We had this crazy ugly space in our garage. It really was unsightly, made no sense, and became a dumping ground. I had always thought it would make a great mudroom but of course we had other priorities. We have worked really hard on changing over our 80′s house and we are close to finishing, just have the kitchen to do. Since it will probably be forever until that gets done we decided to finally make our little garage/mudroom space our latest project.
What a transformation.
This is it, this sealed the deal, I never want to move. I always thought it would be a kitchen that would send me over the edge. But I have to admit my mudroom makes me happy. I could put in chair in there, kick my feet back and lounge. )
I had been wanting to paint a room in our house white but wasn’t sure when I would have the chance. I love this look. I mean it was really hard because every room in my house is painted with some sort of color. But we went for it and I think it really paid off.
I finally have a place to grow some plants in the window seal.
We made cubbies for each of us. Right after the carpenter finished putting them in we realized that there was no where for honey-do to hang his very tall coats. Whoops…..my bad. Luckily we had this giant wall that really served no purpose, we came up with the idea to make it our coat rack. He even added a little shelf on the top for collections.
We found some space to carve out a spot for all the muck/rain/snow boots.
I love this old bench I found but I was unsure of what to put above it. I decided to hang some of their art. They have a great space in their artroom I keep the bulk of it, but the really fun stuff can hang here.
Or not….apparently I am the only one who likes that look. Everyone thinks a mirror but I really wanted to infuse the kids things into the room.
What do you think? Mirror, kids art, or maybe even a fun thing like a vintage chalkboard?
Leave a comment telling me your vote or throw in another idea and you could win this print from Etsy Artist-The Wheatfield. I love her work. I used her “You Are Free to Fly” Print in the mudroom and the girls have her “Haiti Love” Print in their room.
Print only (frame and doll not included).
Giveaway ends Sunday, November 21st. Winner will be announced on Monday, the 22nd!
GIVEAWAY CLOSED!
Congrats to Renee Pea!
Stacie Leatherberry - I think you should go with the kids art. It makes it more “Homey” and gives your kids a special place to hang their art for everyone to see! Plus I think it looks so cute!!!
I LOOOVE the way you guys did up the mudroom and decorated! The baskets and cubbies for each person are brilliant ideas!
Gina - I LOVE your new mudroom. And am so jealous! I want a mudroom!!
Have you considered something framed – like a mirror – and adding frames for kid’s art as well? You could do a collage. Or, get a pub-style mirror with hooks and hang kid’s art from there. I love the idea of bringing in work from the kids.
Cathy Harding - I suggest a mirror “framed” with shutters. You could stick the kids’ artwork into the shutter slats and still have a mirror. If the space gets enough light, you could also add a little flowerbox to the bottom and have even more space for plants.
stacey - I vote for mirror and then hang the artwork above it…. you don’t need people touching it right??? The room looks AMAZING!
Brenda - I vote for children’s artwork. You can get squares of either chalk board or colorful cork or magnetic metal and put four of them together so that you can not only hang their art, but also post reminders and important school papers to make it a mini- command center because trust me- their schedule only gets busier as they get older! The space looks awesome, Jodi! Congrats!
Renee Pea - Wow Jody that room looks so awsome!! I love all your ideas and your decorating skills. I am so stuck when it comes to thinking of decorating or revamping a room.
Felisha - I love your mudroom!!! It looks so great. What a transformation. I vote for the kid’s art. I’m kind of a sucker for the kiddie art. In fact, I have a few pieces in my kitchen.
Kirsten - Lovely! I dream about a mudroom like this. Sigh…
I vote for mirror with some small kid art stuck in the frame along the edges. Whatever you use, it will be fabulous, I’m sure!
merran tatum - i am SOOOOO jealous. your mud room looks amazing!! i’d go with the kids’ art. it adds some great color to the white walls, and the kids will get a kick out of having their stuff on display.
jaime - Hey jod’s! You know how much I just luvvvvvv what you’ve done! Now about your dilemma…I like all three..however you know I like functional items sooo, I like the mirror or chalk board for notes…I also like the idea of a pub mirror with key hooks.I had one of those so I could catch a glimpse of my mug and grab my key as I head out the door. No matter what you do I’m sure it’ll be awesome…luv ya and happy thanksgiving to you. And your fam!
jaime - Oh addition to last thought…is there a way to incorporate all the ideas?? Mirror, chalk, key hooks, kids art?
