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.

Inspiration for a large u-shaped utility room in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, quartzite benchtops, black splashback, engineered quartz splashback, beige walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor, black benchtop, light wood cabinets and decorative wall panelling.

  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

Beyond Beige Interior Design | www.beyondbeige.com | Ph: 604-876-3800 | Photography By Provoke Studios |
Inspiration for a small transitional single-wall laundry cupboard in Vancouver with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey floor and white benchtop.

Design ideas for a large transitional galley dedicated laundry room in Nashville with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, shiplap splashback, white walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor, white benchtop and planked wall panelling.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Indianapolis with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white walls, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer, black floor, brown benchtop and wallpaper.

This is an example of a large transitional single-wall laundry room in Houston with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, stone tile splashback, white walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, brown floor, black benchtop, multi-coloured splashback and an undermount sink.

Laundry Room with concealed clothes hanging rod that is hidden when cabinet is closed. Matte grey laminate cabinet finish, Caesarstone counter, white matte ceramic tile backsplash, porcelain tile floor.

Architecture: Noble Johnson Architects Interior Design: Rachel Hughes - Ye Peddler Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com
Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped dedicated laundry room in Nashville with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, quartz benchtops, white walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer and white benchtop.

This is an example of a large transitional u-shaped utility room in Atlanta with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, white walls, ceramic floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, white floor, white benchtop and planked wall panelling.

Photography: Alyssa Lee Photography
Mid-sized transitional laundry room in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey floor and white benchtop.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Orange County with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, white floor and white benchtop.

Our Denver studio designed this home to reflect the stunning mountains that it is surrounded by. See how we did it. --- Project designed by Denver, Colorado interior designer Margarita Bravo. She serves Denver as well as surrounding areas such as Cherry Hills Village, Englewood, Greenwood Village, and Bow Mar. For more about MARGARITA BRAVO, click here: https://www.margaritabravo.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.margaritabravo.com/portfolio/mountain-chic-modern-rustic-home-denver/

Inspiration for a small single-wall laundry cupboard in Dallas with grey cabinets, wood benchtops, beige walls, ceramic floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, white floor, brown benchtop and wood.

Inspiration for a large contemporary galley dedicated laundry room in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, white walls, ceramic floors, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Spacious Laundry room with abundant storage, drop-down hanging bars, and built-in washer & dryer. Photos: Reel Tour Media
Large contemporary dedicated laundry room in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, a side-by-side washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor, white benchtop and porcelain floors.

These homeowners came to us to design several areas of their home, including their mudroom and laundry. They were a growing family and needed a "landing" area as they entered their home, either from the garage but also asking for a new entrance from outside. We stole about 24 feet from their oversized garage to create a large mudroom/laundry area. Custom blue cabinets with a large "X" design on the doors of the lockers, a large farmhouse sink and a beautiful cement tile feature wall with floating shelves make this mudroom stylish and luxe. The laundry room now has a pocket door separating it from the mudroom, and houses the washer and dryer with a wood butcher block folding shelf. White tile backsplash and custom white and blue painted cabinetry takes this laundry to the next level. Both areas are stunning and have improved not only the aesthetic of the space, but also the function of what used to be an inefficient use of space.

Inspiration for a transitional galley dedicated laundry room in Grand Rapids with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey floor and white benchtop.

Design ideas for a large contemporary galley dedicated laundry room in Dallas with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, black floor and white benchtop.