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Imagine, Design, Transform Part two in the Imagine, Design, Transform series is Design. For me, this is where the magic and the fun happens. Through step one, we have imagined how an unused, tiny bedroom, in a three-bedroom city apartment, can better be used as a laundry room. Now it is time to design the space to meet our ultimate end goal: a classy laundry room where doing laundry is loads and loads of fun. Yes, I went there. No, I don’t regret it! It’s important to note that during the design phase, it is critical to play around with all the design possibilities. Did you notice my word choice? Play! It shouldn’t be a source of stress - it should be fun and exhilarating! Many people have one idea, envision it, and bring that one idea into transformation without considering all the possibilities. That isn’t necessarily wrong, but by playing with all the design possibilities, we are better able to see all that a space has to offer. Tackling You Largest Obstacle FirstPro Tip: It’s tempting to save the hardest obstacle for last. When it comes to design, the opposite is true. Tackle the problem before you move forward. Seriously, this will help you save money, time and a massive headache.  The largest obstacle in this laundry room renovation is plumbing. We decided to build a wall to encase the plumbing and to add a cove for the washer and dryer to set within. It also adds a wall for a clothes rod on the other side. The plumbing will reach toward the apartment above and will be ready when we tackle the laundry room renovation upstairs.  Floorplan For this laundry room renovation, we wanted to take into consideration all the different design options and ensure there was plenty of storage. We had many ideas and questions to consider regarding storage:
We went with a mix of cabinets and open shelving.  Materials & Colors The Sherwin Williams Plum Dandy and Halcyon Green will not be used in this laundry room. They demonstrate how adding color through accessories, textiles, etc. can add personalization and excitement to a neutral based room. While our choice of materials won’t be finalized until we start using them, we have to remember that this room is in a rental. We need to imagine which materials will work best for years of future tenants. We know our materials need to be long lasting, durable and not break the budget, as it is a possibility that they may need to be replaced. We have decided to go with two primary materials: marble tile and a waterproof laminate. This material will work well if there is ever a plumbing issue or leak. I suggested we add a hexagon marble tile to the back wall of the washer & dryer to pull the marble look up off the floor into other areas of the room. The splurge is the marble for the backsplash. We chose to put the showier material on the backsplash, rather than the floor. It will give the room a classy look without breaking the budget and without requiring as much upkeep as a marble floor. If this were for my own home, I’d throw some color or wallpaper onto the back wall for fun and interest. However, because this is a rental, it will be painted often and the idea of cutting in color against cabinets isn’t ideal. We’ll stick with a white which will keep it clean, bright and classy. Color can easily be added through drapery, rugs, and décor. I loved the idea of a funky light in this laundry room. However, most of these lights require specialty bulbs and that isn’t renter friendly, so we will go with a classic light that is friendlier for tenant use. Do you see what I mean by “playing” with the options? When it’s time to design for your home, be sure to play and enjoy the process. Don’t rush the process. Enjoy it.
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Imagine, Design, Transform When working on design projects, I find myself almost always going through the same three-step process: imagine, design, transform. This is why you find these three terms as my business tagline. It’s my creative checklist for any project. Currently, I am working on a rental laundry room renovation, and I couldn’t be more excited as this project perfectly demonstrates how these three terms work hand-in-hand. This post will share the first step: imagine. As we finish each step, I will share a blog post with you to best demonstrate the importance of these three steps. How does this relate to you? How can you apply this to your own home? Read on. Form & Function Really, the first step in design is taking into consideration form and function. Let’s be honest: “Form, Function, Imagine, Design, Transform” would be super long under a business name. Yet, form and function is utmost important and should simply be in the back of our minds at all times when it comes to interior design. It’s a waste to have an aesthetically pleasing space that doesn’t function properly and meet your needs. Step 1: ImagineThis one-floor, three-bedroom, 2,060 square foot rental is roomy and charming with plenty of storage and historic charm. The owners have noticed over many years that the small, third bedroom is rarely used due to the spaciousness of the home, the small size of this specific room and the fact that the window doesn’t have a great view. This is where imagination comes in.   Due to the fact that this room is currently underused/unused space in the home, we started brainstorming and imagining how to best utilize this space to meet the needs of future tenants. We landed on the idea of turning it into a laundry room. In this historical rental, the laundry room is located in the basement. Honestly, there is nothing wrong with the location, and it functions perfectly well. Granted, it is quite a workout for the second floor tenant, and it isn’t aesthetically pleasing, but like I said before, it’s functional.  The third bedroom sits directly above the laundry room in the basement which is perfect for plumbing needs. This project, while not just a weekend project, due to needed construction, plumbing, and electrical work, is feasible. Just imagine how the transformation of a small, unused room will better utilizes space. Being able to simply go from room-to-room to finish your laundry compared to hiking down the stairs is a game changer. It takes laundry from being a commitment and chore, to something that just happens as you live your life in your home. A huge plus is that it is also friendlier for any older renters with bad knees, hips, etc. who have a hard time going up and down stairs. Personal ApplicationWith this in mind, consider the unused spaces in your home. Are they being used to the best of their ability? If not, maybe take some time to imagine what they could be and how they could better function for you and your family. If you have a hard time picturing and imaging what could be, feel free to give me a call. I offer affordable idea sessions where we walk through your home and talk about potential ideas and designs that may better use your space for your wants and needs. Also take into consideration that not all redesigning has to involve construction. Some designing just requires you to think outside the box! Up Next: DesignPicking an interior designer can be tricky. Perhaps you start by getting on the internet and doing a search for “interior designers near me” or perhaps you have a name (hopefully mine) in the back of your mind for when you’re ready. Either way, picking the right interior designer for you and your project is imperative for ensuring a positive experience and seeing your end result come to fruition. It may seem intimidating to invite a designer into your personal space, but know that the more you share and ask, the happier the designer will be. Designers want to work with you to see your vision come to life and the more communication there is, the better. To start a clear line of communication, start asking questions from the very first meeting. You will naturally have your own questions based on your project, but here are my recommended: 5 Questions to Ask When You Have Your First Meeting 
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