Allison - I want to move into your mudroom. I’m not kidding! Another beautiful design and execution by Jodi!
Marilyn - The room looks awesome…what a beautiful transformation. I think a bigger mirror there would look cool. You know–one last outfit check before you head out the door.
Grandma Evy - The room looks wonderful and really adds so much to the way the house works! another great creative space.
I like the children’s art below the mirror [let's check out how we look before we go out]. Maybe you can hang the art work low enough to give the girls the opportunity to change the work themselves [with some help from Mom or Dad] when they bring home something new , sort of like their own little gallery.
I look forward to see what you decide and what’s new in the gallery.
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susan wood - I vote for the kids artwork for sure!
Nicole - Looks very nice!! You should let the kids do a border with handprints! To much White for me! lol
Shana - I think it should be a framed wall containing all elements! Make a 1×5 (i am guessing dimensions here) chalkboard paint, then above that have corkboard and above that have a big rectangle of framed chicken wire with clips hooked to it for cute photos of nieces, nephews, friends and the kids. I think it should all be framed in molding as one big piece.
Michele - I ♥ the kids art idea!!!!!!! nice space to add a lot to mk it look good! the splash of color is nice!
Michele - I love the kids art!! The splash of color is nice!!
Tina - I love love your mudroom… makes me want one even more. My vote for over the bench… check out the chicken wire frame from Ashley’s blog. I made one and love it. It shows off all my girls artwork in a fun way.
http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/2010/08/05/diy-chicken-wire-frame-memory-card-clips/
Susan Tovar - I LOVE this room!!!!!! It is so perfect! I know it’s late but here’s my two cents anyway…I think a big mirror with those glass writing markers on the side like on a pail or something…that way the girls can draw pictures…you can write notes or messages as they come/go…and you can still do a last minute mirror- check you guys leave/come in…
Karla - I love the kids’ artwork on that wall – it looks so perfect in that space.
kalanicut - What a fantastic room and dramatic change from before & after! Great, great job! I like the kids art.
Carol Soules - Wonderful h job. I’m inspired!!!
Ria - Beautiful – I have a mudroom in my home that I cannot imagine living without, and we have a giant chalkboard by the backdoor that serves as a running grocery list. When I walk out to go to the market I just click a quick photo with my phone and take it with me. My kids are older than yours, but it works wonderfully as they can add their requests as well. I never make two trips!
ingrid - I love your mudroom! What is that little yellow bear?
Steph @ BirdHouse Family - Visiting from D*S. What an amazing transformation! I still don’t understand how it connects with the garage, but I love everything you’ve done, down to the pretty details. I’d like to pain a room white as well if I can muster up the courage. I vote for the kids’ art. I like all the splashes of color with the white wall.
Jodi - Hi Steph,
The space you see on the before is now the mudroom, that was just a little step up from the inside of the garage before. It is confusing, I am going to try to dig up more “before” photos! Thanks for visiting.
Jodi - Hi Ingrid,
That little bear is a handmade little felt bear that I found on Etsy. Her name is Clea the sunbear and she makes us smile with her sunny little self. Just something to brighten up the room!
Jodi - Thanks for visiting!
Jodi - Ria,
Great idea!!!
Thanks!
Tracy Wiegel - Jodi, You have inspired much mud room envy! 2 questions, where did you find the runner? and where did you find the hooks with robin’s egg blue enamel/porcelian ‘knobs’….they’re fabulous!
I am getting ready to renovate a house and am so going to use some of your ideas!
Jodi - Hi Tracy, thanks for stopping by and commenting!! I bought the rug and the knobs from Anthropologie. I splurged on the knobs/hooks at full price but the rug I scored at at a full clearance price! I was so happy since I knew it would be trampled on!!
josi - Hi.
I bet you’ve already chosen, but this is what I think would look great.
Keep the kids art above the bench (its the right scale- even as the art work changes, and a hit of colour- it will pick up on your other art). I love the chalkboard. I think that you could put the chalkboard on the slimmer side wall with your key hanger. You could hang your keys (if thats what it is) below the vintage chalkboard, or in the open space at the bottom of the chalkboard, I think that would fit nicely, and you don’t have to take out any items you like.