Thanks, everyone! This is SO helpful! So, for using the baskets" ours is more of a "laundry traffic management" system. We each have our own (they are actually Bungalow Scout Junque Trunques - pretty huge!) - so Mom, Dad, Daughter #1 and Daughter #2 each have their own spot for laundry. We don't actively keep dirties there or sort with them, everyone keeps their dirty laundry in a hamper in their room and then it comes down to get done. Then when dry, it goes in their own basket, they take their basket to put the laundry away and the basket comes back to the laundry room home base. That's why the kind that sits in a pull-out drawer, or even the rolling wouldn't be as ideal (we have a three-story house so the laundry is traveling all over. rococogurl, can you send me a link or take pic of those baskets though? I'd love to see what those look like - and it certainly saves me on base cabinets since I don't have those?!) That SAID, I am now thinking that since Ikea has those handy cabinets with pull outs that are pretty reasonable, maybe I'll build in two of those for towels and sheets? A big hamper for those would be fabulous and they never fit in our "personal" baskets. Knowing that, what do you think in terms of where the baskets live? That's sort of why I'm focused on the folding, packing in basket, and returning, process. In terms of using a sink, we've had laundry upstairs for 12 years and the ONLY time I've soaked something is when my husband washed whites with a red sock and i was trying to white vinegar out the pink. So, wouldn't say we are big "hand washing people." It's more to have the option - and to have a place to wash your hands which I do want b/c of sticky soap, lint, etc. So, in light of that, thoughts on the sink? The think about our corner is that unless I put a giant lazy susan, it is a dead corner because of the window, so it's sort of why I considered that option? The idea of it by the big utility cabinet is interesting too through (again, rococogurl - thx) - it leaves me the MOST countertop space in one swoop. And, the big utility cabinet is actually for the mop, swiffer, vacuum, etc so there could be some value to it being there? rococogurl, any chance you could take some photos of your laundry room (I won't judge - it's about function!) The washer and dryer are going to be on a platform and then on a pedastal - I just couldn't do that in the IKEA rendering. I'm 5' 11" and my hubby is 6' 2 and our daughters are already tall, so the higher the better! I'm ok not having counter there as a sacrifice for not breaking my back. The only thing that occurred to me after is that I could have run a counter along the wall to the LEFT of the washer - that would have been handy, even if it was just width of a basket b/c I could have set something there and it's sort of dead space now. Hmmmm... I think the plumbing is already in though for the washer, does it need to be right behind it? mydreamhome, if I go corner, what brand is that? it does look like a nice size? Last question to toss out there, I've been struggling wth what countertop material. My contractor has a slab of soapstone that is pretty and could be used for a really good good price. I know soapstone is soft but I guess what I"m thinking of is making it a very CLASSIC laundry room - white subway, simplicity? My house is a 1917 Colonial, so while having a laundry room on the 2nd floor like this is out of period, soapstone is not?! Even if it gets marked up and "loved" over the years? Thoughts? THANK YOU to all of you - I have no one here to help me. No designer and my contractor just executes. My husband has a mantra: "I care deeply but have no preference." So, I really appreciate your thoughts! Alexa

I think the wall color looks wonderful with your beautiful furniture. I suspect the darkness at night is a combination of the new paint color and the undressed window (the black hole effect that you mentioned). I would definitely look at replacing the light fixture with a chandelier and then consider adding extra lighting. Would you be willing to install wall sconces? How about finding a floor lamp for one of the corners? I think if you add in another layer of light that you will feel better about the room at night. Of course, once you add the window treatments and get some art on the walls and some accessories in the room it will make a world of difference. I think you are off to a lovely start and wouldn't rush to repaint just yet.

The $700 or so to replace your gas line from the street is chump change compared to the 3K you will need to spend to upgrade your electrical service from the pole to your house and replace your current panel. All of that will need to be done before taking your home to all electric. Then your utility bills will go up. Electric costs more for the same amount of heat than gas does unless you are somewhere that hydroelectric is the primary means of generation. Now, if you were to install a heat pump system for your heating and cooling, you would see a reduction in energy costs for heating and cooling your home, but you would still need the new electrical service in order to be able to do that, plus the costs of installing the ducting and heat pump system which would be 15-20K on a small house. You would never achieve payback for the expense for the amount of time that you live in the house. If you want to save costs on the gas line replacement, dig the trench from the street to your home yourself. If piping in the interior of the home needs to be replaced, you can do the distribution system piping as well. Black iron is only moderately difficult to work with for someone who can do a bit of math. Then you can call a plumber out to do the connections at the street and at the regulator outside of your home. That is assuming that your insurance company and municipality do not have an issue with DIY work on gas systems.

Thank you for all the thoughts and opinions. I don't know if this additional info/pic will help clarify anything for anyone, but here goes anyway. This picture gives you a better idea of the true colors in the current rug. It's not quite that bright IRL, but I am never able to capture IRL photos with my camera. For example, the table you see just a bit of in the pic is much more red, not orange at all. And here is a link to the same CL rug from the Macy's site. If you look at it there, you can scroll over it to take a closer look. I will also add that I have considered going in a completely different direction, as bestyears suggested. I have even thought about simply having a piece of broadloom bound and getting exactly the dimensions I need in that room. I still do have a concern about the larger size of the CL rug compared to the current rug. No one has commented on whether or not they feel the CL rug at 8'8" X 12' would be too large. I think the direction I'm going with this whole make-over, is to find a rug that works with the sofa because that is DEFINITELY staying. Then, after I have a rug, I'll figure out the chairs. Does that seem like a logical way to approach the "make-over"? Here is a link that might be useful: Karastan rug at Macy's