Mud rooms are designed designed to be hidden so nothing wrong with making them as utilitarian as possible.

Mudrooms are something I'm seeing more and more of in custom home construction. Lately I've seen the mudrooms have separate exterior door. So four doors total: front, rear, garage, and mudroom.

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I'm surprised wallpaper hasn't been mentioned. Seems to have died a while ago. Any one seeing it make a comeback?

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I agree with this. We removed all our wallpaper 4 or 5 years ago and textured and painted. Another thing you could add to the list is the box lighting that was common in kitchens in the late 80's and 90's.

We have a utility room, but not a mud room with a sink. That would be one of the few design changes i would make to our house. With the washer right there, I wonder how hard it would be to add a sink?

Also, I think this is one of the best threads I've seen on the Home Improvement Board. Very interesting topic.

If you have a space on the wet wall with the washing machine to place the sink it shouldn't be too hard. The issue is the run of the waste line to meet the washer waste line, the further it is the more difficult it is. If there isn't any room on the same wall, then it may be impossible if there's a slab floor. We looked at doing this and had room, but the wife decided she'd just prefer a custom table instead.

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I'm surprised wallpaper hasn't been mentioned. Seems to have died a while ago. Any one seeing it make a comeback?

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It's something that's always been around at the high end from what I've seen, there are some awesome patterns but the price can also be pretty crazy.

FWIW I've seen it making a slow comeback in the high-middle group over the past 10 years.

everything is a fad

We did some really cool, high end wallpaper in our dining room. It looks great...but I almost immediately regretted it. It's definitely a trendy thing. The pattern we chose is pretty bold...and again, we love it. But it won't be cool/in forever. Not to mention we remodeled and built an addition...and that room isn't really the dining room any more (more of a study/play room). It still looks really good....but at some point, when we want to change it, I'm going to curse the day we spent the extra money on it. It's not like a wall you can just paint over...

That's why we went with grasscloth - it's a lot more neutral in terms of wallpaper and pretty much anything goes with it.

Also I freely admit I suck at drywall work. That has a lot to do with it too.

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I'm surprised wallpaper hasn't been mentioned. Seems to have died a while ago. Any one seeing it make a comeback?

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It's something that's always been around at the high end from what I've seen, there are some awesome patterns but the price can also be pretty crazy.

FWIW I've seen it making a slow comeback in the high-middle group over the past 10 years.

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It is definitely on its way back, but you won't find me doing it soon if I can keep from it. My wife will likely require an accent wall at some point.

Subway tile? My wife loves it but I think it looks like a gas station bathroom.

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Subway tile? My wife loves it but I think it looks like a gas station bathroom.

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Couldn't agree with you more.

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Lately I've seen the mudrooms have separate exterior door.

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Where have you seen a mud room without an exterior door?

I had an adjective in there: separate. When they're the only rear door, or when you have to go through them to get to the garage, they're not nearly as hidden.

I'll be the first to admit that I have some very specific preferences when it comes to houses, particularly kitchens and bathroom. But, considering how prevalent this trend has become, am I the only one who hates countertop height kitchen islands where the sink faucet and sink (or, alternatively, the cooktop) are clearly visible in an open concept space? This seems to be one of those things that only looks good in pictures but not in real life. I just don't want to see dishwashing soap and a sink full of dirty dishes staring at me while I'm in eating breakfast at the counter or sitting in the family room. I also don't like the idea of people sitting at an island while you're cooking on the (what is usually a gas) stove.

I also absolutely hate microwave vent hoods over a cooktop or range/oven (although I'm not sure this is really a trend). And I'm not a fan of painted cabinetry in a kitchen, unless it's white or cream. Blue, gray, green, and even red painted cabinets seem to be a fad that's not going to look so great in a few years.

I also wish the "trend" of glass shower doors would go away (I realize this also isn't really a trend, but I hate them). I had a walk-in shower in my last house - all tile with no door. It was fabulous, and I miss it every time I shower in the ugly glass-enclosed box in my current house. I wish this style of shower was more common in new construction.

Not a fan of ranges or any other appliances in an island...but don't understand how appliances wouldn't be "clearly visible" no matter where they are in a kitchen.

Regarding showers...different strokes... I hate open showers. I think there is a reason you see more normal, enclosed showers than not.

