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Our Butler’s Pantry & Mudroom Makeover

Before + After, Sources, and Everything We Used

**this post contains affiliate links

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When we bought this fixer-upper, the mudroom/laundry area was… well, a situation. The mudroom access was tucked into a tiny room with a closet, and if you turned right there was a little pocket door that led into an even tinier, cramped laundry space. It felt like two chopped-up rooms fighting for space—and neither one worked well for our family.


So we did what any DIY-loving, slightly unhinged couple would do:We knocked out the wall.And for a while, that worked! The first phase of the remodel gave us one larger room that felt so much better. But we did it quickly and inexpensively with materials that… let’s just say… were not built to last. The cabinets started breaking, the tile chipped constantly (if you dropped a glass it'd be fine but the tile would break), and we knew it was time to do what we actually wanted to do from the beginning.


This is the full before-and-after reveal, complete with links to every product we used and the DIY projects that made this space one of my absolute favorite rooms in our home.


BEFORE

  • Two separate rooms: a tiny mudroom + a cramped laundry

  • Inefficient layout

  • Nowhere to hide shoes, backpacks, cleaning supplies, or pantry overflow

  • Cheap cabinets and tile from our “Phase 1” makeover that couldn’t survive real-life use

  • A sink shoved into a dark corner

  • No warmth, no charm, and no storage that actually functioned


In other words… the perfect blank slate.

AFTER


We completely tore the room apart (again), moved plumbing and electrical, rebuilt everything from the subfloor up, and created a space that finally functions for our family and looks like it’s always belonged in this house.


Let’s walk through every detail.


A New Layout: Stacked Laundry + Hidden Storage


One of the biggest changes was moving the washer and dryer to an entirely different wall. We stacked them, built them into cabinetry, and created a true laundry “center” instead of a cramped corner where everything felt awkward.

Next to the laundry tower, we added tall pantry cabinets with full-extension rollout drawers. These now serve as:

  • Pantry storage

  • Mudroom lockers

  • Overflow storage for backpacks, cleaning supplies, and homeschool extras

These two changes alone transformed the room’s flow.

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The Cabinets: Semi-Custom Beauty on a Budget


We chose cabinets from Home Decorators Collection at Home Depot—their semi-custom line.

And honestly? They exceeded every expectation.


Why Semi-Custom?

  • Higher quality than stock

  • Rollout drawers, pull-out trash, and other “custom” upgrades

  • Faster turnaround time

  • MUCH cheaper than full custom

  • You still get to work with a designer to plan your exact layout


The color is Blended Cream in the Newport door style—and it is the perfect warm, soft, French-inspired neutral.


The Vent Hole “Dupe”


I love the European look of drilled vent holes on mudroom cabinets, but there was no way I was drilling into my brand-new cabinets. So I made the cutest workaround:

  • Designed a vent-hole pattern on my Cricut

  • Cut it out of removable black vinyl

  • Applied it to the cabinets

It gives the look without the commitment, and if I ever change my mind, they just peel off.

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The Floors: Herringbone Warmth That Looks Original to the Home


Flooring was a huge decision because it connects to our entry and kitchen. I wanted something durable, warm, and timeless—something that made the space feel like it had always been there.

We used Flooret Modin LVP in Brenwick (Herringbone pattern) and I cannot recommend it enough.

  • Gorgeous character

  • Quiet underfoot

  • Waterproof

  • Pretty much bulletproof

  • Never looks “new build” or “builder basic”

It ties the whole room together and brings so much warmth to all the creamy cabinetry and monochromatic room.


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The Butler’s Pantry Wall


This is the wall that completely made the space.

We moved the sink from its awkward corner and centered it between two banks of cabinets to create a full Butler’s Pantry moment—complete with:


The Sink

Kraus Torino Workstation Farmhouse SinkA dream. Deep, functional, and stunning. I took the cabinet doors off the sink base and sewed some simple curtains with locally sourced fabric for a more European feel.


The Faucet

Kraus Allyn Faucet in Brushed GoldThe brushed gold is warm and soft—not yellow or fake-looking at all.


DIY “Soapstone” Countertops

Yep… we made our own faux soapstone countertops out of MDF and epoxy, and they turned out shockingly realistic.



💡 The Lighting

We added a beautiful farmhouse light ($57.99!!!) above the countertop (linked here), which balanced out all the creamy tones and added the perfect soft glow.


The Walls, Ceiling, and Beams


We kept the original shiplap we installed during Phase 1 and repainted everything in Natural Tan by Sherwin-Williams. It’s warm, cozy, and timeless.


The DIY box beams add architectural detail and make the space feel more European farmhouse and less like a brand-new remodel.



The Doors: A $200 “Antique French Pantry Door” Look


This might be my favorite hack in the whole space.

We originally had a sliding barn door here, but once the cabinetry went in, it no longer fit. Instead of spending thousands on reclaimed French pantry doors, we created our own dupe:

  1. Bought simple bifold closet doors

  2. Cut them down to fit the doorway

  3. Hung them with non-mortise hinges

  4. Stained and sealed them

  5. Added beautiful antique brass knobs from Rejuvenation


The result?They look exactly like reclaimed French doors—at a fraction of the price.


Cabinet Hardware


Every cabinet is finished with the same Antique Brass GOO-KI pulls and knobs from Amazon we used in our main kitchen remodel. Beautiful, sturdy, and affordable.


Links and Supplies to Everything in Our Butler’s Pantry + Mudroom



Cabinets

Flooring

Paint Colors

DIY Soapstone Countertops

Sink + Faucet

Lighting

Doors & Hardware

Cricut Project


Final Thoughts


This room is now one of the hardest-working and most beautiful spaces in our home. It holds pantry items, cleaning supplies, backpacks, laundry essentials, school things—you name it—without feeling cluttered or chaotic.


It’s warm, practical, and packed with character. Exactly what I envisioned when we first walked through this fixer-upper.


 
 
 

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