This 1930's Barrington Hills farmhouse was in need of some TLC when it was purchased by this southern family of five who planned to make it their new home. The renovation taken on by Advance Design Studio's designer Scott Christensen and master carpenter Justin Davis included a custom porch, custom built in cabinetry in the living room and children's bedrooms, 2 children's on-suite baths, a guest powder room, a fabulous new master bath with custom closet and makeup area, a new upstairs laundry room, a workout basement, a mud room, new flooring and custom wainscot stairs with planked walls and ceilings throughout the home. The home's original mechanicals were in dire need of updating, so HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all replaced with newer materials and equipment. A dramatic change to the exterior took place with the addition of a quaint standing seam metal roofed farmhouse porch perfect for sipping lemonade on a lazy hot summer day. In addition to the changes to the home, a guest house on the property underwent a major transformation as well. Newly outfitted with updated gas and electric, a new stacking washer/dryer space was created along with an updated bath complete with a glass enclosed shower, something the bath did not previously have. A beautiful kitchenette with ample cabinetry space, refrigeration and a sink was transformed as well to provide all the comforts of home for guests visiting at the classic cottage retreat. The biggest design challenge was to keep in line with the charm the old home possessed, all the while giving the family all the convenience and efficiency of modern functioning amenities. One of the most interesting uses of material was the porcelain "wood-looking" tile used in all the baths and most of the home's common areas. All the efficiency of porcelain tile, with the nostalgic look and feel of worn and weathered hardwood floors. The home’s casual entry has an 8" rustic antique barn wood look porcelain tile in a rich brown to create a warm and welcoming first impression. Painted distressed cabinetry in muted shades of gray/green was used in the powder room to bring out the rustic feel of the space which was accentuated with wood planked walls and ceilings. Fresh white painted shaker cabinetry was used throughout the rest of the rooms, accentuated by bright chrome fixtures and muted pastel tones to create a calm and relaxing feeling throughout the home. Custom cabinetry was designed and built by Advance Design specifically for a large 70” TV in the living room, for each of the children’s bedroom’s built in storage, custom closets, and book shelves, and for a mudroom fit with custom niches for each family member by name. The ample master bath was fitted with double vanity areas in white. A generous shower with a bench features classic white subway tiles and light blue/green glass accents, as well as a large free standing soaking tub nestled under a window with double sconces to dim while relaxing in a luxurious bath. A custom classic white bookcase for plush towels greets you as you enter the sanctuary bath.

Large transitional l-shaped utility room in New York with white cabinets, marble benchtops, a stacked washer and dryer, raised-panel cabinets, white walls, marble floors and grey floor.

Removing a closet to enlarge the space and moving the Washer and Dryer (now Stackables) helped to provide more useable space. Ivory glazed melamine. Donna Siben/ Designer for Closet Organizing Systems

Connie Anderson Photography, Purser Architectural
Design ideas for a traditional l-shaped dedicated laundry room in Houston with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, brown walls and a side-by-side washer and dryer.

Laundry room
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Atlanta with an utility sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey walls, ceramic floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer and beige floor.

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Other with an utility sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, yellow walls, laminate floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer and brown floor.

Love this stylish AND practical laundry closed on the second floor - close to the bedrooms for easy access but hidden behind the double doors.
This is an example of a small contemporary single-wall laundry cupboard in Toronto with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer and grey floor.

Photo by: The Closet Butler
Design ideas for a small traditional u-shaped dedicated laundry room in Salt Lake City with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls and a side-by-side washer and dryer.

Designer: Sherri DuPont Photographer: Lori Hamilton
Mid-sized tropical galley utility room in Miami with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, brown floor and white benchtop.

  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

Photos by Gwendolyn Lanstrum
Design ideas for a large galley dedicated laundry room in Cleveland with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, beige walls, ceramic floors and a side-by-side washer and dryer.

transFORM’s custom laundry room includes a sufficient amount of storage space so the room doesn’t feel cramped or cluttered. Designed in a white melamine, this unit features a combination of raised panel cabinetry and crown molding to hide supplies. Included within the design is a tall and slim utility cabinet equipped with a generous amount of shelving to store your everyday household items. This efficient layout places everything you need within reach. The area also includes a chrome valet rod for hanging or drip drying and a wide 1½ inch mica counter top, perfect for folding or ironing. Water-resistant mica counter tops offer high impact resistance, superior durability, and easy-to-clean convenience. Chrome pull-out baskets are designed to hold frequently used items like laundry detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets. Baskets also come in handy when separating your light from dark and clean from dirty clothes. With plenty of elbowroom and workspace, you feel relaxed and energized as you get to work.

Photo of a traditional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Omaha with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, tile benchtops, multi-coloured walls, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey floor and red benchtop.

This was a tight laundry room with custom cabinets.
Photo of a small traditional galley dedicated laundry room in DC Metro with white cabinets, glass benchtops, beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a stacked washer and dryer and raised-panel cabinets.

James Maidhof
Design ideas for a large traditional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Kansas City with a drop-in sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey walls, porcelain floors and a side-by-side washer and dryer.

Design ideas for a small traditional laundry room in DC Metro with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white walls, a stacked washer and dryer, travertine floors, beige benchtop and a farmhouse sink.

The laundry room is the hub of this renovation, with traffic converging from the kitchen, family room, exterior door, the two bedroom guest suite, and guest bath. We allowed a spacious area to accommodate this, plus laundry tasks, a pantry, and future wheelchair maneuverability. The client keeps her large collection of vintage china, crystal, and serving pieces for entertaining in the convenient white IKEA cabinetry drawers. We tucked the stacked washer and dryer into an alcove so it is not viewed from the family room or kitchen. The leather finish granite countertop looks like marble and provides folding and display space. The Versailles pattern travertine floor was matched to the existing from the adjacent kitchen.

Inspiration for a large transitional galley utility room in Raleigh with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, grey walls, slate floors and a side-by-side washer and dryer.

Design ideas for a large galley dedicated laundry room in Phoenix with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, white walls, marble floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, white floor, white benchtop and decorative wall panelling.