Attila has outdoor shoes, and indoor shoes. He wears the outdoor shoes for the garden and yard work, and changes into his indoor shoes inside the house. The back door is where he exits and enters the house to and from the garden. There is always a pair of shoes by the door.
The back door opens into the house on a small landing, with the basement stairs immediately before it. The space is awkward, small, and could be perilous if caution is not taken, as the stairs are steep and descend to a concrete floor.
A few weeks ago I decided that we should have a shoe rack for Attila’s shoes, and my garden shoes as well. My idea was to rip out a piece of the drywall on the interior wall of the landing, and build a shoe rack between the wall studs. Attila agreed to this, and we agreed that the garden projects take priority over all indoor projects. Attila said of this project, living in this small house “is like living on a ship”, we have to make use of every available space.
Today arrived overcast, spitting rain, and quite cool. A perfect day to tackle the in-the-wall shoe rack. Attila saves all manner of lumber scraps, so the wood for the project was sitting waiting in the garage. The project proceeded over the course of the day, is now functional, it will hold four pairs of shoes. Another time Attila will add a finishing trim, and paint it. Now my outdoor shoes sit waiting for me at the back door, as do Attila’s, and the floor space is free of clutter.
We do functional oh so well. We don’t do pretty quite so well, but for us functional is far more valuable. We may or may not get around to pretty at some point, but it doesn’t seem likely.
No more clutter of shoes by the back door, it opens so much more easily, and no tripping!
Worldly
Weather
12°C
Date: 5:00 PM EDT Saturday 3 May 2025
Rain
Feels 12
H: 13° L: 8°
Quote
“Where all think alike, no one thinks very much.”
Walter Lippmann
1889 – 1974
There is a down side and an up side to this concept, I think.
The down side is that at times survival requires innovation and creative solutions to problems, this involves thinking.
The up side is at times when survival requires pragmatism, acceptance, and perseverance using what one has, this involves just getting on with things.
Luckily humans are capable of both.
Maggie, I love the things you come up with to maximize the use of small space. This really is clever!
Good idea! I bet that makes things a lot easier.
My DH also has indoor and outdoor shoes, at both our back and front doors. I’ve never done that sort of thing but then the majority of my coming and going either ends up in the garage going to the car or to the backyard patio, as our gardening is very limited. But I did get a folding garden seat this year. Once DH finishes his treatments next week, we’ll have some time for some garden clean-up.
Very clever solution!
What a great idea Maggie.
Maybe (if you can get hold of it) coat the ‘shelves’ with a varnish so any water dripping from the (outdoor) soles doesn’t rot the wood
Enjoy your good – warmer – weather……ours is changing to cooler. Still need some decent rain though.
Maggie, I found this today when looking back at archived entries. This one was from 2016; thought you might like to see it again: https://goldengrainfarm.blogspot.com/2016/05/maggie-turner-answers-5-questions.html
I like your shoe-rack idea. We have a huge porch, but it’s also very full and there are always too many shoes and boots in the way. We need something like yours.
Kate
Thanks Wendy! We keep ourselves entertained with survival, lol. It is free entertainment, and luckily it makes us happy.
Teri, thank you! Although I haven’t tested it yet, I think you are right, it will make things a lot easier. Your folding garden seat sounds like a lovely addition, I hope you enjoy it very much. Best wishes to DH with his treatments, I hope the they are finished you enjoy your spring and summer!
Thank you Joan! I now have my eye on the interior walls behind the bedroom doors, maybe next winter.
Cathy, thank you!
Great suggestion about varnishing the shelves, as you are right, there will be drips with the outdoor shoes. Attila had some white paint, so he caulked along the back of the shelves, then painted them white, and will put on a second coat. We hope that will take care of any moisture. The caulking is to make sure that no moisture drips down along the back edge of the shelves, which could damage the bare drywall behind the wood of the shelf.
Thanks about the weather! We are loving it, it has been a long cooler-than-normal spring, and at least the windows are open and the parkas are only needed temporarily for early morning walks.
I hope you get your rain!
Wow Kate, what a lovely entry from the past! Thank you!
Shoes! They are such necessary and awkward items. Now that you mention your deck, you have me thinking about a shoe repository for the porch, when we design and renovate it. A great idea!