Photography: Alyssa Lee Photography
Example of a mid-sized transitional porcelain tile and gray floor laundry room design in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

White Kitchens
Example of a small transitional single-wall utility room design in Atlanta with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartzite countertops and white countertops

These homeowners had a relatively small space and a large wish list. This family of 5 needed some form of mudroom area, while still maintaining the laudry area. Relocationg the washer and dryer from under the window allowed me to give them folding space, a laundry sink, and the boot bench area for all of their coats and backpacks. Their is even a hanging space for clothes to drip dry or get hung before putting away. The powder room was also tiny. We knew we wanted to find something dramatic that worked with the office area that is immediately adjacent to it. That room is painted to most beatiful shade of blue. When we found this Farrow and Ball Lotus wallpaper, we knew we had the perfect starting point.

Example of a transitional l-shaped brown floor laundry room design in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, a side-by-side washer/dryer, gray countertops and gray walls

Utility room - large transitional galley ceramic tile and gray floor utility room idea in Oklahoma City with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls, a stacked washer/dryer, marble countertops and gray countertops

Dog friendly laundry room, sliding pocket door to keep pets safe, raised dog washing sink,
Example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped porcelain tile and multicolored floor dedicated laundry room design in Houston with an utility sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

Transitional l-shaped black floor dedicated laundry room photo in Salt Lake City with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, gray backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, black walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

The Curbly #remodel added a #countertop above the washer and dryer for a place to fold #laundry.
Small transitional single-wall ceramic tile laundry room photo in Other with white cabinets, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything,” Meghan said. “It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be.” Meghan loves cooking and enjoys including their girls in healthy meal prepping, this led them to want a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage. For Chris especially, the laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore. “We had a washer and a dryer, but it was all kind-of cobbled together!” Chris said. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change.” The mess of the space was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Kids’ backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet left the family feeling disorganized and stressed. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized. Having known Christine and Todd in the Huntley community for years, Chris and Meghan were familiar with their work. “We already trusted them personally and having seen their projects for years we knew they did top notch work. After we reviewed the initial round of designs, we knew that hiring them was definitely the right choice,” Meghan and Chris said. Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the kitchen and laundry room renovation was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed. “Our designer, Michelle was very, very, easy to work with; anything we wanted to see or weren’t sure about, she went above and beyond to make this easy for us. She was easy to get hold of and always quick to respond,” the couple said. Michelle pulled ideas that mirrored the couple’s taste and style and was adept at directing the couple to limited choices that didn’t overwhelm them and kept the process moving. “I have a hard time making decisions. Michelle made the decision-making process so easy. I loved how she listened to what I liked and then presented three great options for me to choose from,” Meghan said. The main objectives for the kitchen were better storage solutions, they wanted the space to reflect their lifestyle and taste, and they wanted it to last for years with low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator, creating an improved workflow for the busy family. “We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something that we never would have thought of,” Chris said. “The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said. The perimeter mist colored cabinets helped warm and brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored cabinets on the island added contrast. Using this fresh, clean color palette satisfied the couple’s desire for a bright space that was the exact opposite of what they had before. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets such as a spice drawer tray and roll outs to create hidden convenience. “I absolutely love the hidden spices – it makes cooking so much more enjoyable!” Chris said. “And all the pull outs, and the double trash bin, who would think you could get so excited about organization!” the couple said in unison. One thing they hated in their original kitchen was how dark the space felt. Added lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has this warm, almost cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said. The light airy feeling was accentuated with the use of floating white shelves on either side of the decorative range hood. “We have so much cabinetry space, the new design is amazing we actually have more storage space than we will ever need,” Meghan said. The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said. The Carrara Marmi Quartz countertops were chosen because they are, not only beautiful, but are made from hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the crisp white countertops perfectly, while brushed brass hardware and light fixtures keep the design fresh and new. The couple had a few fears at the beginning of the project, as most homeowners do. Their biggest fear was being out of their kitchen and laundry room for an extended time. The crew made it very easy for the family to work in a limited space keeping the washer and dryer hooked up the majority of the time, and also getting appliances working with minimal downtime. “They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added. “Our project manager DJ did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris. They thought Advance’s carpenter was phenomenal and were impressed when he took a conceptual idea from a photograph and worked with designer Michelle to create a one of a kind range/hood that has become the topic of conversation with friends and family who visit the new kitchen. “He was in our house literally every day for several weeks. He was easy to work with and good at what he did,” Meghan and Chris said. The focal point of the kitchen; a hand-crafted, custom-built ventilation hood was clad with handpicked reclaimed barnwood. Advance Design’s carpenter built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves. “I think it was especially fun for him to create something unique from scratch, showcasing his talent in this area,” Meghan said. “I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique.” Red Oak flooring was toothed-in throughout the kitchen and the rest of the first floor anywhere changes were made. Then the whole floor was refinished to tone down the orange undertones in the existing floor stain, ultimately changing the color complexion of the entire first floor. The result is a completely new feeling to the entire home. Renovating the laundry room was extremely important to Meghan and Chris, but they had trouble visualizing what the possibilities were for the seemingly small space. Michelle produced beautiful 3D illustrations that helped them envision the space in a whole new way. “I must have told Michelle 100 times that I am a visual person, seeing the designs in 3D made it so easy to make decisions and see what we could really do with our space,” Meghan said. A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinetry matching the kitchen island to house custom storage cubbies for each family member. Adding the tall utility cabinetry in the new laundry area helped solve the storage issue, tucking away cleaning supplies, household items, and even the cat got its own cubby. “I love how everything is now hidden in its own space. I can’t tell you how much I hated coming home and seeing everything sitting around on counters,” Chris said. Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices could charge in hidden locations. Stacking the washer and dryer allowed for wider countertop space to provide a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang. “The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said. “The end result in the kitchen and the laundry/mud room was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family,” Michelle said. “I would totally recommend Advance Design,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”

