Small trendy laundry closet photo in New York with an utility sink, white walls and a stacked washer/dryer

©Finished Basement Company
Inspiration for a large transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor laundry room remodel in Minneapolis with blue walls

Positioned next to the washing machine/tumble dryer cupboard is this laundry/boot cupboard. Whether it's for hanging freshly washed shirts or for storing your everyday coats and shoes, this tall cupboard with hanging rail and a pull out shoe drawer creates practical extra storage space.

Christopher Davison, AIA
Utility room - large transitional u-shaped travertine floor utility room idea in Austin with an utility sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Large transitional porcelain tile mudroom photo in Chicago with gray walls

Karen was an existing client of ours who was tired of the crowded and cluttered laundry/mudroom that did not work well for her young family. The washer and dryer were right in the line of traffic when you stepped in her back entry from the garage and there was a lack of a bench for changing shoes/boots. Planning began… then along came a twist! A new puppy that will grow to become a fair sized dog would become part of the family. Could the design accommodate dog grooming and a daytime “kennel” for when the family is away? Having two young boys, Karen wanted to have custom features that would make housekeeping easier so custom drawer drying racks and ironing board were included in the design. All slab-style cabinet and drawer fronts are sturdy and easy to clean and the family’s coats and necessities are hidden from view while close at hand. The selected quartz countertops, slate flooring and honed marble wall tiles will provide a long life for this hard working space. The enameled cast iron sink which fits puppy to full-sized dog (given a boost) was outfitted with a faucet conducive to dog washing, as well as, general clean up. And the piece de resistance is the glass, Dutch pocket door which makes the family dog feel safe yet secure with a view into the rest of the house. Karen and her family enjoy the organized, tidy space and how it works for them.

Laundry room - modern laundry room idea in Austin

Organik Loam, like its namesake, blends a fertile mix of sand, clay, silt and hummus colors rich in texture. This horizontal 12-by-4 inch glossy finish subway tile look, complete with light cream faux grout lines, will be the center of your bathroom oasis. Utile by MAAX is an innovative shower wall solution that provides sophisticated style without the hassle of tiling. Utile - Designer Series Pattern: Organik Color: Loam Dimensions: 60""x36""

Formerly named the scullery, the utility is fast becoming a room high up on homebuyers wishlists. Located just off the kitchen, it's usually the engine of the house used for laundry, storing cleaning supplies and large appliances Tall pantry style storage can be designed for specific jobs such as housing an ironing board, laundry products and baskets or essential cleaning supplies. Other small kitchen appliances that may be cluttering up your kitchen can also be stored in a utility.

Photo: Margot Hartford © 2017 Houzz
Eclectic kids' room photo in Other

Creating a completely organized pantry is easy thanks to the flexibility of elfa®. And the new 18-inch Drawers make the most of smaller spaces. Use elfa Utility Door & Wall racks to corral oils, baking supplies and other frequently used items. elfa Utility Boards, Bins, Shelves and Hooks organize everything from serving spoons to spices in plain sight. Ventilated and Solid Shelves easily handle the weight of dinnerware, canisters, cookbooks and heavy-duty dutch ovens.

Laundry Room by Butter Lutz Interiors www.butterlutz.com
Dedicated laundry room - mid-sized farmhouse u-shaped dedicated laundry room idea in Austin with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Utility room with dog kennels and dog shower
Inspiration for a contemporary laundry room remodel in Austin

Entryway - large cottage porcelain tile and gray floor entryway idea in Cleveland with gray walls and a white front door

We maximized every inch of this narrow mudroom by stacking the washer and dryer and surrounding them with custom cabinetry for full-height storage. Built-in cubbies, a drop zone bench, and wall hooks create a functional entry space that keeps clutter off the floor and essentials within reach.

Inspiration for a large coastal ceramic tile, beige floor and wallpaper dedicated laundry room remodel in Other with an utility sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, blue walls and a stacked washer/dryer

Renovation of a master bath suite, dressing room and laundry room in a log cabin farm house. The laundry room has a fabulous white enamel and iron trough sink with double goose neck faucets - ideal for scrubbing dirty farmer's clothing. The cabinet and shelving were custom made using the reclaimed wood from the farm. A quartz counter for folding laundry is set above the washer and dryer. A ribbed glass panel was installed in the door to the laundry room, which was retrieved from a wood pile, so that the light from the room's window would flow through to the dressing room and vestibule, while still providing privacy between the spaces. Interior Design & Photo ©Suzanne MacCrone Rogers Architectural Design - Robert C. Beeland, AIA, NCARB

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.”

Traditional house in Los Angeles with Showplace Cabinetry used in their Kitchen & Laundry Area. Freemont Arch Door Style in Cherry wood specie & Coffee finish. Stacked Molding brought all the way to the ceiling. Pental Quartz Countertop- Tobacco finish. Stainless Steel Appliance, fixtures & decorative hardware. White Trim & baseboard used. Elan Kitchen & Bath Design Center, LLC Designer: Sheila Ann V. Cotto www.elankitchenandbath.com