I worked with a family for about a year while they renovated the majority of the downstairs of their home. One of my favorite spaces was the one I least expected it to be - the small mudroom they created off of a side entrance to house. I am sharing this space not only because I love how it turned out because I think it shows an example of creative problem solving in design as well as a glimpse into the design process that led us to the end result.
This mudroom needed to house ALL THE STUFF that comes along with three young boys. Because of this, we knew the space had to be durable to stand up to the high traffic and wear and tear. When we started working together, my client had already thought she wanted to use the beautiful slate colored tile as the flooring for the space. Beyond that the space was a blank slate as far as the aesthetic but my client was hoping for wallpaper to inject some color and personality into the space.
I pulled several wallpaper options for them and they landed on this colorful, whimsical paper by NC designers House of Harris. My client has ties to the coast and also adores pink (she uses it where she can because she lives in a household of males) so this paper fit the bill perfectly. Plus, it is just so happy and whimsical.
Next, we selected the cabinet color from one of the beautiful deep purple-y blue hues found in the wallpaper. It's a Farrow and Ball color called Pitch Blue that I just adore.
Once we landed on the wallpaper and the color for the built-ins we ran into a little conundrum. Because the mudroom was built in a hallway that is directly across from a powder room and had an open line of sight from the living room, there didn't seem to be a good place to end the wallpaper installation. I went over and met with my client and the contractor and suggested that we consider treating the wallpaper like a large scale art installation. If we framed it out on the wall like a piece of art, we would be able to start and stop the wallpaper anywhere we wanted. We asked the contractor to have his team match the framed out molding to the cabinet color for continuity.
Her contractor suggested keeping the seat of the bench on the built-ins in a stained wood and I love the warmth it brings to the space coupled with the antiqued gold cabinet grates and hardware.
Lastly, my client wanted a rug to cozy up the space and add some color. I sent her some options and I adore the one she selected. It is a wool rug so it is cleanable, highly durable and the darker colors help mask dirt and stains as well.
The space is long and narrow and difficult to photograph so you kind of have to digest the space in two angles but I just love how it turned out for them.
Photos by Anna Routh Barzin
Builder Jokisch Construction
The other thing I think these images do a good job of illustrating is the natural flow of the colors/styles between the spaces. You can get a glimpse into the primary bedroom as well as the powder room (which also got a super fun wallpaper). I love that my client's love color and I think that their home is really a reflection of their personalities and style which is always the end goal!
xo, Cameron
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