Since Seattle remains wet and soggy, this expert Seattle interior designer is sharing an earlier post.  It is very popular.  Hooray for well designed mudrooms!

The majority of homes today have a transition area from the outdoors.  Some are large and some are not.  But the mudroom of today is much more than its predecessor. It  now functions as the organizational center for busy households.  It can also serve as the laundry room, pet center and craft area.  The mudroom is a full-featured permanent part of new home construction and remodeling.  It is estimated that 3% of the home floor space dedicates its use to the mudroom.

 A full room, while nice, isn’t essential to making it work for you.  What is essential is a design to store stuff like:

• Backpacks and briefcases
• Hats and gloves
• Sports equipment and small toys
• Dog leashes and towels for cleaning dirty feet
• Messages, sport or lesson schedules

How to design for so many functions? Regardless of the size or style of the mudroom, innovation and practicality are indispensable.  Here are a few basic steps to get going.

1. What is absolutely essential? Who uses the area? What do they bring in and need on a daily basis? How does the space relate to other needs, i.e. laundry? Do you need a half-bath adjacent to the mudroom?
2. Assess the existing space.  De-clutter and determine available space. Add seating to remove dirty shoes, a storage bench, a small chest of drawers or a desk. Use shelves or hooks with cubbies for storage.  Mirrors are great for last minute touch ups plus add dimension to the space.
3. Measure and plan. How does it all fit in? Draw the room to scale as it gives perspective.
4. Take action.  Will you do the work yourself or hire a designer? A fresh approach provides new ideas.

 Final Thoughts

If the mudroom is a multipurpose room, consider these options:

• With laundry in the space add a cabinet with counter surfaces and upper cabinets for storage of cleaning products or general household items.
• A designated storage center is great for things like pet food, potting soils, small outdoor toys as well as cans, bottles and papers for recycling.
• A pantry cabinet can provide overflow storage for kitchen dry goods or easy snack access for children. Utilize labeled bins inside cabinets to keep it neat.
• Vary the height of hooks to allow for personalized space and easy accessibility. Small children can’t reach high shelves but will use baskets or shelves.
• Locate the dogs leash and towel close to the door.
• For adults, keys and phones should have their designated area eliminating a search when ready to leave. Locate a message center for easy viewing for all the family.
• For flooring, consider textured ceramic or porcelain stone tiles.  Vinyl can be slick; wood and laminate perform poorly in wet situation.

Wishing you had a friend in the design business right now? We’re here to help.  Ask Faith First or call us 206.437.8000.

In my Seattle bathroom, my mirror sometimes tells me more than I want to know   but nontheless, I love how mirrors transform interiors.  In my interior design practice, I strategically and sometimes whimsically locate all types of mirrors for function, sparkle and a touch of luxury. No matter if your home is older, dark or new and bright, there is a mirror perfectly suited for your taste.

Hickory Chair Soleil Mirror

• This large, 48″ mirror, replaces artwork in this room setting. Look for large mirrors at antique stores, garage sales and attics of family members.  You can make one if you find a picture frame you love or purchase picture moulding and frame a mirror instead of art.

Mirrored Vanity Trays

•  A few years ago I saw a collection of trays like those in the photo.  These could hang over a bed or in a hallway. 

Mirrored Charger Plates

• Add some drama to your dinner by using a mirror as a charger.

Mirrored Hall Chest from Bassett

• Make a statement with a dynamic chest. Modern glamour meets classic design-this gleaming chest from Bassett is a true statement piece. It features mirrored sides and 3 mirrored drawers with faceted glass knobs th a dynamic chest.

Mirrored Screen

• No more dark corners! This beautiful screen from Hickory Chair features a four-panel screen with a black crackle finish and antique gold trim surrounding antique mirror panes. Any corner would take on new dimension with such a stunning addition.

Call on the power of mirrors to add sparkle and luxurious design details to your home.

In my Seattle interior design practice, I like to share the importance and benefits of building green. I saw this article on the website of Central WA Homebuilders. 

Here are 10 reasons for Green

1. More Money in the Piggy Bank.  A built green home typically saves $ on operating costs due to efficient energy use, natural daylighting and upfront construction costs.
2. Less ‘New’ Odors and Better Indoor Air. Using low VOC and low toxic interior paints and finishes reduces toxins and improves indoor air quality.  Paints like Benjamin Moore’s Natura and Aura are my favorite choices.
3. Saves Old Growth Forests. Rapidly remewable materials like bamboo, cork, and strawboard can be harvested in a sustainable way. Plastic lumber made from recycled plastic jugs can be used for decking.
4. Happier Salmon. Water conservation using drought resistant plants and porous pavers are both techniques. Erosion control benefits salmon habitats.
5. More Couch Potato Time. Maintenance is minimized with durable materials like decking made of plastic and materials like stone, tile or slate.
6. Reduced Breezes inside the Home. The impact of outside elements is reduced using caulking to seal windows and doorframes.
7. Healthier Yard with Homegrown Topsoil. Topsoil removed for grading can be saved and reapplied for a better soil compositoin.
8. Reduces Dependence on Fossil Fuels.  Local materials reduce transportation costs and the inclusion of pedestrian access to mass transit decrease auto use.
9. Less Trash. Built Green projects recycle large amoutns of scrap materials as well as include recycled content into the building.
10. Promotes Businesses Committed to Green. The supporting member companies go the extra effort and work with one another demonstating committment to a green, healthy home.

In this green design business profile, I salute Carol Sorensen-Baumgartel of American Clay.  I met Carol in early 2006 in Seattle at the Home Show. Carol is the VP of Marketing/Co-founder of American Clay Enterprises, Inc.  Carol studied painting and ceramics, earning a BFA in Ceramics from the University of Denver. In 1980, she entered the world of Interior Design and was President of the ASID New Mexico chapter (1991-93). Specializing in interior finishes for commercial builders, residential builders and architects, putting elements together to highlight the physical aspects of a building – and won some interior awards for model homes in the process.

The impetus to the creation of American Clay arose from the health issues which plagued her son, Croft Elsaesser (now CEO and president) as he practiced his profession of Faux Finisher. The physical illnesses –headaches, skin rashes, breathing difficulties–created by the materials he had been using to create magnificent surfaces for his customers were worrisome. Finding natural alternatives to the paints, sealers and acrylic/gypsum wall finishes became paramount to continuing in his profession.

American Clay Natural Earth Plasters bring the appealing finishes of Nature to your Home, Office, School, Business, anywhere you want to add healthful beauty to your interior walls and ceilings. Manufactured in and using materials from the United States, American Clay uses natural clays, recycled and reclaimed aggregates, and vibrant natural pigments in each of  three beautiful finishes.

Ecohaus in Seattle shares details about American Clay. My project, Casa Montecito, utilized American Clay entirely for the nearly 7,000 square feet.

Created as a more functional and operationally superior alternative to traditional white boards and dry-erase wallcoverings for office environments, Tabrasa offers abundant opportunities in homes too. Imagine using it in the mudroom or laundry area.  Tots to teenagers finally can draw on their walls without a disaster or a time out! See the illustration of the product here. 

Tabrasa^TM is water based paint that transforms any smooth surface into a seamless, high-performance dry-erase writing surface.   Discover all the options and applications for this amazing product and consider how you could adapt it in your home.

Instead of sticking notes around your home office, choose one of four colors and post schedules, creative ideas or brainstorming concepts on the wall.  Use a strip of wall space in your kitchen and post the weekly menu. 

Let me know how you might adapt this product in your home.