Ladyplace: Plans for the Entryway

I love that my teensy apartment has a formal entryway. I find the separation of rooms charming, and I want to make a Wow! impact for guests when they arrive (and to put a smile on my own face when I walk through the door). Wallpaper is out of the budget and the question, because let's be honest, who knows how long I'll even live here... but I'm thinking stripes are a perfectly suitable alternative!

Behold: the inspiration

I definitely want to do vertical since it's a small space and no single wall is especially long. And I want slightly wider stripes (like the powder room shot above) - I'm worried thinner stripes will feel like a jail cell.

My entryway has been nothing special at all since moving in. Mostly a holding area for my old coffee table, shoes, and dog paraphernalia.

Until FINALLY, I was able to get a perfect entryway table. It was difficult finding the right size because it  couldn't be too deep, and I definitely wanted it to offer some kind of storage. I knew I wanted a light color since I was going to put black on the walls. 

This white wooden 3-drawered option from Overstock works perfectly!

It's also available in grey and a washed mint, both of which I was considering. But ultimately, I knew I wanted LIGHT and BRIGHT.

As you can see, that door straight ahead leads to my bedroom, but I've decided to leave it permanently closed since it's the only wall space in the bedroom that fits my dresser. (As you can see in my full apartment tour before I moved in, the bedroom has two entryways.)

You can also see I'm finally getting my letterpress European series framed properly thanks to affordable custom framing at Framed and Matted! Those will be hung here in the entry. But more on that later.

Still lusting after this French gilt mirror from Wisteria (which is conveniently out of stock). 

Not sure what I'll do about the rug. The jute one I got off Joss and Main simply isn't the right size and the door gets caught on it. Fooey. Maybe a flatweave from Dash and Albert. Don't know... we shall see. This is a heavy traffic area and the rug will get very dirty. But now I'd be hesitant to put dark or a pattern on the ground since I'm going striped walls.

Help! What do you all think?!

UPDATE: per reader Annie's suggestion, I moved some things around and instagrammed the new arrangement. LOVE it. The door looks like a great architectural accent instead of a secret, unused door. Thanks, Emily!