The conversion of our “walk through/transitional” room into a multipurpose mudroom and reading area is finished. Yay! Well, it’s as finished as it’s going to get for now. This winter, I will convert the wall with the hooks into storage lockers with barn doors but I need my dad’s help for that. I think it will be a great winter project! He thinks NOT.
Before:
Progress:
After:
Do you have a room like this? A room that serves no purpose and you wish you had another space but think you don’t have the room for it? It’s so easy to think of a mudroom as a traditional space right as you walk into your home that has the walls & flooring to define the space. Do you know what I mean? This room is right as you walk into our house from the driveway and use to be the old family room (about 12 years ago) and it’s bigger than the traditional mudroom and that is where my brain has been struggling. Tearing down and adding walls would require my dad’s help and he told me to go away when I proposed that so for now, I’m using what I’ve got and attempting to make it work! This space is still a “walk through” room between the kitchen and family room except now, it serves a useful purpose. Additional coat and shoe storage as well as a reading area.
This is the view from the garage/foyer door (looking into the kitchen) before,
After,
Sorry, I had to hide our Christmas tree behind that big yellow graphic thingy. More on the early Christmas tree later. It’s kind of strange though having a tree up in early October!
I added some bar height stools to the pennisula area as well as a shelf over the chest of drawers which is our craft storage area. I wanted to incorporate an equestrian theme along with the fall colors and decor. Isn’t the navy equestrian pillow adorable from Target’s new Threshold line? I think it adds a fun pop of color to the brown leather chair. It’s a great place to cozy up with a book.
I love the black herringbone picture frame from Target. I think the picture of my step daughter showing our pony Tag, looks great in it! This picture was taken many years ago when she was 5. I cannot believe how much time has gone by. Where does the time go?
I LOVE this picture frame. Thank you Target :).
These are the barn closet doors that my dad and I made last September. This was one of our first projects we posted on the blog. You can see how we converted this boring bookcase by adding shelving and diy doors here and here. By adding the coat hooks outside on the wall, this frees up the space behind these doors for additional storage. I am hoping to add shelving inside one of these days.
My goal was to incorporate this room into the family room so I added board and batten and painted the walls white dove and wythe blue, the same color as the family room. Our newly repurposed toy box now serves as our shoe storage area.
The window set me back a couple weeks. It’s awkward shape and lack of character made my brain hurt. I tried a roman shade and it didn’t look right and I couldn’t use panel drapery as they would hang over the hooks. Thankfully after texting back and forth with my friend Kim from Sand and Sisal she said, “oh I love the baby board and batten”. That made me laugh! I added a piece of 1×10 pine to the top of the window and added trim molding around the edges as well as some thin pieces of pine to create a “baby” board and batten look. Sorry Kim, I’ll use that term forever now.
Garth is the newest four legged member of our family. The spot right in front of the door happens to be one of his favorites.
He also has been known to steal one or two of those little o’l pumpkins on the ottoman as well. I love the details on the navy pillow.
A little play time.
I used my outdoor rug as the first layer and added a cotton throw rug on top to create some additional contrast on the floor. I think one of my upcoming diy projects will be installing hardwood flooring in this room and the adjoining family room. Do you know how much money you can save by installing it yourself? It’s insane the amount people charge to install it.
I am pretty happy to have this entire wall dedicated to coat and shoe storage. It’s not your traditional mudroom but when you don’t have a mudroom and have a large open wall, this is the solution! This room serves as a reading area, craft storage area, seating area at the peninsula and an area for coats and shoe storage. How about you, have you created a diy mudroom area in your home?
Disclaimer: Target provided some of the home decor items in this post. All opinions are mine.
Check out our board and batten tutorial, DIY barn closet door tutorial and our DIY shoe storage tutorial.
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Janel@nelliebellie says
This is lovely!! Just fabulous! Love the board and batten..what a great addition! So gorgeous!
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you Janel!
Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG says
the room is awesome! so jealous – I have only a small entryway, would love to have this space in my home! so much lighter and brighter than the before pic – and I LOVE the baby board and batten! Great Job!
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you Cheryl. I’m liking the baby board and batten also 🙂
Jessica @ HomewithBaxter says
It came out beautiful! I love the idea of the baby board and batten over the window and those barn doors are to die for!
Jessica Bruno says
Thanks so much Jessica 🙂
Tara says
Absolutely beautiful!! Love it 🙂
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you Tara!
Kim @ Sand & Sisal says
I LOVE IT!!! It all turned out so beautiful and how nice you’ve created the flow of the adjoining rooms. (And yes, the baby board & batten is perfect!)
