How To Create An Entryway

 

      

                           Originally published on comfortspringstation.com on 8/17/21

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Back a few years ago, I spent the afternoon looking at beautiful spaces online. The next day, I shared the fabulous designs I discovered in this post. I hope you enjoy  it.

 

A home’s entry can be tricky to design. Many of us actually do not have an entry space at all.  From apartments to houses, many homes like mine have a front door that opens straight into the living room. Some homes might open into a small space or hallway that leads directly into a staircase. Or in other instances, the entryway has little to no room. Let’s look at ways to create the feeling of an entry.

 

                                                    Photo Pinterest
 

 

I. Create a landing spot

 If you have little or no room at the entry, create a landing spot at the door with a rug and tile flooring where the door swings.  It will help keep your living area clean and will visually suggest an entry.

 

 

                                                        Photo by Savvy Interiors

 

 If you have room for a table or bench, add that. A mirror or art on the wall can help develop the feeling of an actual space.

  

 

                                                            Photo Pinterest
 

 

 An umbrella urn or stand to the side of the door helps develop the feeling of a landing. You can find them in wood, metal, or pottery.

 

                                                    Photo Huffington Post
 

 

I. Male a mud room at the front door

If your front door opens into a more open concept room, you can define an entryway. You get to decide on its size, too.  The easiest way to create a visually distinct entryway in an open floor plan is to position a few furniture pieces with an area rug and a mirror, wall art, or hooks.  I really like the modern hall trees with storage.  They create a mud room at the front door with the addition of a rug and pillows.

 

                                Photo Wayfair
 

 If a hall tree is not in your budget, and you have no space, you can make your own.

 

 

                                                            Photo Liz Marie

 

If there’s no room for furniture, use a runner, baskets, and hooks to create that feel.

 

 

                                               

 

                                                    Photo Happy Organized Life

 

 How about a shelf to help create your storage?

 

                                                 Photo One Crazy House 
 

 

III. Create an entry with furniture

 

 A. Place the sofa with the back lined up with the entry door.  The back of the sofa effectively produces the feeling of an entry hall

 

                                Photo Terracotta Design Build

 

 B.  Add a table with baskets or seating.

 

 

                                                        Photo Paper Blog

 

 

C.   A tall bookcase is another great option.

 

 

                                                           Photo Schwartz and Architecture 

 

 

IV.  Build a half wall

 

Building a half wall can be more expensive than adding furniture unless you have a carpenter in the family.  This Old House gives complete instructions on how to build a half wall  with a column for those who want a challenge.  I just love the look and trim.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                 

                                                     Photo Hometalk

 

 

V. Add a bookcase to the half wall

 

 Thrifty Decor Chick gives directions on how she built her half wall with shelves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             

 

                                                         Photo Thrifty Decor Chick

 

 

VI. Add a room divider or partition

 

     There are room dividers of every style and shape. Do a search online and explore the possibilities! and             materials.

Photo Paper Blog  

The wonderful thing about many partitions is that they are not solid.  If you are trying to create a feeling of more space,  a partition of glass, plexiglass, or one with a cut-out design provides visual sense of light and space.

 

                                                                Photo Wayfair

 

 

 

                                                                    Photo Etsy

The craftsman who made the above room divider no longer has an Etsy account.  So, I wanted to give you the idea just in case you or someone you know could make it.  Below are a few room dividers currently available on Etsy in 2026.

 

 

                                                            Photo:  Etsy

 

 

                                                                          Photo : Etsy

 

 

 For those of us with no entryway, my goal was to provide ideas and inspiration for possible changes to create a perfect small space to greet your guests. Here’s wishing you a beautiful day and a happy home.

 

 

 

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Green Avocado & Spinach Smoothie

 

 

                                     Posted on www.comfortspringstation.com on 4/29/24

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  Before I discuss today's recipe, I'd like to do an update on the top 50 posts from Comfort Spring in 2025.  As of today, I have written & scheduled 45 of the 50 posts. I can easily do the other 5 in the next week. All top 50 will be shared before the end of 2026. Thanks for your patience.

