After a 1.5-year pause, we're finally back to tackling this small but ambitious renovation. Goodbye dog bath, hello downstairs laundry.
It's been a long and winding road, but we're finally circling back to the very first room we started renovating: our mudroom. This little space has been in a state of "under construction" for a whopping year and a half. Sometimes, that's just how these projects go, right? You start with the best intentions, but other projects come up, and before you know it, you find yourself moving on to the next thing.
We initially started our renovations with the mudroom because it was the smallest room in the house. However, our plans were ambitious, perhaps even more complex than some of the larger spaces. But no more procrastination. We're back to give this little room the attention it deserves.
Our primary motivation for tackling the mudroom was to reclaim our downstairs laundry, say goodbye to the built-in dog bath, and get the washer and dry out of what is now Christian's office. The previous owners had moved the washer and dryer upstairs to accommodate the doggy spa. While a dog bath is a cool feature, it didn't align with how we live in this house. With our primary bedroom on the main floor and the laundry inconveniently located upstairs in Christian's office, it wasn't practical. The trek up the stairs with a full laundry basket was a workout. And Christian certainly didn't enjoy clothes tumbling while trying to work.
So, where are we now? Christian successfully removed the incredibly heavy concrete dog bath and the seating bench. This cleared the way for adding cabinetry and a sink, which will be situated under the window. He also tackled the plumbing and electrical work required to bring the washer and dryer back downstairs. I'm so glad he knows what he's doing because this phase involved navigating both the attic and the crawl space – two places you won't find me venturing.
Next on the agenda is drywall repair and the exciting step of getting those custom cabinet measurements. We're looking forward to seeing how it all comes together. We're optimistic that the mudroom will be a fully functioning space within the next few months.