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Young House Love » Reader Redesigns » Reader Redesign: One Mod Mudroom

| By Sherry Petersik | August 5, 2009 | 75 Comments

Reader Redesign: One Mod Mudroom

When Dana and her husband Steve sent us photos of their mudroom makeover we just couldn’t wait to share the amazing eye candy. This is definitely one of those spaces that has our mouths watering! And the budget is almost too good to believe. Here’s their letter:

First of all, I love YHL. I’m very inspired by your hardwork, DIYing, financial responsibility and overall aesthetic. My husband and I, along with our 2 young boys, recently moved into our ‘forever’ home. The problem: an under-utilized, short hallway between our garage and kitchen crowded with THREE doors (garage, bathroom & closet). The solution: remove closet door, widen closet doorway and set up digs for a functional mudroom to be known as “the MODroom.” Like anyone these days, we were on a budget. The shoebench and flowered pillows were stolen from other rooms in the house where they didn’t really belong.  I painted the shoebench white (previously black with a black leather cushion) and recovered the seat with linen fabric. Once the doorway was widened, we patched a vinyl floor square after googling for a how-to. Hubby used a bolt-cutter to shorten the wire shelving that used to hang lengthwise across the closet. We chose to hang it front-to-back style (for lack of better phrasing) in the corner for everyday jackets. Handy-hubby also wired 2 recessed lights into the ceiling. The best part is that this small room is functional for our family. We take off/put on shoes there, unload backpacks and lunchboxes, and even sit things to ‘go out’ on the bench as a reminder. Oh, and did I mention we are FRUGAL?! Check out our cost breakdown below. Much love! -Dana & Steve

Mudroom RR Before

Mudroom RR After1

Mudroom RR After2

The Budget:
Shoebench- FREE (stolen from front door where it wasn’t being used)
Pillows- $8 (white rosette pillow from Meijer on clearance…had other pillows already)
Artwork- FREE (my artsy sister-in-law crafted it as a Christmas gift for me… it’s our last name “MILLER” spelled out in photos)
Hooks- $25
Shoebench fabric- $13
Baskets- $20 (on sale at Kmart)
Vinyl floor tile repair- $16
Electrical supplies- $30
Paint supplies- $40 (yes, it’s Glidden’s Gentle Tide…thanks for the inspiration!)
TOTAL: $152

Is that not an amazing mudroom- er, modroom makeover? We love how functional it is without sacrificing an inch of style. What do you guys think? Does this transformation have you drooling too? Thanks so much for sending your breathtaking photos our way Dana and Steve! Long live cheap yet oh so chic makeovers.

Update: Dana now has a blog! Stop in and see her for more info on her mudroom and other areas of her ever-changing home.

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Comments

  1. Avatar for heather s.heather s. says

    August 5, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    Looks great! I don’t see the wire shelving in the break-down but I’m assuming it was just from a home improvement store like Lowes or Home Depot.

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      August 5, 2009 at 3:01 pm

      Hey Heather S,

      They mentioned in their letter that the handy hubby used a wire cutter to adapt the existing wire shelving to rehang it in the corner so it was F-R-E-E! It also probably means it came with the house so they’re not sure where it hails from, but Home Depot or Lowe’s definitely carries that sort of thing so they’re a good place to start. Hope it helps.

      xo,
      s

  2. Avatar for Brandi U.Brandi U. says

    August 5, 2009 at 2:50 pm

    What a great idea! Fun and functional too.

    Reply
  3. Avatar for MeganMegan says

    August 5, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    How awesome is that! It is amazing how you can take so little space and turn it into one of the most functional rooms in the house. Great job, Dana and Steve!

    http://www.thesouthernnest.blogspot.com

    Reply
  4. Avatar for ChristaChrista says

    August 5, 2009 at 3:00 pm

    Great use of space and a beautiful color! Well done Dana and Steve!

