How tidy is your mudroom? (I don't think it needs to be weird, and certainly there are many houses that have that. Since you are dealing with existing space and not building new, you do what you can with what you've got. To me, having a mudroom space is a big pro to a smaller con of having to get to the powder room through it.)

no. I'd do it.

That is basically what we are planning to do.

I can not picture it. Can you do a quick sketch of the lay out? I do not think it would be weird walking through a mud room to get to the powder room but I can not see how this is gaining you privacy to the powder room.

This feels like a great project to brain storm.

Thanks for the comments everyone. Shades - we're thinking if the small hallway that runs between the powder room and the coat closet has a door on it, it gives one more layer of sound-proofing to make guests feel more comfortable and you wouldn't be able to see the toilet from the family room. We're going to go for it.

I have several friends who have powder rooms like you describe. It doesn't seem odd to me at all, especially in older homes.

If some were to come into our house from outside to go into the powder room they would first walk through laundry room then into the full bath. I do not see that as an issue at all. This laundry room is also used a bit like a mud room.

I think they'll appreciate the privacy, no matter what they have to walk through.
And a mud room can be made to look quite appealing with a little creativity.

For sure. A couple of threads in the past about bathrooms visible from eating/kitchen spaces revealed some very passionate responses from many who are easily disgusted and surprised "whatevers" from others with more prosaic responses.

Those who are more easily, or strongly, disgusted said they literally go home before using facilities where others in food areas can see them entering and leaving and are extremely uncomfortable with others doing so. These were not uncommon responses and thus provided very valuable insight into what is actually a real red-flag layout issue. For those who have guests over, anyway. Or who think they might need to sell their home in future and don't want half the market to evaporate on seeing an unfortunately placed door.

All a way of saying by all means do the utility hall, with all the insulation you can manage, and while you're at it maybe install a ventilation fan that goes on and off with the light to provide cover noise, as well as a quiet-flush toilet. And during parties still set the food out somewhere other than the breakfast room. Some people really care, but they'll never tell their hosts.