Mudroom Refresh
The mudroom was the very first space we tackled when we moved in. Previously a home office, it made sense to convert this space with its own entrance into a mudroom that could be utilized for our everyday coming and goings. With so many dreams of different colors, wallpaper, tile, furniture, and rugs clogging up my Pinterest board over the months. It took several more months of settling into the house for us to have the bandwidth to start on any room.
The goal when we start a space/room in the house is to fully finish it. So starting small made sense for us to flush out our island gothic style. With the mudroom, I wanted to bring in a color that’s a bit of a changeling (is it green or blue?). I settled on Benjamin Moore’s Yorktowne Green, which was perfect. I also knew I wanted a wallpaper that set the tone when you entered the house. I went with a fern pattern that reminded me of the sword ferns in our forest.
Before: Blank space made it easy to visualize what it could be.
My grandmother’s chest finds the perfect spot to give us a place to take off our rain-soaked boots.
My idea of island gothic is working with the colors that surround us here. Bringing them into the house. That includes patterns, objects, and furnishings. Both Michael and I love gothic literature and are drawn to the spooky stuff. Having our home reflect that style in a beautiful, interesting, and meaningful way is what we hope to accomplish.
Now, with the paint color and wallpaper decided, it was natural to bring in heirlooms and family objects. This included my grandmother’s chest, Icelandic sheepskin from an anniversary trip to Iceland, and baskets we’ve collected over time. We also brought in a wood holder the previous owner left behind for firewood, making the space multifunctional.
A coat rack was essential for this space. Making it as simple as possible for ease of care and maintenance of this space.
Small details delight! While only we notice them, the spider webs are a welcome to those who linger in the corners of the mudroom.
The mudroom was done in the fall of 2024 and took around 3 days to complete. That included paint, trim, wallpaper, and installing the shelf. We love the way it turned out, and it’s now a catch-all for anything we’re bringing into the house.
As you know, any project takes planning, money, and time. While we started small with the mudroom, it has given us the inspiration for the other rooms in the house. I look forward to tackling them and to share the results with you.
