Tre Dunham
Photo of a mid-sized transitional single-wall utility room in Austin with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, medium hardwood floors, wood benchtops, white walls, a side-by-side washer and dryer and brown floor.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The Klimala’s and their three kids are no strangers to moving, this being their fifth house in the same town over the 20-year period they have lived there. “It must be the 7-year itch, because every seven years, we seem to find ourselves antsy for a new project or a new environment. I think part of it is being a designer, I see my own taste evolve and I want my environment to reflect that. Having easy access to wonderful tradesmen and a knowledge of the process makes it that much easier”. This time, Klimala’s fell in love with a somewhat unlikely candidate. The 1950’s ranch turned cape cod was a bit of a mutt, but it’s location 5 minutes from their design studio and backing up to the high school where their kids can roll out of bed and walk to school, coupled with the charm of its location on a private road and lush landscaping made it an appealing choice for them. “The bones of the house were really charming. It was typical 1,500 square foot ranch that at some point someone added a second floor to. Its sloped roofline and dormered bedrooms gave it some charm.” With the help of architect Maureen McHugh, Klimala’s gutted and reworked the layout to make the house work for them. An open concept kitchen and dining room allows for more frequent casual family dinners and dinner parties that linger. A dingy 3-season room off the back of the original house was insulated, given a vaulted ceiling with skylights and now opens up to the kitchen. This room now houses an 8’ raw edge white oak dining table and functions as an informal dining room. “One of the challenges with these mid-century homes is the 8’ ceilings. I had to have at least one room that had a higher ceiling so that’s how we did it” states Klimala. The kitchen features a 10’ island which houses a 5’0” Galley Sink. The Galley features two faucets, and double tiered rail system to which accessories such as cutting boards and stainless steel bowls can be added for ease of cooking. Across from the large sink is an induction cooktop. “My two teen daughters and I enjoy cooking, and the Galley and induction cooktop make it so easy.” A wall of tall cabinets features a full size refrigerator, freezer, double oven and built in coffeemaker. The area on the opposite end of the kitchen features a pantry with mirrored glass doors and a beverage center below. The rest of the first floor features an entry way, a living room with views to the front yard’s lush landscaping, a family room where the family hangs out to watch TV, a back entry from the garage with a laundry room and mudroom area, one of the home’s four bedrooms and a full bath. There is a double sided fireplace between the family room and living room. The home features pops of color from the living room’s peach grass cloth to purple painted wall in the family room. “I’m definitely a traditionalist at heart but because of the home’s Midcentury roots, I wanted to incorporate some of those elements into the furniture, lighting and accessories which also ended up being really fun. We are not formal people so I wanted a house that my kids would enjoy, have their friends over and feel comfortable.” The second floor houses the master bedroom suite, two of the kids’ bedrooms and a back room nicknamed “the library” because it has turned into a quiet get away area where the girls can study or take a break from the rest of the family. The area was originally unfinished attic, and because the home was short on closet space, this Jack and Jill area off the girls’ bedrooms houses two large walk-in closets and a small sitting area with a makeup vanity. “The girls really wanted to keep the exposed brick of the fireplace that runs up the through the space, so that’s what we did, and I think they feel like they are in their own little loft space in the city when they are up there” says Klimala. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Kolanowski Studio
Design ideas for a small transitional dedicated laundry room in Houston with an utility sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, medium hardwood floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer and yellow walls.

This is an example of a large traditional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Melbourne with an integrated sink, white cabinets, stainless steel benchtops, white walls, medium hardwood floors and a stacked washer and dryer.

Design ideas for a small traditional laundry cupboard in New York with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, medium hardwood floors and a side-by-side washer and dryer.

Lepere Studio
Large transitional single-wall laundry room in Santa Barbara with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a stacked washer and dryer and grey benchtop.

This is an example of a traditional galley utility room in Kansas City with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey walls, medium hardwood floors and a side-by-side washer and dryer.

