Mudroom Makeover Offers Clutter-Free Charm
See the before-and-after pictures of an elegant mudroom in a 1901 Queen Anne house in Burlington, Vermont
The hardworking mudroom in this Burlington, Vermont, home serves as the front entry and unloading area for an active family of four and their dog. “The two teenage boys are avid skiers, so in the winter the mudroom has to store all of their equipment,” says designer Vanessa Elliott of Elliott | Meyers Design, who was brought in to transform the mudroom into a space that conceals clutter while providing a warm, welcome home. With its new brick floors, beautiful custom built-ins and shiplap walls and ceiling, this renovated mudroom hits all the right notes.
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After: Elliott replaced the front door with a door that used to separate the mudroom from the rest of the house. “This door was original to the house and provides a much nicer welcome, befitting the character of the house,” she says.
The designer painted the original front door in dark navy and the exterior in crisp white. New house numbers and a stylish doormat finish off the look.
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The designer painted the original front door in dark navy and the exterior in crisp white. New house numbers and a stylish doormat finish off the look.
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Before: The former mudroom had large windows, painted wood floors and beadboard walls and ceiling. A small bench and a few wicker baskets offered limited storage for all of the family’s winter gear.
After: The renovated mudroom now features brick flooring laid in a herringbone pattern, white shiplap walls and ceiling, a custom built-in bench, two tall closets and cabinet drawers.
“The brick floors made such a dramatic difference,” Elliott says. “They hold up well to the elements and also infuse the space with a classic character that complements the house.”
All of the new wall trim and ceiling molding match the molding and trim throughout the rest of the house, providing a seamless transition.
“The brick floors made such a dramatic difference,” Elliott says. “They hold up well to the elements and also infuse the space with a classic character that complements the house.”
All of the new wall trim and ceiling molding match the molding and trim throughout the rest of the house, providing a seamless transition.
The new custom built-ins include two floor-to-ceiling closets on both ends that are ideal for storing skis and poles. The built-in bench is made of white oak. The center built-in includes a trio of drawers for storing miscellaneous items.
Elliott covered the closets and the cabinet drawers in a green paint (Benjamin Moore’s Vintage Vogue) that provides a leafy touch ideal for a mudroom.
Elliott covered the closets and the cabinet drawers in a green paint (Benjamin Moore’s Vintage Vogue) that provides a leafy touch ideal for a mudroom.
The center built-in cabinet features a decorative silhouette that Elliott designed. “A lot of furniture pieces from the turn of the century have these great sloping lines, so I wanted to recreate that look,” she says.
The shiplap-covered wall behind the bench includes oil-rubbed bronze coat hooks that are also ideal for storing the dog’s leash.
The shiplap-covered wall behind the bench includes oil-rubbed bronze coat hooks that are also ideal for storing the dog’s leash.
A close-up image of the drawers highlight the leather-wrapped brass pulls. A piece of white oak atop the cabinet provides another solid surface for placing keys and a catchall.
Before: The original door that used to separate the mudroom from the rest of the house is now used as the front door to the mudroom.
The former mudroom included larger windows that let in lots of natural light but made it difficult to add proper storage, resulting in a rather cluttered space.
The former mudroom included larger windows that let in lots of natural light but made it difficult to add proper storage, resulting in a rather cluttered space.
After: The door from the mudroom to the home was removed, making the room feel more connected to the rest of the house.
Elliott says she sourced the smallest double-hang windows she could find to place above the built-ins. “We still wanted the mudroom to draw in some natural light and feel inviting,” she says.
Elliott says she sourced the smallest double-hang windows she could find to place above the built-ins. “We still wanted the mudroom to draw in some natural light and feel inviting,” she says.
Before: The exterior of the former mudroom was painted in the same light blue with white trim as the rest of the house.
After: The new exterior features crisp white paint, providing a fresh look that stands out from the rest of the house — while, conversely, the interior of the mudroom now feels more connected to the home’s interior.
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Mudroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four and their dog
Location: Burlington, Vermont
Size: About 50 square feet (4.6 square meters)
Designer: Vanessa Elliott of Elliott | Meyers Design
Before: The former front door to the mudroom had a large glass panel. “The front door didn’t really go with the historic character of the home,” Elliott says. The exterior was painted light blue with white trim.
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