This downsizing couple wanted to keep style in their farmhouse without too much floor area (which needs cleaning and maintenance!). We created this craftsman-inspired home with carport to suit all of their needs.

One of the most used rooms in the house is the mudroom. Everyone piles in that room after hockey practice, tosses off their shoes and coats, and then barrels into the house.

So how do we make the most of this room?

Most importantly, it needs to be big enough. We need to make sure that everyone in your family can fit in there at the same time.

We also need storage. For boots, coats, backpacks, winter mittens and hats. We can do this with enclosed closets, and with hooks for easy hanging.

Then we’ll need to ask ourselves some questions on how we are going to use that room. Questions such as:

Do you want direct access from the mudroom to your pantry or kitchen for easy grocery unloading?

Do you need a drop zone for keys, purses, wallets, a charging station for phones?

Do you want a place to hang the family calendar that keeps track of all activities?

Do you want a spot for a desk for sewing, homework, or crafts?

Do you want a dog wash?

Do you want a door directly to the outside from this room, so that dog doesn’t have to go through the house after getting muddy in the backyard?

Do you want a laundry team in this room or is that to be located elsewhere in the home?

A mudroom is becoming more of a multi-purpose room these days. Asking yourself exactly how you expect that room to perform for you is the best way to get the most out of it.

It’s quite popular in my area to have two children’s bedrooms sharing a bathroom. Here are a couple ways that you can achieve this:

One way is for each child to have their own vanity and then through a door is the common toilet and bathtub/shower.

Another way is for the kids to share a common vanity area with the toilet and tub/shower in a separate area, so one can be having a shower while the other brushes their teeth.

For your own designs, account for about 7’x12′ for the top example and 6’x12′ for the bottom (although this one could be squeezed down to 5’x11′).

Excited to see this home get started! Three car garage, wood accents, lots of curb appeal. I put on a sample colour scheme, somewhat a mix between coastal and craftsman with light colour stone and brick and blue-ish siding, but I’m excited to see the combo that the interior designer chooses.