a cloud lifting, allowing the entire space to breathe. You can clearly see the dramatic difference in the comparison photos:

While almond trim had its moment in interior design history, I honestly don’t foresee myself ever letting go of bright white trim, even if the almond trend were to miraculously resurface. In my design philosophy, white is timeless. It instantly brightens a space, making everything feel crisp, clean, and expansive. It’s like flipping a switch and turning on all the lights, even on a cloudy day.

Conquering the Staircase: High Ceilings and Teamwork

Our painting marathon extended all the way up the grand staircase. When I say “we” painted it, I primarily mean my courageous father-in-law, Robert. He fearlessly climbed a towering ladder, stretching from our second-floor landing all the way up to the ceiling to meticulously paint the crown molding. I, on the other hand, would have likely succumbed to vertigo and a heart attack. His dedication to getting every detail right was truly invaluable.

Our Chosen Color Palette: Benjamin Moore’s Finest Neutrals

For the main wall color in the foyer, we selected Benjamin Moore Classic Gray. This shade is a wonderfully light, true gray that beautifully balances warmth and coolness. Given that our foyer lacks abundant natural light and features 8-foot ceilings, our goal was to maximize brightness and create an illusion of greater height and spaciousness. Classic Gray achieves this perfectly, preventing the space from feeling cold or confined.

Consistent with the rest of our home’s updated aesthetic, we painted both the ceiling and all the trim in Benjamin Moore Simply White. This pure, luminous white provides a clean canvas and highlights the architectural details of the space, creating a harmonious and unified look throughout the house. The combination of Classic Gray walls and Simply White trim truly elevates the foyer, transforming it from dated to decidedly modern and inviting.

Chandelier Dilemma: Balancing Antiques with Modern Style

One design element that remains a topic of discussion is the existing chandelier. While I’m certain it’s a genuine antique with its own historical charm, its overly frilly style doesn’t quite align with our modern farmhouse aesthetic. Our plan is to carefully remove it, keeping it intact, and find a new home for it with someone who will appreciate its intricate details far more than we do. Robert and I are still exploring options for its replacement, so for now, it hangs as a temporary placeholder, awaiting its more contemporary successor. The right lighting fixture will undoubtedly be a key component in completing the foyer’s new look, offering both functionality and a touch of our personal style.

Adding Personality: Future Foyer Enhancements

If you’ve been following my updates on Instagram, you might have caught a sneak peek on my IG Stories of a truly gorgeous entry table I recently scored on Craigslist. This piece is destined for the cozy niche nestled beside our staircase, and I’m incredibly excited to get it spiffed up and in its rightful spot. Currently, our freshly painted foyer, while clean and bright, feels almost *too* neutral for my taste. However, I know that once we introduce this character-filled piece of furniture, along with new lighting, a curated selection of wall decor, thoughtful accents, and potentially a stylish rug, the space will truly come alive. These layers will inject much-needed texture, color, and contrast, transforming the foyer into a warm and inviting entryway that perfectly reflects our home’s personality.

Sconce Upgrade: Modernizing the Staircase Landing

We’ve already made progress on the lighting front for our staircase landing. The dated 80s-style sconce has been replaced with a chic black and wood fixture that I found on an incredible sale at Lowe’s for just $16! This small change makes a significant impact, updating the aesthetic and providing better illumination.

A fantastic innovation we’ve embraced are the new Edison-style daylight white LED bulbs. These bulbs offer the charming, antique aesthetic of traditional Edison bulbs but with the added benefits of bright, energy-efficient LED technology. In our previous home, the amber Edison bulbs often made spaces feel too dark at night. These new daylight white versions promise to keep the landing well-lit, hopefully preventing any clumsy trips up the stairs for me!

Cohesive Door Colors: Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron

To maintain a cohesive design flow throughout the house, we painted both the coat closet door and the interior of the front door in Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron. This deep, rich charcoal color offers a sophisticated contrast to the light gray walls and white trim, tying in beautifully with the other doors we’ve already transformed. The exterior of the front door, however, still awaits its makeover; it needs to be thoroughly scraped to remove layers of chipping paint. That project will happen when we’re ready to tackle the full exterior sprucing-up later on. One thing is certain, though: that classic door knocker is an absolute keeper. Forever and ever!

Beyond the Foyer: Addressing the “Office” Situation

Ironically, while the foyer itself has undergone a magnificent transformation, the view into my “office” from this newly pristine space has, unfortunately, deteriorated. By “office,” I mean the room that has become the designated giant pile of “who-knows-what” storage area. Yikes. I advise all eyes to avert! It’s been our temporary dumping ground as we systematically organize other rooms and decide what decor from our old house will make the cut for this new home. Since this house leans less towards the primitive, rustic style of our previous abode, I have a strong suspicion that a significant portion of our old decor will be destined for another yard sale. Embracing a fresh start, both in terms of design and decluttering, truly feels spectacular.

Looking Ahead: Our Home Renovation Journey Continues

So, that brings you up to speed on our foyer’s dramatic facelift. There’s certainly still work to be done throughout the house, but we’ve made significant progress, and the momentum is building. In the coming weeks, our agenda includes finishing the last few projects in our living room, making a charming little change to our breakfast nook table, and finally completing our laundry room renovation. Whew! On that note, does anyone else feel like they desperately need a nap?