The thought of ripping out at least one closet crossed my mind, but there wasn’t any new potential with the space once the closet was gone. We would still have a small footprint to work with, and it would create an even more awkward entrance to the house.

So, I let my creative juices flow. My client had a contractor that she trusted. All I had to do was design the space from scratch, provide him general dimensions with the blueprint, and then source the final touches plus organizing product.

Since the closet was very deep but not wide at all, I came up with the concept of hidden storage for out-of-season gear in the back of the closet, accessible by a front inconspicuous door. Also due to the depth, I designed the bottom with two deep drawers for bigger shoes, instead of the normal open cubbies you see in a lot of mudrooms.

The drawers made the shoes easier to access, and also took advantage of the closet depth :: while also eliminating the need to dig for shoes on your hands and feet (no parent wants to do that after the age of 40 anyway). I added hooks for each family member, open shoe storage for small shoes, and baskets on the top for Mom & Dad’s winter gear (the two girls’ gear was hidden in the bottom of the new entryway table so they could actually reach it themselves.

If you are familiar with the Meridian Hills neighborhood of Indianapolis, you know the houses are beautiful, historic homes that are filled with charm and character. 

What they aren’t filled with is storage space.

Even though my client had two closets next to her front door, they were both tiny, had odd angles, and didn't meet the needs of an active family.

Liz really wished for a mudroom. We collaborated together to determine the best design and placement for it. Her entryway really wasn’t big enough, nor did she want guests to enter through her front door and run straight into hanging coats.

Coat Closet Design + Organization

Indianapolis