Dreaming & Scheming: The Entryway

The big projects are on the back burner for awhile and I've been thinking about smaller projects to make the house feel more home-y.

I want to create an entryway area in the living room.  This involves three projects, two I will do myself and the third I am hoping I will feel I can do myself after I do the first two.

First up is putting up a mirror by the door.  My parents gave us one that they didn't need anymore and I am going to repaint it soon so we can hang it up.

Second is building a coat rack that will go under the mirror.  It is driving me nuts not having anywhere to put my fleece and raincoat.  Plus it's nice for guests, too.  I am working off of this picture I saw on Pinterest:

http://livingwellonthecheap.com/2011/09/21/entryway-shelf-hooks/

Third is building a bench (for sitting on & putting on shoes) that will help physically divide the entryway area from the living room.  I want it to double as a piece of living room furniture that would run behind the back of the (future) couch for people to put their drinks on and have lamps and other decorate-y stuff on.  Here, see if you can make sense of my sketch:

And over by the kitchen door I want to put up a chalkboard (for the grocery list etc).  Again I was inspired by Pinterest.  I am switching things around a bit and doing a thicker trim.

Hopefully after building the hooks and chalkboard (with my Dad supervising and telling me what to do) I will feel like I can build the much bigger bench project (also with my Dad supervising and telling me what to do).

I have been plotting out these ideas for months now and hopefully in the next couple of weeks they will finally be executed!