Pet features, clever cabinet elements and fun wall treatment ideas elevate these rooms above simple washday routine.
Designer: Jessica Crandall of Remedy Design Firm
General contractor: PureHaven Homes
Location: Midway, Utah
Size: 280 square feet (26 square meters); 9½ by 29½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “Ever hear of his-and-her closets? What about his-and-her garages?” designer Jessica Crandall says. “This is the entrance to ‘his’ garage.”
Special features. Black cabinets (Off-Black by Farrow & Ball). Off-white V-groove wall paneling (White Drifts by Benjamin Moore). “We always like to have the private entrance to the home as special as the guest entrance,” Crandall says. “As this laundry room also doubles as a mudroom, it had to carry a lot of multipurpose functionality. The steel pendants and a brick floor give an industrial nod to lofts and workshops. The cabinetry is dark, but with expansive windows and a light wall treatment it feels spacious. The folding counter along the window also functions as a secondary work-from-home desk space. We broke up a line of tall cabinets with a bench so you can sit to take your shoes on and off as you enter and exit the home. The brick floor is super durable, standing up to any snow, sleet or salt that is brought in from snow boots.”
Designer tip. “In high-use and utility spaces, we love doing a V-groove millwork wall treatment, as it is more durable than a standard drywall,” Crandall says.
Flooring: Royal Thin Brick in Congress, Tremont and Hawthorn, Metropolitan Ceramics; baskets and accessories: Elements by Remedy; original artwork: Barbara Brandeburg; ceiling paint: Swiss Coffee in flat finish, Benjamin Moore
Designer: Sybill Johnson of Blank Canvas Design Group
General contractor: Trinity Custom Homes
Architect: CMSA
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Size: 84 square feet (7.8 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The client imagined a vibrant and joyful laundry room where mundane chores turn into enjoyable tasks, perfectly tailored to their unique storage and functional needs,” designer Sybill Johnson says. “They dared us to blend their cats’ requirements in an imaginative and visually appealing manner, alongside efficient storage solutions for everyday essentials. Embracing the challenge, we embarked on space-planning endeavors, optimizing storage capacities while carefully measuring every detail — even the cats — to ensure the cats’ comfort and convenience within the space. Because why should a space be just functional when it can also be playful and fun to look at?”
Special features. Shaker-style blue cabinets (Little Boy Blu by Sherwin-Williams). Quartz countertops. Marble-and-glass mosaic penny tile backsplash. Polished nickel light fixture, hardware and faucet. White oak engineered wood flooring. “We decided to get whimsical and incorporate a custom-cut kitty cat silhouette into the litter box cabinet, ensuring both style and functionality,” Johnson says. “The interior of this cabinet was lined in stainless steel, making cleanup a breeze in case of any little mishaps.”
Ceiling light: Barlow, Quoizel; cabinetmaker: Sarasota Architectural Woodworking
Designer: Kat Black Interiors
Location: Southlake, Texas
Size: 90 square feet (8.4 square meters); 9 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This home was a new build, so we were able to customize this house exactly as they wanted,” designer Kat Black says. “They wanted this room to function and also feel beautiful and connected to the outdoors so it didn’t feel closed-in.”
Special features. “There is a hidden laundry chute inside the cabinet above the washer and dryer so kids can get dirty laundry directly to the laundry room,” Black says. “Overall, the combination of neutral textured floor tiles, quartz countertops, textured ceramic backsplash tiles and soothing blue paint colors creates a cohesive and visually appealing laundry room that is both functional and stylish.”
Designer tip. “Incorporate color or pattern to add visual interest and personality to the space,” Black says. “You can achieve this with paint or by using wallpaper or adding textured tiles for a backsplash.”
Designer: Barbara Schwenk of Jinx McDonald Interior Designs
Location: Bonita Springs, Florida
Size: 180 square feet (17 square meters); 9 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners wanted a utility room that would be practical, with lots of storage, and also be a comfortable space for their two dogs,” designer Barbara Schwenk says.
Special features. Mosaic tile backsplash in hexagonal pattern. Quartz countertops. Gray cabinets and walls (Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams). Gray porcelain flooring in a herringbone pattern. The appliances are raised and feature drawers underneath. “We were able to accomplish the storage issue with four floor-to-ceiling closed cabinets that include an open end for tall brooms, a steamer and even a rechargeable vacuum with a hidden outlet,” Schwenk says. “The dog crate tucks away nicely in the niche under the countertop. The flooring is a durable gray textured porcelain tile so the dogs don’t slip and slide or damage the flooring.”
Backsplash tile: Hyde Park series, 1-inch hexagon blend in Pattern 4, B&F Ceramics Design Showroom; floor tile: Aventis in Titanium, Florida Tile
Designer: Emily Hewett of A Well Dressed Home
Design-build firm: Swanson Renovations
Location: Keller, Texas
Size: 81 square feet (7.5 square meters); 9 by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. “Storage was their biggest issue,” designer Emily Hewett says. They also wanted to update the basic materials with custom details and features. “The homeowner had an antique, eclectic style,” Hewett says.
Special features. Patterned wallpaper ceiling. Soft gray cabinets. White hexagonal tile backsplash. Patterned floor tile. Brass sconces and geometric grass chandelier. Across from the appliances is additional storage with drying drawers and mesh-front cabinets.
Designer tips. “We are big on drying racks,” Hewett says. “Having them be incorporated into the cabinetry is a great tip to utilize space. Applying wallpaper in unexpected places, not just the walls, will give your laundry room a special feeling.”
Designer: Tami O’Malley Design
Location: St. Charles, Illinois
Size: 66 square feet (6 square meters); 5½ by 12 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This compact room had to fulfill multiple roles,” designer Tami O’Malley says. “Serving as a side entrance and main thoroughfare near the kitchen, it needed to function as a mudroom for storing kids’ school and sports gear, a laundry room and a sleeping spot for two beloved dogs. We aimed for the space to be practical in all these aspects while also offering a welcoming first impression of the home to guests.”
Special features. Serene green-gray Shaker-style inset cabinets (Comfort Gray by Sherwin-Williams). Botanical wallpaper. White oak bench and door. Porcelain tiles in checkerboard pattern.
Designer tip. “We asked the contractor to cut 12-by-24-inch tiles into squares for the checkerboard floor,” O’Malley says. “This added some cost to the installation, but by choosing porcelain over marble we significantly reduced our budget. It was a win-win.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Given the small space that needed to serve multiple functions, we filled it with features, which made it difficult to access mechanicals due to the floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and surrounds,” O’Malley says. “To address this, we created an access panel on the side of the washer-dryer and mudroom area. This was disguised as a Shaker-style panel for aesthetic purposes. It has proven to be useful on more than one occasion.”