Reader Laundry Room: A Spa-Inspired Space for $18,000 in Virginia
A newly single mom puts laundry where she can easily reach it — next to her bedroom
This series profiles laundry room renovations shared by homeowners on Houzz.
The price tag for laundry room renovations runs the gamut, from a few hundred dollars for paint and new shelving to thousands of dollars when changing out plumbing and purchasing new machines. To get a snapshot of what Houzz readers are doing to improve their laundry rooms and how much these changes cost, we asked people to share their stories. Today we visit a 95-square-foot laundry room remodel in Virginia for $18,000.
The price tag for laundry room renovations runs the gamut, from a few hundred dollars for paint and new shelving to thousands of dollars when changing out plumbing and purchasing new machines. To get a snapshot of what Houzz readers are doing to improve their laundry rooms and how much these changes cost, we asked people to share their stories. Today we visit a 95-square-foot laundry room remodel in Virginia for $18,000.
BEFORE: After selling a home following a divorce, Mariam Ward bought a small fixer-upper 13 houses up the same street. “I’d lived on the street for seven years, and my neighbors are beyond fantastic, so it was amazing to get to stay here, especially given how hard affordable housing is to find,” Ward says. She turned the unfinished basement into a playspace for her kids and decided to maximize that area by moving the laundry space from the basement to a second-floor space just off her second-floor bedroom.
The new laundry room would also be a walkway to Ward’s new bedroom, so she wanted it to feel bright and spa-like. Here is her sketch of the layout for her machines, with a sink at left and shelves for individual clothes baskets on the right. Topping it all, she wanted to have a long worktable.
BEFORE: Ward hired a contractor, who took the existing walls down to the studs. In this before photo, the space to the right of the top of the stairs is open.
BEFORE: This view shows more of the area to the right of the stairs. Ward and her contractor decided there was a better use for it.
AFTER: Ward’s contractor added a wall at the top of the stairs to make room for a closet in the adjacent master bedroom. At left stand the new washer and dryer that Ward purchased.
Ward looked through many spa bathroom pictures on Houzz to get inspiration for the color scheme. “The window lets in plenty of light, and when the sun hits the crystal ceiling light fixture just right, it reflects the crystals all over the walls, and I feel that type of relaxation borne of being near water,” Ward says.
To the left of the window a drying rack hangs; at right are hooks for drying clothes. Ward also keeps collapsible drying racks tucked away out of sight for when she needs more drying space.
Paint: Summer Shower, Benjamin Moore; crystal ceiling light: Lamps Plus; accordion drying rack: Better Homes and Gardens
Ward looked through many spa bathroom pictures on Houzz to get inspiration for the color scheme. “The window lets in plenty of light, and when the sun hits the crystal ceiling light fixture just right, it reflects the crystals all over the walls, and I feel that type of relaxation borne of being near water,” Ward says.
To the left of the window a drying rack hangs; at right are hooks for drying clothes. Ward also keeps collapsible drying racks tucked away out of sight for when she needs more drying space.
Paint: Summer Shower, Benjamin Moore; crystal ceiling light: Lamps Plus; accordion drying rack: Better Homes and Gardens
Ward’s contractor shortened the new master closet a bit in order to make room for a laundry room storage closet on the back side. This photo shows the access path to that closet.
And here is a closer shot of the laundry room storage closet. During construction, Ward and the contractor realized that there would not be space for doors here. “As someone very organized that likes things put away out of sight, this wasn’t ideal,” Ward says. “[B]ut in response, I splurged on Container Store shelving to make sure it was seamless and attractive.”
The back wall (where the small access door is) was pushed back 1 foot during the renovation to gain space.
Floor tile: Montagna Beachwood porcelain tile, Marazzi; laundry closet storage baskets: Sterilite, via Amazon; sconces: Lamps Plus
The back wall (where the small access door is) was pushed back 1 foot during the renovation to gain space.
Floor tile: Montagna Beachwood porcelain tile, Marazzi; laundry closet storage baskets: Sterilite, via Amazon; sconces: Lamps Plus
The contractor also pushed the wall behind the washer and dryer back 1 foot. Both walls were moved back to the full length of the house. He added the plumbing needed for the sink and washing machine, extending it from a bathroom. Ward had her contractor add soundproofing to her bedroom wall so that laundry noises don’t disturb her quiet bedroom sanctuary.
