Entry/Mudroom

Every year in the Hudson Valley, winter doesn’t end — it dissolves. The snow recedes in uneven patches. We have a few days of mud and then another week of frozen moonscapes, then it repeats. From the adults to the children, we track in the mud. Then the dogs with mud-clogged toes come trotting in, completely bypassing the towels we have prepared for them. In one word, it is a mess.

Mud Control Starts Outside the House

House with Covered Entries

In practice, it is very difficult to control everything around your house to minimise the impact of the mud season. In a perfect world, we all would have gravel walkways on well-drained substrates or brick paths that are always free of snow and ice. The fact is, most of us don’t live in manicured estates with full time staffs to keep springtime grounds in perfect shape. What we can do is create spaces near our house that minimise the mud that makes it into our homes. In addition to durable, mud-free paths around our homes, we can provide transition spaces like covered porches and entries where we can take the first layer of mud off our boots. Good drainage and gutters can minimise water around the house, though many people prefer to avoid gutters and rely on underground drainage pipes.

Covered Entry with Gutters Around House

No Outdoor Prep Can Stop Real Mud

Real Life Spring Mud Pit on the Way to Feed the Sheep

When we walk up to the barn in the spring, there is no outdoor walkway or covered entry to keep the dogs and us from sinking into the mud. We do have a brick walkway leading to our covered entry, but it doesn’t help much after we have walked up and down from the barn. Most properties have those unavoidable areas that can’t be made mud-free. The design of a practical mudroom should include a durable floor and sturdy benches for sitting and carefully removing those muddy boots.

Mudroom With Rugged Floor

Don’t Forget the Animals

Gus Posing in Our Clients’ Dog Wash

One of the biggest sources of mud coming into our home is our dogs (and maybe a little from the cat). If you have animals and the room and budget for it, a ‘dogwash’ area can be a wonderful addition. Though not the only place to locate the dogwash, the mudroom is perfect because it catches the mud before it gets into the house. Even if only to rinse off their paws, a dogwash can be worth its weight in gold.

Mudroom Dogwash

Mudroom Dogwash

Leave Room For Everything Else

Mudroom For Gear and Activities

The ideal mud room in the Northeast would have room for winter gear, including snow pants and all the assorted stuff associated with whatever sports the family takes up. If we are shooting for the moon, there would also be plenty of room for summer gear and all those pastimes. What they all have in common is a durable floor, lots of storage, and plenty of space to sit down and put the gear on and take it off.

Even a Small Mudroom is Better Than Nothing at All

Small Mudroom

Even the smallest of mudrooms makes a big difference. With a durable floor and places to sit and hang up your coats, that extra organization goes a long way toward a cleaner, more organized home. When we added a bench, cubbies, and places to hang our coats, our home made a great leap toward order and family harmony.

Simple Cubbies, Hooks, and a Bench Go a Long Way

Photos by Rob Karosis     Curated Brochure by Crisp Architects: Portfolio

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