Photo of a small contemporary l-shaped utility room in Sydney with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, beige walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, white floor and grey benchtop.

  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

Inspiration for a small traditional galley dedicated laundry room in Seattle with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white walls, porcelain floors, a stacked washer and dryer, white floor and white benchtop.

This little laundry room uses hidden tricks to modernize and maximize limited space. 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.

Added small mud room space in Laundry Room. Modern wallcovering Graham and Brown. Porcelain Tile Floors Fabrique from Daltile. Dash and Albert rug, Custom shelving with hooks. Baldwin Door handles. Cabinet custom white paint to match previous trim.

Small country single-wall dedicated laundry room in Atlanta with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, beige walls, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer, white floor and brown benchtop.

Design ideas for a small modern l-shaped dedicated laundry room in Hampshire with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, turquoise cabinets, wood benchtops, white walls, vinyl floors, a stacked washer and dryer, white floor and brown benchtop.

Tiled the floor of a laundry room with contemporary tile, and Schluter DITRA, and installed a drain
Design ideas for a small contemporary galley dedicated laundry room in DC Metro with white walls, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer and white floor.

This laundry room accommodates laundry, art projects, pets and more. We decided to stack the washer and dry to maximize the space as much as possible. We wrapped the counter around the back of the room to give the owners a folding table and included as many cabinets as possible to maximize storage. Our favorite part was the very fun chevron wallpaper.

Studio Z Design Bathroom Renovation Nick Moshenko Photography
Design ideas for a small transitional single-wall utility room in Toronto with beige walls, white cabinets, shaker cabinets, quartz benchtops, marble floors, a stacked washer and dryer, white floor and beige benchtop.

Projet de Tiny House sur les toits de Paris, avec 17m² pour 4 !
Inspiration for a small asian single-wall utility room in Paris with a single-bowl sink, open cabinets, light wood cabinets, wood benchtops, timber splashback, concrete floors, an integrated washer and dryer, white floor, wood and wood walls.

Photo of a small traditional laundry room in St Louis with an undermount sink, white cabinets, grey walls, marble floors and white floor.

Photo of a small transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Detroit with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, grey walls, marble floors, a stacked washer and dryer, white floor and grey benchtop.

An elegant way to hide your laundry. While this European laundry takes up less floor space you're not giving away storage, function or style. Tim Turner Photography

This is an example of a small modern laundry cupboard in DC Metro with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white walls, linoleum floors, a stacked washer and dryer and white floor.

Photo of a small contemporary single-wall laundry cupboard in Sydney with a drop-in sink, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, white walls, porcelain floors, a stacked washer and dryer, white floor and white benchtop.

This little laundry room uses hidden tricks to modernize and maximize limited space. Opposite the washing machine and dryer, custom cabinetry was added on both sides of an ironing board cupboard. Another thoughtful addition is a space for a hook to help lift clothes to the hanging rack.

Philip Lauterbach
Inspiration for a small scandinavian single-wall laundry cupboard in Dublin with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, vinyl floors, an integrated washer and dryer and white floor.

Design ideas for a small transitional single-wall laundry cupboard in Moscow with open cabinets, white walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer and white floor.