A hallway is the first room anyone sees and the one most of us think about least. In a period home it carries a particular weight. It sets the tone for the whole house, holds some of its best original features, and still has to cope with wet coats, muddy boots, the post and the dog, often several times before nine in the morning. The hallways that work best manage both: they make a real first impression and they take the pressure of daily life without complaint. Start with wh