Saturday, July 18, 2015

Finally the mudroom


I say finally, because it was way back in January on 'this post' that I mentioned finishing the "mudroom".

This is what it looked like then...





Many things stood in my way, like snow, rain, etc., but mostly a lack of desire to get it done, because honestly... 

I was being lazy.

Shhhh.... ;)

So yesterday, I finally decided to get to it.

That's what I do when I need to think.

I either clean or paint.

I'm sure some of you understand that.

Or at least I hope ;)

Anyway, I took everything off the walls and this is what I was left with...


I had already painted the door (Behr's Sage) and the window trim (Behr's Melted Butter) that was a dingy white originally, about two months ago, but the room was still dark, and of course brown.

I swear the previous owners must have gotten a discount on brown.

Ugh.


And here's what it looks like painted Cotton Whisper by Behr, after I put everything back...


The line above on the floor, is a step.

The thing with the bell, in the middle of the two needlepoints, is an old system from the 1800s that would ring the maid and tell her what room to go to when someone needed her. I've had it for years in many different homes, but it's never been hooked up. 

I'm the only "maid" in reality and I don't need a bell ;)





Again before, leading to the side yard:


After:





From the kitchen:


Oh! And there's this cute little sliding door:





It comes in handy when I need to keep Mini and Bubba upstairs.

And well, it's cute :)


If you're wondering where this little mudroom goes, besides the kitchen, it also takes you downstairs to the laundry room (that still needs work), my bedroom, and dressing room (or vanity room), that used to be the maids quarters.


So that's it.

Not a big redo, but definitely one that makes me happy :)

xo
rue


63 comments:

  1. Looks GREAT- golly, Rue you have the CUTEST most charming cottage house! I adore it!!!!

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  2. So cute. Is the picture on the bottom, needlework. Love your cozy house.

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  3. I love your home Rue! The Mudroom looks great with the newly painted colors!

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  4. Adoryble!!!! I love your floor, too!!

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  5. Isn't it amazing what paint can do! Your mud room looks great, Rue. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

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  6. howdy Rue, I think I would've done the exact same thing you did.......that space needed lightening up! It looks great! I notice that old fashioned straw purse hanging up........my beloved Ma-Maw had one like that.........that sure brings back the memories! Is that yours, or there for decoration? Love the hats there too!

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    1. I wear the straw hat and carry the purse ::)

      xo

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  7. Using lighter colors really brightened the area up. Love your pocket doors - we have two. I think you should try to ring the maid's bell and see if one appears ;-)

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  8. That's what I need! A maid's bell (and a maid!) Looks great!

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  9. You are doing good girl---what a great transformation! The maid's bell should be a constant reminder of how useless it really is in the 21st century.

    Jane x

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  10. Stunning transformation, Rue! I just love your sweet hats hanging up :) Keep up the great work, dear one. Hugs!

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  11. What a difference a coat of paint makes. I love how it looks so much cheerier and even bigger. I want to paint the living room, and that my friend, will be a huge undertaking by myself, but it can be done and you once again, have inspired me.

    Have a nice day and a great week ~ FlowerLady

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  12. It is amazing what a coat of paint and a little reorganising can do isn't it. It looks great! xx

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  13. Beautiful improvement in the mud room, love your choice of paint colors. Now I really need a bell that rings for someone to come and do my bidding ;)

    Mary

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  14. Our side entrance is like that too -- up a few steps to the kitchen and down twice as many to the basement. It was a common "back door" in the 20s and 30s. Like what you did and I'm green over your maid caller!

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  15. What a difference a fresh coat of paint makes! I love your checkered floor and that sliding door is a nice original feature, too. Imagine ringing a bell for maid service!

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  16. You do amazing things, Lady!!!!! So bright and welcoming.

    How lucky you are, to have a _Mud Room_. They should be mandatory in all homes!!!!! Sezzzzzzz me. ,-)

    And I thought that was a sliding door! Oh I simply love sliding doors. For some reason, I love them. :-)

    Ahhhhh yes, the Maid Caller!!!! What a find you made, whenever you found that. It's little touches like this, which add so much personality, to a home.

    Thank you for another tour, which brings your home more "to life," for we, your Dear Readers.

    Tessa

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  17. And, there really was/is a maid's quarters, built into this home?????? I have forgotten when it was built. But it was certainly another era. Very interesting.

    I only think of maid's quarters, as being in those really big homes... Which spread all over. ,-) But I have learned something new, yet again.

    Tessa

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  18. The paint made all the difference. So much brighter and happier!

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  19. Nice! Doesn't it just feel good (& clean?) I love fresh paint.

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  20. What a difference a fresh, bright coat of paint makes! Really opened up that happy little room. I love how you have the hats and straw purse hanging on the hooks.

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  21. Rue! I love your mud room, how I evny you for that. So so handy, and the make over is so beautiful. Your home is so charming, everything our mid century home here on the California coast misses. Thanks for sharing this space, it's dreamy.

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  22. I'm always pleased to see how some fresh paint can change the feeling of a room. Looks great Rue! Oh, and I'm the same way I clean when I have something on my mind that I have to figure out....
    Jeannette

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  23. Wow, the lighter paint looks great! Your home has so many neat and unique features, the sliding door and maid's bell just to name a few I love! The rattan purse is a sweet piece too, very cute! ~Rhonda

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  24. Paint really is a miracle worker! What a difference! And it makes your wall art show up so much better too. Love the little pocket door with its glass window!

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  25. Love those quirky little rooms that older homes have. You!!!, are one lucky lady to find this home before someone gutted all the charm out of it!!! I could just imagine someone enlarging the kitchen by making that one large room...yuk!!!! LOVE that sliding door...that is a keeper for sure. I bet it helps keep the cold out (or down) during winter.
    Great update!!!! Great space....I also love all you little side doors.
    Would love to see your laundry area...I was wondering if you went out to the garage!!!
    Addie

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    1. I'm glad I got here before they gutted it too! It would have been a tragedy of epic proportions.

