Our clients were living in a Northwood Hills home in Dallas that was built in 1968. Some updates had been done but none really to the main living areas in the front of the house. They love to entertain and do so frequently but the layout of their house wasn’t very functional. There was a galley kitchen, which was mostly shut off to the rest of the home. They were not using the formal living and dining room in front of your house, so they wanted to see how this space could be better utilized. They wanted to create a more open and updated kitchen space that fits their lifestyle. One idea was to turn part of this space into an office, utilizing the bay window with the view out of the front of the house. Storage was also a necessity, as they entertain often and need space for storing those items they use for entertaining. They would also like to incorporate a wet bar somewhere! We demoed the brick and paneling from all of the existing walls and put up drywall. The openings on either side of the fireplace and through the entryway were widened and the kitchen was completely opened up. The fireplace surround is changed to a modern Emser Esplanade Trail tile, versus the chunky rock it was previously. The ceiling was raised and leveled out and the beams were removed throughout the entire area. Beautiful Olympus quartzite countertops were installed throughout the kitchen and butler’s pantry with white Chandler cabinets and Grace 4”x12” Bianco tile backsplash. A large two level island with bar seating for guests was built to create a little separation between the kitchen and dining room. Contrasting black Chandler cabinets were used for the island, as well as for the bar area, all with the same 6” Emtek Alexander pulls. A Blanco low divide metallic gray kitchen sink was placed in the center of the island with a Kohler Bellera kitchen faucet in vibrant stainless. To finish off the look three Iconic Classic Globe Small Pendants in Antiqued Nickel pendant lights were hung above the island. Black Supreme granite countertops with a cool leathered finish were installed in the wet bar, The backsplash is Choice Fawn gloss 4x12” tile, which created a little different look than in the kitchen. A hammered copper Hayden square sink was installed in the bar, giving it that cool bar feel with the black Chandler cabinets. Off the kitchen was a laundry room and powder bath that were also updated. They wanted to have a little fun with these spaces, so the clients chose a geometric black and white Bella Mori 9x9” porcelain tile. Coordinating black and white polka dot wallpaper was installed in the laundry room and a fun floral black and white wallpaper in the powder bath. A dark bronze Metal Mirror with a shelf was installed above the porcelain pedestal sink with simple floating black shelves for storage. Their butlers pantry, the added storage space, and the overall functionality has made entertaining so much easier and keeps unwanted things out of sight, whether the guests are sitting at the island or at the wet bar! The clients absolutely love their new space and the way in which has transformed their lives and really love entertaining even more now!

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional galley dedicated laundry room in Austin with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, a side-by-side washer and dryer, black benchtop and wallpaper.

Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped dedicated laundry room in Bilbao with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, beige benchtop and wallpaper.

New second floor laundry room.
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional galley laundry room in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, solid surface benchtops, blue walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, white floor, white benchtop and wallpaper.

Photo of a large traditional galley utility room in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey floor, grey benchtop and panelled walls.

Inspiration for a large traditional galley utility room in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey floor, grey benchtop and panelled walls.

Photo of a mid-sized transitional galley utility room in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, white walls, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer, black floor, white benchtop and wallpaper.

2階の階段を上がったところに広がる洗濯コーナー。左に見える引き戸が浴室につながる。「この場所で洗濯をして室内干しも最小限の移動で行えます。その後カウンターでたたむことができます。クローゼットも2階にあって、便利です」と奥様は喜びます。
Inspiration for a mid-sized industrial l-shaped utility room in Tokyo Suburbs with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, brown benchtop, wallpaper and wallpaper.

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped laundry cupboard in Other with open cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, grey walls, vinyl floors, beige floor, white benchtop, wallpaper and wallpaper.

Design ideas for a transitional u-shaped laundry room in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, black floor, grey benchtop and wallpaper.

This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic u-shaped dedicated laundry room in Other with an undermount sink, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, multi-coloured walls, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer, black floor, white benchtop and wallpaper.

This little laundry room uses hidden tricks to modernize and maximize limited space. The main wall features bumped out upper cabinets above the washing machine for increased storage and easy access. Next to the cabinets are open shelves that allow space for the air vent on the back wall. This fan was faux painted to match the cabinets - blending in so well you wouldn’t even know it’s there! Between the cabinetry and blue fantasy marble countertop sits a luxuriously tiled backsplash. This beautiful backsplash hides the door to necessary valves, its outline barely visible while allowing easy access. Making the room brighter are light, textured walls, under cabinet, and updated lighting. Though you can’t see it in the photos, one more trick was used: the door was changed to smaller french doors, so when open, they are not in the middle of the room. Door backs are covered in the same wallpaper as the rest of the room - making the doors look like part of the room, and increasing available space.

This is a mid-sized galley style laundry room with custom paint grade cabinets. These cabinets feature a beaded inset construction method with a high gloss sheen on the painted finish. We also included a rolling ladder for easy access to upper level storage areas.

Small transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Detroit with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, multi-coloured walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, black floor, white benchtop and wallpaper.

This is an example of a mid-sized country galley dedicated laundry room in Chicago with shaker cabinets, yellow cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, shiplap splashback, beige walls, ceramic floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, white floor, black benchtop and wallpaper.

This home was a blend of modern and traditional, mixed finishes, classic subway tiles, and ceramic light fixtures. The kitchen was kept bright and airy with high-end appliances for the avid cook and homeschooling mother. As an animal loving family and owner of two furry creatures, we added a little whimsy with cat wallpaper in their laundry room.

This laundry has the same stone flooring as the mudroom connecting the two spaces visually. While the wallpaper and matching fabric also tie into the mudroom area. Raised washer and dryer make use easy breezy. A Kohler sink with pull down faucet from Newport brass make doing laundry a fun task.

Summary of Scope: gut renovation/reconfiguration of kitchen, coffee bar, mudroom, powder room, 2 kids baths, guest bath, master bath and dressing room, kids study and playroom, study/office, laundry room, restoration of windows, adding wallpapers and window treatments Background/description: The house was built in 1908, my clients are only the 3rd owners of the house. The prior owner lived there from 1940s until she died at age of 98! The old home had loads of character and charm but was in pretty bad condition and desperately needed updates. The clients purchased the home a few years ago and did some work before they moved in (roof, HVAC, electrical) but decided to live in the house for a 6 months or so before embarking on the next renovation phase. I had worked with the clients previously on the wife's office space and a few projects in a previous home including the nursery design for their first child so they reached out when they were ready to start thinking about the interior renovations. The goal was to respect and enhance the historic architecture of the home but make the spaces more functional for this couple with two small kids. Clients were open to color and some more bold/unexpected design choices. The design style is updated traditional with some eclectic elements. An early design decision was to incorporate a dark colored french range which would be the focal point of the kitchen and to do dark high gloss lacquered cabinets in the adjacent coffee bar, and we ultimately went with dark green.

The persimmon walls (Stroheim wallpaper by Dana Gibson) coordinate with the blue ceiling - Benjamin Moore’s AF-575 Instinct.
Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped utility room in Grand Rapids with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured walls, a side-by-side washer and dryer, white benchtop, wallpaper, quartz benchtops, window splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.