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Not a fan of ranges or any other appliances in an island...but don't understand how appliances wouldn't be "clearly visible" no matter where they are in a kitchen.

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So, in my kitchen, the island is two levels. There is the sink, which is counter height, and then the bar where you sit is raised. It hides the sink, but it's also tall enough to sort of hide the range from view, too. I'm not really a fan of free-standing islands at all and prefer a peninsula-style kitchen with a raised bar, but those seem to have already become dated/out of style.

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Regarding showers...different strokes... I hate open showers. I think there is a reason you see more normal, enclosed showers than not.

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I don't really like a totally open shower, either. Mine was completely enclosed built in an "L" shape so that you couldn't see the anything from the bathroom, which just meant it didn't need a door. It was actually more private than a glass enclosed shower.

I found this thread yesterday and re-read this morning, really interesting. Seems like a no-brainier to me, but jacuzzi tubs sure seem outdated.

I don't like a cooktop in an island ever...just as a matter of safety and preference. That said, I do like the sink in the island, even when it's at countertop height. I've had the setup in the past and found it made us a lot more diligent about keeping the sink clear and the dishes done because we didn't want to see them pile up in the sink.

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Regarding showers...different strokes... I hate open showers. I think there is a reason you see more normal, enclosed showers than not.

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I think enclosed showers have more to do with square footage than anything else.

Totally agree the part about cooktops on an island. They don't tend to vent very well anyway, it just doesn't work very well IMO.

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So, in my kitchen, the island is two levels. There is the sink, which is counter height, and then the bar where you sit is raised. It hides the sink, but it's also tall enough to sort of hide the range from view, too. I'm not really a fan of free-standing islands at all and prefer a peninsula-style kitchen with a raised bar, but those seem to have already become dated/out of style.

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Not because we viewed it as dated or out of style, but we just remodeled our kitchen and went from a dual height peninsula to an island. There was an island in addition to the peninsula so we dropped the peninsula to open up the room and then doubled the size of the original island. We also moved the sink and dishwasher from the peninsula to the island.

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I don't like a cooktop in an island ever...just as a matter of safety and preference. That said, I do like the sink in the island, even when it's at countertop height. I've had the setup in the past and found it made us a lot more diligent about keeping the sink clear and the dishes done because we didn't want to see them pile up in the sink.

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My dad was just telling me last night that he wishes both his sink and his stove top were in the island. He likes to chat with the grandchildren while cooking breakfast.

Generally speaking we likely stand at a sink longer than at a "cooktop". That was his frame of thinking for an either or.

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I found this thread yesterday and re-read this morning, really interesting. Seems like a no-brainier to me, but jacuzzi tubs sure seem outdated.

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And yet, my wife is making me renovate our bathroom to put one in.

Well, it needs to be renovated anyway, but she's requiring I put one in.

Well, your dad may be technically correct...it is bad fung shui to cook with your back to the door.

That said, if there are small children around, I don't like the idea that they could walk up from the back side of the island and grab a hot pan, touch a hot burner, or sit their crayons on the hot burner.

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What about built in mudroom cabinet/hooks? Dated? Because it is super convenient when you have kids and backpacks and nap mats and all that crap.

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We have a plan to enclose part of our garage to create a mudroom, and it will be chock full of hooks, cabinets, as well as a counter top, a bench with cubbies below, and a spot for the fridge currently in the space.
Something like this.. but with more than 1 hook in each cubby!



Mudrooms in Denver area very sought out.

Our garage, with future mudroom area (approx. 14'x10'). There will be a wall across the storage area (recessed into the space about 2'), with a new door there.

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I found this thread yesterday and re-read this morning, really interesting. Seems like a no-brainier to me, but jacuzzi tubs sure seem outdated.

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And yet, my wife is making me renovate our bathroom to put one in.

Well, it needs to be renovated anyway, but she's requiring I put one in.

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Have you had one before? I had one in my first house. Thought it was a fantastic selling feature and it did come in handy when I was pregnant /recovering from pregnancy. Then, it just got gross. It's impossible to keep those jets clean. Had a garden tub in house #2, and had no desire to upgrade, even though it was an option during construction. House #3 has another jetted tub (house was finished when I bought it). I use it occasionally, but the jets are already starting to discolor and look bad. I wish it was just a garden tub. I'd choose a really nice spa-shower over a jetted tub everytime.

