Photography by Rory Gardiner
Mid-sized victorian mudroom in London with blue walls and black floor.

This mudroom features a dog-feeding station with hidden dog food drawer, his-and-hers landing spots, built-in cubbies, open shelving and seating with coat hooks.

Steve Greenberg
Design ideas for a mid-sized arts and crafts mudroom in Boston with blue walls and ceramic floors.

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Mudroom walls, paneling and cabinets painted in SW "Blustery Sky" by Paper Moon Painting, Alison Giese designer, Yanglin Cai photographer
Inspiration for a mudroom in Austin with blue walls, travertine floors, beige floor and panelled walls.

Mudroom, Custom Built Cabinets, Tile Floors, Countertops, Paint, Electrical, Wood, Electrical Fixture Install
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional mudroom in Houston with blue walls, ceramic floors, a single front door, a blue front door and grey floor.

Simple mudroom storage brings character and color to this bungalow's entry. Rattan doors so belongings can air out of sight. A play on slate blue - slightly more saturated than the wall color.

Contemporary mudroom in London with blue walls, a single front door, a glass front door and grey floor.

Blue and white mudroom with light wood accents.
This is an example of a large beach style mudroom in Minneapolis with blue walls, ceramic floors, grey floor, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Katie Nixon Photography, Caitlin Wilson Design
Inspiration for a contemporary mudroom in Dallas with blue walls and black floor.

This Oceanside home, built to take advantage of majestic rocky views of the North Atlantic, incorporates outside living with inside glamor. Sunlight streams through the large exterior windows that overlook the ocean. The light filters through to the back of the home with the clever use of over sized door frames with transoms, and a large pass through opening from the kitchen/living area to the dining area. Retractable mosquito screens were installed on the deck to create an outdoor- dining area, comfortable even in the mid summer bug season. Photography: Greg Premru

Keeping track of all the coats, shoes, backpacks and specialty gear for several small children can be an organizational challenge all by itself. Combine that with busy schedules and various activities like ballet lessons, little league, art classes, swim team, soccer and music, and the benefits of a great mud room organization system like this one becomes invaluable. Rather than an enclosed closet, separate cubbies for each family member ensures that everyone has a place to store their coats and backpacks. The look is neat and tidy, but easier than a traditional closet with doors, making it more likely to be used by everyone — including children. Hooks rather than hangers are easier for children and help prevent jackets from being to left on the floor. A shoe shelf beneath each cubby keeps all the footwear in order so that no one ever ends up searching for a missing shoe when they're in a hurry. a drawer above the shoe shelf keeps mittens, gloves and small items handy. A shelf with basket above each coat cubby is great for keys, wallets and small items that might otherwise become lost. The cabinets above hold gear that is out-of-season or infrequently used. An additional shoe cupboard that spans from floor to ceiling offers a place to keep boots and extra shoes. White shaker style cabinet doors with oil rubbed bronze hardware presents a simple, clean appearance to organize the clutter, while bead board panels at the back of the coat cubbies adds a casual, country charm. Designer - Gerry Ayala Photo - Cathy Rabeler

Nels Akerlund Photography LLC
Design ideas for a traditional mudroom in Chicago with blue walls and dark hardwood floors.

www.robertlowellphotography.com
Mid-sized traditional mudroom in New York with slate floors and blue walls.

Still waiting for that walk!! Photos by Stacy Zarin-Goldberg
Large traditional mudroom in DC Metro with blue walls and slate floors.

Mid-sized arts and crafts mudroom in Chicago with blue walls, porcelain floors, a single front door, a white front door and grey floor.

Inspiration for a traditional mudroom in Toronto with blue walls and light hardwood floors.

Photo of a country mudroom in Minneapolis with blue walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor and planked wall panelling.

Photo of a small transitional mudroom in Boston with blue walls, ceramic floors, a single front door, a white front door and black floor.