You know what they say… You only get one chance to make a first impression.  And according to Forbes Magazine, you only have seven seconds.  Which is why this first space I’m going to share with you is one of my absolute favorites, my back mudroom.  There’s something about someone welcoming you to their home through the back door.  It’s a sign that here in the midwest, you’re like family.  And I don’t care who you are, people love the feeling of being accepted and welcomed just like they’re back at home.  On the other hand, there’s also the sound of being welcome in through a “mudroom” that immediately lowers the expectations of anyone who enters.  Which is why, I love to give everyone that walks through the door a little of the unexpected.  Below are two pictures that share just that.

There’s so much going on in this design that I love.  The first part to this design is the lighting that centers and gravitates the space.  Lighting can make or break a design.  And here, you have both a hanging fixture and recessed lighting which create layers of light that flood the small entry.  The other aspect that I love is that this light is completely unexpected.  You would never see coral reef in the midwest.  However, if you’ve ever had a moment that you’ve come into contact, you’ve likely been on vacation or in an environment with loved ones gazing in amazement at its natural beauty.  This brings forth memories that take you back to a special place and immediately sets the tone for a relaxing and calming space. 

The second part of the design that I created was this floor to ceiling functional storage space.  This not only maximizes your storage capability but it also draws your sight line vertically which makes it feel grand in scale.  When our carpenter had initially built this cubby system it didn’t go to the ceiling.  The balance was off and it lacked the strength needed to ground the space.  It was almost like seeing my husband walk into a room with a plate full of kale, wheatgrass and quinoa holding a glass of chardonnay…  Everything about it felt wrong!  So, by designing a vertical header trimmed with crown and a little decorative trim, it now felt oh, so right. 🙂  Then, I accented this built-in system with dark cubbies in a natural weave texture to create the perfect balance.  And last but not least, topped off our design with handmade pillows that offered the perfect soft scaping to a hard exterior shell.  Two opposites always complement one another.  I loved this idea and couldn’t wait for it to come to life.  This design idea depicts exactly what this place is to all that enter, HOME.  I also added the text added “est. 2007” at the right hand corner of the last pillow to give a personal touch to the space.  This was the year that my husband and I were married and it really tells a story  of “us” as every home should.  Remember, your home is where your story begins.  Welcome HOME.

For more on this space, join me later this week for the second part of this design series. 

Peace, Love & Repurposefully,

Melissa