In Praise of the Underappreciated Vestibule

"Pin-drop" Front Entries

If you're a busy Realtor, it's not unusual to get to large, group meetings a couple minutes late (like the weekly Edina Realty Exceptional Properties meeting).

Which is fine -- unless the meeting is being hosted in a home where the entry and front door seem to open directly into the Kitchen, where 30 (or 50) of your colleagues are gathered, talking.

Then, everyone stops talking -- the proverbial "pin drop" moment -- and notes your (belated) arrival.

Too Much of a Good Thing?

What seems to be going on in these (not inexpensive) homes is that the owners and their architects, in their zeal to create more opened-up floor plans, neglected to enclose any private spaces.

Personally, at least, I think that's a mistake, for two reasons:

One. Physical comfort.

Minnesota's climate is not exactly benign.

Compounding the faux pas of arriving late was the gust of cold air and snow that I inadvertently brought in with me. Substitute blast of heat and humidity in the summer.

Two. Privacy.

There's something to be said for a home that actually has an entrance: a defined, transitional point where you leave the outside world behind and enter the home of the family you're visiting.

No, you don't need to be met at the door by a butler, but a place to dry off, remove your coat, etc. without bringing in the elements to the rest of the house is nice.

Actually, isn't that what mudrooms are all about? (although they're typically located off the garage or side door, as opposed to where "company" comes and goes).