Designing an Organized Mudroom for an Older Home

PEEK AT A PROJECT

Welcome Home

The back entry, the heart of where you come and go every day. It should welcome you home, yes! And also should be functional. What if you have an older home that doesn’t have a mudroom? Is there an opportunity for designing an organized mudroom for an older home? That is the very question our client asked. Here is a sneak peek at our reply:

Aesthetic Design

Our first peek at the back entry, we found it to be rich with beautiful woodwork! But lacked storage. The space itself was gracious in welcoming you inside. But once inside there wasn’t a lot of opportunity to store things. The back entry had a few things that were a good start: a bench to sit on, a calendar for the family schedule, hooks for coats. However it didn’t quite fit. What great potential! We wanted to keep the character of the space and improve on the function.

Functional Design

We answered our client’s question with another, What do you need in the space to support how you live? We took inventory of how they currently use the space. And then we brainstormed a bit further. What else would you want now In the future? For a family of five, designing an organized mudroom was our objective!

Custom Solutions

First we noticed the bench got high use. Second, we would need to address storage for shoes, coats, bags, backpacks, keys. The space was small but there was potential. In order to meet both our aesthetic goal and functional goal we would need a custom solution. Our aesthetic goal was to have it fit with the house. Our functional goal was to have it work for a family for five. Designing a custom solution we could get both. Custom doesn’t necessarily mean expensive. First we explored ready-made solutions from retailers. None fit the space and for the investment it didn’t make sense. Next we began to explore sketch solutions.

Challenges

There was an existing radiator we would need to consider. And how to incorporate the existing millwork. We began by removing the radiator cover to start with a blank slate. The existing cover was much taller than the radiator itself. An opportunity to rethink how to disguise the radiator and capture more storage space. We wanted the built-ins to look like they had always been there. In sketching solutions we needed to consider how to align with the millwork

Options

We started with sketches to explore options for both sides. How could we fit a bench in? Storage for shoes? Disguise the radiator while providing storage solutions?

Final Design

A sneak peek at the final design. Check back to see installation photos! In the meantime, check out another project where we designed a custom built-in solution into the Front Entry of an older home

Bringing Intention Home

For more than a decade, LiLu Interiors has been designing intentional living environments that reflect the singular values and needs, lifestyle and aesthetics of each individual client. With care, joy and trust, we’ll creatively collaborate with you to design a home that uniquely expresses who you are and how you live. Intentional design, no matter the style, requires thoughtful attention to detail and deliberate choices.
Let’s make life better. Let’s bring your intentions home.