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The Mudroom: Landing Spot

Some of you might remember back to last March when I decided that we really needed a mudroom in our basement.

I even concocted a plan.

Well, it’s almost a full year later and I’m still not quite done.  I crossed off number 2 on the above list last spring, but I just now crossed off number 3.  No, I still haven’t even come close to dealing with number 1 yet, but it’ll happen  – eventually.  
You might remember what this bookcase around the corner looked like before.  It was set up as a bar. 
It had a counter top of broken wine bottles – a diy project from way before the blog. 
                             
It didn’t take too long to realize that using this bookcase as a bar was a really, really bad idea.  The dishwasher is upstairs – enough said.  Sometimes you have to deal with the previous owners mistakes, and sometimes you have to deal with the mistakes you made all by yourself – why did I paint this black, add mirrors to the back and use broken wine glass pieces for a counter top?! 
mudroom before
So it took me a good long while to complete this project, but I put my big girl pants on and finally got her done! 
mudroom landing spot
It was a long process.  I had to chisel the counter top off – which was super fun!  not. 
Once it was all cleared off I put down wood paneling. This made it so that I didn’t have to remove all the grout just the pieces of glass. 
paneled counter top
You might also notice the bead board on the back.  After I realized the mirrored back wasn’t going to budge, I decided the best and easiest thing would be to cover it up with bead board.  I used liquid nails to adhere it since I obviously couldn’t nail through the glass.  Then I used some finishing trim to frame. 
bead board on back of bookcase


I also decided that the doors and the drawers inside had to go.  This is a very narrow hallway and having doors on the lower half wasn’t convenient.

mudroom storage

So much better without doors!  The inside used to have drawers, but I decided to ditch them and create open shelving for baskets.

Instead of painting the shelves white I did a wash on them mixing the paint with lots of water to create more of a stained look.  I didn’t want to have to worry about these baskets scratching the paint since they’ll be getting lots of use.

mudroom storage
yes  – those are storm trooper ear muffs, no – you can’t borrow them

mudroom organization

mudroom storage

Everybody in the family has their own locker bin and the other baskets are for extra hats, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen – you know, the usual, grab-it-before-you-go essentials.  The two large baskets on either side are for shoes; and there are mirrors over each so we can make sure we don’t have anything in our teeth before we head out the door.

The paneled top is set up as a drop spot for keys and pocket change.  It’s also perfect for setting my to-go cup of coffee down while I get my coat on and grab what I need.

mudroom styling

As you can see this is where the wrapped photo mats went.  I used stencils and a sharpie to create some “welcome home” art.  I also used an open back frame to display a few of my favorite instagram pics.

instagram deisplay

So now that the giant chalkboard calendar is done and this built-in bookcase is now the perfect landing spot, I’m ready to tackle number 1 from above – take the doors off the closet and add a bench and bunch of hooks for coats.

mudroom hallway

I’m 2/3 of the way there to turning these weird narrow hallways into a functional mudroom!  Finally I can see the light at the end of the turn-a-hallway-into-a-mudroom tunnel.

mudroom landing spot

Does your family have a landing spot?  For those of you who have been around since last year, did you forget about this project?

Please – if I ever dare say I want to break up a bunch of wine bottles to create a mosaic counter top – grab the bottle out of my hand and hit me over the dang head!

Sharing over at Savvy Southern Style, Design, Dining + Diapers, Liz Marie Blog, Thrifty Decor Chick 

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  • Wow! You sure did a super, terrific, amazing and incredible transformation on that bookcase! Mega transformation! Love the all the details and accent pieces. Your mudroom area is very functional and beautiful! 🙂

    Fantastic work! 🙂

    Julie

  • This is interesting – Just yesterday I was wondering if you had finished this project. I am in the process of bringing our wet bar from the 80's to the current style. It, too, has a mirrored background. You did an amazing job. Could you please do a tutorial on how you use Picmonkey's graphics and text to create such interesting photos? Yours are the best I have seen in blogland. I always do a terrible job, and it could be because I don't know how to properly take advantage of all that Picmonkey has to offer. Thanks!!