Hate our jacuzzi tub. Wish we didn't have it. And I really like really hot baths when I have sore muscles. But never turn on those jets.

Call me crazy, but I'd bet (a small amount) of money that Jacuzzi tubs are a trend that comes back in 15-20 years. Like how claw-footed tubs and pedestal sinks came back a few years ago. I've got no real basis for that prediction, I just think it might be true.

I too have a Jacuzzi tub. I love using it, but hate to maintain it. I had an O-ring go out in one of the jets about 3 months ago, so it leaks water. I've been to every dealer and website trying to get a replacement, no luck. I might be about to JB Weld it in place...

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I found this thread yesterday and re-read this morning, really interesting. Seems like a no-brainier to me, but jacuzzi tubs sure seem outdated.

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And yet, my wife is making me renovate our bathroom to put one in.

Well, it needs to be renovated anyway, but she's requiring I put one in.

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Have you had one before? I had one in my first house. Thought it was a fantastic selling feature and it did come in handy when I was pregnant /recovering from pregnancy. Then, it just got gross. It's impossible to keep those jets clean. Had a garden tub in house #2, and had no desire to upgrade, even though it was an option during construction. House #3 has another jetted tub (house was finished when I bought it). I use it occasionally, but the jets are already starting to discolor and look bad. I wish it was just a garden tub. I'd choose a really nice spa-shower over a jetted tub everytime.

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Me? No. Her? She had one in the house she owned when we met and she's still pissed at me for making her give that up. I'm honestly ok with a big garden tub because the occasional bath does feel nice, but she's not budging on the jacuzzi aspect. The good news is I've got quite a bit of room, so I can play with the design and layout, so I can make sure I have decent access to the components.

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Well, your dad may be technically correct...it is bad fung shui to cook with your back to the door.

That said, if there are small children around, I don't like the idea that they could walk up from the back side of the island and grab a hot pan, touch a hot burner, or sit their crayons on the hot burner.

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Works fine with a big island
I've seen them put on tiny ones and it just looks forced

Maybe just try a temp jet system.. like
https://www.amazon.com/Luxury-Bathtub-Spa-Massaging-Whirlpool/dp/B0037YL8Y8

Yeah...we had to put our range...not in island...but in a large peninsula/bar. It's four feet across....so kids can't reach back side anyway. It wasn't my preferred location...but actually love it now as I can cook and watch tv, talk to people in living room/at bar/etc. It's still not as good for venting as against wall...but I think I'd put in the same place if we ever built something in the future.

Hate our jacuzzi bathtub thing.

I was ok with the bathtub thing at our last place - maybe it was never really used but when I fired it up there were no problems. This place though... you'd turn the jets on and get nasty black crap in the water from mildew buildup. Nothing will get Mrs. Fife out of the bathtub faster than that!

Horizontal fence slats look like pallets stood up. I think they will be a short lived fad.

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So, in my kitchen, the island is two levels. There is the sink, which is counter height, and then the bar where you sit is raised. It hides the sink, but it's also tall enough to sort of hide the range from view, too. I'm not really a fan of free-standing islands at all and prefer a peninsula-style kitchen with a raised bar, but those seem to have already become dated/out of style.

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Not because we viewed it as dated or out of style, but we just remodeled our kitchen and went from a dual height peninsula to an island. There was an island in addition to the peninsula so we dropped the peninsula to open up the room and then doubled the size of the original island. We also moved the sink and dishwasher from the peninsula to the island.

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Got any pics of before or after you would be willing to share. Sounds like we have a similar set up you had and just started talking about switching to an island & remodeling.

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Call me crazy, but I'd bet (a small amount) of money that Jacuzzi tubs are a trend that comes back in 15-20 years. Like how claw-footed tubs and pedestal sinks came back a few years ago. I've got no real basis for that prediction, I just think it might be true.

I too have a Jacuzzi tub. I love using it, but hate to maintain it. I had an O-ring go out in one of the jets about 3 months ago, so it leaks water. I've been to every dealer and website trying to get a replacement, no luck. I might be about to JB Weld it in place...

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If you can figure out the ring spec's just go to mcmastercarr.com to order a dozen replacements.