Before and After: Remodeled Laundry Room Lightens Up
See how shiplap walls, marble countertops and a new glass door brighten this laundry-mudroom combo in Atlanta
These Atlanta homeowners found the former laundry-and-mudroom combo located off their kitchen to be rather dark and foreboding. The space included dark wood cabinets and mottled brown tile floors, and had a limited amount of natural light. So they brought in the design team at Innovative Construction to create a lighter, brighter space that would provide a charming departure point in the morning and a warm welcome home in the evening.
A sink underneath the stairs leading to the second floor existed in the previous space, but it was an industrial utility sink. The new sink features a custom built-in vanity and is topped with marble.
Find an interior designer near you
Find an interior designer near you
Before: The former laundry space included a walk-in pantry right off the door leading to the kitchen. It “took up nearly half the room and made the space feel pretty cramped,” Bell says.
After: Bell and her team removed the walk-in pantry, freeing up space to relocate the existing washer and dryer. A pair of custom white oak floating shelves above the washer and dryer holds canvas storage totes and other accessories.
To the left of the washer and dryer, the design team added a custom drying rack with four pullout drawers for drying delicates. The wall behind is covered in white shiplap that brightens the space and adds a farmhouse touch.
Shop for storage totes on Houzz
To the left of the washer and dryer, the design team added a custom drying rack with four pullout drawers for drying delicates. The wall behind is covered in white shiplap that brightens the space and adds a farmhouse touch.
Shop for storage totes on Houzz
Before: The previous dark wood cabinets and mottled brown tile floors mentioned earlier are seen here.
After: Bell and her team replaced the dark cabinets with white Shaker-style cabinets that go all the way up to the ceiling. The cabinet knobs are polished nickel. New ceramic floor tiles that mimic the look of encaustic cement replaced the old mottled brown tiles.
Before: A detachable clothesline above the washer and dryer was the best way to dry delicates before the new custom drying rack.
After: Moving the washer and dryer closer to the kitchen door created space to add a custom bench with white oak cubbies underneath. Stainless steel coat racks hang on the wall above the bench.
The family usually comes in and out of the house through a side entrance that leads directly into the laundry-mudroom, so the bench provides the ideal spot for putting on and taking off shoes and storing them underneath. “Creating a space that’s warm and inviting has now made this area a happy spot to start off the day and come home to in the evening,” Bell says.
The family usually comes in and out of the house through a side entrance that leads directly into the laundry-mudroom, so the bench provides the ideal spot for putting on and taking off shoes and storing them underneath. “Creating a space that’s warm and inviting has now made this area a happy spot to start off the day and come home to in the evening,” Bell says.
Before: The home’s side entrance used to feature a solid wood door that opened directly into the laundry room.
After: Bell and her team swapped out the solid wood door for a new one with glass panes. “The new glass door brings so much more natural light into the space,” Bell says. “It’s such a bright, cheerful space now.”
More on Houzz
How to Remodel the Laundry Room
How to Design a Marvelous Mudroom
Look for an interior designer near you
Browse doormats
More on Houzz
How to Remodel the Laundry Room
How to Design a Marvelous Mudroom
Look for an interior designer near you
Browse doormats
Laundry Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A married couple with two young kids
Location: Atlanta
Size: About 65 square feet (6 square meters)
Designer: Molly Trost and Aisling Bell of Innovative Construction
“The homeowners specified many of the materials they wanted at the outset of the project,” Aisling Bell says. “Shiplap-covered walls, Shaker-style cabinets and marble countertops were all must-haves.” Creating a contemporary look with farmhouse touches brought the space in line with the rest of the house, which had been remodeled over the previous few years.