The next issue is the rain, mud and three dogs. From a design perspective, there is nothing
that works better than a mud room for a dog transition space. Whether it is summer and you have taken the
dogs to the beach and they are sandy or it’s winter and they are wet and/or
covered with mud, it is a NECESSARY room and one that we don’t have.
What is the ideal design?
I was thinking something like a car wash that would have options…just
walk in and…
1. Paw wash only.
2. Paws and underbelly.
3. Complete body wash and dry.
4. Complete body wash, dry and flea and tick application
Well, that may not be feasible, but what about a space that
includes; dog food storage, dog feeding area, dog cleaning area, organized
brushes, leashes etc., a nice bench for
us to sit on and store our dog walking outfits and inclement weather duds and a
dog door to the outside.
I sketched up a quick layout for a room, one thing that is
really important is natural light, a non-scratchable door and windows that
aren’t nose height!
How about a stained concrete floor with a drain and a grate
so that feet can be washed? It would be
a great idea to cove the concrete so that the whole area can be washed down if
need be. Coving the concrete works well
for new construction, but in a remodel, you may want to use either linoleum or
a nice-looking sheet vinyl. There are
some wonderful, sustainable flooring materials now and there are great
laminates can be used for cabinet faces that will resist flying mud and drool.
So….this mud/transition room is a room and where does it go
in the overall design plan? Many of us
live in a house that has a garage, maybe a laundry room and then the entry to
the house…usually this is a dismal and uninspiring entry to the house. Unfortunately, many homes are designed with
the concept that the front entry is the “elegant space” and those who live in
the home don’t ever experience it…they trudge through this unlit depressing
space that doesn’t say you are “happy to be home”. Well, back on topic….where does this room
go?: Our Next Topic!
