Building a mudroom

Listen to this radio show (MP3 download) or read below.

Radio interview source: Erica Broberg, architect

Our mudroom is between the garage and the kitchen. It's become the depository for everything. We keep the chore boots there, and the cat food and litter boxes. We have shelves for work gloves and hats. We have a bench to sit on when you put on your boots and shoes. We also have a chest freezer full of meat.

Architect Erica Broberg says adding a mudroom to the house is the number one request she receives from moms who are sick of tripping over backpacks and muddy boots. But, before designing a mudroom, know what your needs are.

"People with kids often want a series of cubbies and that each child has their own little cubby unit with a lower one for shoes, the middle one with hooks for jackets, an upper one for hats, gloves, that sort of stuff," Broberg says. "And then we do a boot bench, one is a tilt-up top and you can store things inside of it. I like to put a coat closet but some people just put hooks around the entire room."

Hang a mirror to see how silly you look in that new hat, and a clock to make sure you're on time. Add a key hook, too, so you can grab a set on your way out the door.