Pottery barn (of course) has their version of my solution:
I found this adorable piece on etsy. I thought the jars with flowers in it was a darling little touch.
Martha Stewart showed this idea of using shutters to organize the entryway. I picked up a red shutter at my favorite place last week-- Campus Craft and Floral-- and now I'm wondering if I should have purchased another one. hmmm.
This is one of those times when I really wish I was amazing with saws and drills and wood. I guess I should have paid more attention in my woodworking class I took a few years ago at the local community college. I was expecting number two and had been out of college for enough time that taking a class actually sounded fun. I signed up for a painting class but it ended up getting canceled so I signed up for woodworking on a whim. I learned a few things, but never got very proficient with the table saws. Bummer.