Next up...the laundry room. This space needed some help functionally and cosmetically. It's a busy space where the family cuts through daily to get to the garage, throw shoes and back packs and of course do laundry. We needed to work with the existing footprint and redesign the storage and layout.
First we removed the bottom drawer from the washer and dryer to open up the view through the window. This also allowed us to build this butcher block wood top. Not only does the surface give you a place the fold laundry but it also makes for a more finished look.
We kept the sink in the same location but we replaced the builder grade laundry sink for a new stainless steel sink and faucet with a pull down nozzle. Stainless is a better option that won't stain like those plastic sinks.
We had custom cabinets built to allow for the homeowners' vacuum cleaner to fit. They also requested some open shelves to stash shoes. The cabinet doors were made to match the home's existing cabinet doors and then painted SW 7017 Dorian Gray. We finished the cabinet wall with 5' planks to create a more harmonious feel with the cabinetry. The cabinet handles are my favorite detail in this space. They are oak with brushed nickel hardware. I love how the wood tone accents all the grays and also connects with the wood counter top.
That leads us to the awkward corner. This was one of those spots that we considered reconfiguring with a new garage entry door or opening or closing a wall, but all those resulting in costly labor and not much return for the effort. In the end we decided to dress up this wall with what we could fit there, coat hooks. I found these simple wood pegs on Etsy. These 5" wide wood planks mimic the boards from the cabinet wall and make the space more cohesive. They also act as added support for installing all those hooks.
This brings me to those beautiful tiles. We wanted a deco tile to add some character into this space. The colors needed to be able to blend with a nearby slate floor. This tile had the perfect balance of slate blue and gray tones and a worn in look that works so well in a high traffic space. We pulled the gray tones from the tile when deciding on cabinet and wall colors.
Functionally, the biggest change was the decision to swap out this standard interior door with an in-swing (blocking the cabinetry) to a pocket door. It still allows for the home owners to close the door when the laundry is running but since the door is mainly open, we wanted to be able to access the cabinets without this obstacle every time.
The end result, is a much more functional and organized space with pretty finishes that makes the time they spend doing the laundry just a little sweeter. Think about where you really spend most of your time in the house. Does the time you spend there affect your mood or desire to be or not be in that space? Imagine if you made the act of doing laundry more desirable, and how many times you would feel that feeling (every time you do the laundry!). This is how you can change your world with interior design.