Best Christmas gift ever is Danni (our furniture-maker) delivering our hall furniture 2 days before Christmas. It was perfect timing for the Christmas Eve dinner we were hosting! Danni arrived on the afternoon of December 23, but had to return the morning of the 24th because “assembly” took longer than expected. Read on and you will see why!
A mudroom is where boots and outerwear are shed, shopping bags get dropped, and keys and coins are tossed. Coats, hats, schoolbags, umbrellas and often shoes are left out in the open, creating visual chaos – and making it hard to find what you need to deal with or wear.
We have a long hallway and if we are not careful, there can be a lot of wasted space. So I decided we needed to maximize it by creating a modular 7-piece design, that provides storage for so many things:
- Shoe cabinets – one for TD and two for me
- Shelves for jacket & shawls
- Drawer for sunglasses
- Sports equipment storage: tennis rackets, etc
- Luggage storage
Though it looks built in, and like it’s one piece, the long console is 2 pieces. It makes it easier for us to pack it up and transport when we move posts, and it is flexible because the entrance of our future home will probably not be the same dimensions. This is one of the things that we had to put a lot of thought into – hence the usual 3 hour meetings with Danni when planning and designing our furniture.
I used this book (section on ENTRANCE CUES Entries, Foyers, Mudrooms) to help me with storage ideas for the hallway and modified it to suit our needs.
Danni has finally arrived with my hallway furniture! YAY!!!
SHOE CABINETS
Since our shoes are not the same size, it would be more space efficient to have separate shoe cabinets
Mine is a modular 2-piece shoe cabinet which can be used side by side or stacked one on top of another. The dividers are glass, allowing the light to filter down. Oh and it’s designed specifically for my shoe size. Sooo cool!
If you notice, there are different distances between the partition, some very short and some farther apart. This is to maximize the space so there are shelves for boots and high heels, some 2-3 inch heels, a couple for sneakers, then some for flats. Basically my furniture maker Danni, measured my different shoes, classified them and then we counted, so we knew how many shelves of each height, we should have.
HIDDEN STORAGE
My husband’s shoe cabinet was measured to fit his rubber shoes. The top has a hidden storage, which we use as a charging station. This way, when we are charging our gadgets, we can close it, and keep visual clutter at bay. I also store our guest book here, some pens, and other items that I need before heading out. I love that it’s hidden, but super accessible.
We can charge our phones before leaving, and our guest can use it as well. It’s super useful! Seriously don’t know why having a charging station by one’s entrance is not more popular!
BENCH + SOCK STORAGE
Then we needed a bench to sit on when we put on our shoes – with a drawer for our socks. Makes sense doesn’t it? Danni also provided the cushion with white removable/washable cover.
Underneath this bench are 2 rows of floating shoe racks for guest or shoes that we use often. It looks like this but made with wood instead of steel. This allows us to store more shoes in a less visible location (I dislike seeing so many shoes all out in the open in entrances of homes) and with the shoes “floating” it also allows the maid to easily sweep the floor underneath. Neat!
Most of the people we know here in Jakarta take off their shoes before entering the home. This is not something my husband and I are used to in the Philippines, but I find it is very practical because Jakarta is so much more dusty so bringing in less dirt into the home would definitely help with keeping the house cleaner. And since we only have one all around maid, I’d like to help in any way I can to lessen the work load.
LUGGAGE STORAGE
We have massive luggage that’s very hard to hide and would be a waste of closet space if stored it in the bedroom. Here it would be out-of-the-way but easily accessible when needed.
It doesn’t look that massive but it’s 1/3 the length of our Super-console! It fits our 3 large luggage, our hand-carry trolleys and some backpacks! Weeee! Finally freed up some closet space in the bedrooms!
DRAWERS AND SHELVES
I needed to ask myself “what are the last items that I need when you leave the house?” And voila! That’s how I came up with my list of what I needed entrance hall storage for.
On top are small drawers for sunglasses, and sports/travel accessories (goggles, locks, etc), below is a large compartment for our sports equipment like our tennis bag and yoga mat. I love being able to grab sunglasses before leaving the flat.
Then there are also shelves for shawls, jackets and sweaters, which I would always forget before, and have to go back into the room for. Not any more! The shelves for the shawls/sweaters is adjustable and removable depending on how many shelves we need.
ELECTRICAL
Some electrical components that made installation a little more complicated. Since there is only ONE electrical socket in the entire length of the hallway it was a bit of a challenge. I needed light for our shoe cabinet + the charging station + sockets at the end of the console for my standing lamp. Danni made it happen because he is just SO amazing and creative. For example the light switches for the shoe cabinet is only in one cabinet so it’s easy to reach.
But what happens when I want to place my 2 shoe cabinets side by side instead of on top one another? Danni has provided provisions for this as well. Awesome right? And he will definitely be there to help us out when it’s time to move.
Danni also ensured that the electric sockets are universal. Another thing with DiploLife is that plugs and electric sockets shapes are constantly changing because different countries have different standards! (Which is why I end up having a collecting universal socket extension cords)
DECORATIVE YET FUNCTIONAL MIRROR
Danni also installed our console mirror for free as a bonus to us. We found this amazing UMBRA mirror at Ace Harware Gandaria. It was the only piece so I am so happy I got it! Not only does the mirror make the narrow hallway space feel bigger, but it is also like a piece of decorative art! Mirrors don’t have to be boring. I love that this one gives a bit of depth to our hallway.
BESPOKE UMBRELLA HOLDER
An entrance is not complete without an umbrella holder. I had this one made in silver gold finish (they call it Kolony Vase Large in Silver Prada) at GALERI POT (contact details below) for about Rp 240,000 (or 24 USD est.) if I recall correctly. It’s actually perfect for regular sized umbrellas – except mine on top is one of those super-sized umbrellas.
DECOR
The pot at the end of the console below (Stupa Vase Medium in Silver Prada) is also from GALERI POT for Rp 180,000 (or about 18 USD). I bought 3 long bunches of “grass” at Rp 25,000 each (2.50 USD est.) from VINOTI LIVING. (Thanks to LM for the design inspiration!)
The standing lamp plugged into the end of the console is from IKEA Kuala Lumpur.
See more improvements to the Hallway:
- Expat-friendly, moving-friendly bespoke full-length mirror + coat hooks
- Hidden charging station in the hallway
Furniture by DANNI ROESTAM
+62 818 863326 • danni.roestam@gmail.com
Check out other furniture Danni made for me here!
GALERI POT (JC’s Pottery)
Jl. Kemang Timur No. 58 R, Jakarta 12 730, Indonesia • + 62-21-718 0209 • shop@jcspottery.com
www.jcspottery.com
VINOTI LIVING
Plaza Senayan Level 3 No. 351A, Jl. Asia Afrika, Jakarta 10270
(62 21) 572 5168 / 573 0918 • vl-ps@vinoti-living.co.id
Kemang Club Villas Jl. Kemang Selatan 1
(62 21) 7179 1727 / 718 3574 • vl-kmg@vinoti-living.co.id
