Existing homes may be able to accommodate a drop zone within a closet. A closet specialist would be able to design your closet interior to fit the specific needs of your family. A lot can be done in a small space if it is properly planned and organized.
Kitchens continue to be the hub of the home and are therefore larger. The kids are at the peninsula or island doing their homework while Mom and/or Dad are in the kitchen preparing the evening meal. Kitchens open to an informal dining room, thus eliminating the need for the breakfast nook. Often sliding glass doors are installed on the back of the house leading to outdoor living spaces.
When you entertain, the guests all jam into the kitchen to chat with the cook. One of my clients complained that she can’t disperse her guests to other rooms in her large home because everyone wants to be in the kitchen or family room; all the more important that these two rooms function especially well for you.
A recent addition to the new home is a drop zone. A drop zone is an efficient way of dealing with clutter coming into the home. New homes have a room as a dedicated drop zone, which may encompass the mud room. Within the drop zone is a counter for recharging iPhones and iPads. There may also be small cubbies for handling mail for the family including a recycling bin for unwanted paper. Cubbies are customized for each child to have his or her own space for their sporting equipment, backpacks for school, caps, and gloves. Whether you have hooks or actual lockers, drawers or cubbies, it’s a great place to have what you need the next morning waiting for you as you go out the door. Be sure to include a bench under the cubbies or coat hooks so the kids can sit while pulling their boots on or off. A large closet for those extra winter coats and boots is both functional and convenient.