Our new custom-built teak hallway furniture

Best Christmas gift ever is Danni (our furniture-maker) delivering our hall furniture 2 days before Christmas. It was perfect timing for the Christmas Eve dinner we were hosting! Danni arrived on the afternoon of December 23, but had to return the morning of the 24th because “assembly” took longer than expected. Read on and you will see why!

Mudrooms and entry halls are busy, high-traffic areas in almost any house…A mudroom is where boots and outerwear are shed, shopping bags get dropped, and keys and coins are tossed. Coats, hats, schoolbags, umbrellas and often shoes are left out in the open, creating visual chaos – and making it hard to  find what you need to deal with or wear. People tend to give lip service to the idea of providing efficient storage in these spaces – places to store what comes into the house or what must be grabbed or donned on the way out.

– STORE IT! Where to put all the things you need to keep

Check-out my console/shoe cabinet/jacket & shawl storage/shades storage/sports equipment storage/luggage storage

Danni has finally arrived with my hallway furniture! YAY!!!

modular shoe cabinet which can be used side by side or stacked one on top of another

My precious shoe cabinet is designed specifically for my shoe size.

It has overhead lighting and glass partitions so that the light filters down to the bottom. If you notice, there are different distances between the partition, some very short and some farther apart. This is to maximize the space so there are shelves for boots and high heels, some 2-3 inch heels, a couple for sneakers, then some for flats. Basically my furniture maker Danni, measured my different shoes, classified and we then counted so we know how many shelves of each height we would have. Very cool.

Then we needed a bench to sit on when we put on our shoes - with a drawer for our socks. Makes sense doesn't it? Danni also provided the cushion with white removable/washable cover.

Underneath this bench are 2 rows of floating shoe racks for guest or shoes that we use often. It looks like this but made with wood instead of steel. This allows us to store more shoes in a less visible location (I dislike seeing so many shoes all out in the open in entrances of homes) and with the shoes “floating” it also allows the maid to easily sweep the floor underneath. Neat!

Most of the people we know here in Jakarta take off their shoes before entering the home. This is not something my husband and I are used to in the Philippines but I find it is very practical because Jakarta is so much more dusty so bringing in less dirt into the home would definitely help with keeping the house cleaner. And since we only have one all around maid, I’d like to help in any way I can to lessen the work load.

Up next is our ginormous “console” if you can even call it that! We have a long hallway and if we are not careful, there can be a lot of wasted space. So I decided we needed to maximize it by having a super console that functions as the following:

1. My husband’s shoe cabinet – since the dimensions for our shoes are not the same it would be more space efficient to have separate shoe cabinets
2. Charging station – so we can charge our phones before leaving, or our guest can use it as well
3. Shawl/Jacket/Sweater shelves – I usually run out of the house & come back in to grab a shawl/sweater for a movie, but this would make it so much easier to remember!
4. Sunglasses storage – A perfectly sized drawer where one can see all the sunglasses would be perfect for last minute grab!
5. Sports equipment storage – A custom container for our tennis rackets & bag + drawer for sports paraphernalia (i.e. goggles, shin pads, etc.)
6. Luggage storage – We have massive luggage that’s very hard to hide and would be a waste of closet space if stored it in the bedroom. Here it would be out-of-the-way but easily accessible when needed.

I used this book (section on ENTRANCE CUES Entries, Foyers, Mudrooms) to help me with storage ideas for the hallway and modified it to suit our needs. Our bedroom closet storage is tiny so I needed to ask myself what are the last items that you need when you leave the house and voila! That’s how I came up with my list. =)

By the way the “console” is 2 pieces fitted together. It makes it easier for us to pack it up and transport when we move posts, and it is also flexible incase the entrance of our future home is not configured in the same way then it’s we can easily split them up. This is one of the things that we had to put a lot of thought into – hence the usual 3 hour meetings with Danni when planning and designing our furniture.

