This mudroom drop zone is a masterclass in blending organic textures with high-functioning design for a busy household. The space is defined by expansive, custom warm wood built-ins—likely white oak—featuring vertical beadboard backing and a seamless wrap-around bench. The design balances natural elements with playful pops of color, seen in the teal variegated hexagon floor tiles and the primary-colored wall hooks. Storage is maximized through a combination of open upper cubbies with woven seagrass baskets, deep inset drawers with brass hardware,

This remodel went from a tiny story-and-a-half Cape Cod, to a charming full two-story home. The mudroom features a bench with cubbies underneath, and a shelf with hooks for additional storage. The full glass back door provides natural light while opening to the backyard for quick access to the detached garage. The wall color in this room is Benjamin Moore HC-170 Stonington Gray. The cabinets are also Ben Moore, in Simply White OC-117. Space Plans, Building Design, Interior & Exterior Finishes by Anchor Builders. Photography by Alyssa Lee Photography.

Photos by Liz Daly http://www.lizdaly.com/
Example of a classic dark wood floor entryway design in San Francisco with beige walls

Jeff Amram Photography
Transitional light wood floor entryway photo in Portland with multicolored walls and a light wood front door

TThis space is a converted into a few programmatic needs for a busy family of four. The back door was incorporated in the design to create a connection to the backyard. The mudroom entry incorporates a built in home office, relocated powder room, built in cubicles for each family member as well as a closet. Designer: Shadi Khadivi Photography: Sébastien Barré

This 1950’s mid century ranch had good bones, but was not all that it could be - especially for a family of four. The entrance, bathrooms and mudroom lacked storage space and felt dark and dingy. The main bathroom was transformed back to its original charm with modern updates by moving the tub underneath the window, adding in a double vanity and a built-in laundry hamper and shelves. Casework used satin nickel hardware, handmade tile, and a custom oak vanity with finger pulls instead of hardware to create a neutral, clean bathroom that is still inviting and relaxing. The entry reflects this natural warmth with a custom built-in bench and subtle marbled wallpaper. The combined laundry, mudroom and boy's bath feature an extremely durable watery blue cement tile and more custom oak built-in pieces. Overall, this renovation created a more functional space with a neutral but warm palette and minimalistic details. Interior Design: Casework General Contractor: Raven Builders Photography: George Barberis Press: Rebecca Atwood, Rue Magazine On the Blog: SW Ranch Master Bath Before & After

Rob Karosis
Example of a country entryway design in New York with beige walls and a white front door

Elegant medium tone wood floor entryway photo in New York with a white front door and yellow walls

Whole-house remodel of a hillside home in Seattle. The historically-significant ballroom was repurposed as a family/music room, and the once-small kitchen and adjacent spaces were combined to create an open area for cooking and gathering. A compact master bath was reconfigured to maximize the use of space, and a new main floor powder room provides knee space for accessibility. Built-in cabinets provide much-needed coat & shoe storage close to the front door. ©Kathryn Barnard, 2014

Design Build by Sullivan Building & Design Group. Custom Cabinetry by Cider Press Woodworks. Photographer: Todd Mason / Halkin Mason Photography
Example of a mid-sized cottage slate floor entryway design in Philadelphia with gray walls and a glass front door