      The laundry room won't be ready for it's debut for quite sometime. I have many other projects that need to get done before that, but stay tuned ;)

      xo

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  26. It's absolutely wonderful Rue! I know you feel like a load was lifted getting that space finished! Lighter walls were a perfect choice!

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  27. I think the 'cotton whisper' paint looks so much better, Rue. Everything looks great, and I've never seen a mud room before. Very interesting.

    ~Sheri

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  28. That little space is so cute! I love the paint color and the window frame color. All of your little vintage touches are perfect too.

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  29. It looks great, Rue. I love the name...melted butter...and that pocket door is the sweetest. We have a few in our house, but certainly none that charming.

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  30. Looks really nice...white or off-white will always be my favorite for walls.
    I like your sunshiny yellow, too. :)

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  31. The people who lived in your home lived in our home back in Texas at one time. Most rooms were painted brown, even the ceilings. It was like walking into a cave! Love the brighter look and the total redo! I just love your home, it is so wonderful and interesting! Hugs!!

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  32. an adorable cottage is what it is. the new whisper is letting in the light and making it your own.
    it's a happy place. can't you imagine how it must feel? so proud and delighted that you own it now! XOXO♥

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  33. I love re-dos.... when they are completed, and yours really brightens up the mudroom and back hallway area. Oh, and our current home had two brown bedrooms, brown laundry room, and the walls of the basement stairway. UGH. We have repainted all of those walls except the basement stair walls, because there is a window that lets lots of light into that area so it works. BUT, this house is naturally rather dark inside, so I had a hard time trying to wrap my head around the fact that they painted everything brown.

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  34. Oh, this is pretty. I'm also one who cleans when I'm upset, when I need to think, when I have issues to sort. The state of the house is a good barometer of my mood :-)
    Amalia
    xo

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  35. I love ll the little details of older homes like yours. They were more personable, somehow! Love the pocket door.

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  36. This could be the decorating equivalent of the poster child for the differences paint can make. It's so bright and cheerful, and above al, functional. And let's not forget, it makes you happy ;).

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  37. LoL! Rue, when I need to think I go take a nap. Things always look better when I wake up. Now when I get mad, look out! There isn't a tub or toilet safe around me then! I will scrub until I get over whatever made me mad! When I was first married, I had the cleanest bathroom fixtures in Oklahoma!

    Grace & Peace.

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  38. LIke the lightened up hallway, we have hallways and they can be so dark, but yours don't anymore! Love the colors and looks really nice against the tiles.

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  39. Ok, you have my attention about sleeping in the maid's quarters! Is it cooler in the basement?

    You know that I adore your style and the brighter paint really makes a diff in bringing lightness
    to the small space. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done!

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  40. Ok, you have my attention about sleeping in the maid's quarters! Is it cooler in the basement?

    You know that I adore your style and the brighter paint really makes a diff in bringing lightness
    to the small space. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done!

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  41. I love the shades of yellow and green you have in the house.

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  42. Cotton Whisper, what a lovely name for paint and oh my I do love the shade!
    Always a joy to see inside your home, Rue.
    xoxox
    Jemma

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  43. Rue, it looks great...so clean and fresh.

    I love that wicker handbag...I have seen some in antique shops are they are very pricey. Wow.

    Don't you love getting projects completed?

    Barb

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  44. How much brighter it looks! Giving it that open and airy feel. It is a very pretty color! I was admiring all the vintage embroidery and wall art displayed on your walls! It looks fantastic, Rue!

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  45. Hi Sweetie Rue! Oh, I love your little mud room and your changes made a world of difference. So much brighter now. That little maid bell thingy is so neat! You do have the most wonderful little things. Love the pocket door too. Hope you're doing well and thank you for popping in to see me.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

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  46. Isn't it amazing what a little bit of paint can do? It looks wonderful with all of your vintage touches. :-)

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  47. Hi Rue, I just love your mud room and the special charm here. You have made it a beautiful spot with the color and your vintage accents. I adore the pocket door. Thank you for stopping by to visit. Have a wonderful evening.
    Hugs, cm

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  48. Such a pretty space Rue and your color choices are perfect, along with that pocket door! Love it!

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  49. Wow! That paint made a huge difference! The people who owned our house apparently got a discount on gold paint so I get what you are saying. You turned that space into such light and airy space!

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  50. Rue, I love it! And the bell system thing! I want one of those -- but, of course, not hooked up because, like you, I *am* the maid! How would you compare this Melted Butter yellow to the Whisper Yellow of your bedroom?

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  51. This is such a charming space! I love the paint you chose, it really brightened the space and made it welcoming. I love the floor and your accents colors, too!

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  52. So cheery and light now! It all goes perfectly with the rest of the colors and theme. I thought of you when my Hubby picked up this vintage YELLOW kitchen clock... on my blog today. If you want first dibs, let me know before it goes to Etsy. I've been so slow in listing things with Bebe home... so it could be a while! Can't wait to see more of your home as you "redo!"

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  53. Well all your photo's look so good ... and I particularly like the 'fresh foods daily' sign.

    Many thanks for your visits and comments on the low carb diabetic blog - they are appreciated.

    All the best Jan

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  54. Well all your photo's look so good ... and I particularly like the 'fresh foods daily' sign.

    Many thanks for your visits and comments on the low carb diabetic blog - they are appreciated.

    All the best Jan

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  55. It looks wonderful, so much brighter and fresher it could be a whole different space. I love all the accessories and decor you used and agree, the sliding door is too cute!

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