Sunday, May 17, 2009

Met Monday - Mudroom Remodel

This post has been a long time coming.  It truly is my favorite transformation ever. Ever since we bought this house, I have wanted to transform this room into something special. It is right off of the kitchen and opens to the garage, which makes it a nice barrier between the house and the outdoors. The problem was, the washer/dryer used to take up most of the space. So, a few years ago, hubby and I hired a plumber to move them to the finished basement where I now have a huge laundry room. Now alot of people thought I was nuts to move a washer/dryer to the basement. I guess most people who have this hate the fact that they have to go up and down an extra flight of stairs. So far, I haven't regretted it, but I am a fitness buff, so to me it's just extra exercise. Who knows, maybe when I'm in my prime I'll regret it, but for now, it works.

We tried several configurations before we got it right. First, we removed the sliding closet doors and added some hooks so the kids could just hang their coats and bookbags. Hubby built me not one, but two storage benches on two separate occasions. The first one opened on top. That didn't work, because as people came in through the garage, everything just got thrown on top of the bench, which meant every time I needed to get something out, I had to take everything off. The second one was really cool - it had wheels and rolled out. That was nice, but I still knew it could be better. That's when I came up with the idea for lockers. No, that's not true, I didn't come up with the idea, I first saw it in my dear friend Marie's home and then copied it!

This is hubby patching the walls after removing the closet.


I had so much fun doing this project with hubby. In fact he did most of the hard labor. For my part, I came up with the idea (with a little help from Google Images) and the hardest part for me was the painting. Before, the color in our Mud Room was a dingy brown color that works well in my Family Room, but here, it just looked gloomy. So I decided to use some leftover paint I had in the basement that I had used to paint my upstairs hallway, and then decided it was too bright, so I only used one coat, which meant I had plenty left over for the MR. It's a cheery yellow color. Then all of the lockers had to painted white. Hubby hung beaded board against the back wall and actually built the lockers outside then carried them in (with the help of a friend). With some molding and wood caulk, they look like they were built right into the wall!

A full view looking in from the kitchen.




Hubs left me some space at the top for knick-knacks (this was HIS idea!!)


I decided to go with open shelving at the bottom for easy access to shoes. Each person has their own locker (hubs and I share one) for coats, jackets, purses and bookbags. Over the lockers, each person has their own cubby where I've used baskets to store hats/gloves/scarves.



One more set of cubbies stores my seldom-used-but-need-access-to appliances like my crock pot, large coffee maker, griddle and some baskets. I decided to cover these with some valances I made from fabric I purchased at Walmart. I used stitch witchery to make the valances and hung them with tension rods.


I wanted a small accent table by the door to throw my keys and mail when I come in through the garage. This table was perfect! I picked it up for $2 at a flea market and painted it black. The tassle was made by Nancy at Southern Lady. Isn't it adorable??? I got the white urn from a yard sale for $1 and added some mossy thingies. The vintage books came from my mother.


These prints I purchased off of Ebay - they are Southern Living At Home prints that I had to buy frames for. I think they look nice against the yellow walls.


I like keeping my filing cabinet in this room so I have easy access to all of my important documents. However, it looked kinda drab so I added some pretty linens and a nice plant to make it look like it belongs there.


I also have a cabinet for keeping my cleaning supplies close at hand.


This room is also where Chloe sleeps at night so I got her a night light (Kirkland's).


Finally, this is the family lifeline - the bulletin board. It's ginourmous, taking up most of this large wall. It stores everything from permission slips to registration forms, school artwork, photos of friends, and other paperwork. You know the saying, out of sight out of mind? Well that rings true for me. If I don't see it, I forget about it. This way I am forced to see these things each time I enter or leave the house - a constant reminder - that's what I need!


So that's it! My pride and joy. The mudroom of my dreams. It doesn't take much to excite me does it! HA! Hope you enjoyed this post - now go enjoy more Met Monday posts at Susan's blog!

44 comments:

Stacey said...

I'm am so jealous of your perfect cubbies! Your mudroom turned out just right. Great job!

From the Old InkWell said...