Klopf Architecture and Outer space Landscape Architects designed a new warm, modern, open, indoor-outdoor home in Los Altos, California. Inspired by mid-century modern homes but looking for something completely new and custom, the owners, a couple with two children, bought an older ranch style home with the intention of replacing it. Created on a grid, the house is designed to be at rest with differentiated spaces for activities; living, playing, cooking, dining and a piano space. The low-sloping gable roof over the great room brings a grand feeling to the space. The clerestory windows at the high sloping roof make the grand space light and airy. Upon entering the house, an open atrium entry in the middle of the house provides light and nature to the great room. The Heath tile wall at the back of the atrium blocks direct view of the rear yard from the entry door for privacy. The bedrooms, bathrooms, play room and the sitting room are under flat wing-like roofs that balance on either side of the low sloping gable roof of the main space. Large sliding glass panels and pocketing glass doors foster openness to the front and back yards. In the front there is a fenced-in play space connected to the play room, creating an indoor-outdoor play space that could change in use over the years. The play room can also be closed off from the great room with a large pocketing door. In the rear, everything opens up to a deck overlooking a pool where the family can come together outdoors. Wood siding travels from exterior to interior, accentuating the indoor-outdoor nature of the house. Where the exterior siding doesn’t come inside, a palette of white oak floors, white walls, walnut cabinetry, and dark window frames ties all the spaces together to create a uniform feeling and flow throughout the house. The custom cabinetry matches the minimal joinery of the rest of the house, a trim-less, minimal appearance. Wood siding was mitered in the corners, including where siding meets the interior drywall. Wall materials were held up off the floor with a minimal reveal. This tight detailing gives a sense of cleanliness to the house. The garage door of the house is completely flush and of the same material as the garage wall, de-emphasizing the garage door and making the street presentation of the house kinder to the neighborhood. The house is akin to a custom, modern-day Eichler home in many ways. Inspired by mid-century modern homes with today’s materials, approaches, standards, and technologies. The goals were to create an indoor-outdoor home that was energy-efficient, light and flexible for young children to grow. This 3,000 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom new house is located in Los Altos in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, and Chuang-Ming Liu 
Landscape Architect: Outer space Landscape Architects 
Structural Engineer: ZFA Structural Engineers 
Staging: Da Lusso Design 
Photography ©2018 Mariko Reed 
Location: Los Altos, CA
 Year completed: 2017

Tricia Shay Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary porcelain tile and gray floor single front door remodel in Milwaukee with a red front door and white walls

The built-in cabinetry at this secondary entrance provides a coat closet, bench, and additional pantry storage for the nearby kitchen. Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com

We replaced the brick with a Tuscan-colored stacked stone and added a wood mantel; the television was built-in to the stacked stone and framed out for a custom look. This created an updated design scheme for the room and a focal point. We also removed an entry wall on the east side of the home, and a wet bar near the back of the living area. This had an immediate impact on the brightness of the room and allowed for more natural light and a more open, airy feel, as well as increased square footage of the space. We followed up by updating the paint color to lighten the room, while also creating a natural flow into the remaining rooms of this first-floor, open floor plan. After removing the brick underneath the shelving units, we added a bench storage unit and closed cabinetry for storage. The back walls were finalized with a white shiplap wall treatment to brighten the space and wood shelving for accessories. On the left side of the fireplace, we added a single floating wood shelf to highlight and display the sword. The popcorn ceiling was scraped and replaced with a cleaner look, and the wood beams were stained to match the new mantle and floating shelves. The updated ceiling and beams created another dramatic focal point in the room, drawing the eye upward, and creating an open, spacious feel to the room. The room was finalized by removing the existing ceiling fan and replacing it with a rustic, two-toned, four-light chandelier in a distressed weathered oak finish on an iron metal frame. Photo Credit: Nina Leone Photography

Formal front entry with built in bench seating, coat closet, and restored stair case. Walls were painted a warm white, with new modern statement chandelier overhead.

Example of a transitional wooden u-shaped staircase design in Los Angeles

To maximize the functionality of the lower level, the rear entry includes a built-in workspace, bench and storage for the kids' jackets/backpacks. Photographer: Tyler Chartier

Mud Room with Custom Built In Storage Bench.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional light wood floor mudroom remodel in Los Angeles with white walls

New Laundry Room and Mud Room with Wood Grain Porcelain Tile, Custom Walnut Bench and Built-In, Caesarstone Waterfall Counter above Washer/Dryer in Lagos Blue, Subway Tile Backsplash, and Apron Sink. Photo by David Lauer. www.davidlauerphotography.com