Along the hall, a display vitrine and carefully placed artwork turn a circulation space into a gallery. The vitrine holds a small collection of objects, among them a decorative hourglass, lit so each piece reads individually against a dark ground. This is a lesson worth borrowing for any large entry. A long hall without a destination feels like a corridor; give it one well-lit composition and it becomes a room people slow down in. The alcove also sits on the line between the hall and the dining room, so it frames the walk to dinner.