Season 3, Episode 3 RECAP of Making Modern with Brooke & Brice + Final Reveals + Behind-the-Scenes + Modern Mudroom & Pantry Ideas
- Admin
- May 3
- 7 min read
Season 3, Episode 3 finds us on the outskirts of Nashville in the suburb of Hendersonville, Tennessee. A sweet family of four has enlisted Brooke and Brice to re-work the mudroom and pantry areas of their home with special accommodations for their two fur babies as well, if possible. The episode is titled "Dog's Day Out." Having already recently remodeled much of the home themselves, these homeowners are anxious to hand over the reigns for this next project to the experts.
Homeowners Mark and Kelly meet Brooke and Brice to discuss their upcoming renovation.
The Clients
Clients Mark & Kelly purchased their home a year ago and have done many of the initial renovations themselves. As busy parents to two young girls, they've decided to solicit the help of Brooke and Brice to take over this next round of construction involving their mudroom and pantry areas.
Season 3, Episode 3 homeowners Mark and Kelly.
The Spaces & Consultation
As busy parents, Mark and Kelly are always on the go. The first place they land upon returning home is the mudroom, as this is the location of the side door where they park. This area has become a drop zone for clutter and other belongings; a catchall for everything. However, it also serves as their laundry room as well as the designated area for their secondary refrigerator. There is a space separated by a wall and doorway beyond this area that is currently being unused.
The mudroom BEFORE.
A wall separates the mudroom currently from Mark and Kelly's existing pantry. It is a long, narrow room with a single window at the end. Kelly is using the area by the window for an office, and she is in need of a separately designated space, if possible, to conduct work-from-home business.
The pantry BEFORE.
First Challenge: Addressing Narrow Pantry Concerns
Brooke and Brice take measurements and notes at their new client project.
The Conceptualization Phase
Brooke and Brice are hoping to maximize the pantry area by adding floor to ceiling cabinetry along one of the walls. This will give Mark and Kelly substantial storage for not only produce and other groceries, but will also give them ample storage for small appliances and other overflow kitchen supplies as well.
As for the mudroom, Brooke and Brice plan to remove the current wall that splits the room's length in half. Opening this up will allow them to create a traditional mudroom drop zone complete with custom wood lockers, and bench seating on one side, while giving Mark and Kelly an oversized counter space for folding laundry on the mirroring wall. The counter will also serve as a desk/office area for Kelly to conduct business.
The current refrigerator will be spun around and made accessible from the pantry, while custom cabinetry will house the new washer and dryer, complete with plenty of storage and beautiful gold hardware.
Design renderings of Mark and Kelly's new pantry and mudroom.
SURPRISE! Let's do a Dog Washing Station
Brooke and Brice are no strangers to juggling their busy schedules. While Brooke is busy with her day job as a pharmaceutical sales rep, Dr. Brice finds a break between patients at his orthodontics office to work on Brooke's latest design idea: a surprise dog washing station for Mark and Kelly's new mudroom.
Dr. Brice working on the dog washing station design for Mark and Kelly, between patients at his office.
Test Drive: Washing a Dog
Being thorough in their research, and since Brooke and Brice have never personally owned dogs, they figure it will be worthwhile to do some dog washing of their own, to assess what will be needed to endeavor building a dog washing station. Their Project Manager Josh lends his large Labrador Milo to the experiment, but Milo has other plans and decides to roll in dirt instead. After the failed attempt to wash Big Milo, Brooke and Brice turn to their neighbors for a second round effort: a 5 lb Yorkie, coincidentally also named Milo. Through these experiments, they gain a better understanding of what is needed for a proper dog washing station for Mark and Kelly's house.
Brooke and Brice trying their hand at being dog parents by washing Big Milo and Little Milo.
Constructions Begins
Walls come down, plumbing is re-routed, and a new home is created for the refrigerator.
Pantry Phase 1
Work begins on the pantry project with the installation of new hardwood cabinets. Brooke and Project Manager Josh run into their first snag realizing theres a 10 inch discrepancy with the cabinet dimensions. As is with most projects, they make adjustments on the fly and keep pressing onward.
Phase 1 of Mark and Kelly's new pantry begins.
Custom Produce Drawer Build
Homeowner Kelly has expressed the need for functional storage to house the family's fresh produce in the new pantry. So Brooke gets busy at the new workshop constructing a custom produce drawer to meet the need. She drills holes in the drawer bottom for maximum ventilation while adding a metal mesh screen insert to the drawer front for additional air flow. This non-traditional storage solution was a first for Brooke, but she is happy with the end result.
Brooke working on the custom produce drawer build for Kelly.
Dog Wash Station Build
Brooke and Brice construct and install the base for the new dog washing station.
Mostly consisting of a two-by-four base structure, Brooke and Brice begin constructing the dog washing station's core components. Install is a breeze and work proceeds as they move on to tile work.
Mudroom Progress: Tile
The beautiful mudroom tiles have arrived and are floated in place to lock in on the desired design and orientation of them in the new space. The tiles are a timeless marble with faintly rough edges to give more character and charm. Brooke and Brice decide to lay them in a classic checkerboard pattern, alternating the darker grey pieces with the white, and on a diagonal centered in the room towards the window.
Brooke and Brice configure the new tile floor for the mudroom.
Pantry Progress: Countertop Installation
For Mark and Kelly's pantry, Brice decides on a unique design with large contrasting aggregate stones in a repeating pattern. Due to the narrow nature of the pantry, countertop installers are forced to use a window to bring in the large piece.
Tile Progress
Brooke hard at work doing all the tiling projects for Mark and Kelly.
Brooke is a tiling pro with dozens of projects now under her belt. In the dog washing station, she adds a custom black and white penny tile with dog bone design on the bottom, while using a modern black textured porcelain tile on the surround, laid in a vertical repeating pattern. For the pantry backsplash, she uses a classic white porcelain subway tile in a horizontal pattern to lengthen the room. The simple nature of the classic white subway tile offsets the loud pattern of the aggregate stones in the countertop, creating an iconic, one-of-a-kind look.
Final Touches
On reveal day, Brooke and Brice add all the finishing touches, including decorative elements and personal items to both the new mudroom and pantry.
Brooke and Brice put the final decorative touches into the new mudroom and pantry space on reveal day.
The Final Reveal - Mudroom
Mark and Kelly walk into an entirely different space in the reveal of their new mudroom.
A Multifunction Mudroom + Dog Washing Station
You can't help but to be transported upon entering Mark and Kelly's new stunning mudroom. From the custom white oak cabinetry casing the new washer and dryer, to the custom built locker storage area with bench, it is clear that this space has been completely transformed, from top to bottom. Overall, the space feels larger, yet more succinct and organized with the timeless black and white tile and bright, creamy wall color.
Gold satin finishes throughout the room include the cabinet hardware and the modern wall sconces, complimenting all the other finishes seamlessly.
The dog washing station is a welcomed surprise addition the homeowners weren't expecting. Brooke and Brice even added a personal touch by creating framed artwork of their two dogs placed on the wall above the area. Now this family can truly have a fully functioning multi-purpose mudroom that more than serves their daily needs.
Mudroom - BEFORE and AFTER
Mudroom Reveal
The Final Reveal - Pantry
Mark and Kelly continue to be surprised at the reveal of their new pantry.
Pantry Perfection
This pantry is a dream! Floor-to-ceiling custom cabinetry provides ample storage for groceries and cooking supplies. New beautiful countertops plus an additional sink allow plenty of room for food prep and organization. At the end of the long, narrow space, Brooke adds a cool hanging herb wall using ropes and terracotta pots.
Mark and Kelly also discover that their fridge has been relocated to their new pantry without impeding on their limited space and narrow access. The cabinets have been painted a beautiful, smoky gray color that perfectly compliments the creamy ivory wall color, carried over from the mudroom.
Gold satin hardware has been added throughout both spaces and gives an elegant, classic touch to the entire project.
Pantry - BEFORE and AFTER
Pantry Reveal
Brooke & Brice Reinvent the Modern Mudroom and Pantry
When working with new clients and homeowners, Brooke and Brice really listen to their needs, and prioritize them throughout the entire design and construction process. Through a thorough attention to detail and creative design, they are able to tackle renovation challenges, and then proceed to go above and beyond what is expected of them.
Mark and Kelly's modern mudroom and pantry project is no different. They see a highly used, but impractically setup space and reinvent how it can and should function for a busy modern day family. And they even take mind to include the family's four-legged family members too, by adding an unexpected dog washing station as an added surprise.
This family is already utilizing and loving their new spaces! Chalk this project up to more satisfied clients, pets included.
Official Photos
Behind the Scenes
What's next?
