Mud room - who has one? Im so excited about the thought of it!

I love the idea of what enters at the door, stays at the door. Hats, bags, jackets, shoes etc will be stored as per the need / season only in the mud room. The mud room will be straight from the garage into the hallway. It will be fitted out later and just left as a large alcove for now with bulk head. The plan is to place a bench seat with room for shoes in a basket underneath and hanging above hooks for bags / jackets. On the sides of the alcove will have some storage magazine type holders for each of us. It will contain notes / folders needed to LEAVE the house as notes notes notes from 4 kids at school is a constant task I keep on the kids about. The end of the alcove will have a sliding door so it can be closed off from sight and will make the very long corridor seem a little less long ... a normal opening door would have the risk of slamming shut if wind or a/c got a hold of it ... Do you have a mud room?

About us ....

I have started this blog for your help ... any help with issues you experienced we could learn from, but also for any great ideas. We are a family of 6 with 2 boys and 2 girls. One thing we are creating is a small ensuite off the laundry (instead of WIL) to create 1. bathroom for the boys. 2. access to toilet / shower from outside via laundry. Laundry door to house will have a lock on it we can lock house safely for insurance purposes. Storage is very important and we are making robes larger for the girls. Mud room area as you enter the hall from garage is being created also. From entry door at front of house the left will have cupboards to place coats, shoes, shoes, more shoes, bags, off season items in. Both lounge and rumpus rooms will access from the hallway with large cavity sliding doors to create illusion of space when they are open and privacy / noise control when rooms in use. What are great ideas you have thought of?

Thank you to all the stories, tears and triumph moments I have been following.   We have chosen the Denver 36 and paid our $1000 and now getting everything we want in the contract done now ... Before we sign away and are locked in
Please please share any stories if yours with us
Will begin my first blog tomorrow as just setting it all up today :)