LOVE your mud room organizer. How pretty and organized! Great job! The fabric you used is to die for!

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

Wow! L.O.V.E. it!!! Great job to both you and your hubby.

Kammy said...

Such a great transformation ! Much more usable now and so organized !
Love the little curtains and that beadboard ! Great job and nice that
your puppy likes it too !
Hugs ~ Kammy

ellen b said...

Your mudroom is amazing! Great redo!!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

What a great idea. The closet is never used to the fullest and always so hard to get to, these cubbies are just fantastic. Love it. Hugs, Marty

Joyce said...

Wonderful!

Melissa Miller said...

Kim this is GORGEOUS!

What a wonderfully creative vision you had to create this space.
Every detail is perfect even down to the sweet nite light for Miss Chloe.

LOVE it all!!!

Hope you are doing well. ~Melissa :)

Unknown said...

Thats the cutest mud room I have ever seen! It ALMOST makes you want to lock the door so know one can come in with mud doesn't it? Course then it wouldn't be a mud room I guess...
Nice transformation!
~Really Rainey~

Sarah abeachcottage said...

wow this is the best one I've seen so far, I love it!!

so great when you transform a room like that, oh and great inspiration for the rest of us

happy met monday

Sarah
ABeachCottage

Michelle, All Home and Love said...

Hi Kim,
I can't say anything but WOW! That looks amazing. What a great job you did. I love the lockers and the cubbies are a great idea. My crockpot, mixers, etc. are taking up a ton of my cabinet space right now.

Isn't it funny how a color can look completely different in another room?

Thank you so much for visiting and your sweet comment on my house. Nice to meet you!
~Michelle

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

We must be kindred spirits! I have the same nightlight (also with an "M") and my cat's name is Chloe!

Your mud room is gorgeous~you and hubby did a fantastic job!

Thank you for your comment and encouragement regarding the "wreck"! I am still in recovery mode! I cannot believe the insurance you have to pay! Our property insurance is like $400.00 a year and we have about an acre. I am thankful for that!

Hope you have a great week!

Lou Cinda :)

Jadehollow said...

Kim.. WoW! Your Mudroom turned out awesome. Hubby did a wonderful job.. I posted the details for my Big Giveaway this morning.. Make sure you drop by and comment for a chance to win.
Good Luck!
Hugs,
Debbie

Michelle @ Sweet Something Design said...

Nice! Form and function! You guys did a great job!

Fifi Flowers said...

LOVE your mudroom... I need to organize my closet so it looks more like this... hmmm... thanks for the inspiration!

Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

it looks FANTASTIC!!! FABULOUS!!! BRAVO!!!
We don't have a need for a mudroom, but now I want one because yours looks sooo good! You guys did one heck of a job!

Christi @ A Southern Life said...

Very nice!

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

Just fabulous! I wish I had an area in my house to do this. My mom always had a huge bulletin board for storing papers in plain sight (she still does & she is 75).

Sue said...

Your mud room looks lovely! The lockers are perfect there and I love how you covered some of the cubbies with the fabric.
Blessings~LillySue

Anonymous said...

So perfect! I love the lockers. Hubby did a great job! Love the bright cheery yellow and the message board is fabulous. The junk finds are too cool! Thanks so much for the granite tips and for stopping in at Babasfarmlife and commenting on the counter tops post. Still so much to do there.

Sofia Striffler said...

Wow great use of this space. I would have done something similar if I had a space like this and a basement. Great job. good for those books, snow pants etc. Great job to hubby. He does nice work. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Richella Parham said...

I think this is wonderful! I would agree with you about moving the laundry away from this room and having a great mudroom. I love my house, but it doesn't have a mudroom--it's the one thing I'd change about it if I could. What great inspiration to think about making a mudroom even if you don't already have one. Thanks a lot!

Bo said...

Hi Kim...It's great to be back from my bloggy break that almost broke us...$$$... what a neat thing to do to transform this area to a mudroom! I once had a basement laundry room & didn't mind it one bit... ;-) Bo

Just a little something from Judy said...

I visited your blog this evening and I must tell you that you did an outstanding job on your room. It is so organized and neatly done. I like how you hid the small appliances behind the fabric. It has inspired me to tackle our back room. Thank you for the inspiration.

