10 Traditional Hallway Ideas Featuring a Narrow Shoe Cabinet

A narrow shoe cabinet fits naturally into a traditional hallway when it is treated as part of the room rather than storage squeezed into a gap. Pair it with period details such as painted panelling, patterned floor tiles, a gilt or timber mirror and warm lamp light, choose a finish that suits the architecture and keep the depth slim enough to leave the walkway clear. We share ten ideas for Victorian, Edwardian and 1930s homes, from setting a cream cabinet against deep green panelling to letting original encaustic tiles take the lead. We look at mirrors, brass lamps, telephone tables, chimney breast recesses, painted wood with brass knobs and stair runners, as well as glazed cabinets and gallery walls. We also cover the practical points that matter in period properties, including uneven floors, wall fixings for lath and plaster or solid brick, radiators on the longest wall and how much walking space to protect in a long, narrow hall....