Inspiration for a transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, white walls, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey floor and white benchtop.

Photo credit: The Home Aesthetic
Country single-wall dedicated laundry room in Indianapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, multi-coloured walls, a side-by-side washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor and white benchtop.

  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

Dawn Smith Photography
Inspiration for a large traditional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Cincinnati with recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, grey walls, a side-by-side washer and dryer, brown floor, an utility sink, granite benchtops, porcelain floors and multi-coloured benchtop.

This is an example of a small contemporary single-wall dedicated laundry room in Detroit with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback, black walls, vinyl floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop and wallpaper.

Design ideas for a small country single-wall utility room in Philadelphia with a drop-in sink, grey cabinets, white walls, a side-by-side washer and dryer and shaker cabinets.

Floor to ceiling storage with open shelving and a space to fold items. The long cabinet accommodates cleaning supplies such as mops & vacuum cleaners.

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Philadelphia with a drop-in sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, beige walls and a side-by-side washer and dryer.

Ashley Avila Photography
Inspiration for a country single-wall dedicated laundry room in Grand Rapids with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, brown floor, white benchtop, solid surface benchtops and grey walls.

This prairie home tucked in the woods strikes a harmonious balance between modern efficiency and welcoming warmth. The laundry space is designed for convenience and seamless organization by being cleverly concealed behind elegant doors. This practical design ensures that the laundry area remains tidy and out of sight when not in use. --- Project designed by Minneapolis interior design studio LiLu Interiors. They serve the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, including Wayzata, Edina, and Rochester, and they travel to the far-flung destinations where their upscale clientele owns second homes. For more about LiLu Interiors, see here: https://www.liluinteriors.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://www.liluinteriors.com/portfolio-items/north-oaks-prairie-home-interior-design/

Laundry Room with open shelving
Design ideas for a small modern single-wall utility room in Cleveland with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, vinyl floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer and black floor.

Photo of a contemporary single-wall laundry room in San Diego with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multi-coloured walls, grey floor and white benchtop.

Emma-Jane Hetherington
Inspiration for a contemporary single-wall dedicated laundry room in Auckland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, yellow cabinets, white walls, concrete floors, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floor and grey benchtop.

.This laundry room was updated with Medallion Gold Full Overlay cabinets in Park Place Raised Panel with Maple Chai Latte Classic paint. The countertop is Iced White quartz with a roundover edge and a new Lenova stainless steel laundry tub and Elkay Pursuit faucet in lustrous steel. The backsplash is Mythology Aura ceramic tile.

Compact Laundry and Powder Room. Photo: Mark Fergus
This is an example of a small transitional single-wall utility room in Melbourne with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, granite benchtops, porcelain floors, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floor, beige walls, beige benchtop, ceramic splashback and blue splashback.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Boston with wood benchtops, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, brown benchtop and wallpaper.

Photo of a large traditional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Jacksonville with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, a side-by-side washer and dryer and grey benchtop.

Small eclectic single-wall dedicated laundry room in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic floors, black floor, beige benchtop, white walls and a side-by-side washer and dryer.

This is an example of a transitional single-wall laundry cupboard in London with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, light hardwood floors, a stacked washer and dryer, beige floor and white benchtop.