Ok — two more duplex mudroom/laundry areas are finished and photographed, and these required some real sweat equity. We built tall storage cabinets beside the stacked washer and dryer and added multiple hook rails in each room (you truly can never have too many hooks at the beach).
One of my favorite features in the whole house is how the kitchens connect and flow into each laundry room/mudroom. The bold tile backsplashes, patterned mudroom floors, and painted pocket doors transform a previously characterless area into a functional, charming space. We installed pocket doors so you can close off laundry noise while cooking, dining, or watching TV, yet still allow light to pass through.
When the pocket doors are closed they still let light through because we chose solid wood doors with upper glass panes — often called half-lite doors. They keep the kitchen from feeling dark when the laundry area is closed off. We added classically simple pulls that match the rest of the hardware in the house to keep the look cohesive.
These rooms used to be cramped and character-free — one side had a tiny cramped kitchen squeezed into what was once an open side porch. We photographed the original layout and then the renovated version so you can see the dramatic difference. (The ‘before’ vinyl floors even showed evidence of prior pest treatments.)
Now the same wide doorway has pocket doors and a hardworking room with stacked laundry, a pantry area created with an open shelving system and baskets, plus a dedicated mudroom section with lots of hooks, shoe storage, and a bench. The shelving under the window provides pantry-style storage for guests, while the built-in cabinet next to the stacked units holds essentials.
If you stand with your back to the exterior door you see the stacked washer and dryer and the custom-built storage cabinet beside them. We originally planned lower cabinets under the window, so we designed this layout to balance guest access and private storage: the top cabinet is stocked for renters while the lower shelf — reachable only by moving the anchored shelving — stores paint and house supplies for the owners.
The floor tile is one of my favorite design moments — we laid each tile by hand and created the pattern ourselves. It’s worth the extra time and effort because it brings a playful, durable surface to a high-use space. A jumbo hook rail with eight hooks sits to the right of the doorway; then we added four more hooks in an alcove near the back door for a total of twelve hooks on that side. A bench and two baskets make a compact, useful spot for shoes and seating while keeping traffic flow open.
On the other side of the duplex we chose a different palette — greeny-gray doors and gray tile instead of pink and neapolitan tones — but the layout and function are mirrored. We added the same pocket-door connection between kitchen and mudroom, a stacked laundry, built-in cabinets, shelving, hooks, a bench tucked into an alcove, and the same strategy of renter-accessible upper storage with owner-only lower space.
We also hunted down secondhand diamond-paned interior doors for both mudrooms. Their glass panes echo the original diamond paned windows at the front of the house and bring light and character into the rooms. One side we left with a clear seal to preserve the wood tone, which adds warmth to the space.
The exterior back doors are keyless-entry for renters, which is handy for people coming in from the outdoor showers or beach with gear. We’ve found the coded lock very reliable; dozens of contractors, inspectors, and guests have used it without issue.
Bench placement evolved during the remodel — we originally installed benches under the longer hook rails but they felt tight and obstructive. Tucking them into alcoves created more comfortable circulation and a much better experience when people come in carrying luggage, groceries, or beach gear. Anchoring the shelving prevents tipping and keeps the lower owner-only storage secure from curious renters or kids.
Both mudrooms deliver major function — laundry, pantry-style storage, organized hooks for towels and coats, and a defined mudroom landing — while adding visual charm and cohesion to the duplex. I genuinely can’t pick a favorite; both sides are beautiful and useful in their own ways.
P.S. If you want to see the rest of the duplex — the two kitchens, front and back, four bedrooms, six bathrooms, and the living and dining rooms — we’ve documented the entire renovation in the duplex project updates. It covers layout planning, tiling, and many other details across multiple posts.
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