Modern Farmhouse Mudroom makeover: phase 1.

wash and dry sign. amber cleaning bottle set. shelf brackets. large baskets. smaller baskets. drying rack. step stool. Hooks.

Hey guys!  Happy Friday!  I’ve had so many people ask me for more content about our farmhouse on here, so my plan is to start sharing little bits of it each Friday.  Like a farmhouse Friday or something.  I have to admit, sharing this kind of content intimidates the heck out of me.   Our home is SUCH a work in progress.  It’s so cool, but it’s also so so old and there are an endless amount of projects.  Also, those projects don’t go fast in an old house.  Because usually fixing up a space means taking it all the way apart and fixing all the underneath parts that no one sees, because they are often in dire need of fixing.  (This feels like a metaphor for life…)  Sometimes I fall into that trap of not doing anything until I can do it all and perfectly, but really all progress is about small consistent steps, and I think the same thing goes for our homes.  Progress over perfection.  I also fall into that trap of feeling like I can’t share the progress part with you guys, until it’s “done” whatever “done” means.  I mean, are our homes ever really “done?”  And it’s also intimidating, because this kind of creativity feels like a tiny little creative baby, and it’s harder to share that kind of young vulnerable creativity.  I’ve been so challenged by the spaces in this house, the low ceilings and funky closets and while sometimes it’s discouraging, I love how it’s pushing me to be and learn more.  No one grows in their comfort zone.

So in the spirit of bravery and growth, here goes.

I thought I would start with our laundry/mudroom makeover, or rather progress.  This is more of a phase 1 really.  There’s still so much we want to do with this room, but the goal was to make it pretty and functional (especially to get through the muddy winter months).

I loved this laundry room the second I saw it when we walked through the house the first time.  It’s enormous!  Literally I’ve never seen a laundry/mudroom this big.  It’s like the space was actually planned by a mom.  But it was just a big empty room, with no where to store anything, a washer and dryer that randomly overlapped the only window, a junky cabinet with an actually amazing cast iron farm sink on it.  So much potential… Here are a few befores:

BEFORE:

Phase 1 in the makeover was first about creating some storage, a place for all the shoes and backpacks and coats, that get dropped in here from a family of six (see the before pictures, yikes.) So we decided to build a little locker system.   Craig built those for me in December/January, and we put up ship lap on two walls.  And I honestly thought we would stop there, because in the long run we want to do a lot more with the room than we are ready to do, because A. We are doing a total gut remodel of our downstairs bathroom, and B. I don’t want a gaping hole in the side of my house in the middle of a New England winter.

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how I could actually really improve the other spaces and functionality of the room with just a little paint, elbow grease and things I mostly already had around the house.  So I gave the little cabinet a fresh coat of paint and repainted the hardware.  I cleaned up and dejunked the area that had become a cleaning drop zone, then I hung up some shelves for storage over the sink, and added a drying rack on the adjacent wall.  I also added a fresh coat of black paint on door going outside.  I cannot believe what a difference that coat of paint made, holy cow.  I also added a row of hooks right inside the door for snow clothes and coats that are too bulky for the cubbies.  This room functions so well now (especially with our updated laundry system, more on that later), and it’s such a nice space to be in.  Here’s where we’re at right now:

AFTER:

wash and dry sign. amber cleaning bottle set. shelf brackets. large baskets. smaller baskets. drying rack. step stool. Hooks.

The next phase will be rebuilding the broom closet (not pictured), replacing the window with three shorter ones that will cover most of the wall (and also not have the washer/dryer overlapping), put in cabinetry and a folding area, refinishing the wide board wood floors, and installing a dutch door.   But I’m honestly so happy with how it is now, I no longer feel so anxious about when the next part will happen.

I loved this room when we bought this house, but it had become such a mess and a headache, and now every time I walk in there to do laundry or grab the cleaner to mop a floor, I feel so much joy. Even though it’s isn’t close to being done, it makes me so happy.