😉
Jessica Bruno says
Thanks Kim! I appreciate all your help 🙂
Laura @ House Of Joyful Noise says
Beautiful job, as always, Jessica!
I am very much looking forward to seeing how you convert the wall with hooks into storage lockers with barn doors this winter. But it looks fabulous as is, already. You really made the most of this walk-through room! I’d venture to guess some family members will be stopping to enjoy the room, rest, and perhaps read a book for awhile now, before mosey-ing on. Garth seems to have the right idea!
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you Laura. I’m interested to see how we do it as well! ha. Hope you have a great weekend!
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
This looks great! I love the board and batten and how bright and homey it looks right when you walk in! Way to make a non-traditional space work!
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you Ashley!
Laura from The Apron blog says
This looks awesome. Great work, Jessica!
Jessica Bruno says
Thanks Laura! Happy Friday 🙂
Stacy says
What a beautiful room! Very inspiring, thank you
Nicole Shah says
It turned out gorgeous Jessica! Great job!
Danielle says
Jessica, it looks fantastic. I wish we had a room like that! When you come into our house you are directly met by the stairs as it is a raised ranch. I love what you did with the space and that you have a reading area too. The pictures look fantastic!
Heidi says
Wow! Impressive what you guys in America call a “mudroom”. I think it’s a lovely room and I envy you for it as I have only a small entryway. My favourite in this room is the chest of drawers!
Heidi (from Switzerland – no joke)
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you. I love the chest of drawers also. It has great storage!
Nancy @ Sea Rose Cottage says
Love the color and the “baby board and batten” –too funny! The lanterns are great. It is the warmest and coziest mudroom I have seen! You have done a wonderful job with a very challenging space! We had a “transition” room with 6 doors in it (and one window!) that was a pass-through to the only bathroom on that floor of the house. Until we could remodel, it worked well as an office.
Jessica Bruno says
6 doors! Oh my, I would have cried! ha. Thanks Nancy so much for you sweet words. Hope all is well!
irene says
looks great jess – love the new puppy! congrats on your feature as well
Jessica Bruno says
Thanks Irene! How are you ? Hope all is well!
Lourdes says
Fantastic! I love how you have all the necessary things for a mudroom yet it is still open and airy! It’s beautiful! BTW, Garth is adorable!
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you LOurdes! We think Garth is pretty cute to 🙂
Mary Beth @ Cupcakes and Crinoline says
Gorgeous makeover….I love absolutely everything about this room!
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you 😀
Ashley says
what an awesome room! I’d love one of these : )
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you Ashley. I am glad it’s done!
Anne says
Fabulous job! I really love everything you’ve done – and that aqua dresser is awesome!!
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you Anne!
Taryn @ Design, Dining + Diapers says
Jessica! I just can’t believe how fast you get projects done, this amazes me! The wood work, molding and the color are gorgeous. Do you want to come over and help me transform my house hehe 😉
Jessica Bruno says
haha you are funny Taryn! Thanks so much your kind words 🙂
Jane says
This room is gorgeous! I would leave it as it is. It looks like it came out if a magazine and serves all the purposes you wanted.
All I can say is WOW!!!
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you Jane! I’m glad you liked it 🙂
Karah @ thespacebetweenblog says
I love, love, love this!!! So stinkin’ awesome … all the way around!!
Jessica Bruno says
You are cracking me up with the “stinkin awesome” 🙂 Love that! Thanks so much for your sweet words 🙂
Clydia says
WOW! The transformation is awesome! Totally magazine worthy!!
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you Clydia 🙂
Gwen says
I LOVE it… It’s so fresh and clean looking!
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you Gwen!
Steph @ The Silly Pearl says
Oh wow! I am in such awe…so beautiful, Jessica!
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you Steph!
Megan says
Such a gorgeous space!! I love your dog too. 🙂 Megan
Jessica Bruno says
Thanks Megan!
tabatha stimpso says
where did you get those wall sconces??!!!!! i love this look!!!
Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage says
I think I’m in love! What a great way to makeover wasted space – and I NEED my mudroom!
Love your crate storage and those sconces and of course who could forget the baby board & batten!
You rocked it!
Kelly
Jessica Bruno says
Thanks Kelly for stopping by and your sweet comments on our room 🙂
Bonnie and Trish @ Uncommon says
Love it Jessica!!! Turned out amazing!! beautiful details girl!!
ColleenwithMurals&More says
Jessica, you are so dang cute! Love, love, love the room . . . and those barn doors! Awesome.
