The Laundry room looks out over the back yard with corner windows, dark greenish gray cabinetry, grey hexagon tile floors and a butcerblock countertop.

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This image showcases painted full overlay cabinetry with tons of custom storage spaces in a galley style laundry room. Full electric wardrobe lifts are utilized in the hanging sections for easy access to garments.

These homeowners came to us to design several areas of their home, including their mudroom and laundry. They were a growing family and needed a "landing" area as they entered their home, either from the garage but also asking for a new entrance from outside. We stole about 24 feet from their oversized garage to create a large mudroom/laundry area. Custom blue cabinets with a large "X" design on the doors of the lockers, a large farmhouse sink and a beautiful cement tile feature wall with floating shelves make this mudroom stylish and luxe. The laundry room now has a pocket door separating it from the mudroom, and houses the washer and dryer with a wood butcher block folding shelf. White tile backsplash and custom white and blue painted cabinetry takes this laundry to the next level. Both areas are stunning and have improved not only the aesthetic of the space, but also the function of what used to be an inefficient use of space.

For this mudroom remodel the homeowners came in to Dillman & Upton frustrated with their current, small and very tight, laundry room. They were in need of more space and functional storage and asked if I could help them out. Once at the job site I found that adjacent to the the current laundry room was an inefficient walk in closet. After discussing their options we decided to remove the wall between the two rooms and create a full mudroom with ample storage and plenty of room to comfortably manage the laundry. Cabinets: Dura Supreme, Crestwood series, Highland door, Maple, Shell Gray stain Counter: Solid Surfaces Unlimited Arcadia Quartz Hardware: Top Knobs, M271, M530 Brushed Satin Nickel Flooring: Porcelain tile, Crossville, 6x36, Speakeasy Zoot Suit Backsplash: Olympia, Verona Blend, Herringbone, Marble Sink: Kohler, River falls, White Faucet: Kohler, Gooseneck, Brushed Stainless Steel Shoe Cubbies: White Melamine Washer/Dryer: Electrolux

2nd laundry room

Photography by Mia Baxter www.miabaxtersmail.com

Laundry Room with Custom Cabinets

Gina Rogers

The light filled laundry room is punctuated with black and gold accents, a playful floor tile pattern and a large dog shower. The U-shaped laundry room features plenty of counter space for folding clothes and ample cabinet storage. A mesh front drying cabinet is the perfect spot to hang clothes to dry out of sight. The "drop zone" outside of the laundry room features a countertop beside the garage door for leaving car keys and purses. Under the countertop, the client requested an open space to fit a large dog kennel to keep it tucked away out of the walking area. The room's color scheme was pulled from the fun floor tile and works beautifully with the nearby kitchen and pantry.

DJK Custom Homes

Dawn Smith Photography