In most homes, the entryway is a liminal space. Perhaps you hang a shelf to keep your keys, or maybe you can squeeze in a sideboard for storage, but it's difficult to harness the area's full potential. I was certainly feeling uninspired about the space in my small apartment – until I spotted the dramatic bookshelf display in Diane Keaton's entryway.
My city apartment isn't exactly blessed when it comes to square footage, and I've always seen the entry as a purely practical zone. In the late Diane Keaton's former Beverly Hills home, however, the space is used to display a veritable treasure trove of books, antiques, and photographs. It's an ingenious entryway idea, and it's filling me with inspiration.
Recreate Diane's Dramatic Entryway
Diane's shelves might be full of books, but they also showcase a handful of handsome vases like this one. While the metallic glaze creates a sense of glamor, the rustic earthenware rim softens look.
Bookends strike the perfect balance between style and function, helping you to create neat stacks of books while bringing visual interest to the arrangement. These will add a luxe texture, too.
No shelf display is complete without a few decorative touches, and I love this ceramic sculpture. It boasts an earthy, abstract look, with an organic silhouette that will break up any harsh lines on your shelves.
Diane’s Spanish-style property was renovated by the esteemed designer Stephen Shadley, and her entryway is proof that even the simplest spaces can make a striking statement.
We all know first impressions matter, and by transforming her entryway into a library, Diane instantly introduces a sense of luxury that sets the tone for the rest of her home. I was immediately struck by the towering bookshelves and the recessed lighting, which creates a moody yet inviting atmosphere. Every book and decorative piece is perfectly placed, yet the overall display feels effortlessly elegant.
It isn't easy to style a bookcase so perfectly – particularly in a key space like an entryway. According to designers, the secret is to take advantage of every inch, which often means experimenting with height.
'The floor-to-ceiling shelves immediately establish this space as more than just a passageway,' explains designer Kate Gasteiger, founder of KG Interiors. 'They create what feels like a private library antechamber. By utilizing the full vertical dimension, Diane transforms an often-overlooked transition space into a destination in itself.'
Of course, even the most striking shelves are nothing without books, decor, and antiques – and this is where strategic styling is crucial.
'Here, books are stacked both horizontally and vertically, creating varied silhouettes,' says Kate. 'This approach makes the display feel collected over time rather than designed all at once, which is exactly what luxury spaces need to feel authentic.'
Entryway shelves can risk feeling chaotic, so restraint is key. 'Asymmetry and negative space are used to give these shelves room to breathe, allowing the eye to move across them easily,' comments Shannon Barker, co-founder of vintage homeware brand Bessette. 'Larger, more substantial pieces take precedence over small knick-knacks, reinforcing the sense of scale and drama rather than clutter.'
By playing with height and scale, Diane has created a display that feels both sophisticated and utterly authentic. The space itself is grand and immersive, brimming with character and unmistakable personality.
I may not be able to turn my own entryway into a sprawling library, but Diane’s approach is a reminder that even small spaces can make a statement. I’ll be borrowing her expert styling tricks to create my own stylish, layered display.
