Family drop zones: three ways to turn an entry into organization central

Sunset, Jan, 2008 by Peter O. Whiteley, Daniel Gregory

WHEN YOU AND THE KIDS hurry home with groceries or backpacks full of books, what's the first thing everyone looks for? We bet it's a "drop zone"--a place near the door to unburden, stack the mail, stash the keys, and take off coats or shoes. Here's how three families created their own smart spaces, with accents like Craftsman columns and etched-glass panels that help reinforce each home's individual style.

Clutter-free crossroads

The 5- by 9-foot family entry at the Palo Alto, California, home of Laura Hattendorf and Andy Kau provides order with a targeted hit of color. Just inside the door from the garage, this alcove at the rear of the kitchen includes a low shoe bench, mail slots, and an outlet for recharging cell phones and digital cameras.

STAINED PLYWOOD turns the cabinetry into a geometric composition. The open shelving is left natural; horizontal bands of red-orange tie the two halves of the arrangement together.

A MULTITASKING SPACE was the objective here. The drop zone also serves as a workstation.

DESIGN Stoltz Kau Architects, Eastsound, WA (stoltzkau.com or 360/376-7521)

Cubbies and columns

Because it's used by both guests and family, the foyer in the Seattle home of Andrea Chin and Vance Martin needed to blend formality with practicality. A pair of 48-inch-high partitions separates the living room from the dining room.

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THE CRAFTSMAN INFLUENCE comes through in the columns atop the partitions, which conceal load-bearing posts. One side of the hall has a built-in bench opposite cubbies for shoes.

DESIGN Kevin Price, JAS Design Build, Seattle (jasdesignbuild.com or 206/547-6242)

Streamlined storage

Warm wood, translucent etched-glass panels, and a hydronically heated concrete floor create a sophisticated yet hardworking entry for Lorrie Castellano and Roger Fisher of Palo Alto, California. The 8- by 20-foot space features stained maple cabinetry lining one side, with a closet for coats and a 4-foot bench above a shoe-storage space.

SLEEK BUILT-INS include a drawer unit that also opens from the living room, on the other side of the partition.

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DESIGN Lindy Small Architecture, Oakland (lindysmallarchitecture.com or 510/251-1066).