A Lakeside Laundry Room Packed With Storage and Function
A designer works a sink, a folding space, an ironing board, drying racks and ample storage into a New York laundry room
Sink: The clients wanted a deep sink that could accommodate a mop bucket. They also installed a faucet with a swivel spout and a swing-arm spray hose, making it easy to get the mop bucket in and out.
Faucet: Quince collection, American Standard; sink: Park Falls, Kohler
Browse utility sinks
Faucet: Quince collection, American Standard; sink: Park Falls, Kohler
Browse utility sinks
Ironing board: The client wanted an ironing board but didn’t want it to always be in the way. The solution was a small, white cabinet next to the window that houses a pull-down ironing board. When they are done using it, they just push it up and it’s out of sight.
Drying racks: The drying racks next to the ironing board function similarly. The racks pull out from the wall and push back into place when the clients are done with them.
Lighting: To supplement the room’s limited natural lighting, they added recessed lights in the ceilings and two lights on each side of the window for layered lighting.
Storage: The remodel gave Carter’s clients lots of storage options, from cabinets to shelves and under-counter bins.
Ironing board: white, Handi-Press; drying racks: Leifheit Telegant wall-mount drying rack, Household Essentials; lights: Boston functional single-arm library light, Circa Lighting
Drying racks: The drying racks next to the ironing board function similarly. The racks pull out from the wall and push back into place when the clients are done with them.
Lighting: To supplement the room’s limited natural lighting, they added recessed lights in the ceilings and two lights on each side of the window for layered lighting.
Storage: The remodel gave Carter’s clients lots of storage options, from cabinets to shelves and under-counter bins.
Ironing board: white, Handi-Press; drying racks: Leifheit Telegant wall-mount drying rack, Household Essentials; lights: Boston functional single-arm library light, Circa Lighting
Wicker bins: Carter used wicker to decorate the room and provide storage. Storage baskets help make the room feel more open than closed cabinets alone.
“Without having a place for certain things, like laundry, it finds its way onto the floor,” Carter says. “I wanted to create spaces for things I knew would be in the room.” The two baskets with handles are also easy to move and durable.
Flooring: The porcelain tile flooring installed in a herringbone pattern gives the room an elevated look and makes the space easy to clean, Carter says.
Pro tip: Elevate a budget-friendly tile option by installing it in a less-traditional design.
Floors: porcelain tiles; pulls: West Slope drawer pull, Rejuvenation; baskets: Beachcomber round-handled baskets, Pottery Barn
Browse wicker laundry baskets
“Without having a place for certain things, like laundry, it finds its way onto the floor,” Carter says. “I wanted to create spaces for things I knew would be in the room.” The two baskets with handles are also easy to move and durable.
Flooring: The porcelain tile flooring installed in a herringbone pattern gives the room an elevated look and makes the space easy to clean, Carter says.
Pro tip: Elevate a budget-friendly tile option by installing it in a less-traditional design.
Floors: porcelain tiles; pulls: West Slope drawer pull, Rejuvenation; baskets: Beachcomber round-handled baskets, Pottery Barn
Browse wicker laundry baskets
Shelves: To the left of the sink, two shelves hold a wicker basket full of laundry supplies, such as soap, and a couple of sets of towels. “We added open shelving because excessive cabinets can make a room feel closed off.”
Additionally, by including these shelves instead of customizing cabinets into this corner, they were able to keep costs lower.
Laundry room advice: If you’re looking to redesign your laundry room, Carter suggests mentally placing yourself in the room and asking how you want to use the space. Then ask yourself, “What do I wish I had in my laundry room?” That will get you thinking about what to add and where to add it. “If I put a sink here, how will I be using it?” Carter says. “Beautiful is great, but if it doesn’t work for you, it is hard to be satisfied.”
Contractor: Matt Katz of L&O Building and Remodeling in Cooperstown, New York
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Additionally, by including these shelves instead of customizing cabinets into this corner, they were able to keep costs lower.
Laundry room advice: If you’re looking to redesign your laundry room, Carter suggests mentally placing yourself in the room and asking how you want to use the space. Then ask yourself, “What do I wish I had in my laundry room?” That will get you thinking about what to add and where to add it. “If I put a sink here, how will I be using it?” Carter says. “Beautiful is great, but if it doesn’t work for you, it is hard to be satisfied.”
Contractor: Matt Katz of L&O Building and Remodeling in Cooperstown, New York
More
Trending Now: The Top 10 New Laundry Rooms on Houzz
Key Measurements for a Dream Laundry Room
Find laundry room products
Laundry Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with grown children and grandchildren
Location: Lake Otsego in Cooperstown, New York
Size: 150 square feet (13.9 square meters)
Designer: Jennifer Carter of Studio Envie
The backstory: The client’s lakeside home serves as a retreat for designer Jennifer Carter’s clients, their grown children and their grandchildren. The family frequently gathers at this second home in the summer and during the holiday season.
The clients wanted a laundry room that could accommodate a large influx of people and their needs, and store off-season items at the same time.
Scope: Carter, the contractor and the clients used the existing appliances and incorporated standard-size cabinets instead of custom cabinets. The other elements were then added around those features. The project took two months.
Colors: Carter used white and blue on the walls and complemented those colors with gray cabinets and flooring, and a dark wood countertop and shelves. The rest of the home has wood flooring, so Carter decided the laundry room was a good space to switch it up with the gray-toned herringbone floor.
Walls: The white shiplap walls add texture and lighten the space, as it doesn’t get a ton of natural light. Carter also wanted to use the shiplap because the family already had it, saving money.
Pro tip: If you’re going to add wood to a wall that sits behind a sink, add an additional layer of paint. This white shiplap got an extra coat of satin-finish paint, which will help it be more water-resistant. While tile is a more common backsplash option, Carter knew paint would work here because the space isn’t used every day.
Blue wall paint: Beach Glass, Benjamin Moore; white wall paint: Simply White, Benjamin Moore; countertops: stained maple; washer and dryer: Duet Steam front-load washer, Whirlpool; shades: aloe, flat Roman shades