We’ve reached the “Dog Days” and while so many of us have what feels like a million things going on, I have been feeling a little restless. It’s not for a lack of things to do or occupy my time. The shop has been extremely busy, I’m preparing to take on my second work-study student, we still have a lot to finish on our backyard project list and another week away to prepare for, yet I’m looking ahead to fall with excited anticipation and that has got me feeling restless about getting back to work on some projects inside the house.
There are still quite a few unfinished projects on the first floor and the laundry / mudroom has been a major trouble spot for months. The mudroom side especially has been a place to collect clutter because we don’t have it set up to function the way we need. I’ve decided to turn my restlessness into something productive and have started to gather my ideas together for finishing the mudroom and laundry space, starting with the mudroom.
The “bones” of the room are complete and even though it’s small, I know we can make it functional. The plan all along (at least in my mind) was to build a mudroom area right inside the door. This area would have a bench with storage underneath, a row of coat hooks above with cabinets or at least shelves closer to the ceiling. Pretty standard for a mudroom area and 100% functional.
When presenting this to B, he didn’t love the idea of a bench because he doesn’t see it’s purpose but I feel like a table or base cabinet doesn’t leave enough space for longer or bulkier winter coats. In this case, my vision is going to rule. When cold weather returns, we are going to NEED a place to drop coats and boots and B needs a place to stash his wallet, keys, phone and work badge that isn’t on our kitchen counter! He did eventually come around when he saw my plans so I think he’ll really love it when it’s done too!
The space is tiny and the only natural light is what comes through the window in the door. This space also does double duty functioning as both our laundry and mudroom area. Not a unique concept but we don’t have a lot of room to work with. That means whatever we do has to be simple and clean so the space doesn’t feel too cluttered or cramped. BIG CHALLENGE.
In a perfect world I would do a fully custom built-in, but I am not confident in my own building skills to do something like that from scratch and I really want this to be a project that I don’t need to bother B with. He’s been traveling so much for work that I would prefer to just do it myself so this week I’ve been sketching out my plan, making my lists and ordering / shopping for supplies. Here is a little round up of my vision for finishing the space.
Sources: Hall Tree Bench | Wallpaper | Rug | Baskets | Hooks
My primary focus will be on the mudroom area first. Then, we’ll finish the laundry area later in the fall. It requires refinishing the vintage sink we bought and that’s a chore we haven’t tackled yet.
In keeping with the pantry area and kitchen, the color palette will be a simple black and white with accents of natural wood. Pops of blues and greens will keep it from feeling too bland. I’ll be doing a little shopping around the house to help accessorize and add personality but this is my start.
Mudroom Task List:
- Finish painting brick above pantry doorway
- assemble bench cubbie unit
- modify bench cubby unit to function as the bench base
- install wood trim for back of bench / coat area
- build shelf for above coat hooks
- install coat hooks
- paint all wood trim
- Find baskets for underneath storage
- accessorize
- paint door
- touch up door trim
- seal antique transom beam
- install light fixture
- add rug inside of back door
- paint accent wall
- find storage container for above washer /dryer
My goal is to have this project finished before Labor Day so that the only thing we’ll have to do in this space in the fall is refinish the antique janitor’s sink and build the table it will sit in and finish the laundry end of this room. Because of the plumbing portion of that task, I’ll need B to assist. I’m so excited to see this little mudroom area come together over the next couple of weeks!
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