A hall tree was the last thing I wanted in the entryway of our midcentury modern house (read: magnet for clutter). So, I went looking for a smallish bench with room for a couple of pairs of shoes to be stashed underneath. This bench fits the bill perfectly and is just so much cooler than a traditional bench. It's very sturdy, heavy, and (surprisingly) comfortable. My two small daughters immediately perched themselves on either side of it, at stowed their shoes underneath. So, maybe their shoes don't go with the eclectic aesthetic of my design motif, but this bench is still such a beautiful conversation piece.