Laundry Room Renovations
Heather Bernhard • November 19, 2020
Transforming Your Forgotten Room into an Amazing Space
Are you doing more laundry these days? Us, too.
Most Americans are spending a lot more time at home this year. If you're among them, you probably find yourself doing a lot of things you didn't have time for in the past. Things like making homecooked lunch, cleaning the bathroom between emails, and yes – lots of laundry.
Whether you're working from home or a stay-at-home mom, you may have noticed that your laundry room is a bit inadequate. Even though it's one of the most frequently used rooms in the house, it always seems to be the one space that gets overlooked.
With dirty clothes spilling out of the hamper, unmatched socks littering the floor, and a leaky bottle of detergent sitting on top of the washing machine, your laundry room could use a little attention.
Are we right?
Keep reading for some tips and tricks on making the most of this vital space:
Organization is Key
Unlike bedrooms and family rooms, where you spend your time relaxing, the laundry room has a more functional purpose: the sorting, washing, drying, and folding of clothes.
For most people, the laundry room is a "chore room," and sprucing it up isn't at the top of their list. But we spend hours in this room every week (sometimes more). When you ignore this essential room, your entire home can suffer.
A laundry room may not need a fancy rug or designer fixtures, but it does need functionality and organization. And yes – it can still look charming!
Finding the Right Layout
An efficient, functional laundry room starts with one thing: the right layout. When we're working with a new client, the first thing we do is evaluate their space.
Many people have a laundry room that is part of another space, such as a kitchen or bathroom. Others have an entire room dedicated to just washing and folding.
Whether your laundry room is a simple galley, has an open plan, or is a hidden nook, we can make it work.
Creating a Functional Space
For families with a poorly designed laundry room, life can be frustrating. Over time, we've found that certain design features can make this a more functional, organized, and attractive space. Here are some of our best tips:
- Choose water-resistant materials. Because so much of what happens in the laundry room is water-focused, it's important to choose finishes like waterproof, laminate flooring, no maintenance quartz countertops, and specialized paints that are easy to clean and will last for years.
- Consider a utility sink. A water source other than the washing machine is critical in a well-designed laundry room. A utility sink can serve a variety of functions, from soaking delicates to rinsing off muddy boots.
- Create space. The laundry room should be a place where sorting, washing, folding, ironing, hanging, and more is easy. Putting a countertop on top of a front load washer and dryer can maximize usable area, while a stacking washer and dryer can allow for more floor space in a small room.
- Get creative with storage. Open shelving in a laundry room helps ensure essentials are easily identified and accessed, while storage bins can hide less-frequently used items adding to both organization and aesthetics.
- Multitask. For families short on space, the laundry room can double as a mudroom or even a family command center. Cubbies for hanging jackets and backpacks, pegs for keys, and bins for incoming and outgoing mail can all be great additions.
Final Thoughts
The unfortunate thing about laundry rooms is that people think a functional workspace must be plain or boring. This isn't the case!
Laundry rooms today are not the same utilitarian spaces you grew up with. They can be functional and fun.
Reach out today to find out how we can help you create an organized, beautiful laundry room, with storage and style to spare!
For spouses with different tastes, planning your living space may seem a challenge. Find out how by visiting Heart Kitchens of Holmdel, NJ online.
With the holiday season in full swing, you might be thinking about how to celebrate. Undoubtably, the holidays will look different this year. No matter what you’re doing, it’s likely a holiday meal is still on the agenda. And even if it’s just with the people in your same household, a large meal can wreak havoc on your kitchen. Even worse? If you’re the one in charge of cooking, you could easily spend the entire day over the stovetop, missing out on the gathering completely! Having a well-organized kitchen can help ensure your holiday efforts are executed flawlessly. In fact, your kitchen can even be a source of comfort and joy when intelligently designed. Getting it ready for the holidays doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are our best tips: Maximize Storage When new clients call us, it’s often because they’re short on storage space and unable to work effectively in their kitchen. Finding creative ways to make the most of the space you’ve got is crucial, especially during the holidays. • Store flat items such as baking sheets and cutting boards vertically to maximize space • Place dry goods in glass canisters to make for an attractive display on open shelving • House small appliances, such as the toaster or blender, in the pantry to keep counters clear • Add function to the pantry and cabinets with shelf dividers, spice racks, or pull-out bins to increase accessibility and organization • Upgrade your refrigerator to a model with organization features such as adjustable drawers or a built-in wine rack
Creating a beautiful kitchen requires proper planning, time, and effort – and, of course, an eye for design. But when it comes to the heart of the home, style isn’t everything. Functional choices are more critical in the kitchen than in any other room of the house, especially when you’re working with a small space. Anyone who’s worked in a poorly designed kitchen knows this. When we first met John and Christine Mormile, they were seeking a more functional kitchen. As first-time home buyers, they purchased their traditional Cape Cod-style house knowing it would need renovation. Their biggest complaint? With everything jammed onto one wall, the kitchen felt closed-in and suffocating. This is what we did: Bigger Isn’t Always Better Just because your space is smaller doesn’t mean you can’t have the kitchen of your dreams. In fact, some of our favorite makeovers are smaller kitchens like Christine and John’s. They force us to get creative about making the limited amount of space work. “ Our new kitchen feels like much bigger room with more space than it actually is. ” – Christine Mormile One of the most important things we’ve learned over the years is that lack of space doesn’t have to mean lack of style – or functionality. Designing a New Kitchen When we first meet with a new client or prospect, we start with a series of questions to determine their wants and needs. For example: • “How do you use your kitchen? Cooking? Baking? Entertaining? Homework or business?” • “What don’t you like about your current kitchen?” • “What would you want to see in your dream kitchen?” Many times, when a prospect contacts us, it’s out of frustration with their current kitchen. They want to know how they can make the space work. The Mormiles needed more storage and functionality out of their small space. They didn’t care about having an eat-in kitchen, but they did want to get rid of the outdated appliances. Like all clients, our initial discussion was all about finding solutions.
