Family Command Center Mudroom – Naperville, IL

Some rooms never quite find their purpose. That was the case with this space, which had gradually become a combination home office, pantry overflow area, pet zone, and general catch-all for daily life. While it offered plenty of square footage, it wasn’t helping the homeowners stay organized, and valuable storage was scattered between an overcrowded pantry closet and various pieces of furniture throughout the room.

Having previously partnered with Drury Design on a kitchen remodel, these homeowners once again turned to Senior Designer Samantha Schoell to help them rethink how their home could better support the way they actually live. What began as a conversation about adding some cabinetry quickly evolved into a comprehensive storage solution — one designed to accommodate everything from groceries and sports equipment to pet supplies and everyday household essentials.

Design Objectives:

• Create Organization: Consolidate pantry overflow, household supplies, and everyday essentials into a single, highly functional space.
• Support Family Life: Provide dedicated storage for coats, bags, sports equipment, and the routines of an active household.
• Accommodate Pets: Incorporate thoughtful features for the family’s dogs while maintaining a clean, organized appearance.
• Maximize Existing Space: Transform an underutilized room without expanding the home’s footprint.
• Maintain Flexibility: Preserve the room’s long-term versatility and appeal for future homeowners.

Design Challenges:

• Multiple Functions: The room was being used simultaneously as a home office, pantry, storage area, and pet space without a cohesive organizational strategy.
• Insufficient Pantry Storage: The nearby pantry closet had become overcrowded and difficult to navigate.
• Visual Clutter: Everyday items, pet supplies, and household necessities lacked dedicated storage locations.
• Unused Potential: Despite its generous size, the room was not contributing meaningfully to the home’s overall functionality.
• Balancing Practicality and Style: The homeowners wanted substantial storage without creating a space that felt overly utilitarian.

Design Solutions:

• Purpose-Built Storage Plan: Custom cabinetry was designed to support multiple functions within a unified storage system, allowing the room to serve as a mudroom, pantry extension, household hub, and pet station.
• Expanded Pantry Capacity: Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, a secondary refrigerator, and extensive drawer storage dramatically increased food storage and organization capabilities.
• Hidden Organization: Closed cabinetry conceals household items, sports gear, pet supplies, and everyday clutter, creating a calm and orderly appearance.
• Full-Room Transformation: Rather than simply adding cabinets to one wall, the design reimagined the entire room, utilizing its footprint to create a true family command center.
• Furniture-Inspired Cabinetry: Warm wood finishes, decorative hardware, open display shelving, and thoughtful detailing elevate the room beyond pure utility, helping it feel like a natural extension of the home’s design.

The most successful remodeling projects often solve problems homeowners have simply learned to live with. In this case, a room that once served several purposes — but excelled at none — was transformed into one of the hardest-working spaces in the home.

Today, groceries, pet supplies, seasonal gear, household essentials, and daily routines all have a designated place. Even the family’s dogs were thoughtfully considered, with a built-in resting area integrated into the cabinetry. The result is a room that feels remarkably organized despite supporting countless everyday activities — a reflection of how thoughtful design can bring clarity, efficiency, and calm to the busiest parts of family life.

See the adjacent Powder Room

Before / After Photos: