Emily Fisher of Rock Paper Hammer via HGTV
Two weeks ago I shared a preliminary sketch of a possible kitchen remodel and how it might relate to the rest of our main floor. I didn’t include one detail at the time: a potential second bathroom on this level. Many readers offered thoughtful suggestions about where a second bath might fit, and a few people asked follow-up questions. Today I want to revisit that topic, respond to some of those ideas, and share an additional plan that’s been brewing in my head. If you missed the earlier posts, they cover Part One and Part Two of the remodel concept.
At the moment our house has two full bathrooms—one on the main floor and one in the lower level—which serves our family well. Still, if we seal off the bedroom and its adjacent bath to better function as a more private master suite, a second main-floor bathroom for visitors would be convenient and sensible. Another longer-term reason for adding a main-floor bathroom relates to future flexibility: once our son graduates and possibly moves out, we may convert the lower level into a rentable suite. In our market a rental in the lower level is a sought-after option for offsetting housing costs. If the lower level becomes a rental, the current laundry and downstairs bath may need to be allocated to the tenant, so adding a second bath and a main-floor washer and dryer could become necessary.
Heather Garrett Interior Design
We don’t want to undertake more work than required, and we’ll likely keep the scope scaled to what’s practical and affordable. Still, brainstorming possibilities is part of the fun and it helps me weigh several options before committing. I’m excited by the potential improvements, even if we ultimately choose a more modest update.
One option that has me particularly excited is converting the area near the Dutch door into a functional mudroom and incorporating laundry and a guest bathroom into that space. The idea makes the remodel feel more purposeful and livable.
Above is our proposed kitchen floor plan. The island is a placeholder, and the mudroom concept (to the left of the Dutch door) is not yet shown.
Several readers—and my mom—suggested making the Dutch door a dedicated mudroom entrance. I love that vision: it’s practical and welcoming. One way to accomplish it would be to remove the pantry cabinets and relocate the refrigerator, then repurpose my son’s current bedroom to create a combined mudroom, pantry, laundry area and small full bathroom. If we lose that bedroom upstairs, we could later create a teen hangout or bedroom in the lower level that remains accessible even if part of the lower level becomes a rental.
Style At Home
Picture arriving through the Dutch door from the side yard and stepping into a purposeful mudroom just left of the kitchen. That space could be open or separated by a pocket door or barn door, depending on the look and flow we prefer. A wall of hooks, cubbies and labeled bins would organize shoes, coats, backpacks and outdoor gear. Overflow pantry shelving and an extra refrigerator or freezer could make seasonal storage and bulk groceries more manageable. A dedicated feeding station for the dogs would keep pet bowls out of the main cooking area. Concealed washer and dryer units would allow quick laundry loads between activities, and the dryer would be within reach of the mudroom for easy folding. Finally, a small full bathroom accessible from the front hall or the mudroom itself would serve guests without sending people through private spaces.
Sage Design – Custom Millwork
Murphy & Co
BHG
At this stage I haven’t finalized where the main kitchen refrigerator would land in this layout. Possible solutions include relocating it to a different wall, integrating refrigerator drawers into the island for everyday items, or choosing a compact secondary fridge for overflow. Practical decisions about appliance placement will depend on the final traffic flow, cabinetry plan and budget.
While a simple kitchen refresh is still on the table, this mudroom/laundry/bathroom combination idea has captured my imagination. Once it’s in my head, it’s hard to let go—so I’m leaning toward a more thoughtful reconfiguration that improves the way our home functions.
PS: We finally replaced the washer and dryer downstairs, so I’ll share an update on the lower-level laundry area and a tour of the rest of that floor soon.