Our little laundry room lacked some key necessities for our family of five, and it was dated and cramped. So we decided to give it a major refresh ... see below for all the details!
Image: Clouz Houz / Photography: Zee Wendell
When we set out to revamp our laundry room, there were some key things to consider. For example:
#1: How to make the 5′ x 10′ space feel a little more spacious and bring it into this century (!)
#2: How to incorporate a utility sink for a place to treat stains, soak clothes, fill vases and such
#3: How to keep some storage space but without upper cabinetry
#4: How to install a hanging rod for delicates and create a place to fold piles and piles of laundry
#5: Create a classic and unique look for such a utilitarian space (in other words, how do you create a space to do laundry and feel inspired??)
Image: Clouz Houz / Photography: Zee WendellImage: Clouz Houz / Photography: Zee Wendell
How we achieved all our goals:
STACKABLE WASHER AND DRYER
We’ve never had a stackable washer and dryer unit, but we have to say- – for a small laundry room — we are huge proponents! By going “up” we were able to save some of the footprint of the room so we could add a sink and more counter space for folding.
UTILITY SINK
We knew we needed a sink for various tasks like treating stains, washing delicates, filling vases, etc. The room didn’t currently have a sink, but we were able to easily add a water line off the plumbing — it was already there for the washing machine. We are so happy to have this 18″ under mount sink, even though it’s small. It was a great solution to achieve our goal.
STORAGE
This room is so so small, and yet, we needed a way to store things like cleaning supplies, rags, vases, iron/steamer etc. Upper cabinets “dwarfed” the space even more, so we decided to eliminate all those cabinets except the ones over the new sink. This allowed some closed storage without feeling too heavy. Then Derrick built some open shelving under the new butcher block countertop. I found the cutest café curtains to close off the open shelving, which provides some softness to the room and adds a little texture.
HANGING SPACE FOR DRYING DELICATES
Sometimes it’s better to dry clothes naturally, so I knew we needed a way to hang them. However, the space was so narrow that the extendable hanging rods I found online were going to extend too far into the room. Thank goodness, I found the most perfect un-lacquered brass rod and brackets from which to hang our clothes! I love its size (it’s fully customizable in length), and the brass is a beautiful accent against the dark paint color.
CREATE A CLASSIC… AND SOMEWHAT VINTAGE VIBE
I knew this space lacked character (I mean, how many laundry rooms really have character?), but doing laundry is one of my least favorite chores, so I knew it needed to be pretty and inviting. Maybe if the space felt more charming, I would feel more inspired to get all our laundry done? Ha ha … So, we added new tile flooring, bead board on all the walls, butcher block countertops, and vintage inspired light fixtures to give the room some soul and character. See our mood room below for all the inspo.
CLOUZ HOUZ TIP: Add a moody, rich color to a small space that has no natural light! Embrace the darkness, and just add more artificial lighting. It really makes the space feel cozy and inviting.
See all the links below to shop this look. If your laundry room doesn’t necessarily spark inspiring and happy feelings, we hope this will inspire you to create one. Of course, we’re always happy to help!
Comment ‘CABIN’ for the full Vermont River Cabin design.
If you are at all like me you start pinning all the cozy cabin interiors every winter! Seriously, each year, I dream of a log cabin full of character and coziness.
There’s a reason Ralph Lauren’s rustic style is so sought after. It’s not just about the items. It is the stories layered together. Worn wood next to clean linen, a quiet lamp beside a stack of books, a piece that looks like it belonged to someone before you. That feeling of home is what we were chasing here.
Today on the blog, we will be diving into the details of how to bring this to life.❤️❤️
Hard to believe we drove to Tennessee just about a month ago. Then slipped back to Oregon for installs while Derrick stayed and wrestled with dust and demo. It feels strange to sort of be in two places at once. Suitcase half-unpacked and notes on grout colors scribbled on receipts, trying to share our home journey from across the country...
People keep saying we’re living the dream and I hear that. It’s the dream we talked about for years. I don’t know if it’s “working” yet, but it feels like forward motion and I’m proud of us for jumping.
We’ve been out exploring whenever we can. New coffee shops, vintage stores, back roads, meeting people (The invisible string is real here. We keep meeting people with Oregon stories, and it’s giving me peace of mind) trying to find our spots. It’s messy and busy and there’s so much housework that “slowing down” isn’t really on the menu, but starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. All this to say, starting over is scary. Putting yourself out there in a new place and building a business within a new market comes with a lot of unknowns. But I wanted a life that felt more authentic to us and I can feel us inching toward it, one project at a time. It’s not perfect yet. But I’ll take it!
We’ve been deep in the demo phase at the Sixth Street Bungalow, and it’s been both messy and motivating. This upstairs bathroom has kept us on our toes. We’ve re-routed plumbing, reworked the layout, and looked for every possible way to make the most of this space.
Design-wise, it’s a balance of old and new. Classic materials, warm finishes, and soft neutrals that bring a sense of history back into a house that’s been through so many hands. It’s the part of the process that doesn’t always look pretty, but it’s where the good stuff starts to take shape.
This first part of the renovation is coming together, slowly but surely. I can already picture the light hitting that tile in the morning.