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...jen o'connor's...Artful Adventures & Daily Inspirations

I Love Art, Adore the Handmade and Treasure the Vintage. I am the Fun Mom, the Silly Friend and the Writer who wants to make more room for beauty in the everyday.

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Friday, January 9, 2009

Finally - Mud Room



Well, well, well...it sure did take me long enough!

Back in August I started a re-do of the "mud room"...the smallest room in the house, but the one entered first each time we come into the house via the garage, the car, the yard...

It used to be a bright and cheery yellow, but I was eager to lighten it up a bit and along the way, create a bit more functional space for a busy house with the little ones tromping about. (It also spawned the re-organization of the garage and the bins just outside the mud room's entry door.)

Anyway...whew I am finally there and happy the share these images...wish there was more light to shoot without the flash, but you get the idea.






The old store display piece and its drawers hold everything from hats and gloves to cat food and my secret stash of "Red Bull" -- I write this hesitantly as I fear Laurie Meseroll and Jennifer Lanne will raid it on their next visit in 3 weeks for the "heART of winter"!

I nabbed this piece planning to use it for a bench more than 4 years ago for $200 at the Stratford Antique Center. It languished in the garage until I was ready (ummm until Micah threatened the dumpster...his most vehement threat uttered all too often to my mounds of stuff!)

The painting by Laurie Meseroll really anchors the room and a score of hammered aluminum goodies add shine along with some of my fave shadowboxes from Kitty B. The sailor boy in the oval shell frame is by Cheryl Kuhn -- as is the old clock case assemblage -- and there's a painting on board over the door to the laundry room (we added this in a recent renovation...) by Barbara Straswer lending color and form to the wall. The large doll from Nicol Sayre is among my greatest treasures; she stands guard over a collection of berries by Kim Stout.

Thanks for the encouragement to all who wrote and shared their renovation and re-do stories.

Next on the list for renewal...the basement...a play area and an art area are in the works thanks to my niece Sara who has shared her time and talents while she's been home from college for the winter break.

More soon, and wishing you all the best as you begin the new year.

xxoo Jen
Earth Angels

11 comments:

Theresa said...

Jen I love the new mud room.... I really liked the yellow paint but the white really does make the space so much lighter. Plus I love that bench... with all it's chipped away paint. It's beautiful... can't wait to see what you do with the basement. :)

Hugs,

Theresa

Anonymous said...

Beautiful job, Jen! And very inspiring. I have a similar project on my to-do list. Thanks for the creative nudge in the right direction!

Lola Enchanted said...

OMG!!! I'm screaming!!! That came out just beautifully!!!!!


Hope you enjoy your day!!!~

Anonymous said...

Very nice, Jen...you must go thru lots of Red Bull!! Maybe I need to try some...BTW your children must be sooo much better than mine...I could never tempt them with one of Nicol's pieces! LOVE ;)

Regina Moore said...

WOW! What a transformation...just beautiful! Makes me want to paint something! Ha!

Stars Fault said...

Lovely mud room makeover. Must be in the air 'cuz I just finished my entryway at home too! The painting really makes it, I tink.

Blessings ~ Eileen @ Star's Fault

hens teeth said...

Very inspiring .... your beautiful collections look fantastic.

Anonymous said...

Your mudroom looks wonderful!I like the painting especially and it makes for a nice first impression of your home.

Our mudroom was transformed into my current studio. When I first moved here (before my husband and I were married) the mudroom had stained gray carpet and the recycling bins full of beer cans were the "main features" of the room...that and snowboards and skis.
The first thing I thought is this room has so much potential it must be changed. Now it looks great but is too small to function as my studio. We hope either to buy a new home or add on a studio over the garage within the next year. If the later is the case I'm redoing the mud room and making it a reading room..a place to relax :)

Thanks for sharing your room!

RosesRadishesandRubbish said...

Great muted colors! It really shows off your wonderful artwork. LOVE that Gigantic linen pillow. I adore your style!:) Amy

Heather said...

Fabulous!

Ramona said...

GORGEOUS! "Chipped Paint" is my middle name.

Smiles ~ Ramona


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