Morgante Wilson Architects
For homeowners in snowy parts of the country, being winter-ready means owning a variety of outerwear and boots to handle the fluctuations of the season – which can go from sub-zero temperatures to thaw conditions seemingly overnight. According to Elissa Morgante of Evanston, Ill.-based architecture and interior design firm Morgante Wilson Architects, a well-designed mudroom gives homeowners a place to quickly grab the right coat or boot option to match the weather conditions.
“Living in Chicago you might need a full-length down parka one day and a light jacket the next, so most people have a pretty extensive outerwear wardrobe,” says Wilson. “I love incorporating lots of hooks in a mudroom entry so homeowners can have the coats and jackets they wear most in sight and in easy reach. We also add a closet for coats that aren’t in the regular rotation, but what’s nice is they’re all still in one place so you can quickly look at all your options.”
Peter Brennan, president of multifamily developer Foxford Communities, added that having plenty of mudroom storage for winter outerwear is equally valuable in the off-season. “Once it warms up, homeowners appreciate having a place to store their collection of cold-weather coats, footwear and accessories until they’re needed the next year,” says Brennan. “That’s why we design our mudrooms with extra storage, including a large closet where bulky winter gear can be packed away to make room for in-season items.”
Foxford is currently offering a custom, quick-delivery home at Tarns of the Moor, a small enclave of elegant homes on 2- to 4-acre lots in Bannockburn. The home includes an expansive mudroom designed to meet the needs of busy families with school-aged children. Complete with individual cubbies as well as large closets, the mudroom ensures every hat, glove, flip flop and rain coat has a place no matter what the season.
