Entry/Mudroom
Designer: Kevin Dumais Architect: Ben Herzog Location: Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan Size: About 7 by 24 feet (2.1 by 7.3 meters) Homeowners’ request: “The homeowners needed a space to remove shoes, city grime, and to drop mail, keys and coats before entering into the clean and calm of the apartment.” Plan of attack: “The bench was the main element in the space,” says architect Ben Herzog. “It provides a key- and mail-dropping area, hooks for coats and a place to sit down and take off, or put on, boots and shoes. It was designed by Kevin Dumais, the very talented interior designer on this project, with [me] providing assistance. We all felt that the bench should ‘float’ above the floor to make the small area feel a bit more spacious. Val Canuci, the cabinetmaker on the project, provided steel support brackets hidden under the bench to enable it to withstand a lot of weight. The rest of the space evolved from there.” What wasn’t working: “This apartment does not have a mudroom or separate entry. The entry door opens into a very small space that is directly on the kitchen and the hallway seen in the picture.” What goes on here: “Getting their three young kids geared up and r...
Location: Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts Size: About 7 by 12 feet (2.1 by 3.6 meters) Homeowners’ request: “The clients wanted an entryway that provided both a sense of arrival and efficient storage for their active young family and guests,” says architect Chuck Sullivan. Plan of attack: “We approached the entryway asking, ‘How could we design the ideal entryway that related to both the exterior and the interior spaces?’ First step was to design and install a front door with windows, as well as a window adjacent to the door, to capture the abundant natural light and allow for water views. “Because we live on an island, there’s always a design consideration for the elements: rain, snow, sand, wind etc. To address this, we covered the porch and built it at the same level as the entry for a smooth transition under any weather condition. On the same level, to the south side and out of sight lines, is an outdoor shower for rinsing off after a day on the beach. Inside, from the entryway, there is easy access to the first-floor bath with indoor shower and laundry facilities. Perfect for those adventurous days when the kids’ dirty clothes can go straight into the washing ...
9. Combine an entry, mudroom and pantry. This mudroom off the kitchen is a hardworking multifunctional space. The designers extended the style of cabinetry used in the kitchen and included extra pantry space in here. The homeowners can come in from the car with grocery bags and place them on the counter right away for unloading. The sink can serve as a hand-washing station (think muddy kids), bar sink and flower-cutting area. The coat-hook wall provides all the space for outerwear and shoes the homeowners need, as well as a bench.
After: Gray vinyl flooring and clean white walls envelop what is now a bright, welcoming entry to the renovated basement mudroom. Stuva wardrobe systems from Ikea integrate with the white walls; Sterling and her husband use one closet for coats, and their children use the other. “People are amazed when they see my kids come in and put that stuff away, but it had been my goal for a long time. I pushed them for a while, and it worked,” Sterling says.
closets that include ventilation
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