Renovation Rumblings and Puttin' My Feet Up

Last January I painted and "redid" my laundry room hall. In February I added some tile accents, crown molding, wainscoting and repainted my daughter's bathroom. This February I am planning on doing a mini-renovation of my entryway.

As it looks now (I didn't even pick up for the before pictures)...

When we moved in this was one of the only rooms that did not boast really "awesome" wallpaper. To be honest I can't even remember what color it was when we moved in, but it was the first "room" I painted. You can see the one side has clear sidelights. The other side is waiting to be finished (it might get done for my reveal!). I love the warmth of the current color, but after six years I am over it. We have darker wood doors and trim and I think a lighter color will brighten this darkish area up. Here is a view from the other direction:

The only thing that will be staying is the Jew Pew (This is an old pew from a Brooklyn Synagogue. Don't be thinking I am anti-Semitic, my name is Leah after all). I LOVE it. I am currently looking for some baskets to put under it. This is where we put backpacks after school etc. It looks like they didn't make it there in time for the picture though. We will also be keeping Harvey, the dog. The one door leads downstairs and the other is a closet designed to store hanging linens (if I don't iron do you think I would hang linens?). It currently has some makeshift shelves, but I am planning on adding better shelving to store my larger kitchen appliances and big pantry items.

Here is my list of things to do in this area:
Paint (thinking of a light grey or light sea blue)
Add board and batten OR wainscoting to one wall
Add crown molding
Finish sidelights
Purge both closets
Add a shelf in the coat closet (near the floor to add more storage)
Add shelves to the pantry closet
Polish all woodwork
Find baskets for under bench
Paint half table for wall opposite the bench
Hang mirror above bench
Decorate (Rug, framed chalkboard, new lamp)

One thing I forgot to share is the great light fixture...

Gearing up for this month's project! Until then I will be putting my feet up on this:

I found this at the Goodwill bins. It had a nasty pleather cushion. I ripped it off, painted it with Ralph Lauren metallic paint (leftover from my living room wall) and recovered the cushion with blue hounds tooth fabric. Looks lovely in our family room. Unfortunately Mr.Dickey uses it all the time.