Adrienne Bizzarri Photography
Photo of an expansive beach style single-wall dedicated laundry room in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer and brown floor.

Photo of a country galley utility room in Atlanta with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Jenny Melick
Design ideas for a small traditional galley laundry room in Charlotte with solid surface benchtops, a side-by-side washer and dryer, raised-panel cabinets, a drop-in sink, white cabinets, red walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Beach style single-wall utility room in Charleston with shaker cabinets, green cabinets, white walls, medium hardwood floors and a side-by-side washer and dryer.

Elegant, yet functional laundry room off the kitchen. Hidden away behind sliding doors, this laundry space opens to double as a butler's pantry during preparations and service for entertaining guests.

Two adjoining challenging small spaces with three functions transformed into one great space: Laundry Room, Full Bathroom & Utility Room.
Photo of a small traditional galley utility room in New York with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige walls, vinyl floors, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floor and white benchtop.

This is an example of a large country galley laundry room in Cedar Rapids with an utility sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer and brown floor.

Laundry room with side by side washer dryer.
Small traditional single-wall laundry cupboard in Jacksonville with quartz benchtops, beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Who said a Laundry Room had to be dull and boring? This colorful laundry room is loaded with storage both in its custom cabinetry and also in its 3 large closets for winter/spring clothing. The black and white 20x20 floor tile gives a nod to retro and is topped off with apple green walls and an organic free-form backsplash tile! This room serves as a doggy mud-room, eating center and luxury doggy bathing spa area as well. The organic wall tile was designed for visual interest as well as for function. The tall and wide backsplash provides wall protection behind the doggy bathing station. The bath center is equipped with a multifunction hand-held faucet with a metal hose for ease while giving the dogs a bath. The shelf underneath the sink is a pull-out doggy eating station and the food is located in a pull-out trash bin.

Contemporary warehouse apartment in Collingwood. Photography by Shania Shegedyn
Inspiration for a small contemporary single-wall dedicated laundry room in Melbourne with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a concealed washer and dryer, brown floor and grey benchtop.

This gorgeous beach condo sits on the banks of the Pacific ocean in Solana Beach, CA. The previous design was dark, heavy and out of scale for the square footage of the space. We removed an outdated bulit in, a column that was not supporting and all the detailed trim work. We replaced it with white kitchen cabinets, continuous vinyl plank flooring and clean lines throughout. The entry was created by pulling the lower portion of the bookcases out past the wall to create a foyer. The shelves are open to both sides so the immediate view of the ocean is not obstructed. New patio sliders now open in the center to continue the view. The shiplap ceiling was updated with a fresh coat of paint and smaller LED can lights. The bookcases are the inspiration color for the entire design. Sea glass green, the color of the ocean, is sprinkled throughout the home. The fireplace is now a sleek contemporary feel with a tile surround. The mantel is made from old barn wood. A very special slab of quartzite was used for the bookcase counter, dining room serving ledge and a shelf in the laundry room. The kitchen is now white and bright with glass tile that reflects the colors of the water. The hood and floating shelves have a weathered finish to reflect drift wood. The laundry room received a face lift starting with new moldings on the door, fresh paint, a rustic cabinet and a stone shelf. The guest bathroom has new white tile with a beachy mosaic design and a fresh coat of paint on the vanity. New hardware, sinks, faucets, mirrors and lights finish off the design. The master bathroom used to be open to the bedroom. We added a wall with a barn door for privacy. The shower has been opened up with a beautiful pebble tile water fall. The pebbles are repeated on the vanity with a natural edge finish. The vanity received a fresh paint job, new hardware, faucets, sinks, mirrors and lights. The guest bedroom has a custom double bunk with reading lamps for the kiddos. This space now reflects the community it is in, and we have brought the beach inside.

Small beach style single-wall laundry room in Burlington with flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, medium hardwood floors, a stacked washer and dryer and brown floor.