A few years ago we teamed up with Natalie O’Shaugnessy of O’Home Interiors to produce one of my favorite projects to date. This Old Sagamore home just screams family to me. It’s got that high-low mix of approachable antiques alongside new, transitional pieces and fresh, yet still mature textiles. It’s just a total home-run in my book!
But there was so much loveliness in the house it would be silly to cram it all into one post. So, let’s take it room by room! Today I want to share with you the maids-room-turned-mudroom.
Here it is back in early 2015. Pretty plain jane. Just a small little room off the kitchen, with a door to the garage.
And now looking down that same hallway from the kitchen wouldn’t you agree there’s a slightly better view?! Beyond the glass panes of the new french pocket door, the north wing of the house has become one of this Mission Hills home’s greatest assets. By reworking the location of the garage door we were able to give the space manifold functions. From the family’s predominant entry to the home’s mudroom to the kitchen’s overflow pantry to the guests’ powder bath to the wife’s office to the home’s laundry room, the space is as hard-working as ever!
And to think (oh, the horror!) the family almost left the room as is! It barely rolled off the chopping block as they finalized their remodeling scope last year, only to become one of the best decisions they made. Whew!
Let’s take a closer look at each of the room’s many purposes, starting with laundry. Oh, the life-changing first floor laundry! So the machines themselves are only barely peeking into the corner of this picture, but you can appreciate the location of the washer/dryer nonetheless!
The details of this project are what make it really sing. From the farmhouse sink to the bridge faucet, Natalie and the homeowner really took it up a notch turning what is typically nothing but a purely utilitarian space into a magazine-worthy room.
You can see from the jar of treats that the young family also includes a four-legged member. Taking that into account during the design-phase, the dog-friendly floors which were chosen are totally up for the challenge of muddy paws. I think I hear more comments about the chevron lay of the slate tile as I do any feature of the room!
We think a lot when coming up with a design about reaching a point of diminishing return. For instance, is it really worth reframing the doorway just to gain a few inches? Does getting one more barstool squeezed in merit the cost of relocating the existing kitchen wall? How badly do you want x and y when it means spending z? Do you gain enough to justify the upheaval it will cause? Questions like that.
Well this was one of those, heck yes it’s worth it decisions to scootch (you’re welcome for that high-level remodeling vocabulary) the doorway over just enough to squeeze in a wall of priceless pantry space.
Standing in the kitchen, looking toward the mudroom/pantry, here’s a not so great before-during-and-almost-finished progression of how we reframed the doorway, shifting it just enough to the left. By taking the time to do so we carved out the needed depth for the built-in pantries, and popped a pocket door in there as an added bonus. Totally worth it! Point of diminishing return NOT reached!
Back in the mudroom, let’s swing around and drool over the mudroom cubbies. Pretty sure this is every mom’s dream. Having a spot to hang the endless onslaught of backpacks, bags and jackets that come with each family member. Glory, hallelujah.
From both a practical and aesthetic point of view, I love how there’s a little bit of everything worked into this piece of custom cabinetry. Concealed cabinet storage. √ Plenty of coat hooks. √ Drawers. √ Bench to sit down. √ Flush-with-the-floor cubbies to kick your shoes inside or slide in a basket. √
Okay, and then for the icing on the cake. The walnut-topped desk, complete with exposed adjustable bookshelves and plenty of drawers. So dang pretty! And accessorized like a champ.(What’s just barely outside of the frame is an exterior door leading to the family’s backyard so just imagine how much great natural light this room receives.)
