The foyer is the first room people see when they enter a house but often the last room they consider when it comes time to redecorate. That’s a mistake, says Kelley Proxmire, an interior designer and member of the Washington Design Center Hall of Fame. A master at creating dramatic elegance, Proxmire says a home’s foyer is the best place to make a stunning first impression.

Proxmire designed the foyer for the D.C. Design House at the Washington Design Center. She fashioned the room as the entrance to a New York City socialite’s Upper East Side apartment. Even with a bold floor, vibrant fabrics and glitzy accessories, this foyer wows without overwhelming.