    Reply
  5. Avatar for Jenny @ Words On WendhurstJenny @ Words On Wendhurst says

    August 5, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    Nice job! We’ll be tackling our mudroom soon, and I think we’ll be doing grays and yellows. So a very similar color scheme! Way to do it on the cheap too!

    Reply
  6. Avatar for chesches says

    August 5, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    This looks great and I loveee the color. We are planning on using Gentle Tide in one of our rooms eventually. Do you know if they have a blog, I would love to see the rest of their home? Thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      August 5, 2009 at 3:14 pm

      Hey Ches,

      We always link to anyone who has a blog in our post so sadly it appears that Dana and Steve don’t have one. Yet! Here’s hoping they do more amazing house spiffing and start one soon…

      xo,
      s

  7. Avatar for ShannonShannon says

    August 5, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    Oh that’s just too pretty for mud. I’d love to see the rest of their house too!

    Reply
  8. Avatar for kasey at thriftylittleblogkasey at thriftylittleblog says

    August 5, 2009 at 3:18 pm

    They did a great job! I love those pillows!

    Reply
  9. Avatar for Erin KErin K says

    August 5, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    My husband had a similar idea to vamp up a similar space we have in our home. I’m inspired and can’t wait to show him!! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  10. Avatar for Jen Z.Jen Z. says

    August 5, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    wow that is a gret mudroom….MODroom. Very pretty! Love it. I wish we had a mudroom so I could do something like this.

    Reply
  11. Avatar for CarMajCarMaj says

    August 5, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    Now that is definitely thinking outside the box… er.. um… closet! Look fantastic!! Great job!!

    Reply
  12. Avatar for MelissaMelissa says

    August 5, 2009 at 3:40 pm

    This is a great idea! We have a large hall closet with sliding doors and a single rod and high shelf, and I’m itching to transform it into a real functional storage space. I was thinking of exchanging the sliders for bifold doors, so we could at least open them both at the same time. But maybe it’s a better idea to lose the doors altogether! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
  13. Avatar for GillianGillian says

    August 5, 2009 at 3:47 pm

    What an amazing job! I wish I could do that in our front closet but the closet is itsy bitsy. I am LOVING it! Does Dana have a blog?

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      August 5, 2009 at 3:54 pm

      Hey Gillian,

      We always link to anyone who has a blog in our post so sadly it appears that Dana and Steve don’t have one. Yet! Here’s hoping they do more amazing house spiffing and start one soon…

      xo,
      s

  14. Avatar for JamieJamie says

    August 5, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    that turned out great!

    Reply
  15. Avatar for KellyKelly says

    August 5, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    all I can say is WOW!

    Reply
  16. Avatar for AverillAverill says

    August 5, 2009 at 4:01 pm

    Wonderful redesign — that mud room is SO much more useful than a measly coat closet.

    Reply
  17. Avatar for HollyHolly says

    August 5, 2009 at 4:01 pm

    This looks great! I absolutely the accents, everything ties together perfectly.

    Reply
  18. Avatar for LeslieLeslie says

    August 5, 2009 at 4:03 pm

    this really is amazing, and well done…beautiful…

    L

    Reply
  19. Avatar for AliciaAlicia says

    August 5, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    I would love to know where the hooks came from!?

    Reply
  20. Avatar for Alaina KaczmarskiAlaina Kaczmarski says

    August 5, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    Love it. Any chance you can find out what rug that is outside the little mudroom? I think I love it, as well!

    I’ve never purchased a rug (dogs and allergies are really the reason why), but I am wanting to change that and don’t know where to begin.

    Reply
  21. Avatar for EmilyEmily says

    August 5, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    The mudroom looks great! If anyone is interested you can buy that artwork from personalcreations.com. I’ve been eyeing it up for months now trying to figure out what I would do with it if I got it..now some inspiration! :)

    Reply
  22. Avatar for christychristy says

    August 5, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    Love it! I have been dreaming up something similar for an under used space in my laundry room. Great inspiration.

    Reply
  23. Avatar for KariKari says

    August 5, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    LOVE this!!

