This 1804 Home’s Mudroom Got a Functional Makeover That Still Feels Quaint and Cozy
After moving into their dream 1840 Vermont home, Hannah Martin O’Brien (@haninthecountryside) and her husband, Harrison, were ready to tackle their first DIY project as homeowners: upgrading their mudroom.
“We knew we had to do something with our mudroom [and] laundry room because we were so desperate for storage,” she says. Hannah and Harrison handled everything themselves, apart from moving plumbing and electrical for their new stacked washer and dryer.
“We were so doe-eyed and bushy-tailed about the whole thing,” Hannah says. “We thought our budget would be $5,000 and we would finish the project in a month.” (In the end, the project took three months and cost $10,000.
“We wouldn’t trade it for the world, though; the amount of storage we have was worth every minute and penny,” Hannah says. A few key changes helped create a stunning, vintage-inspired charmer of a space with ample functionality.
New cabinetry added storage to the older home.
In order to add storage to their mudroom and laundry room, Hannah and Harrison installed extra floor-to-ceiling (almost) cabinets with dot-shaped cutouts in the doors, and they painted them teal (Little Greene Paint Company’s Tea with Florence).
“These built-ins really frame the space and provide an anchor in the room,” Hannah says — not to mention the storage has been a game changer. Although Hannah says that she and Harrison have always been “savvy with woodworking” and enjoyed handling their home’s built-in shelving, “doing the flooring was another story.”
Brick flooring feels cottage-y — and is practical, too.
Installing the mudroom’s new brick flooring was a steeper learning curve for the couple, but Hannah says on Instagram that the long-term ease of keeping the busy spot’s floor tidy made it well worth the effort.
“The brick floors were the best decision!” she says. “I often get asked if they’re hard to clean, and I would say no! We sweep, vacuum, and occasionally scrub with soap and water. They really suit a country cottage in Vermont!”
Hannah and Harrison also painted the walls and trim of the room with Little Greene’s Silent White — Mid and tied the space together with a Quince linen curtain, which she says “not only adds softness, but has some functionality for keeping the draft out.” To see the rest of Hannah’s home, check out her house tour.