Page 17 - The Hunt - Spring/Summer 2023

DESIGNER: Tartan & Toile, 228 Garrett Ave., Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, tartantoile.com.
BUILDER: GenCarp Construction,
700 Ashland Ave., Folcroft, Pennsylvania, (484) 571-9404.
In resuscitating the mudroom, O’Brien brought in lively Pierre Frey wallpaper, a mélange of zebras, flamingos, butterflies, foxes and dinosaurs inspired by the gardens of Paris. Gallery railings on open shelves above the dog shower are reminiscent of a Parisian shop. The geometric marble mosaic floors “will get a nice patina over time.”
Dark-green cabinetry and a pale-green ceiling enhance the mudroom’s connection to gardening. The sink faucet and hand spray in the shower are antique brass, in keeping with the vintage vibe. Cabinet drawers and doors are outfitted with plain round antique brass pulls. “There’s a lot going on with the wallpaper, the veining and the floor, so the knobs needed to be simple,” O’Brien says. “Simple is just as beautiful as complicated.”
Despite the small dimensions of the space, details are abundant. An antique brass rod above the counter is designated for hanging laundry. The door on the cupboard where cleaning products are stored is fabricated from mesh to ensure proper air circulation.
A small door camouflages a cinderblock wall, opening to reveal a drop-down ironing board. A tall cabinet houses a mop, broom and vacuum cleaner. “We used every nook and cranny we could to maximize the mudroom,” says O’Brien. “We were very focused on storage so everything has a place.”
Under the counter, a large wicker laundry bin keeps dirty clothes out of sight. It’s light- weight and slides out easily, so it can be posi- tioned under the laundry chute. The owners like pieces with some age to them. So O’Brien found a wicker flower-petal chandelier from a vintage store in Paris to add a subtle touch of glamour in the mudroom.
Tartan & Toile stylist Kate Turk discovered a gilt-framed dog portrait at the Velvet Shoestring consignment store in Wayne. A statue of a greyhound is another nod to the couple’s love of dogs. “Now that the mudroom is more organized, more fine-tuned, the homeowners say they enjoy spending time there,” O’Brien says. “They actually like doing laundry.” TH
A pet shower accommodates the couple’s two dogs, who can readily be hosed off after a romp in the yard.
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