  • That looks fantastic! I have had a DIY disaster with a broken glass top too several years ago – except mine was with broken plates plastered to the top of an ottoman that I had removed the cushion from. I can't even claim "good in theory poor in execution" on this one…because, needless to say, broken plates are neither comfortable to rest any part of your body (be it bum or feet) or good for clothes. C'est la vie! We live and we learn 🙂

  • The before and after is amazing! It looks absolutely perfect now…I love the white and all of the functioning things you have going on. Great job…that must have been a ton of work!

    ~Sarah

  • Carmel!!! I *love* this! I have to say, I'm so impressed with your innovative ways to turn this piece into something that not only works, but it GORGEOUS!!

    I totally know what you mean about needing a landing spot for things, and we've done the best we could with what we have at the moment, but I have a coat closet that I'm itching to open up and turn into something truly functional. Let's face it, kids (well, my kids) don't use coat closets to hang up their coats! I still haven't figured out exactly HOW to do it, but I know there has to be a way. I wish my closet was a double door one like yours – THAT will totally work!

    Thanks for sharing – this is fantastic!

  • (I totally remember, which makes me realize how fast this past year FLEW by.)

    LOVE THIS!! Especially digging how you repurposed/personalized the piece & it's so functional & beautiful now. Can't wait to see the closet/doors-off transformation!

    xoxo

  • It looks great! We have a system worked out except for the kids backpacks. My older kids backpacks are way to heavy to put on a hook now. I'm thinking about reworking our mudroom/laundry room so we have cubbies instead.

  • We used a local carpet place and had the shag we had replaced with this berber style last year. It's Mohawk but I can't remember the name of this particular one. I told them I wanted the cheapest tightly woven low pile carpet they had – and they recommended this. They way this berber is woven is almost like little squares – and it's multi-colored so it doesn't show dirt. The only bad thing is if it snags it will pull across. It's not been a problem for us but I'd say for anyone with cats this would probably be a bad choice.

  • I love it! We are in the process of building a mudroom bench/locker for our entry. I was wondering if you could share where you got your baskets? Especially the ones that are on the middle shelf on the bottom? Our bench has some shorter shelves that I think these work work well. I also LOVE the metal bins! Just tell me where you got them all!!!

    Thanks:)
    Meg

  • this looks so great! unfortunately we have no space for a landing spot/mudroom right now (front door goes right into living room and back door goes right into kitchen). but i have dreams of a space like this in the next house. fingers crossed!
    — jackiejade.blogspot.com

  • Hi Meg, the brown baskets are from Meijer – they have a huge selection of sizes and put them on sale pretty often. The metal wire baskets I found at Kroger. My Kroger is one of those giant ones that has a small home section in it – and surprisingly it's all pretty decent stuff!

  • OK, can you come build one of these for me? I've dreamed of having something like this for so long. With three kids, backpacks, two dogs and a lot of stuff, our foyer closet is out of control. What an awesome final result!

  • Seriously, you made all that?!? Of course you did, you're fabulous! That looks amazing! Where are the wire baskets from? and sorry, but I snickered at 'crossing off number 2'
    glad you got that taken care of #imachild #a10yroldboyspecifically

  • Fantastic, Carmel! I can't believe that is the same shelving unit, for a while I thought you ripped out the black one and built something new! I love the big baskets for shoes, the instagram pics, and the herringbone mats. What a functional space!

  • I have wanted to do this for sooooo long to my closet. I absolutely love the cabinet! And I can't wait to see what you're going to do with the closet. Keep working on this project!!! I am EXCITED 🙂

  • Love that you finally put your big girl pants on. I was wondering when that would happen 😉 It's fantastic. I can't believe how much work that was. Yikes. Major project and major pay off. Love the artwork and photos displayed, too.

