Challenge
This hallway lacked interest, style, and storage. It's also a high-traffic space linking the living area and bedrooms of a small condominium.

Solution
The homeowner discovered unused potential in her hall. A hole had been cut into the wall and concealed with an unsightly piece of plywood; it was removed easily. A new return air vent was added. In the unused space, a recessed bookcase was built to give the hallway some architectural substance.

• Shelves provide storage and display decorative items. Two slightly recessed glass shelves--which allow light from the recessed fixture to filter down to the lower shelves--were used at the top to highlight cherished pewter pieces, a gold-framed etching, and a porcelain bowl. The lower ones contain textured baskets, which are practical and portable enough to hold mail, magazines, and books.
• Custom carpeting enhances the hallway by adding softness and color. Architectural fragments hung next to the bookcase and above one of the bedroom doors tie the space together. The black-and-white color scheme is inspired by the toile wallpaper in an adjacent bath.