Here's a variation on a checkerboard that your DH might like, although it's shown in a bathroom in this picture it would be jazzy in a laundry room. (This picture was posted to the Baths forum ages back, I can't remember whose it was.) I'm thinking I'll use it in the powder/laundry rooms in the new (old) house, although not in a black/white color scheme - that's off the mudroom and it will show every speck of dirt! IIRC those are white 6x6s and black 2x2s, which should be better suited to a smaller space. If ceramics aren't appropriate (due to deflection issues, for example), the same pattern could be made from cut-down linoleum tiles(Marmoleum, Marmorette) or VCT (like Blackcat's Excelon). Another fun look - sometimes laundry rooms and similar utility spaces of 100 years ago had brick floors. Brick is porous and a pain to keep clean but Daltile has a very cute "glazed paver" that looks just like brick called Union Square that is appropriate for residential floors.

Thanks, justgotabme! I ran it by hubby and while he finally sees the merits of having the powder room close to the garage, he doesn't like that configuration. I'm wondering if we could take part of the pantry away (and half the closet--making it more of a broom storage) and put the powder room door where the current garage door is. The garage door would move to the side between the "mudroom" bench and bathroom door. Is that enough space to put in a more traditionally-styled powder room? While I'm drooling over the master closet space in your renovation, I think I'd still want an "entrance" of some sorts to the master--mostly to keep from coming down the stairs, straight into a wall. If we moved the powder room, I guess half the old one would go to master closet, half to hall closet. The other little coat closet could remain as the central place where the electronics stuff would go, OR, as a tiny nook of shelves in the closet between hanging clothes. You know, I never did think of a service door to the garage that came off the front porch! Thanks for the idea. I'll run it by the person who'd be using it most :-) But, I wonder how attractive that would look. And, if it has a window in it, visitors would see how messy it was....and going by our last garage, that's something to hide! I don't know what measurements are necessary in the laundry room--I just need it wide enough for the washer/dryer on one side, the door in the middle, and a regular-depth counter on the other side. Is there any "extra" room that you see in what the current one is? My copy isn't to a scale that's easily measured. A beginning copy from my builder was easy to read since 1/4" on the plan equaled 2' of floor space, but the one my printer prints out isn't. Thanks for all you've done, but please don't spend too much of your time on this....after all, we supposedly have someone hired (the builder's guy) to do this :-) It's just that he's been a little slow, and he hasn't been helpful with suggestions. And when the laundry room was oriented differently (rotated 90 degrees), it jutted into the breakfast room space significantly but he didn't seem to think it mattered. But, I guess he doesn't know how big a table we have. Hope you had a good Thanksgiving. Ours was okay but different. We've moved even further away from family in this relocation, so we were invited to the home of one of hubby's co-workers, who'd also recently relocated here. They built a house, too, and have only been in a couple of months. It was nice to get a feeling of what it's going to be like (they have a sort-of similar plan and similar decor tastes). Better than sitting in a cramped apartment, eating off TV trays! Anyway, lots to be thankful for--especially internet forums and helpful people. I can't imagine building a house and choosing stuff without being able to research online. Tracey

Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus). They are an introduced lizard that is common on people's houses in some areas of the United States.

I'd kill for that kind of space. I would put shallow locker-like cabs opposite the washer/dryer so they are right there as you step in the door. I would make that cabinet on the opposite end of the L from the sink a tall mop-n-broom pantry with electrical inside to recharge hand vacs, etc. I would put a rod over the w/d, or try to find a few inches of space for one of these Arrow hangers. Perhaps beside the lockers, directly opposite the dryer. You could put a bench under it for changing shoes. Or boot storage, depending where you live. The Arrow hangers hold a huge amount in very little space, quite strong and sleek. Good luck with your project.