  • oh WOW carmel! I would love to have that landing spot in my home too 🙂 you are awesome for taking off that glass pieces!! you inspire me…thanks!

    huggies♥
    rea

  • The cabinet looks fantastic! I did like the wine bottle top but it looks great now! ;-D

    Lots of work but I can your dream coming true. Keep up the good work, Carmel!

    XO,
    Jane

  • Thanks! I checked meijer but they must not carry many baskets anymore:( I am determined to find the right size!

  • Hi Carmel! I am new to your blog (found you through Emily Clark!) and I just had to tell you how much I adore your style. I am a red girl and I just can't get enough of your house. I have been taking it all in this morning and just love it! Thanks for sharing your talent.

  • Wow, what a big difference. It came out so good you wouldn't even know there used to be a broken glass countertop – it's so fresh and clean in the white – love it!!

  • You knocked this out of the park! It looks amazing and way tell those narrow hallways who's boss 😉 I started scheming ways to carve out a mudroom for us last year and I need to get my big girl pants on already – thanks for the motivation!

  • Looking great! I was thinking a mosaic would look nice as a kitchen counter top. Thanks for posting your experience – I'll reconsider! :o)

  • Wow, I am as impressed as the rest of your readers! This project reeks of Soooo much hard, messy work! I kept checking out the carpet and walls around and under this project and cannot find even a scratch or sliver of broken wine glass anywhere!! SuperDuper job!

  • Whoops, I forgot to say how much I love the Welcome Home signs. Love the mat coverings you used, and there is just something about how you seperated the words. Perfect accent for this space.

  • What an amazing transformation- I almost didn't recognize the piece at first. It looks so fresh and new now! Way to go girl. You should be very proud of yourself! 🙂

  • 1. I LOVE your landing area. I'm already looking for places in my house where I can set a few things down to put my coat on.
    2. Those baskets fit so perfectly it looks like they were meant for that cabinet! Fantastic!
    3. I love your living room so much that I mentioned it on my blog today. Thanks for the inspiration!

  • WOW! Looks straight out of a PB catalog – fabulous function with all your customized organizers and just as stylish! You should send it to BHG, you know the back page that says, "I did it!" 🙂

  • WOW! Seeing this gorgeous project made my day! It's perfect and awesome. Hmmm, now where'd I put my paint? 🙂

  • Wow- what a great transformation. Love the idea of taking off the closet doors. Looks like it might all work better if you switch the door (is it from the garage?) to open in the other way, so that when you open the door you don't impede access to the closet and/or make it more of the first thing you see so that it is super easy to use it!
    Can't wait to see the final results!

  • Wow! What a huge transformation for that bar/bookshelf! It looks completely different and I love it! It's stuff like that makes me want to look at EVERYTHING I toss and try to imagine it as something completely different. It looks great! That wine bottle counter top though……… hahaha just kidding! Live and learn! =]

  • WOW!!! It's absolutely gorgeous. I am so impressed that you turned that bar into something so amazing and functional. I live in LA and we don't have anything like a mudroom…sure wish we did.

  • It looks AWESOME!!! Carmel I seriously cannot believe that is the same piece of furniture. You did an incredible job and the beadboard solutions were perfect. Way to go lady! 🙂
    Vanessa

  • Carmel,
    Can you please, please, please tell me what type of carpet you have in the hall? I LOOOOOOOOOOVE it! Your house is just beautiful. I can't wait to replace the gross carpeting in my house 🙂

    Amy W.

  • It looks so incredibly lovely! And so so different! Kudos to you for making such a functional and lovely area for your family! I am always so impressed with your ability to turn anything you touch to gold. Every detail is accounted for. 🙂

    xo,
    Jen

  • I was just complaining to my husband the other day that our foyer looks like a junk heap, you have given me a great idea, and I think I have a piece that will work! Thank you!!!

  • When I first saw the unit at Savvy Southern Style I had no clue what it started out as! You did an amazing job! Congratulations on being featured at SSS 🙂

    Hugs …
    Lani

  • I just love it! I found you last week and can't stop searching for fun stuff on your blog! I love your style and this project literally makes me want to look for an old hutch to re-purpose. Great job!

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