The little mudroom off the kitchen was a part of the house that really sold me on the place. Not only is it conveniently located, but it's not too big and I've always liked the idea of using a back door entrance. Now, with two little boys who, I swear, secrete dirt from their pores, I like the idea even more.
Mike has created a really great plan for the mudroom, complete with custom Mike-made, bench, cubbies and coat hooks. I have been waiting with bated breath to have full access to and use of our new mudroom. Til then, we have coats on chairs, coats on doors, coats on coats. Seriously. They. Are. Everywhere. We need this mudroom like Gary Busey needs rehab.
We were full steam ahead on the project for the last couple of weeks, painting the room the ever-popular Monroe Bisque and hanging a (nice looking!) drop ceiling. We begrudgingly decided to go with a drop ceiling in the mudroom, as the second floor laundry will be directly above this space. You know, just in case. Mike got enough done for me to get these "sneak preview" pics in:
The true paint color kind of got lost in the rainy-day-8:00 AM light. In person, it looks nice and warm. We think the bead board is original to the house and Mike did a really great job patching it. And I have to admit, even I, the World's Biggest Drop Ceiling Hater, actually like the ceiling. Yep, things were lookin' pretty good!
Unfortunately, Mike has recently deemed himself "burnt out." He says he doesn't know why. Hmm, might have something to do with the renovating an entire house while working a full-time job while watching two dirt-secreting kids 32 hours a week. But I'm not a doctor.
Obviously, the important thing here is for Mike to rest and relax til he feels up to getting back to work. He doesn't seem to consider this an option and I gotta say, I get worried sometimes. Maybe some of you can talk some "take care of yourself!" sense into him?
Surely I can live in coat hell for another couple of weeks. It's a lot nicer than asbestos hell and lead paint hell.
1 comment:
I agree that the lack of storage is a real issue. There was a lovely Victorian that my wife and I both loved, on a lot in a half, in a very nice neighborhood. It had a spectacular first floor - 10 or 11 foot ceilings, pocket doors, built in window seat, and great woodwork. However, there was absolutely no storage on the second floor, even though the floor was easily 1000 square feet. Four bedrooms, a bath, but no closets. Further, there was no easy way to add closets without screwing up the lines of the rooms.
Aesthetically, from what I have seen of the exterior of your house, you could get away with moving in a more 1910s or 1920s direction with built-ins to handle a certain number of your storage needs. A phone nook, for instance, could free up that space, and perhaps a built in ironing board, too (or really save space by only buying cotton-poly blend clothing). When trimmed out sympathetically to the rest of the house, built in storage can provide a significant amount of extra space. While the studs may only be 3.5" or 4" deep, with a shelf projecting out one inch, one might have some usable storage.
Then again, I may feel this way because I've become convinced that built-ins are the solution to some of my own storage problems and my issues with the kitchen, which, though nice, is too small by current standards. (Further, there's no way to expand it.)
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