Part 2 - Design: Historic City Apartment Laundry Room

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!
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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 First

Pro 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: 

• Should we go with open shelving above the washer and dryer?
• Should we provide cabinets for enclosed storage?
• What size cabinets would fit best in the room, and be functional?

I created different floorplans to help answer these questions. Having a visual of what a space may look like helps to determine the best course of action.
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 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.
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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.