Tiny Footprint, Big Impact

This Morganville, New Jersey, mudroom packs a punch in efficiency and style

Compact space was maximized with floor-to-ceiling cabinets and a convenient built-in bench painted in “Smokey Taupe” to create cohesiveness with the adjacent kitchen, designer Alison Nifoussi says. Organic design elements foster an earthy vibe with a memorable feel.

Prior to a gut renovation that also involved an adjacent kitchen, this 100-square-foot space served as a laundry/mudroom until the owners decided to relocate the washer and dryer upstairs, explains interior designer Alison Nifoussi, principal of Tweak Interiors in Little Silver, New Jersey.

“They were very happy to allocate this tight space to one purpose,” Nifoussi says of the dedicated mudroom, which now offers plenty of concealed storage options for the couple and their two children. On top of that, “They were looking for a cool look to complement their adjacent kitchen renovation.”

Her jumping off point? The floor tiles, which feature a “shattered” design element: 10-by-60-inch porcelain floor planks rendered in off-black and matte gold. Says Nifoussi: “When laid in a random fashion, they make the coolest design.”

“When laid in a random fashion, they make the coolest design,” Nifoussi says of the room’s porcelain tile flooring.

For a sense of cohesiveness, built-in custom cabinets painted in “Smokey Taupe” echo the bar cabinetry in the adjacent kitchen. The space also gets its earthy vibe from warm, rich walnut wood and off-black grass-cloth window treatments that tie in with the organic flooring. Moreover, black hardware and a black “porcupine” flush-mount light fixture “add contrast to the space as well as shape and texture one might find in nature.”

Each family member now has designated spaces to store their “messy” stuff behind closed doors or in cubbies that hold baskets for additional storage. Says Nifoussi: “While it is small, it is mighty, and organization is key to getting out of the house in a pinch.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Read about the kitchen that is adjacent to this mudroom in “Quest for Contrast,” February-March 2023, page 56.