Well hello ya’ll! Spring has sprung around here (thank goodness) and that means warmer weather, soccer, gardening, rain, and mud…yes, mud. Where does it get tracked? Inside, of course! Never fear, that’s why they call it a Mud Room. Now, it did not take me long after having children to discover that they (including my husband) need a dedicated space to drop everything upon entry. In addition to providing much needed storage, mud rooms with built ins have a way of making everything look more pulled together and tidy. Creating our dream mud room was at the top of my list when we bought our home and it was our first project. I hope you’ll find some inspiration as well, as I share the first room we tackled for a mud room makeover.

Let’s start with the Inspiration…

Pineapples and Peonies - Mud Room Makeover

Loving the clean look of all white cabinetry, mixed with brass handles and a brass chandelier. The bead board on the back also adds interest and depth to the all white look. Drawers down below pull open for kid-reachable storage. Cabinet doors up high swing open for adult usage. Perfect!

Here’s a look at our potential Mud Room from when we first bought our home…

I immediately loved the possibilities of this room, as well the space to create lockers and make it our own. I decided to keep the tile floors, as they’re in great shape and are great for holding up to the mud, etc. being tracked in. Playing on both the masculine and feminine, I decided on sleek appliances and an elevated, locker room vibe.

Here you can see progress of the lockers going in, with beadboard backing, as well as the sliders for soft-close drawers below.

I’m including this shot so you can also see the original lighting, a semi-flushmount which wasn’t all together terrible, but could be better : ).

I chose to go with a TOP LOAD washer and dryer this time around from Samsung, in a champagne finish. I cannot say enough about the benefits of team top load…most feel strongly one way or the other. For me, not repeatedly trying to scrub mold and mildew out of the basket seal is a game changer. On the flipside, it’s difficult to create a custom, built in look for a washer when you have to be able to open it from the top (i.e. no cute counters). My solution was to have our cabinet maker create a thick, beautiful shelf, with molding detail underneath to match the crown molding throughout the room. This works wonders at hiding unsightly cords and provides a drop zone for sunglasses, earbuds, etc. upon entry.

Now, for the really fun part…

After! Here she is completely finished, dressed and ready : ). Loving the gold details and special touches that really speak to our family. My cabinet guy stained the bench to perfectly match our Oak floors throughout the home. The honey wood will stand up well to dirt and stains for years to come!

Hello Lovely! I am forever in love with a chandy…even a semi-flushmount, which gives the added drama, without stealing headroom and the ceiling height (if you’ve ever hit your head on a light fixture, you know what I’m talking about). This beauty is by Minka Lavery, in White and Gold. A simple lighting swap can make a world difference in both design and function (this room is much brighter now). Special thanks to my favorite electrician, looking at you babe, for the install.

For the cabinet hardware, I chose classic gold pulls with a detailed design. I used 4” handles for the upper cabinets, as well as 6” handles for the pull-out drawers. I love to mix sizes! A larger drawer pull really makes a statement.

The champagne bronze hooks used throughout have a lovely scallop design, with two hooks in one! I chose a 2 1/4” size, which ended up being just the right fit for the bead board behind. I initially ordered a different hook, which was over 5” and overwhelmed the space.

In a fun and unexpected twist, my favorite detail of this room has to be the funky wallpaper my husband actually chose (gasp)! Who would have ever guessed he’d pick a print with Prada stores on it? This amazing paper is by Katie Kime in “Marfa Toile,” appropriately named for the lovely Prada Marfa art installation near Marfa, Texas. I mean, LOVE.

Last but certainly not least, the gent featured on our wall is none other than Coach Jim Valvano. We kind of love basketball (and sports in general) in our house, as well as strong, inspirational figures who have come from humble beginnings. If you’ve never heard Coach Jimmy V give his ESPY acceptance speech, take a listen…you will be inspired. “Don’t ever give up” is such a great message to take with you, before walking out the door each day.

Thanks so much for following along! If you have any questions or I’ve missed any details you’d like more info. on, leave a comment or drop me a message. Have a lovely week ya’ll!