Whether Thanksgiving dinner or a Christmas feast, a kitchen island is an invaluable asset during the holidays. Find out more by visiting Heart Kitchens of Holmdel, NJ online.
Making your kitchen as functional and user-friendly as possible can significantly reduce stress for homeowners. Find out why by visiting Heart Kitchens of Holmdel, NJ online.
Warm weather, a change of scenery, a chance to relax. There’s something irresistible about vacations. Whether you’re lazing by the ocean or dining under the stars, they’re a time of rest and renewal. But if your holiday plans got put on hold this year, you’re not alone. Instead of traveling, many people have chosen to take a staycation and enjoy time at home. This is where home improvements come into play! Jetting off to your favorite city might not be in the books – but recreating its ambiance at home is possible. Keep reading for our best tips on transforming your backyard into an environment that will rival any 5-star resort. Outdoor Kitchens When it comes to creating a relaxed vibe at home, an outdoor kitchen is our number one pick. Summer is the perfect time to enjoy dining alfresco – and creating a space for outdoor cooking is the perfect way to enjoy warm weather gatherings. Even better: Cooking outdoors means relieving your main kitchen (and the rest of the house) of built-up heat coming from the oven and stove. Not sure where to begin? Start with a grill and plenty of counter space for prepping and serving. Add a bar top where people can sit and chat for more of a “resort” feel. If you want to jazz things up a little, consider some unique appliances, like beer taps or a pizza oven. Most importantly, add a big outdoor table and other spots where you and your guests can gather for drinks and food! Here are some other tips to keep in mind: Recreate Your Favorite Destination Do you have a go-to vacation spot? Let it inspire the features and materials you choose for your outdoor kitchen! For example, mountain lovers might veer towards earthy colors and woodsy elements, like wood beams or a stone fireplace. A beach goer, on the other hand, might opt for blues and whites, a natural fiber rug, and some tropical greenery. No matter where you love to spend your downtime, take the time to get your design right for a real vacation-ready vibe. Create Space for Your Favorite Activities Part of a staycation is doing whatever you like to do, right from the comfort of your own home. Incorporate the things you enjoy into your outdoor dining area, whether that’s a tv to watch the big game or a shady nook for reading over a glass of wine. Are there little ones in the household? Consider adding an outdoor playset to the yard so the kids can have fun while the adults catch up. Safeguard Yourself from the Sun No matter where you live, the afternoon sun can be brutal – especially during the summer months. A shady structure, like a custom pergola, can create a comfortable area to sit and relax out of the sun’s harmful rays. Other options include canopies, umbrellas, and retractable shades. Create Privacy Depending on the size of your backyard and how close you are to the neighbors, you’ll likely want to add some privacy-creating features to your outdoor entertaining area. Bushes, hedges, and fences are great options to keep your entire backyard secluded in the long-term. If you opt to install a pergola or shades, those can do the trick as well. Choose Quality Furniture Bargain furniture from online discount retailers may look great on your screen, but if you want to entertain for years to come, it pays to invest in quality fixtures up front. Choose tables, chairs, and other fixtures that are made from outdoor-rated wood or polywood, which can last for decades and is easy to maintain. Final Thoughts 2020 has been a rough year for many reasons. Don’t let it throw your vacation off track! It’s still possible to have the getaway of your dreams, right from your own backyard. Need help deciding what outdoor kitchen options are right for you? Contact us today and let our design specialists help you out.
