I’m excited to finally be sharing the second part of our main floor remodel. It’s not the craziest before and after, but I love how it transformed one room into a super functional space for our family.
the Before
When we moved into our home 5 years ago one of the rooms I was excited to gain was an office space. We worked from home at the time, and I loved the idea that we could go somewhere quiet to sit. However over the years both Steve and I gravitated towards working at the kitchen table or at a coffee shop, and the home office became more of a storage room for work items. Once we moved into an office location in town, there was really no need for a home office, and with no powder room or mudroom on the main floor I quickly started planning out the space for how we could fit in both.
the Plans
The existing layout had a super small back hall off the basement stairwell where the kids would put on their coats and shoes to play in the back yard. It was too small to store anything, so everything was crammed into the foyer closet. (It was nothing pretty!)
In the old office space, I was able to work in a mudroom with a small powder. I’m not normally one to suggest removing a window, but in this case it was really the best option to maximize storage along that wall. (And as a family of 6, extra storage is always a good thing!) The view was also into our neighbours home so getting rid of it gave us and them more privacy. We were able to fit in 7 IKEA PAX units which was plenty of storage for our family and one cupboard for all our cleaning supplies (including our vacuum and mop.) In addition to removing the window, we also changed out the large sliding doors for a single door. This allowed us to fit in a narrow powder room along the opposite wall. I was a bit worried about the lack of light the new layout would have, but it still feels like a bright space. (I did make sure that the patio door was full glass which does help!)
the After
My inspiration for this space came from Belgian farmhouses. I loved their use of wood tones and natural stone. On the floor we went with a medium grey Limestone tile. Each tile is unique and has natural finished edges. We went with PAX units from IKEA for the storage. I love how versatile the storage is and that we can easily change it as our family grows. For the fronts, I designed custom doors and had it all cased in to look like a custom built in. The wood finish is perfect for holding up to all the wear and tear this small space gets!
The black oval cabinet knobs from Emtek match the rest of the hardware in this room, and our kids often use them to hang up their wet coats or snow pants. It’s something I hadn’t intentionally designed but love how functional it is.
The powder room round door knob is a matt black and has a large back plate. I love the old character it gives to the space, and the design detail the raised edge adds.
When I was designing the powder room, I pulled inspiration from utility spaces that were fundamentally functional but also really beautiful. On the walls we went with Metrie’s wide shiplap and painted it a light beige. It was a great way to add some texture to the small room, and also holds up every day life. I love the understated feel it gives. The sink was inspired by vintage pieces you would see in an old farmhouse. We had it made out of soapstone and had the front edge cut to have a fluted detail.
The wood mirror was a Facebook marketplace find that we picked up for $25. It is an old antique pine piece and shows the craftsmanship with exposed seams.
The rest of the plumbing fixtures in this space are from Ferguson. I love the luxe utility look that the brass bridge faucet gives, and that we were able to mount it directly on the back plate of the sink. It reminds me of so many of the faucets I came across when looking for inspiration.
I spent more time then I’d like to admit shopping for a toilet. I was on the hunt for something that would fit the small scale of the room and be simple but elegant. The Kohler toilet I decided on is so nice and petite in the space. It has an extra low back and keeps the room feeling really open which is so needed in the tiny space! I’m also all for the minimal design it has and how it compliments the rest of the pieces.
I love that the unlaquered brass toilet paper holder is in the sightline when you first walk into the powder room. It again fits that function and beauty concept that had started this design, and since it is unaquered it will get a natural patina over time. It’s such a classic piece that will get more beautiful over the years.
Making over this room into a mudroom with a powder room has been so functional for our family, and we haven’t yet missed having a separate room for a home office.
Next up in our house tour is our kitchen, and I’m definitely saving the best for last!