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Hi everyone, it’s Twilife.
Continuing our main living area (LDK) room tour, today I’ll be showing you the “face” of our home: the entryway and walk-in shoe closet.
＼ Click here for the overall LDK Room Tour ／
A Sunlit Entryway
When you open the front door of our home, you’re greeted by a picture window overlooking the courtyard.
A bright space flooded with natural sunlight spreads out before you.
While it’s not a massive space, we focused heavily on a design that creates a sense of depth, making it a comforting place to return to every day.
Including the shoe-removal area (genkan), the entire floor from the entryway through the whole living area is seamlessly connected with the same tile.
＼ Details on the tiles that connect the spaces ／
Honestly, we originally wanted a completely flat transition without a step between the shoe-removal area and the hallway, just like overseas homes.
However, due to the structure of Japanese homes, foundation heights, and the risk of rainwater seeping in, it was too difficult to achieve. We ended up adopting a standard stepped entryway. Even so, unifying the tiles created a very spacious impression.
The Beautifully Expressive Limewash Walls
For the entryway walls, we applied “Limewash” plaster.
People often say it’s not suited for high-traffic areas like entryways because you can’t easily touch it up (spot repair) if it gets dirty. However, we just couldn’t give up on its uniquely beautiful mottled design, so we prioritized aesthetics and went for it.
We were told Limewash couldn’t be touched up, but we found that with a little ingenuity, you actually can fix it beautifully!
In the article below, we explain our household’s secret touch-up hack in detail, so please check it out if you’re interested.
＼ Click here for articles about our plastered walls ／
Full-Length Mirror and Wall Sconce
On the wall right as you walk in, we installed a full-length mirror with a beautiful, organically curved design.
And gently illuminating that mirror is a wall sconce from Flame.
Installing a dedicated light to illuminate the entryway mirror was a fantastic decision. It lets you properly check your outfit in a bright spot before heading out, and it just looks incredibly cute. I highly recommend it.
I was dead set on having a mirror with a nuanced curve, but I struggled to find one with just the right amount of curvature…
Then, I found a Korean manufacturer’s mirror that perfectly matched my taste. I bought it on Rakuten without ever seeing it in person.
It turned out to be a massive success! I truly recommend it, so definitely take a look.
Our Custom “Welcome Home” Washbasin
Right next to the mirror, we installed a washbasin so we can wash our hands immediately after coming home.
We wanted to keep the atmosphere as simple and minimalist as possible, so we opted for a wall-mounted faucet.
To create a sense of unity in the space, we worked hard with our architect to find all gold hardware, including the faucet.
The soap holder and towel hook are made of solid brass from Henry Wilson.
They match the rugged feel of the faucet while also adding a soft, elegant touch to the space. I absolutely love them.
A Windowsill Framing Light and Greenery
Right in your line of sight, we placed a picture window that perfectly frames the courtyard.
On the antique flower stand, I arranged the roses my husband gave me when he proposed, which I carefully dried one by one.
We also lined up minimalist bud vases along the windowsill.
These are favorite pieces I picked up while exploring Korean interior shops and browsing antique stores.
I’ve shared footage of those shopping trips in my Vlogs.
The entire space is illuminated by cove lighting hidden in the tray ceiling, with a pendant light from Lamp Studio Anbay hung as a focal point.
Since the entryway is a place you only stay in for a short time—just passing through—we designed all the lights to turn on automatically with motion sensors.
It’s incredibly convenient, welcoming us with bright light even when our hands are full of bags.
The Shoe Closet (Shoes Cloak)
The Arched Closet Entrance
Right off the entrance, we created an arched doorway to soften the impression, leading into an approximately 2-tatami-mat (approx. 3.3 sqm / 35 sqft) shoe closet.
It’s the bare minimum size we needed, but it’s an incredibly functional space.
We didn’t install a door; instead, we paired a curtain rod from Antry with a sheer curtain from natsusobiku.
Forward-Thinking Storage Design
For storage, we installed Sumitomo Forestry Crest’s “Free Back Shelves” on two of the walls.
Sumitomo Forestry Crest’s “Free Back Shelves” have rails on the back, offering a high degree of horizontal flexibility, while their “Free Shelves” have rails on the sides. It’s super handy to choose between them depending on the space and what you plan to store.
Anticipating that we might want to store a stroller or suitcases in the future, we had the mounting brackets installed starting from about 1 meter off the ground. By leaving the lower area open and flexible, we created a storage space that can easily adapt to lifestyle changes.
＼ Next up: Our meticulously designed living room! ／
Thank you so much for reading to the end.
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