Design aficionado Taylor Fimbrez created this pop-up entryway from the ground up
(Guess which piece came from our kids collection.)
About the project:
Owner of online design destination Odd Eye, Taylor Fimbrez has a knack for making magic with the unexpected—just take this pop-art entryway he dreamt up in our studios. We reached out to the vintage collector to see what he’d do with our blank-slate studio set given the chance.
His vision? Take an awkward entry space and make it inarguably cool and functional to boot. And just like that: Gymnasium flooring, kids lighting and a foot-shaped vase all make sense.
“I get excited about the awkward, weird and ugly when I’m looking for good design. The stranger, the better.”
On setting the stage:
“This entryway set is an ode to ’90s heavily trafficked commercial spaces with a loft-living design,” says Taylor. He laid the groundwork with durable rubber flooring and opted for a sculptural concrete staircase “to give it a really awesome contrast.”
The design challenge soon presented itself: “It’s a pretty narrow space, but we can make it work.”
On the entryway MVP:
“The first thing we need is storage,” Taylor says. “It’s key to any entryway, especially in New York.” He sourced our clean-lined Tahoe Buffet for stashing away everything from sports equipment to shoes, then layered on plenty of coat racks, hooks and mail sorters to keep clutter at bay.
“At the end of the day, you have to think outside the box.”
On his design mantra:
“Be creative,” says Taylor, who reinterpreted classic gymnasium flooring into a chic yet practical application for the entry—a typically high-trafficked area.
By hanging Pottery Barn Kids’ Paper Mache Light Up Moon in an unconventional way, rotating it 180 degrees, the kids lamp suddenly becomes a wall art installation. “You get a whole different aspect of it. There are different ways to use very common things.”
“The three key things for this space are storage—and lots of it—unconventional lighting and some really fun art.”
On leaning into color:
“Keeping most of the furniture neutral, we can add a lot of color and fun with the art, lighting and accessories,” he says. Light upholstery and furniture finishes position the accents as focal points. “I love seeing all the color in here from the accessories and plants—it’s really making the space pop.”
On defining the space:
When it came to tying the space together, Taylor turned to our Glimmer Rug. “I decided to go with a rug to add more warmth. It’s a nice, neutral color. It squares off this space and defines it.”