    Reply
  24. Avatar for yansyyansy says

    August 5, 2009 at 4:23 pm

    This space is fabulous! I want one of my own, although in Miami is not really necessary.

    Reply
  25. Avatar for NatalieNatalie says

    August 5, 2009 at 4:25 pm

    This is fabulous! They did such a great job. I love the colors, and that bag-hanger reminds me of yours :)

    Reply
  26. Avatar for AmandaAmanda says

    August 5, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    The open floor space next to the bench would be the perfect place to hide an umbrella stand or pet supply box! Out of sight but still accessable.

    Reply
  27. Avatar for HeatherHeather says

    August 5, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    I have really been wanting to copy your mini mudroom John and Sherry, but we lack the space in our foyer. This is such an original idea – I’m very tempted to ‘steal’ it!

    Reply
  28. Avatar for elizabethelizabeth says

    August 5, 2009 at 5:00 pm

    Ooooooh, that is so fantastic!

    Reply
  29. Avatar for micahmicah says

    August 5, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    Looks amazing, great job!

    Reply
  30. Avatar for Dana MillerDana Miller says

    August 5, 2009 at 5:12 pm

    Hey Youngsters! I’m just now getting to see our makeover on your site today… my boys are finally giving me a break!

    To answer a few questions that have come up: We don’t have a blog going, YET. We are always improving our home on the cheap and documenting it in photos. Blogging may be in our future and we’ll be sure to let you know. We purchased the hooks from Lowe’s. The rug is from naturalarearugs.com and was on clearance at $16!!! It is an indoor/outdoor rug so cleaning is easy, I just hose it off. It has always been there, so that’s why I didn’t include it in the budget/item list. Hope this helps!

    Thanks for featuring us. Reading your blog has totally inspired us to make our house our home on a budget.

    Much love,
    Dana & Steve

    Reply
  31. Avatar for Dana MillerDana Miller says

    August 5, 2009 at 5:14 pm

    Oh! And the big space next to the bench is where we hide our mongo diaper bag. I REALLY wanted to put an umbrella stand there too! Maybe when my boys are a little older?

    Reply
  32. Avatar for pattipatti says

    August 5, 2009 at 5:16 pm

    i’ve been trying to figure out where we could put a mud room in our house. we have a small coat closet right inside the front door – but if i transform it to be a little mud room…where will i hang the coats. ho-hum…no mud room for me. love this transformation though! thanks for sharing. i’m just having mudroom envy. :(

    Reply
  33. Avatar for MarthaMartha says

    August 5, 2009 at 5:21 pm

    LOVE the MODroom! I have plans to do something similar in the future with a spare bedroom closet by turning it into a home office by removing the sliding closet doors and building in a desk and shelves. Not my idea, I saw it in a magazine! Great job, Dana and Steve, share more of your home!!

    Reply
  34. Avatar for jbhatjbhat says

    August 5, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    I love it too! It’s perfect. I’m inspired now to hurry off and recover the bench by our door and add some pretty pillows to it, and perhaps a hook or two.

    Thanks for the gorgeous and stylish inspiration.

    Reply
  35. Avatar for LindseyLindsey says

    August 5, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    I’ll be the naysayer… Although I like the idea, I’d rather have seen them remove the doorway altogether, leaving just the shared wall that faces the kitchen and creating a wider hall. As is, it looks like a bench in a closet, although a pretty bench in a closet. Painting the bench white was a great idea.

    Reply
  36. Avatar for RoeshelRoeshel says

    August 5, 2009 at 6:00 pm

    Wow – so pretty! Great job!