A view showing the retractable stairs leading up to the washing station. Let the dogs do the leg work and the homeowners can wash the dogs while standing. Both functional and efficient!

Dedicated laundry room - small transitional single-wall laminate floor and gray floor dedicated laundry room idea in Dallas with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, gray walls, a stacked washer/dryer and black countertops

Designer: Cheryl Scarlet, Design Transformations Inc. Builder: Paragon Homes Photography: Kimberly Gavin
Dedicated laundry room - transitional beige floor dedicated laundry room idea in Denver with multicolored walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

This laundry, mud room, pool bath combination space is hardworking! Storage for family jackets, sports equipment, cleaning supplies,, laundry, and even the dog crate fills this space. the family powder room (pool bath) squeeked into a narrow space at the end of the room and is punctuated by sunny yellow wall covering.

Kate Osborne
Laundry room - transitional laundry room idea in Salt Lake City

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional galley porcelain tile and gray floor dedicated laundry room remodel in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, gray walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

The clients wanted an open space between their existing kitchen footprint and a finished sunroom that overlooked the beautiful backyard. We opened that wall up and they are able to enjoy the increased view. We were able to get that by putting in new windows and exterior door across that old porch area. We created a dirty kitchen/laundry combo to handle overflow and to get the washer and dryer on the first floor. The clients can close that door and still enjoy the kitchen with family and friends… even if the clothes are not folded yet! We completely transformed this space for them so they can spend much-deserved quality time in this open and comfortable space. They simply love it… Design: Anna Brown Interiors Cabinetry: Barber Cabinet Company Contractor: Andrew Thompson Construction

Dennis Mayer, Photographer
Example of a transitional laundry room design in San Francisco with beige walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional vinyl floor and beige floor dedicated laundry room remodel in Raleigh with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, granite countertops, gray walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Spacecrafting/Architectural Photography
Laundry room - transitional laundry room idea in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and a stacked washer/dryer