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R. Cartwright Design

A Full Service Design Studio Located in Des Moines, Iowa and Serenbe, Georgia.

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cabinetry

Creating a Fresh Look for an Outdated Laundry Room and Mudroom

May 11, 2016 By Jillian Leave a Comment

Last Fall we began working with one of our long-time clients to redesign her back entryway and laundry room. Neither room has been updated since the home was built, and the layout in each space wasn’t working for the busy family of four with two active teenagers. The style of the home is traditional yet fresh and current; however, this space did not reflect her personality or style at all.

In the before plan, there was a built-in desk and closet to the right of the garage entry with a bench to the right over which hangs a chalkboard in a vintage frame. The client wanted to keep the bench and chalkboard but eliminate the desk in favor of built-in lockers.

Mudroom and Laundry Room Before PlanIn this photo, you can see the entry from the garage and the chalkboard that hangs over the bench.

0510-Mudroom-Before-02Here you can see the desk and built-ins to the right of the door.

0510-Mudroom-Before-03In the view below, we’re standing at the desk and looking towards the laundry. You can see the smaller closet as well as the opening into the kitchen.

0510-Mudroom-Before-04The laundry room was dated with oak cabinetry and white vinyl floor tile.

0510-Mudroom-Before-07This is the third closet and the other side of the laundry room. You can see that large space wasn’t being utilized as well as it could have been.

0510-Mudroom-Before-06We proposed eliminating two of the three closets to create a larger laundry room and to make space for custom cabinetry. We selected a palette of soft whites to keep the space feeling light, bright and clean and a new black slate floor to replace the vinyl.

On the right-hand side, we kept the closet facing the garage door to use as storage for out-of-season coats and jackets, but we planned to demo the desk and built-ins. The client also wanted to install a larger window to let in more light and provide a view to the backyard.

Plan-201501103_1-LayoutBelow is our “after” plan. You can see how removing the two closets on the laundry room side helped to open up the space. On one side, we designed a row of built-in semi-custom cabinetry to function both as a butler’s pantry/pantry and as a mini-office. On the other side, we were able to add a broom closet cabinet and add some additional countertop space at the sink. By demo-ing the desk, we were able to create a mudroom with a locker area for each family member.

Plan-201501103_1-LayoutThis elevation depicts the laundry area in the newly enlarged space. We selected a simple Shaker style cabinet with a two-part crown and had it custom colored a soft off-white by Sherwin Williams.

Laundry Room Elevation DrawingOn the butler’s pantry side, we incorporated deep drawers in all of the base cabinets for maximum storage. The bottom drawer on the far right is a custom configured filing cabinet while the drawer above features a hidden drawer for corralling small items like pens and paper clips. We originally specified a pocket door for the wall cabinet above so that there would be easy access to the printer but switched it out for a lift-up model. We specified a magnetic, linen look wallpaper for the backsplash so that our client could pin up important papers, photos, and other items.

Butler's Pantry Elevation DrawingIn the mudroom, we designed simple lockers with open storage below for shoes. The bench tops are white quartz to match the countertops in the laundry room. The space above the hanging storage was intended for large baskets to hold things like hats, scarves, and mittens.

Mudroom Locker Elevation DrawingWe specified the lockers, which were mostly built on-site, to be painted the same color as the cabinetry in the laundry room. The backs of the lockers are beadboard, which adds a little texture and dimension.

Mudroom Locker Elevation DrawingFor the finishes, we paired a white quartz that resembles Carrara marble with the custom painted cabinetry. We recommended painting the walls an off-white that was slightly lighter than the cabinetry but deeper than the white trim in order to create a soft and calming look.The black slate floor creates a dramatic contrast with the lighter cabinetry. The natural fiber runner and woven baskets add texture and depth to the mudroom. Polished nickel hardware on the laundry cabinets acts as the jewelry of the room.

Laundry Room Design and Mudroom plan by R. Cartwright Design - Des Moines Iowa Interior Designer

We have a couple quick iPhone snapshots of the space in progress. It’s about 95% there but still needs a few of the finishing touches.

Laundry Room Design Built-In Cabinetry

laundry room design - sink with quartz backsplash

Mudroom Lockers - R. Cartwright Design, Des Moines IowaWhen the family enters from the garage, these two rooms are the first thing that they see. Before the remodel, both the laundry room and mudroom were not only outdated and underwhelming but they didn’t function well for their lives. Now, they are greeted by a cheerful, pleasant and well-organized space.

We hope you enjoyed this little sneak peek into a design project for one of our favorite clients, and we’ll be sharing more posts like these in the future. If you have any questions or are interested in working with R. Cartwright Design, please email us.

Local partners: Showplace Kitchens, Aronson Woodworks, Bertini Stone and Tile

Filed Under: Client Projects Tagged With: cabinetry, des moines, traditional

Kitchens

April 25, 2016 By Jillian

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Serenbe Townhouse - Palmetto, Georgia
Glen Oaks Traditional Remodel - R. Cartwright Design, Kitchen, Island, Pendants
R. Cartwright Design - Des Moines Iowa Interior Designer
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R. Cartwright Design - Des Moines Iowa Interior Designer
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Glen Oaks Traditional Remodel - R. Cartwright Design
Glen Oaks Traditional Remodel - R. Cartwright Design
Glen Oaks Traditional Remodel - R. Cartwright Design, Kitchen, Stove
The lower level kitchen island features a two inch thick, stainless steel countertop with waterfall sides. The cabinetry on the far wall is framed in custom fabricated steel with a hand-applied black finish. The backs of the floor to ceiling open cabinets are cerused oak.
Transtional Guest House Design - R. Cartwright Design, Des Moines Iowa Interior Designer
The bar is housed in custom-designed cabinetry, which combine a specially fabricated steel frame and steel and glass cabinet doors. Cerused oak panels conceal the built-in, counter-depth refrigerator. A keg fridge is nestled in between steel columns and topped with white marble and floating oak shelves. Glass shelves provide ample storage for barware and spirits.
Transtional Guest House Design - R. Cartwright Design, Des Moines Iowa Interior Designer
Transtional Guest House Design - R. Cartwright Design, Des Moines Iowa Interior Designer
Transtional Guest House Design - R. Cartwright Design, Des Moines Iowa Interior Designer
Contemporary Home Grays and Neutrals - R. Cartwright Design, Des Moines, Iowa Interior Designer
Contemporary Home Grays and Neutrals - R. Cartwright Design, Des Moines, Iowa Interior Designer
Iowa Farmhouse by Des Moines Interior Designer, Rebecca Cartwright
Iowa Farmhouse by Des Moines Interior Designer, Rebecca Cartwright
Iowa Farmhouse by Des Moines Interior Designer, Rebecca Cartwright
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Des Moines Interior Designer - Rebecca Cartwright
Des Moines Interior Designer - Rebecca Cartwright
R. Cartwright Design
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Filed Under: By Room, Portfolio Tagged With: backsplash, cabinetry, contemporary, des moines, iowa, kitchens, traditional, transitional

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About R. Cartwright Design

R. Cartwright Design is a full service interior design studio, based in Des Moines, Iowa and Serenbe, Georgia, serving clients all over the United States. Founded over twenty years ago by Rebecca Cartwright, we are dedicated to providing our clients with the highest levels of creativity, design and service. Read More…

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2005 NW 100th Street
Clive, Iowa 50325

(t) 515.309.5006

10625 Serenbe Lane, Suite A
Chatt Hills, Georgia 30268

(t) 515.309.5006

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