A new light fixture and plans for wasted space.

Happy Monday!  I hope everyone had a good Easter.  We spent the day with family, after our kids were appropriately loaded up on sugar.  The Easter Bunny didn’t bring them much in the way of candy, and what he did bring them was organic, or all natural (my son has an allergy to dyes, so we try to avoid them at all costs), but sugar is still sugar, and they were good and spazzy by 8AM. We’re all sick of egg hunts and spring break (well, at least Mama is sick of spring break) and thankfully it’s back to the grind tomorrow.  But anyway…

I’m convinced these days that houses in the last 15 years or so, at least in this area, were built entirely for looks, and not at all for functionality. Sometime soon, I’ll give you a full house tour, but for now, let’s have today. You know my disdain for two story rooms. It smacks of waste. Wasted space. Wasted energy. If you recall, last fall, we closed off our two story family room to give my daughter a bigger bedroom that she can grow into, but also so that we can take the two smaller bedrooms and make them into something more functional.  A bigger bathroom for the master, which I don’t really need, but really want.  It’s not a room that will go to waste. Since I use my garden tub at least 4 times a week. I think a bigger tub is in order. But it’s in the “distant future plans” category. I can live with what we have for now.

What I can’t live with, is our laundry room. My laundry room is in a stupid location in our house.  It’s off the kitchen. At times, if I get behind on laundry (which at times, happens frequently). The room would actually make an awesome pantry. At one point we talked about moving it downstairs. My husband vetoed that idea enthusiastically. Since his office is in the basement, he didn’t want to be responsible for hauling the laundry up and down the stairs. I guess after 8 years together, he knows me all too well.

So instead, I decided to look up.  We have this whole open space in our foyer, and while it looks somewhat grand, it a bit ridiculous. My idea is to utilize that space and make a large laundry “closet” type of room. Center island for folding, closets all around the perimeter for everyone’s wares. Or “wears.” HA!

Here’s the current space:

Don’t you love the light?  We just replaced it (it’s from Ballard Designs). It was one of those projects that you want to do, but it’s just such a pain in the neck to take care of, because another downfall of having a two story room, is that you either need a really tall ladder, or you have to rent scaffolding to replace or paint anything:

Goodbye ugly builder grade light fixture. You stayed in this house far too long.

And while I don’t cringe at the light fixture every single time I walk down the stairs, I know that this space would be PERFECT as a giant laundry area slash family closet. There’s easy access to plumbing, since one wall houses bathroom plumbing, and I would save money by leaving the window where it is, since it plays a big part of giving the front of the house its charm.  A nice window treatment to allow light in, and show off the silhouette of the shape of the window.  On either side, closet space. I love the way this looks:

traditional entry design by boston kitchen and bath Venegas and Company

While I don’t particularly like open closet spaces, like this more traditional mudroom, built in, divided closets would make it easy for everyone to have their own space.

traditional laundry room design by los angeles general contractor Reaume Construction & Design

I never thought I’d like silver cabinets. I never even thought of silver cabinets. And I love them and the layout of this room.  Though, given that the room is northern facing, I might actually be thinking white cabinets, to lighten the room.  And people, I hate white cabinets.

contemporary laundry room design by san francisco kitchen and bath Precision Cabinets & Trim

This! This. Yes. I LOVE this. I would use the baskets for mismatched socks. Floor to ceiling cabinets would be such an ideal situation for storing seasonal clothing.

Laundry rooms seem to be a new source of contention. They never seem like the ideal situation, and getting back to houses that are more functional, a lot of people seem to be making rooms that are dedicated to laundry and clothes.  This would save me time from having to go to every room to clean out the closets.

What would be your dream laundry room?

Tagged as: dream laundry room., home renovation, laundry, room additions