A combination of bricks, cement sheet, copper and Colorbond combine harmoniously to produce a striking street appeal. Internally the layout follows the client's brief to maintain a level of privacy for multiple family members while also taking advantage of the view and north facing orientation. The level of detail and finish is exceptional throughout the home with the added complexity of incorporating building materials sourced from overseas.

Inspiration for a contemporary single-wall dedicated laundry room in Sydney with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, white walls, beige floor, white benchtop and planked wall panelling.

Contemporary single-wall dedicated laundry room in Melbourne with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey splashback, concrete floors, grey floor, grey benchtop and brick walls.

This contemporary compact laundry room packs a lot of punch and personality. With it's gold fixtures and hardware adding some glitz, the grey cabinetry, industrial floors and patterned backsplash tile brings interest to this small space. Fully loaded with hanging racks, large accommodating sink, vacuum/ironing board storage & laundry shoot, this laundry room is not only stylish but function forward.

Laundry Room
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional single-wall utility room in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, white walls, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floor and white benchtop.

A mixed use mud room featuring open lockers, bright geometric tile and built in closets.
Large transitional u-shaped utility room in Seattle with an undermount sink, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey floor, white benchtop, flat-panel cabinets, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, multi-coloured walls and ceramic floors.

  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

Marble penny rounds, brass handles and an integrated laundry chute make for a convenient and beautiful laundry space.
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style dedicated laundry room in Sydney with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, marble splashback, white walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, white benchtop, grey splashback and grey floor.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary galley dedicated laundry room in Auckland with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, white walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, white floor and grey benchtop.

Inspiration for a mid-sized arts and crafts galley utility room in San Francisco with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, grey walls, vinyl floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, white floor, brown benchtop, exposed beam and panelled walls.

Karen Morrison
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional galley utility room in Chicago with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, a drop-in sink, grey walls, porcelain floors, a stacked washer and dryer and grey floor.

This is a hidden cat feeding and liter box area in the cabinetry of the laundry room. This is an excellent way to contain the smell and mess of a cat.

Due to the cramped nature of the original space, the powder room and adjacent laundry room were relocated to the home’s new addition and the kitchen layout was reformatted to improve workflow.

Photo of a transitional l-shaped dedicated laundry room in Salt Lake City with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, black walls, a side-by-side washer and dryer, black floor and white benchtop.

Design ideas for a large country galley utility room in Phoenix with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, white walls, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer, black floor, white benchtop and planked wall panelling.

Photo of a small contemporary single-wall utility room in Vancouver with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, light hardwood floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, beige floor, white benchtop and planked wall panelling.

Combined butlers pantry and laundry opening to kitchen
Photo of a small contemporary l-shaped utility room in Brisbane with shaker cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, white benchtop, a single-bowl sink, white cabinets, white walls and a stacked washer and dryer.

Transitional laundry room with herringbone tile floor and stacked washer/dryer.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional galley dedicated laundry room in Orange County with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer, black floor, white benchtop, shaker cabinets and grey walls.

Inspiration for a large contemporary galley dedicated laundry room in Vancouver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, grey walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, white floor and white benchtop.