Now for today's recipe:

When I first started blogging some years ago, I started the day with a smoothie almost every morning. A few years later, I just got tired of it. My smoothies had almost disappeared in my breakfast menu ideas. Oatmeal became the main morning dish for breakfast. Recently I have again made the choice to add smoothies as a healthy, delicious morning choice. I like to have one for breakfast, lunch, or afternoon snack.

Back in the early days of blogging (2016), I shared Start Your Day With A Spinach Smoothie. I think it was the first recipe I shared. Spinach is one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat.  It is a super food loaded with tons of nutrients in a low-calorie package. Dark leafy greens like spinach are important for skin and hair, bone health, and provide protein, iron, vitamins and minerals. Just do a search for the word spinach and you will see pages of articles  on the health benefits of spinach. Just eating one serving of spinach a day can make your brain 11 years younger.  A diet rich in leafy green vegetables help prevent cognitive decline according to recent research.   It slows the aging process.

 

 Today’s recipe is a quick and delicious banana, avocado, and spinach smoothie that can be used as a breakfast or snack. It’s really a good basic recipe that can be adapted to diet or taste needs. For vegan, replace the honey with maple syrup or agave nectar. Can’t eat nuts? Choose a different milk. I choose vanilla almond milk for a nutty flavor with a touch of vanilla. Need more protein? Add a scoop of protein powder. Have ripe fruit you need to use? Chop and add. Remember to make it your own and vary with what’s in the refrigerator. This recipe makes 2 smoothies; put the second in a covered bottle or jar in the fridge for a snack in the afternoon.  Give it a shake or two and your snack is good to go.

 

 

 

Green Avocado & Spinach Smoothie

Use organic when available. Serves 2, Ready in 5 minutes for Breakfast, Brunch, Snack

 

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup baby spinach leaves
• 1 ripe avocado, pitted, peeled, & halved
• 1 ripe banana (try frozen for extra creamy)
• 1 tbsp honey or dark agave nectar
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1 1/2 cups vanilla almond milk or milk of choice

Instructions

• Add all ingredients except ice to blender
• Blend 50 to 55 seconds
• Add ice cubes and blend again for 30-35 seconds.
• Serve immediately 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Box Turtles & Cold Days in Florida January 2026

 

 

 

 I saw an interesting post on Facebook about Box turtles in brumation in winter. I like these guys, don't you?

 

   

                                                        Photo via Facebook

 

     During brumation, my metabolism slows to a crawl, letting my body match winter temperatures and conserve energy when food disappears. This is an evolved survival strategy, not sleep. Move me and you erase a lifetime of navigation. Leave me, and spring will do the rest.                                         

 Quote from Facebook post

 

 Box turtle brumation is a natural winter cool-down where they burrow into soil or leaf litter, slowing their metabolism. This helps them to survive cold and scarce food by living off stored fat. This allows for minimal movement but requiring deep insulation to prevent freezing. It's a vital survival instinct, not a deep sleep. If you see a turtle in the wild in brumation, leave it alone.

 

 Now let's end with some sky photos from January in weird weather here at the condo complex this past week.  

 

 

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Sunday, February 1, 2026 on Crystal River Update on Manatees & Freezing Cold

 

 

 

 Higher Perspectives in Crystal River, Florida is a drone service with a Facebook account. Below is from a Facebook post on 2/1/26:

  

Freezing cold temperatures have the #manatees gathered by the hundreds at the various #springs in #crystalriver Sunday morning. #ThreeSisterSprings had the largest #cuddlepuddle by far. Easily 500+ there alone today. King, Magnolia and Jurassic were also busy. Will probably do a second run today as they usually lag about a day behind the cold front for real big numbers.

 

 

 

 

 

 Weather is still freezing at night in central Florida. A second cold front expected to move in on Wednesday. It is Tuesday at 10 am and current temperature is 50 degrees F. It should be a few degrees higher this afternoon, but it dives low tonight again.  This keeps knocking the camellia blooms off of the two bushes here by my building.  Prediction for return of warm, Florida weather is next week by Tuesday.  Stay tuned for more developments.

 

 I don't have snow, but I do miss how many warm days of camellia blooms I had last year.

Found on Facebook. Creator unknown

 

 Until it warms up, this one is true for me.

Found on Facebook. Creator unknown