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!
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what really makes me happy. Designing homes is, of course, at the top of that list. But, so are some old hobbies I’m slowly finding my way back to. I’ve realized I actually need to be busy to feel my best. I’m almost always working on a few projects at once... it’s just how I’m wired, and honestly, it’s what makes my heart sing.
This week’s idea? Painting our dining table that I scored on Facebook Marketplace Naturally, I’ve already gone down a full Pinterest rabbit hole exploring all the different directions it could go. Fun fact: I used to paint a lot in my teens. In high school, I started hand-painting basic white Hanes t-shirts and selling them to local boutiques.
They kind of took off (was “going viral” even a thing back then?), and I ended up bringing on a friend to help. My first “employee.”
Looking back, I guess that was also my first real experience with entrepreneurship. I didn’t carry it into college, but it filled me up at the time and paid for gas, which felt just as important. Anyway... wish me luck. I’ll be sharing some behind-the-scenes as I go over on Between the Layers.
Comment ‘Substack’ and I’ll send you the link to subscribe so you don’t miss the updates. I have a feeling this one might get interesting.
Our style has always leaned timeless and traditional, but never too polished. There’s always a bit of ease to it. Maybe that comes from our roots in Oregon, or maybe from where we are now in Tennessee, but we’re drawn to spaces that feel warm, deeply personal, and quietly layered. A hint of western influence, but not in a way that defines everything. Just enough to give it an organic and rustic edge.
If that feels like you, we’d love to help bring it to life (link in bio to inquire)!
I treat blue paint like a “wardrobe staple.” Clients are always surprised when I say I think of it like a neutral. Seriously- in my opinion, it’s like your favorite pair of jeans... They go with EVERYTHING, so can blue paint. And just like denim- the shades are endless and create a totally different vibe.
Light blues are airy and create calmness like a slow summer day, while dark blues feel moody and romantic like a dinner out. Pair any blues with other neutrals and it instantly gives the room personality.
I pulled together a roundup of my favorite blue paint colors. Some I’ve used for years, and a few I keep coming back to for upcoming projects.
I’m always drawn to blues with a bit of gray or green in them. They easily pair with other colors. They layer beautifully with neutrals and don’t overpower a space.
Save this for the next time you’re pulling paint samples. This is one worth getting right🤍
I’m going to be honest... when I first started in this business even I was intimidated.
I would walk into showrooms and wonder how their pricing worked and if you really must know there was a lot of ambiguity around how designers worked.
I have never wanted our clients to feel that way. We keep our process really streamlined, transparent and unintimidating. It starts with a quick questionnaire: budget, goals, how you live, etc. From there, we hop on a 15-minute discovery call to make sure we’re aligned. We want to be sure both parties are a good fit for each other!
Once everyone is agreed this feels “right” we dive into your first full conceptual design and walk you through layouts, materials, and selections in a way that we think brings the space to life.
You’ll have time for edits, and then from there we finalize everything so you can move forward with confidence. We follow through with executing the vision.
Our goal is always to make the process feel approachable and comprehensive. If you’ve been thinking about working with a designer but didn’t know what to expect... this is your sign.
Link in bio or head to our ‘work with us’ page to get started!
Enjoy a minute and a half walkthrough of the main level of our 6th Street Bungalow project. I’ve been having so much fun finally starting to style some of these finished spaces and wanted to share a little update.
This is also your reminder that life actually happens in our homes. Notice the hallway that still hasn’t been wallpapered, the moving boxes stacked in the corner of the dining room, or the empty shelves in the hutch that have quickly become our family’s catchall. Don’t get me wrong, I love a clean and tidy home, but as things usually get put back by the end of the day, a new mess unfolds the next morning. That’s just the reality of living through a renovation. But the mess is also a good sign. It means things are changing, construction is moving, and we’re getting closer to a home that finally feels like ours without people constantly in and out working.
While it’s fun to share the final reveals, this is your reminder that Instagram is a highlight reel. Try not to compare your home to someone else’s on its best.
This voiceover is from an interview with Ina Garten, and it stopped me in my tracks.
My parents still tell the story how they’d leave for a dinner out while I babysat my little sister and brother, and by the time they got home, the entire living room would be completely reworked. Not asked for.... but I just had to see if it could feel better. I had recruited my sister and brother to help me move the furniture in an entire new layout!
I didn’t know it then, but that instinct was the beginning of everything.
Fast forward 35 years... I went from being a stay-at-home mom to starting my own business, taking on real clients (not just my parents, who truly didn’t sign up for the redesigns😂 and building something that genuinely fills my cup.
There were so many moments of doubt in between, like starting later, wondering if it was too late, if I’d missed my window. But here’s the thing. It’s never too late to start. To pivot. To build something around what you naturally love.
Sometimes the thing you’re meant to do has been quietly following you your whole life.