Make a closet laundry space work harder and look better by surrounding the washer and dryer with smart solutions.
Example of a small transitional single-wall light wood floor laundry closet design in Charlotte with wood countertops, a side-by-side washer/dryer, beige countertops and green walls

Converting the old family room to something practical required a lot of attention to the need of storage space and creation on nooks and functioning built-in cabinets. Everything was custom made to fit the clients need. A hidden slide in full height cabinet was design and built to house the stackable washer and dryer. The most enjoyable part was recreating the new red oak floor with grooves and pegs that will match the existing 60 years old flooring in the main house.

Donna Dotan Photography Inc.
Example of a transitional single-wall laundry closet design in New York with white cabinets, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

Small trendy single-wall beige floor and light wood floor laundry closet photo in San Francisco with white cabinets, white walls, a stacked washer/dryer, white countertops and flat-panel cabinets

This gorgeous beach condo sits on the banks of the Pacific ocean in Solana Beach, CA. The previous design was dark, heavy and out of scale for the square footage of the space. We removed an outdated bulit in, a column that was not supporting and all the detailed trim work. We replaced it with white kitchen cabinets, continuous vinyl plank flooring and clean lines throughout. The entry was created by pulling the lower portion of the bookcases out past the wall to create a foyer. The shelves are open to both sides so the immediate view of the ocean is not obstructed. New patio sliders now open in the center to continue the view. The shiplap ceiling was updated with a fresh coat of paint and smaller LED can lights. The bookcases are the inspiration color for the entire design. Sea glass green, the color of the ocean, is sprinkled throughout the home. The fireplace is now a sleek contemporary feel with a tile surround. The mantel is made from old barn wood. A very special slab of quartzite was used for the bookcase counter, dining room serving ledge and a shelf in the laundry room. The kitchen is now white and bright with glass tile that reflects the colors of the water. The hood and floating shelves have a weathered finish to reflect drift wood. The laundry room received a face lift starting with new moldings on the door, fresh paint, a rustic cabinet and a stone shelf. The guest bathroom has new white tile with a beachy mosaic design and a fresh coat of paint on the vanity. New hardware, sinks, faucets, mirrors and lights finish off the design. The master bathroom used to be open to the bedroom. We added a wall with a barn door for privacy. The shower has been opened up with a beautiful pebble tile water fall. The pebbles are repeated on the vanity with a natural edge finish. The vanity received a fresh paint job, new hardware, faucets, sinks, mirrors and lights. The guest bedroom has a custom double bunk with reading lamps for the kiddos. This space now reflects the community it is in, and we have brought the beach inside.

Surprise!!! This is no ordinary Laundry Closet. The Valejo's laundry space features a granite counter for sorting and folding, built in cabinetry for ample storage, and exciting glass tile design for an extra "wow" factor!

Within the master bedroom was a small entry hallway and extra closet. A perfect spot to carve out a small laundry room. Full sized stacked washer and dryer fit perfectly with left over space for adjustable shelves to hold supplies. New louvered doors offer ventilation and work nicely with the home’s plantation shutters throughout. Photography by Erika Bierman

This second floor laundry area was created out of part of an existing master bathroom. It allowed the client to move their laundry station from the basement to the second floor, greatly improving efficiency.

This laundry room is easily accessible, hidden behind these closet doors but located on the second floor hallway. Photography by Jay Groccia, OnSite Studios

Within the master bedroom was a small entry hallway and extra closet. A perfect spot to carve out a small laundry room. Full sized stacked washer and dryer fit perfectly with left over space for adjustable shelves to hold supplies. New louvered doors offer ventilation and work nicely with the home’s plantation shutters throughout. Photography by Erika Bierman

No space for a full laundry room? No problem! Hidden by closet doors, this fully functional laundry area is sleek and modern.
Inspiration for a small contemporary single-wall laundry closet remodel in San Francisco with a stacked washer/dryer, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets and beige walls

Inspiration for a large transitional single-wall brown floor laundry closet remodel in Houston with raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, gray walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and gray countertops

Laundry Room
Laundry closet - small ceramic tile laundry closet idea in New York with quartz countertops, white walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Example of a classic laundry closet design in Other with recessed-panel cabinets and dark wood cabinets

Inspiration for a small transitional single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor laundry closet remodel in Philadelphia with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, a stacked washer/dryer and brown countertops

Small galley ceramic tile laundry closet photo in Other with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, laminate countertops, beige walls and a stacked washer/dryer

With the plumbing work being done on the master bath suite, our clients opted for a stackable washer/dryer in a closet conveniently located to the 2nd floor bedrooms. The bottom pedestal of the washer provides plenty of storage for laundry detergent and accessories. Ale Wood & Design construction; InHouse Photography.

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Cabinet Brand: Haas Signature Collection Wood Species: Rustic Hickory Cabinet Finish: Pecan Door Style: Shakertown V Counter tops: Hanstone Quartz, Bullnose edge detail, Walnut Luster color