Spaces

Depending on the design of the house, the space might also include laundry appliances and cleaning supplies. "They are also a great place to have a drop zone for things coming in and out of the house," Carroll said. "Hooks and finishes are becoming more upscale as it is an important area of the home for a family." Consultations are key to creating the ideal mudroom to meet the needs of your household. "When we consult, we discuss things such as the overall outer- wear storage situation to deter- mine where things should best be placed. Of course, space in a home has constraints, along with the space for a mudroom," Carroll said. "Pinterest pictures are nice but can- not be used alone to design a mud- room." Warren Koop, partner in Alair Homes, offers some creative ideas for making the most of this utilitar- ian space. "The idea is locker-room storage, and it can take a thousand different forms. We see clients becoming in- creasingly more interested in doing things like tile or heated tile, which is very easy to clean if you have wet or dirty boots. Another idea is to put in a skylight or sun tunnel to bring some natural light into the space," he said. "Dog showers are also becoming popular. This area could include a tray or be built into a tile floor sys- tem where you could wash off a pair of boots or clean your dog's paws." If you're thinking of installing a mudroom, Koop recommends enlist- ing the skills of an interior designer and also ensuring that all required permits are in place. "The most critical piece is to plan your space and then look at doing construction," he said. "You never want to start a project without hav- ing a complete set of drawings and a plan." S TO RY CO N T I N U E D F R O M PAG E 7 ▲ DOG SHOWERS ARE ALSO BECOMING POPULAR. THIS AREA COULD INCLUDE A TRAY OR BE BUILT INTO A TILE FLOOR SYSTEM WHERE YOU COULD WASH OFF A PAIR OF BOOTS OR CLEAN YOUR DOG'S PAWS. S P A C E S | 9

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