A long countertop serves as a worktable and ready place to fold clothes, but it can be removed to access the washer, dryer and water lines and valves for repairs. Ward’s contractor made the countertop from plywood with painted edges and a thin sheet of laminate on top to look like marble. To the left of the machines the sink-cabinet combo provides storage for a bucket, detergents and other laundry products.
Sink and cabinet: Ace Hardware; worktable laminate: Wilsonart; washer: LG, from Goedeker’s; dryer: LG, from Goedeker’s
Sink and cabinet: Ace Hardware; worktable laminate: Wilsonart; washer: LG, from Goedeker’s; dryer: LG, from Goedeker’s
To the right of the machines are shelves made from a former craft tabletop, which Ward didn’t have space for in her new home.
Laundry baskets: Target
Laundry baskets: Target
Style muse: Ward needed to efficiently use her space to include the washing machine and dryer and a large worktable, and she found inspiration in this Salt Lake City laundry room remodel on Houzz. She borrowed from this project the idea of having one basket for each family member.
Though Ward is very happy with the end result, a few things went wrong along the way — including a slowdown in getting permits.
Though Ward is very happy with the end result, a few things went wrong along the way — including a slowdown in getting permits.
“Uh-oh” moment: Once the work got underway, the contractor discovered a major structural issue: the rafters that ran from the ridge of the house to just past the short walls had been notched, meaning that if Ward moved the short wall back as planned, the roof would lack proper support — and could potentially collapse under the weight of a snowstorm. The city required Ward to hire an engineer to come up with a solution. In the end, Ward needed to double up the rafters, strapping the new ones to the old ones. The structural changes cost nearly $10,000 (for the full-floor renovation work, not just the portion affecting the laundry room).
Lessons learned: Ward’s total home renovation took about nine months. Next time, “I would fill up from a deeper well of patience,” she says. She advises Houzzers facing long renovations to be sure to do adequate self-care.
Walls moved: Yes
Plumbing moved: Yes, new plumbing installed
Plumbing replaced: No
Professionals hired: A general contractor
Special features: Removable worktable, wall-mounted accordion drying rack and wall hooks, soundproofing for bedroom wall
Savings: Recycled craft table to make shelves, purchased the washer and dryer on a holiday sale, reused decorative items purchased to stage the former home
Cost breakdown
Design fees: $350 for translating homeowner’s design into official plans to submit to the city
Permitting costs: $302
Sink/faucet/cabinetry: $244 for cabinet/sink/faucet combo
Countertop: $125
Tile: $365 for flooring
Lighting: $202
Accessories and decor: $433
Plumbing: $900
Washer and dryer: $1,338
Labor: $14,073 for project labor, structural repairs, HVAC installation
Total: $18,332
Up next: $800 for a Fresh Look in Georgia
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Houzz guides to laundry room remodeling
Lessons learned: Ward’s total home renovation took about nine months. Next time, “I would fill up from a deeper well of patience,” she says. She advises Houzzers facing long renovations to be sure to do adequate self-care.
Walls moved: Yes
Plumbing moved: Yes, new plumbing installed
Plumbing replaced: No
Professionals hired: A general contractor
Special features: Removable worktable, wall-mounted accordion drying rack and wall hooks, soundproofing for bedroom wall
Savings: Recycled craft table to make shelves, purchased the washer and dryer on a holiday sale, reused decorative items purchased to stage the former home
Cost breakdown
Design fees: $350 for translating homeowner’s design into official plans to submit to the city
Permitting costs: $302
Sink/faucet/cabinetry: $244 for cabinet/sink/faucet combo
Countertop: $125
Tile: $365 for flooring
Lighting: $202
Accessories and decor: $433
Plumbing: $900
Washer and dryer: $1,338
Labor: $14,073 for project labor, structural repairs, HVAC installation
Total: $18,332
Up next: $800 for a Fresh Look in Georgia
More
Trending Now: 15 Laundry Rooms Packed With Storage Ideas
Houzz guides to laundry room remodeling
Who lives here: Mariam Ward and children Sofia, 8, and Nico, 6
Location: Falls Church, Virginia
Size: 95 square feet (8.8 square meters)
Total cost: $18,332
Construction time: Four months