Laundry and Mudroom Remodel Solve Entryway Problems

Our clients Dan and Kristia, a GenX couple with teen children, hired us after speaking with a group of their Facebook friends. Their home renovation project included a complete kitchen remodel. They also asked us to upgrade the three-season sunroom and improve the flow and functionality of their laundry room and mudroom. Their Cottage Grove, Wisconsin home, built about 15 years ago during the last building boom, was constructed by an amateur builder. It was a time when anyone could design, build, and sell a house. As a result, the design and quality were sorely lacking. However, Dan and Kristia loved the location, the yard was perfect, and it was well worth the expense to update their home to make it exactly what they wanted.

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Identifying The Floor Plan Design Problems

Our clients wanted to address some of the original design issues with the laundry room and mudroom in the home. The mudroom and laundry space was initially designed and built with a hallway and closet that was divided by the door to the laundry room. As a result, the family's daily entrance to the home from the garage was a cramped mess of doors. There was no space to take off or put on winter clothes and boots comfortably, and the storage situation for the busy family was terrible. The laundry room layout was haphazard.

Remodeling The Mudroom

Our solution to the laundry room challenge was to remove the dividing wall to create a single open, comfortable space and combine the laundry room and mudroom. The family now has a space for jackets, shoes, hats, and other items by installing cubbies on one end of the large room. The laundry space is slightly divided with sets of cabinets serving specific functions. Along one wall is the mudroom area. It features tall, floor-to-ceiling cabinetry with baskets and drawers for storing general items, some sports equipment, all of the new puppy's toys, the kid's lunch boxes, and extra storage for overflow.

Upgrading The Laundry Room

The laundry machines and sink remained in their original positions on the opposite side of the room. This saved the homeowners the cost of re-plumbing the space. Another floor-to-ceiling cabinet gives a sense of division from the mudroom area. The cabinet has become a drop zone for the family, complete with charging outlets and cubbies for incoming and outgoing mail. Another key design feature for the homeowners is plenty of space in the laundry room for hanging and drying items, plus a dedicated spot for clothes hampers.

A New Mudroom and Laundry

Aside from the kitchen remodel, Dan and Kristia also wanted to address the laundry room and mudroom. The home was built with a hallway and a closet, divided by a door to the laundry. The cramped, messy everyday entrance from the garage was a hodgepodge of doors. There were no storage areas for everyday items, and the laundry layout was terrible. The solution? We removed the dividing wall and made the mudroom and laundry one larger space. Cubbies at one end are perfect for storing jackets, shoes, and hats. The laundry features plenty of storage with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. There’s extra hanging space, a spot for hampers, and other upper cabinets as well!

Our Clients Were Happy With The Improved Functionality

The laundry room and mudroom remodel have given the family plenty of space for organizing outdoor clothes, sports equipment, and other items. With lots of functional storage space and plenty of work area, this formerly cramped and awkward space is now highly functional, and comfortable, transforming the home and taking it to the next level of form and function!