Before we redesigned the basement of this charming but compact 1950's North Vancouver home, this space was an unfinished utility room that housed nothing more than an outdated furnace and hot water tank. Since space was at a premium we recommended replacing the furnace with a high efficiency model and converting the hot water tank to an on-demand system, both of which could be housed in the adjacent crawl space. That left room for a generous laundry room conveniently located at the back entrance of the house where family members returning from a mountain bike ride can undress, drop muddy clothes into the washing machine and proceed to shower in the bathroom just across the hall. Interior Design by Lori Steeves of Simply Home Decorating. Photos by Tracey Ayton Photography.