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Designing the Ultimate Luxury Mudroom for Wine Country Living (or Even City Life!)
- Robin Heard
- Jul 8
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 10
Whether your home is nestled in the picturesque hills of Sonoma or tucked into a busy urban street in San Francisco, one thing remains true: we all need a beautiful and functional space to buffer the mess of the outside world. For some, that means a place to rinse muddy boots after a long walk through vineyard rows. For others, it’s a spot to wash the city grit off paws and shoes. Either way, it’s all about shedding the outside world as you enter your serene sanctuary.
A thoughtfully designed mudroom may seem like an unnecessary luxury, but once you have one, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
At Robin Heard Design, we believe in creating understated luxury and relaxed sophistication in every corner of the home, and the mudroom is no exception. Whether your environment brings you mud, sand, snow, or just general, everyday messes, your mudroom should help you maintain an effortless flow between interior and exterior. And since one of the most alluring aspects of California’s wine country is indoor-outdoor living, it’s truly a no-brainer to make it as seamless and simple as possible with a dedicated space for containing that kind of mess.
Here’s how I approach designing a luxury mudroom that supports a slower pace of life, keeps your main spaces pristine, and makes you smile every time you walk through it.
Flooring: Durable Beauty Underfoot
Your flooring choice sets the tone for your mudroom’s style, but it also needs to hold its own in terms of cleanability and durability. I gravitate towards natural stone, brick, or tile with a matte finish, sometimes warmed with in-floor heating for comfort.
The goal is two-fold: to choose a surface that can stand up to muddy boots, sandy feet, and paws fresh from the vineyard (or the sidewalk) and to use a material that creates a seamless transitional moment between the home’s exterior and interior.
Seating: A Place to Pause
Whether you’re a shoes-on or shoes-off household, having a bench (preferably built-in) is essential. It offers a place to sit while changing into house shoes or removing wet gear. In my clients’ homes, whether I’m custom designing a piece or bringing in a wonderful freestanding item, I always make sure to create a storage area for discarded shoes within arms’ reach of the bench to ensure the space can be kept tidy with ease.
Storage: Stylish Functionality
When it comes to storage, mudrooms require multiple solutions. Hooks for jackets, cubbies for kids’ backpacks, and shelves for hats and gloves are all part of a practical storage strategy. Built-ins with closed cabinetry hide the visual clutter; and as evidenced by the images here, high-quality materials and a thoughtful color palette go a long way toward making sure the space still feels elevated.
If your household includes four-legged friends, I love including a dedicated spot for leashes and pet gear. For clients who love getting their hands in the dirt, I also include storage for gardening gear or tools for working the land. It’s about tailoring the space and the storage to fit your everyday life.
Utility Sink: Form Meets Purpose
There are few things more useful in your mudroom than a sink, especially if you have dogs, kids, or a garden. A deep apron sink with a beautiful faucet can make cleanup feel like less of a chore and more of a moment of calm.
And if you're interested in sustainability, this is also an ideal spot for sorting recycling or incorporating an under-counter composting system (I saw one at KBIS that virtually eliminates odors).
Natural Light: Mood and Function
Whenever possible, I prioritize natural light in mudroom designs. Windows not only make the space more inviting, but they’re also practical for shedding light on tasks in the space. Big windows, transoms, and glass doors all help to bring in the brightness, supporting a more restorative and practical environment.
Wall Treatments: Beauty that Stands Up
Let’s be real: a mudroom is not the place for delicate wallpaper. These walls need to be easy to clean and stand up to the wear and tear of a bustling space. I love cladding the walls in wood or using plaster, but I believe it’s generally best to mirror what’s happening on the exterior of the home on at least one of the mudroom walls to bring continuity to the flow between interior and exterior.
This reinforces the perception that you’re in a transitional space, moving from the outside world into your haven. I find it’s incredibly effective in mudrooms to use a mix of materials, colors, and textures from the exterior and the interior of your home. Not only does it make for a beautiful yet practical space, but it also blurs the line between outside and inside while still feeling cohesive with the rest of the home.
Extras: Details That Speak to You
This is where we elevate utility into something truly personal. Whatever extras you opt to add, make sure they reflect who you are and support how you want to live.
Dog wash stations or mini dog showers to keep paws off your nice rugs.
Doggie doorbell so your pup can let you know when it's time to go out (see below!).
Area rug to add a bit of visual warmth (sisal is fabulous for a bit of tactile interest here or opt for something soft and washable that provides a bit of pattern and color if you prefer).
Statement artwork that lifts your spirits and reminds you that even the most functional spaces deserve to be beautiful.
Potting stations for those who have a green thumb (or at least give it their best shot!).
These thoughtful details help create a place that feels distinctly like home, even when you’re just passing through.
Designed for How You Live, Wherever That May Be
Yes, this is wine country, and yes, I’m designing for clients who are knee-deep in grapevines, gardens, and all kinds of outdoor living. But these same needs exist in city life. Your dog still needs paw-cleaning. Your family still needs storage. You still want to walk in and feel welcomed, supported, and centered.
At the end of the day, it’s not about where you live; it’s about how you want to feel when you’re home.
If you’re ready to transform your home into something that supports your lifestyle and reflects your values (mudroom and all!), we’d love to help.
Let’s Create a Mudroom That Makes Coming Home Feel Like a Retreat
Whether you’re in Sonoma County, Napa, San Francisco, or anywhere else in wine country, we’re here to design your home’s most overlooked space into something that brings beauty, order, and joy into your daily life.
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