Photography By Stephani Buchman
Not just a place to hang your coat and store your boots, the mudroom makes a statement and offers ultimate function.
There are many rooms in the home that are important for everyday living, and the mudroom is a space that has risen to new heights. With the hustle and bustle of busy families, it is a practical room that should be functional and bring added value by simplifying everyday activity and facilitating the entering and exiting of the home.
MAKE ROOM FOR BASICS
Storage and organization is at the forefront in the design process, which has pushed the mudroom into becoming one of the most sought-after spaces in the home. With messy Canadian winters, we need a practical transitional space for storing mud-caked boots, hats, gloves, bulky coats, snow pants and the list goes on.
Mudroom essentials begin with understanding your everyday needs. For most families, some of the key functions of a mudroom include a coat closet, individual lockers or cubbies, coat hooks and a bench for kids or the elderly to sit down and tie their shoes. Some families also require ample space for seasonal sports and specialty equipment. Special consideration needs to be made when designing a mudroom with a list of very big or even very basic needs.
FAMILY-SPECIFIC NEEDS
In this mudroom, we designed a space for a busy family of four that enjoys outdoor activities. To maximize storage we lined the perimeter of the space with fullheight cabinets and a built-in bench with storage drawers below. The tall closet doors give the illusion of height and the drawers flanking the sink are ideal for storing keys, small items and even some essential tools. The reverse shaker doors are sleek and modern painted in Benjamin Moore’s Heron White.
The style of this mudroom combines modern elegance with classic touches. The white backdrop allows the old-world floors, coat hooks and vintage hardware to stand out. The juxtaposition of these elements is both striking and inviting.
One of the most practical features of this mudroom was incorporating a sink. A place to wash up when coming in from the outdoors is very important; it also allows the family to clean up their muddy boots and belongings right in the mudroom sink without having to drag them through the home.
LIGHTING THE WAY
Lighting in the mudroom is also important in making this space über functional. A series of pot lights were installed strategically throughout the room. They are all on a motion-sensor switch, so when mom comes in from the outdoors with her hands full, the lights turn on automatically. This is the perfect small and clever feature that can truly enhance everyday living. A decorative industrial-style pendant hangs directly over the sink defining this zone while providing proper task lighting.
FUN FEATURES
Special considerations for interior finishes are also very important in creating a practical room. Inspired by cobblestone roads and wanting to bring that look indoors, the dark slate brick floor is easy to maintain, and its dark tones conceal the daily imperfections. Mudroom floors must hold up to so many elements— from snow, salt, sand and mud—making sure that your floors work for all seasons is key to a utilitarian space.
While it’s imperative to ensure you’ve included all the essentials in a space, adding a sense of whimsy also helps make a functional space that much more fun! Our gold bumblebee wallpaper from Farrow & Ball combines freshness and fearlessness—the bee symbolic of welcome adds a memorable and inviting touch. We chose a variety of hardware all within gold and black tones to accentuate the simple white cabinets and give the space a unique character. Having fun with hardware is an easy and inexpensive way to accessorize a space.
The custom-bench cushion in its multi-stripe tone helps bring colour and character as well as additional storage. The black-and-white modern artwork complements the design and creates a curated look in a very functional room.
Every home needs a stop-and-drop space that makes for a pleasant transition to and from the outdoors. With careful design planning you can create a mudroom that’s both practical and stylish for your everyday needs.
SOURCES
FARM SINK AND BLACK FAUCET: Kohler WALLPAPER: Farrow and Ball LIGHT FIXTURE: Hubbardton Forge, CABINETRY HARDWARE: Lee Valley Hardware & Anthropologie COAT HOOKS: Lee Valley Hardware, MILLWORK: Dvira Interiors PAINT COLOUR: Heron White, Benjamin Moore BENCH CUSHION FABRIC: Paul Smith Stripes by Maharam ART: Rachel Ovadia FLOORS: Olympia Tile COUNTERTOP: ‘Statuarietto’ natural stone, Crystal Tile
Dvira Ovadia, Living by Design Toronto-based celebrity and award-winning designer Dvira Ovadia, Principal of Dvira Interiors, is known for her appearances and design work on various HGTV shows. Dvira and her team use their profound understanding of design to create stylishly smart spaces. Servicing clientele throughout Ontario and the GTA. dvira.com @DVIRAdesigner