    Reply
  37. Avatar for Dana MillerDana Miller says

    August 5, 2009 at 6:36 pm

    Lindsey, we also love the idea of making the entire hall wider. However, as shown in the ‘before’ photos, there is ductwork that runs above the mudroom/closet. We could take out the wall but then the ceiling of the mudroom would not match up with the ceiling of the hall. The mudroom has an 8′ ceiling while the hallway ceiling is 9′. Plus, when the door to garage opens there is still enough wall for a doorstopper to keep the door from banging against the bench. You’re right though, in a perfect world I’d love a true mudroom. We’re just working with what we got… on a budget!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      August 5, 2009 at 6:41 pm

      Amen Dana. And you did a truly fabulous job!

      xo,
      s

  38. Avatar for GailGail says

    August 5, 2009 at 7:41 pm

    I’m old-fashioned, I guess: I like rooms, even little ones. This is really unique and fresh and love the end result. My kids would love a cozy nook like that–I might not even have to ask them multiple times to put their shoes on! Great job.

    Reply
  39. Avatar for Kimm at ReinventedKimm at Reinvented says

    August 5, 2009 at 9:03 pm

    Hello! Believe it or not, this is my first visit to this famous blog, and I’m not sure what took me so long! That is a fabulous mudroom, thanks for sharing it!

    Reply
  40. Avatar for ErinErin says

    August 5, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    I’m happy as a clam right now seeing this project! Our new house we’re moving into on Saturday has the same exact shaped closet, right inside the garage door that leads to the kitchen. Used to be home to a washer and dryer, but I want to create a mudroom so we have a place to drop things. I am totally stealing some inspiration here! Great job!!

    Reply
  41. Avatar for anna seeanna see says

    August 5, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    This is great! I feel like ripping off the door to my coat closet right now. If it weren’t so full of junk, I’d do it.

    Reply
  42. Avatar for LisaLisa says

    August 5, 2009 at 10:58 pm

    I have a similar area, with multiple doors and this is a huge inspiration. Did you guys widen the doorway yourselves? Or was that professionally done? Was it expensive?

    Reply
  43. Avatar for Erin T.Erin T. says

    August 5, 2009 at 11:50 pm

    WOW. I especially love the artwork– I’m already plotting how to make our last name into beautiful art like Dana and Steve’s!

    Reply
  44. Avatar for CasieCasie says

    August 6, 2009 at 12:51 am

    I love this space! I really like the color used on the walls outside of the mud room. It looks great against Glidden’s Gentle Tide color. Is there any way to find out what color was used? Also, the printed pillows look amazing! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
  45. Avatar for Down ComforterDown Comforter says

    August 6, 2009 at 1:56 am

    Amazing transformation. Just shows what a little TLC and some know-how will get you.

    Reply
  46. Avatar for richardrichard says

    August 6, 2009 at 7:11 am

    Great job! I am curious how the lighting was done–Did you just tie into the existing hall light? I think that task would be the most stressful for me, since I would be afraid of burning the house down. Is Steve an electrician?

    Reply
  47. Avatar for Nellie McCarthyNellie McCarthy says

    August 6, 2009 at 7:49 am

    Wow! I love it, I have been dreaming of a mudroom for ages and I thought I had come up with a reasonable solution however now I am itching for something better!
    xx

    Reply
  48. Avatar for abeachcottageabeachcottage says

    August 6, 2009 at 8:06 am

    for $152? p r i c e l e s s

    great inspiration, enjoyed my viist, not sure how I got here but a good find…

    Reply
  49. Avatar for Shannon KarsiesShannon Karsies says

    August 6, 2009 at 8:12 am

    Love it! In fact…I’ve been on Etsy all morning to copy their wall art name! I just wish there was a closer picture of it!

    Reply
  50. Avatar for VivianVivian says

    August 6, 2009 at 8:38 am

    I couldn’t believe my eyes this morning! This is exactly what I plan on doing with my front hall closet! We’ve already taken out the bi-fold door and are in the process of ripping up the old floor. We had the same set up – a double-wide closet with the door opening off to one side. So much of the space wasn’t being used properly and it ended up being a drop zone for more clutter. With the door gone, the front entrance looks so much more spacious!

    Thank you for sharing! A closet doesn’t have to look like a closet…

    Reply
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John and Sherry smiling against pink backgroundHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
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