A dramatic before and after - this dated former pantry in my 1900s fixer upper has been transformed into a stylish modern entryway ready to welcome guests.
MACTAVISH HOUSE | Updated October 29, 2024
There is such satisfaction that comes from seeing a dated, worn out space transformed into a stylish modern room without spending a lot of money.
When I decided to participate in the 2020 Spring One Room Challenge and turn the pantry space of my 1900s fixer upper into an updated mudroom, I had no idea the number of obstacles that would come into my path. But I was able to get the space completely transformed without a huge investment, other than time, of course.
With the pandemic, store's not being opened and supply chain issues, this renovation has been quite the rollercoaster ride from start to finish. In-person there are things that aren't quite done, but for the sake of the camera, this room looks just as it should.
Sources for everything you see here, as well as links to all the previous posts in the One Room Challenge series appear at the bottom of this post.
While there is nothing grand or extraordinary about this small room, it is such a change from where we started at the beginning of this One Room Challenge......an example of a great before and after for sure. It now fits in perfectly with the style I'm aiming for in the house and it is really quite refreshing to walk in the back door now.
Just in case this is your first visit, here is a peek at what the before of this space looked like when it was serving as my grandmother's pantry in her 1900s home:
READ NEXT: Learn more about the condition of the room before and exactly what I did to transform it into the modern space of today.
Months were spent planning, adjusting those plans, tearing down and building up. Through it all I am really happy with how the room turned out. Here is the after:
Between removing multiple layers of old flooring, ceiling, and paneling, taking out the pantry cupboards, and painting the room a crisp white, the space feels much larger than it did before.
I tried to maintain the open feel with limited furnishings and decor, while still keeping it from looking sparse.
I will admit that I must keep looking for a rug for the space, though. The size of the room makes it difficult to find a rug that isn't too big or small and when this one arrived, although pretty, I knew it wasn't the right scale. When restrictions are lifted and supply chain shortages are resolved, I'll be back out searching for a similar replacement.
READ NEXT: Shopping for the Right Size Area Rug for Every Room
My handmade console table lends a rustic look to a room filled with clean lines and provides for a nice conversation piece about how it was made. I love that I was able to use the boards saved from my childhood sandbox to create a table that rivals the pricey Restoration Hardware version I saw online.
Although it is narrow, it is plenty wide enough for some pretty decor to greet you as you enter.
READ NEXT: See Exactly How the Rustic Table was Built Using Scrap Boards
The wood mirror hanging over the table was a $2 Goodwill find.
It was painted bright blue, but after a few thin coats of metallic black spray paint it looks almost like the metal framed mirrors I had found while shopping for the space.
A mirror is quite handy in an entryway, both because it reflects light in the space making the room feel larger and because you never know when you might need a quick once-over before heading out the door.
A simple, but necessary coat rack was installed using a scrap board and some vintage hooks that had been hanging in the basement. The metal hooks were sprayed with the same metallic black spray paint to freshen them up and then they were screwed into the board.
Adding a sliding "barn" door to the bathroom has added a nice decorative element to the room and maintains some of the old house charm by reusing something original to the home. Best of all, it allows for a pretty light fixture to hang down in the room now and no longer will someone coming out of the bathroom open the door into another person or the opening entry door!
The brass hardware adds a nice vintage touch by keeping the room from looking too modern.
READ NEXT: Creating a Barn Door from a Vintage Exterior Door
The purpose of any entryway is to provide a convenient place to come into the house, an area to remove shoes and outerwear, space for setting down mail, keys, and a purse, and to welcome guests. This room now does all of that with style.
(And if you're in the mood for another great before and after, be sure to check out my living room makeover!)
More Posts in the ORC Mudroom Makeover Series
WEEK ONE: Entryway Before Tour - Discover what this space looked like before the demo started.
WEEK TWO: Demo in the Entryway - See at what is uncovered beneath layers of dated paneling, linoleum, and ceiling tile.
WEEK THREE: Entryway Design Plan - An in-depth look at my original design and the changes I was forced to make.
WEEK FOUR: Cleaned Up and Painted
WEEK FIVE: Building a Console Table - Follow as I DIY a table inspired by Restoration Hardware using boards saved from my childhood sandbox!
WEEK SIX: Barn Door Project - Adding a track to an old door saved from this house for the bathroom
WEEK SEVEN: Mudroom Entryway Revealed - You are here!
ENTRYWAY SOURCES
PAINT: Valspar Snowcap White (Satin for walls and semigloss for trim) and ValsparCracked Pepper (for barn door) available at Lowes
FLOOR STAIN: Fusion Stain and Finishing Oil in Cappuccino available on Amazon
RUG: Magnolia
MIRROR: Goodwill find sprayed with Rustoleum Black Night Spray Paint
BARN DOOR: Original to the house
ANTIQUE BRASS BARN DOOR HARDWARE: Home Depot
CHAIR: Antique find
CONSOLE TABLE: Handmade - Click here for tutorial
PILLOW: Local gift shop
"FOUND" VASE: Goodwill find painted with this tutorial
FAUX AMARANTHUS FLOWERS: Local gift shop
HANDLED BASKET: JoAnn Fabrics
COAT HOOKS: Original to the house
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