Room of the Day: Bright and Cheerful Mudroom Keeps Things Tidy
Turtle wallpaper sets the tone in this Minnesota space that serves as drop zone, laundry area and bedroom for dog Lucky
An important part of this couple’s new home on Lake Minnetonka is a hardworking mudroom, complete with storage for outdoor gear, laundry, coat hooks and a cozy spot for their dog, Lucky. But the room isn’t all about work; it scores a perfect 10 on the cheerful meter. “Orange is the client’s favorite color and the turtles added whimsy,” interior designer Stephanie Lalley says. “The room was designed around this fabulous paper.”
With the orange turtle wallpaper picked out, the rest of the design fell into place around it. Don’t let the pretty striped floor fool you — it’s tough. The stripes are composed of 12-by-12-inch vinyl composition tiles (VCT) in two colors. VCT is a product most often used for commercial spaces because it can stand up to lots of heavy traffic and is easy to keep clean and maintain.
More stripes cover the bench, where boots can be put on and taken off, ensuring they don’t muck up the rest of the house. The bench area also includes hooks for coats, bags and leashes. A mirror up top helps to keep the room light and bright.
Bench fabric: Mustique in Melon, Link Outdoor; flooring: Standard Excelon Imperial Texture in Washed Linen 51810 and Earthstone Greige 51804, Armstrong
More stripes cover the bench, where boots can be put on and taken off, ensuring they don’t muck up the rest of the house. The bench area also includes hooks for coats, bags and leashes. A mirror up top helps to keep the room light and bright.
Bench fabric: Mustique in Melon, Link Outdoor; flooring: Standard Excelon Imperial Texture in Washed Linen 51810 and Earthstone Greige 51804, Armstrong
The mudroom also doubles as a well-outfitted laundry room; next to the machines is a clothes bay complete with a counter for folding and a rod for hanging. Coordinating orange curtains conceal any mess. “Because of the curtains, the bay is also the perfect hideaway for their weekend cabin gear,” Lalley says.
Curtain fabric: Sonriza in Orange, Schumacher; counter: White Springs, Amsum & Ash
Curtain fabric: Sonriza in Orange, Schumacher; counter: White Springs, Amsum & Ash
Her drop zone is on the opposite side of the room from his. “We added hammered pewter hardware for texture and whimsical knobs for fun,” Lalley says. Fun indeed — entering this cheerful mudroom sets the tone for the rest of the house and the activities that await.
Cabinet hardware: Nob Hill Hardware
More
Mudrooms That Really Clean Up
7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Entry Hall
Cabinet hardware: Nob Hill Hardware
More
Mudrooms That Really Clean Up
7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Entry Hall
Mudroom at a Glance
What happens here: Coming and going, doing laundry, storing gear and snoozing (the dog)
Location: Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota
Size: 198 square feet (18 square meters)
Designers: Stephanie Lalley and Lucy Penfield of Lucy Interior Design
After their nest emptied out, the couple wanted to move into a home that would serve as a destination for the whole family to gather. They built their dream house, a lake cottage full of playful touches and color, where everyone could enjoy lots of outdoor fun and cozy nights together. With all the comings and goings, outdoor activities and busy lives, they needed a hardworking landing zone for entering and exiting.
Meet the couple’s dog, Lucky. His needs were an important part of the design, and he always welcomes Mom and Dad home as they enter the mudroom from the garage. Lalley and co-designer Lucy Penfield designed these doors with custom metal mesh inserts for Lucky’s crate-bed. “They are strong enough for puppy paws,” Lalley says. There’s plenty of room for storing food, treats and other doggy supplies in the cabinets around it.
The room has his-and-her drop zones for getting organized, leaving keys and mail and charging devices as the couple come in and out. His drop zone is here above Lucky’s lair. The countertops in the room are granite.
Wallpaper: Turtle Bay T5769, Thibaut; trim and cabinetry paint: Cloud White 967, Benjamin Moore