We have to ‘talk’ some time. I had 4 generations for a bit. Um . . . we can talk 😉
btw, is Garth a bull mastiff? We had two and LOVED them! Best dogs ever. Unfortunately our last one had to be put down a few weeks after my husband passed. Enjoy your new baby ♥
Jessica Bruno says
Hi Colleen! Thank you, yes we should definitely compare notes! ha. Yes, garth is a bull mastiff. We just got him . So sorry to hear about your bull mastiff 🙁 Thanks for stopping by and talk to you soon!
malia says
gorgeous!
Judy says
Amazing job. What a great use of space. I love everything about it. I would love for you to link this up to my party that I host each week starting Tuesday nights at 8pm EST. Hope to see you there.
Heather says
I always love to see your power tool action shots Jessica!! This turned out so amazing!! As do all your decorating and room makeovers!!! The board and batten is awesome – like you 😀
Jessica @ Dear Emmeline says
gorgeous!
Gretchen says
Hi. I also love everything about the space. Especially love the colors, natural light and freshness. I am curious if it is the entrance to your home? Is that your front door? What are your thoughts on if I were to turn a never used living room dining room, that is one large rectangle, into a study/ mudroom? It is the first room when you enter our home though. Wasted space.
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you! This is actually our 2nd entrance. The house has two front entrances. This is (was) a room off the garage/side foyer and use to be the “old” family room 20 years ago. Sounds similar to what you have! I say do it! I am a firm believer in “living” in your home and making it work for you. Go for it 🙂
Heather says
Jessica,
This mudroom is amazing! I just found your site through Iheartorganizing.blogspot.com, and I am so happy I did. Where did you get the wire bins that are hanging on the wall? I am looking for something exactly like that to hold our hats and gloves.
Thanks!
Heather from SmallFamilyBigWorld.com
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you so much Heather! I got the baskets in either Marshalls or TJMax. I cannot remember but they were fairly inexpensive at $7 or $8 each 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Rachel says
This-looks-amazing. Seriously. I said it over at I Heart Organizing, and I’m saying it here, too. I am beyond in love with this room. Can I just come over and live in it? Haha. And I’m glad you like the horse pillow from Target!! I laid eyes on it months ago and I wanted it so-bad. But we’ve been saving up for some other stuff, so I let it go. *Sniff. I’ll have to see if they still have it, because seeing it on that chair makes me want to go back and buy it immediately.
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you Rachel! You made me laugh with your “sniff”! ha. Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment, much appreciated 🙂 Have a good night and good luck with the pillow.
Sara says
Found this through iheartorganizing.blogspot.com and I LOVE the wall lanterns — where are they from? Looks beautiful!
Jessica Bruno says
Thank you! The lanterns are from Pier 1 Imports 🙂
Leah says
I love the room and was wondering where you got those super cute hanging wire baskets?
Jessica Bruno says
Hi, thank you so much! I got the baskets in either Marshalls or TJmaxx. I cannot remember which store but I know they carry them. Good luck in your search. Home Goods may also have them 🙂
michelle says
Beautiful! We don’t have a mudroom either. The old living room of the house, which is teeny, definitely could use a makeover like this. Its a glorified hallway really and wasted space. Will be showing hubs your room and hoping for the best. 🙂
Jessica Bruno says
Good luck with our hubs and the mudroom!
Katie bricker says
Where did you get your hanging laterns?
Jessica Bruno says
The lanterns are from Pier 1 imports.
Kim says
Hi Jessica! Great room…I’m LOVING the chest of drawers! did you refinish them yourself? if so, do you know what the color is? It’s great, and i’d love a similar look for a piece i want in my entryway!
Jessica Bruno says
Hi, thanks so much! The chest is from Home Goods. It’s such a great piece and I got it on clearance which was even better! It’s a green/blue color.
Megan says
This room is beautiful. You are so creative and even more – you actually go and do things with your creativity! I just have one question – where did you get that woven basket with handles on the floor by the door? I think you have it pictures with pillows here. I’d love to find something like that. Thanks!
Jessica Bruno says
Hi Megan! Thank you 🙂 The basket is from Home Goods!
Stacey says
Can you tell me where you got those great wire baskets hanging on the wall? Just what I’m looking for for our mudroom.
Jessica Bruno says
Hi, I got the baskets in Home Goods, Tjmaxx or Marshalls, can’t remember which one.
Talysa says
Would love to know the name of the wall color you used here. Love it.
Holly says
I just came across your couch on Pinterest. Where did you get? Pottery Barn?
Jessica Bruno says
Jordan’s furniture in Massachusetts 🙂
crystal says
Hello,
I have been on the hunt forever to find this blueish greenish color you have in your home, do you know what the name of the color you used was?
Jessica Bruno says
Wythe blue by Benjamin Moore 🙂