Shoe cabinet made-to-measure to my husbands shoes + secret compartment for charging station & storage

The extra 9 cm on top of my husband’s shoe cabinet became our secret compartment and charging station. It’s super useful! Seriously don’t know why having a charging station by one’s entrance is not more popular!

Shawl/Jacket/Sweater storage + sunglasses/shades storage + sports equipment and paraphernalia storage

The shelves for the shawls/sweaters is adjustable and removable depending on how many shelves we need.

Luggage storage: it doesn't look that massive but it's 1/3 the length of our Super-console! It fits our 3 large luggage, our hand-carry trolleys and some backpacks! Weeee! Finally freed up some closet space in the bedrooms!

It took a while to "install" the furniture because there are an electrical components

Since there is only ONE electrical socket in the entire length of the hallway it was a bit of a challenge. I needed light for our shoe cabinet + the charging station + sockets at the end of the console for my standing lamp. Danni made it happen because he is just SO amazing and creative. For example the light switches for the shoe cabinet is only in one cabinet so it’s easy to reach.

But what happens when I want to place my 2 shoe cabinets side by side instead of on top one another?  Danni has provided provisions for this as well. Awesome right? And he will definitely be there to help us out when it’s time to move.

Danni also ensured that the electric sockets are universal. Another thing with DiploLife is that plugs and electric sockets shapes are constantly changing because different countries have different standards! (Which is why I love collecting universal socket extension cords)

Console mirror / Art

Danni also installed our console mirror for free as a bonus to us. We found this amazing UMBRA mirror at Ace Harware Gandaria. It was the only piece so I am so happy I got it! Not only does the mirror make the narrow hallway space feel bigger, but it is also like a piece of decorative art! Loveit!

Custom-made umbrella holder

An entrance is not complete without an umbrella holder. I had this one made in silver gold finish (they call it Kolony Vase Large in Silver Prada) at GALERI POT (contact details below) for about Rp 240,000 (or 24 USD est.) if I recall correctly. It’s actually perfect for regular sized umbrellas – except mine on top is one of those super-sized umbrellas. =P

The pot at the end of the console below (Stupa Vase Medium in Silver Prada) is also from GALERI POT for Rp 180,000 (or about 18 USD). I bought 3 long bunches of “grass” at Rp 25,000 each (2.50 USD est.) from VINOTI LIVING. (Thanks to LM for the design inspiration!)

The standing lamp plugged into the end of the console is from IKEA Kuala Lumpur.

I just love my new solid antique teakwood furniture!

Some future projects in this area are:

• A full length mirror – One must not leave the house without checking ones appearance head-to-toe just to be sure that everything is just right
• Hooks for just-used shawls/jackets

Furniture by DANNI ROESTAM

• Mobile: +62 818 863326
• Email: danni.roestam@gmail.com
• Showroom: Jalan Ir. H. Juanda no 86, Situgintung, Ciputat 15419, Tangerang, Indonesia
• Check out other furniture Danni made for me here!

GALERI POT  (JC’s Pottery)

• Jl. Kemang Timur No. 58 R, Jakarta 12 730, Indonesia
• Tel: + 62-21-718 0209
• Fax: + 62-21-717 93070
• e-mail: shop@jcspottery.com
• www.jcspottery.com

VINOTI LIVING

Plaza Senayan

• Plaza Senayan Level 3 No. 351A, Jl. Asia Afrika, Jakarta 10270
• Ph. (62 21) 572 5168, (62 21) 573 0918
• Fax (62 21) 572 5167
• Email: vl-ps@vinoti-living.co.id

Kemang Club Villas

• Kemang Club Villas, Jl. Kemang Selatan 1
• Ph. (62 21) 7179 1727, (62 21) 718 3574
• Fax (62 21) 7179 1639
• Email: vl-kmg@vinoti-living.co.id

Other interior design related posts from DW  (DiploWife)

• Interior Design inspirations… From Manila flat to Jakarta Apartment!
• It’s a GOLD Christmas in our DiploHome