After all, hallways and galleries are simply a means to an end – they’re not something that deserve elevation. These spaces are usually seen as the roadways of the house, efficiently depositing the pilgrim from one part of the house to the next. Decorating these secondary, but necessary, corridors and paths are often given as much aesthetic attention as we grant our interstate system. If our national roadways have their billboards, hallways have the inevitable family photos.
I think, however, these passages deserve respect and thought. If you measure the minutes of the day we typically spend in the home, I’d bet most of it is spent in travel, not lolling about in one room. Therefore, more attention should be given to the innate beauty that can be found in the circulation of a house.
The mundane act of movement through a house can be a meditative one. A good hall or gallery should be like a good path; it should be long enough to allow the traveller to complete a thought. It should allow one to skirt by rooms and enjoy their beauty even though you’re not inhabiting them at the moment. It should have it’s own architectural personality and celebration. Like any good car trip, there should be an ever changing landscape to your side and an anticipating light at the end of the tunnel.
It has been said that the journey is more important than the destination. I suggest we apply that wisdom to architecture and interior design. That would bolster the wandering soul in all of us.
Greg Tankersley for McAlpine Tankersley
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These are beautiful!
Yes, I agree. Meditative transitioning from space to space(even with a laundry basket)—ahh!
When I see these homes, I think of “forever homes”.
Once again, I bow. If you could only see the “plan” I was sent yesterday. Insert hair pulling, head banging on desk and tums.
Lovely! Thanks!!
The first photo makes me dizzy with it’s beauty. I just went into my entrance and rearranged my table. As always, your writing is as beautiful as the photographs you post.
I just spent 6 months renovating a sprawling single story home with three long hallways, roadways, as you so aptly described them. They march through the house to a bedroom wing, a master suite and powder room, and the back hall to the office, laundry, and pantry. I placed 8- (3,2 and3) matching iron and glass hanging light fixtures in the hallways and it has given them a beautiful repetitive balance. The warm glow of dimmed lights at night make the trips to and fro soothing. Reading your blog today confirmed my notion to make the well trod spaces special. Your writing encourages well thought out design.