Laundry may be a chore we all face, but it doesn't have to feel like one. Clean and serene is the theme for this laundry center. Located in a busy part of the house next to the back door and combined with coat and shoe storage into a mud room, it still offers a sense of peace and calm by providing a place for everything and preventing chaos from taking over. It's easier to keep the room looking tidy when you have a good organizational system like this one. Shelves and cabinets above the side-by-side front loading washer and dryer provide convenient storage for detergent, dryer sheets, fabric softener and other laundry aids. A shelf with a basket is a great place to temporarily store all the little items that were left in pockets and shouldn't go in the wash. The small hanging rod in the corner takes care of the delicate drip dry items that can't go in the dryer, while the small sink with storage cabinets is large enough for hand wash and things you want to quickly rinse out like swim suits. It's also a great place to stop and wash dirty hands before continuing into the rest of the house. A garbage can is hidden in the cabinet beneath the sink. The lower shelves with baskets next to the sink can store either folded clothing that has yet to be put away, or a basket or dirty laundry waiting to go into the wash. The oil rubbed bronze finish on the cabinet handles and faucet ties in with blue, beige, dark brown and white color scheme present throughout the first floor of the home and is a strong accent against the white. It also ties in perfectly with the dark wood look ceramic tiles on the floor. Designer - Gerry Ayala Photo - Cathy Rabeler