Dawn said...

Wow! Wow! Wow!!! What a beautiful mud room you now have! Great job!

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

wonderful transformation! Even your little doggie's happy!

Pam @ Frippery said...

What a wonderful room. I agree about the bulletin board, if I don't see it I forget it. I think the cubbies are fantastic and I love that fabric as well.

Tracy said...

Hi Kim,

Your mudroom makeover is awesome, I love the locker idea, and you executed it perfectly! The valances really look great, nice touch.

Traci@ Beneath My Heart said...

Kim,
LOVE the mudroom. I've always wanted lockers in a mud room. Guess I need a mud room first!
I LOVE the bulletin board too. I am always losing stuff of the boys. Great idea. Thanks for visiting my blog today. I read your profile, and we seem a lot alike. Look forward to following your future posts. Many blessings to ya!
Traci

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

This is fabulous! Looks like a magazine picture! Organization made beautiful! Oh, I wish I had a place to do this. laurie

Tricia said...

Hey there!
I love your lockers!
Our mudroom is a wreck! It's in our lower level where we enter through the garage and well, let's just say that it's not the prettiest of rooms.
Hey, if your hubby's new career at BPS doesn't work out, you could just rent him out building cubbies. ;) Seriously, I'd pay. ;) I'm glad you liked your card. Have a fantastic week!
*Tricia

Oh, by the way we did the little BPS photo shoot to make up for the impending 4 hour long IKEA trip I had planned.
He's such a good guy!

Kristens Creations said...

Hi Kim, What an awesome job you and dh did on the mudroom!!! I LOVE it! The table for $2 turned out cute too and of course I love the tassel Nancy made. Wonderful transformations! Thanks so much for checking out the patio. We are really enjoying it. It was alot of work,but well worth it!

Really enjoyed your post! Kristen

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Lady, this is A-MaZING!!!!


Props to the hubs! This looks fabulous!

miss you!

Melissa Marie said...

Kim, What a fabulous transformation! I love the cubbie storage...so functional and cute at the same time.
Great Job! By the way, thanks for the sweet comment on my blog. :)

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

WOWOWOWOWOW~ I love your mud room! Everything looks just perfect in there. GREAT JOB!
xo
Penny

Angela said...

The mudroom looks great. Thanks for sharing the pictures of it.

Ldy ~~ Dy said...

Kim - your mudroom transformation is awesome!! You did a great job! Everthing in it's place...what a dream!! Perfect color too! Hugs!!!

Susan Lang @ Designing Your Dream Home said...

Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting on my mud room post! First visit to your blog... isn't that cool that we both did mud room posts!

Yours looks great... I did not mention using fabric to conceal the cubby hole...love the word relax up above! Your hubby sounds like a great guy and handyman, too!

Misti of Studio M Designs said...

Kim, I am so far behind reading the blogs, but GIRL...your mud room is to die for! So glad I stopped by. You must be SO proud!!! I love it so much. Especially the fabric at the top and the bright, cheery paint color. I could definitely use a mudroom and yours is magazine worthy!

Have a great week,
~Misti

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest said...

I LOOOOOOVE this! It turned out amazing, and your hubby is one talented guy! I dream of having a mudroom like this one day...did I mention that I LOVE this! :)

Thrifty Decor Chick said...

WOW that is soooo cool! I am so jealous of this space!!

Nikki via The Scarlett Rose Garden said...

LOVE the mudroom Kim! Too cute about your hub leaving you some knick nack room, hehe...
Thanks for visiting today! It's nice to *meet* you!

Jen said...

I am drooling over your mudroom. If I was fortunate to have a mudroom, I would want it to look just like yours. That is on the list of requirements for my next house. Glad you found my blog, we have a lot in common and I love your blog.

Unknown said...

The first time I had my first house, the mud room is the first thing that came into my mind for my place at Edmonton. Best mortgage rates lets me set aside the budget on home renovation. That is why in house financing, Edmonton is king!

Thank you for sharing the progress of your mud room, it looks fantastic, by the way.