As American homes grow larger, mudrooms have gained popularity. They provide storage for footwear, wet clothing, and other paraphernalia that is not needed in the house.
“While mudrooms are not a new amenity, they’ve moved up on the list of must-haves for today’s homeowner,”Linda Jovanovich, American Hardwood Information Center www.hardwoodinfo.com.
“As the amount of residential square-footage dedicated to mudrooms has grown, so has the attention paid to their design and aesthetics. Solid hardwood built-ins not only provide the customization needed in what are sometimes awkwardly configured spaces, but also create the opportunity to bring the warmth and character of natural wood to what is first and foremost a service room.”
Bob Near, renovation division director at Streeter & Associates, a Minneapolis-based home-building firm that installs myriad mudrooms, agrees: “For example, working with Peterssen/Keller Architecture and Eminent Interior Design, we recently completed a large mudroom with red-birch cabinetry, part of the makeover of a dated 1980s house. The client wanted a mid-century look, as if the room had been built in the 1960s, so its design is very clean.”One wall has floor-to ceiling storage hidden behind plain slab doors. The other wall contains six open cubbies in locker-room style that are serviced by one full-length bench.
“The client also asked for unstained wood rather than painted cabinetry, for reasons of durability and aesthetics,”Near continue. “First, they felt a clear polyurethane varnish would hold up better than enamel paint to the wear and tear imposed by four active boys. And second, they wanted to give the somewhat austere space a more earthy, homey feel.”
Easy to apply by hand, the oil-based satin finished was easy to use.
As a whole, this project could be used to create a great checklist of best mudroom practice. There are six cubbies to choose from. Each member of the family will have one. They’ll also have a set of hooks to hang wet-weather gear. You won’t find a better example combining flawless function with stunning form.
Visit www.hardwoodinfo.comFor more information on mudrooms or other products and applications that use American hardwoods, click here.
