Farmhouse Laundry Room
Whether you call it a laundry room, utility room or mudroom, I believe they are making a statement in design. People are starting to consider them in the design process. Just cruise through Pinterest while doing a search for “laundry rooms” and you will find inspiration at every turn.
When I designed our home, I took in lots of consideration for every single square inch. I think about how I use spaces, day in, day out. They must require function but also beauty. The laundry room was a space that has grown through each new home that we have lived in. Our first fixer-upper home, the laundry room was outside in the garage. Then, our next fixer upper it was a walk through space from the garage to the kitchen. Next, we built a home that I was able to design so I made the laundry room have it’s own room when you walked in the back door. Yet, through all these “laundry room growths” I still found this space lacking some key elements. So, this time when designing our farmhouse I added way more emphasis on the laundry room/mudroom space and cut out having a butler-like pantry, to shift this extra square footage into the laundry room of my dreams.
My goal was to create a room with an all-white palette that was flooded with natural light and farmhouse charm. The shiplap walls and the octagonal white tile created the perfect foundation. I didn’t want too much cabinetry to be able to add in my own pieces, like this old vintage galvanized washstand that I added in between the laundry machines. It provides so much storage for all my laundry accessory needs, you would be surprised.
The key elements that were important to me in this space were not only the extra square footage for that longer counter space under the windows but were the addition of a sink and oh my goodness…..that has been one of the top best decisions. Now I can never go back to not having a sink in the laundry room. We use it for everything! To washing our dog to prepping flowers and watering plants and yes even for clothes, etc.
I even decorate my laundry room too, why not?! If you spend countless hours in a room doing chores then why not make it beautiful and inspiring to you! I love everything greenhouse and one day we will build one but until then this is the perfect place, with all the natural light, to give my plants what they crave. This spring I added in the touch of vintage botanicals and wildlife that came from the book pages of Pleasures of Wild Plants. I keep a growing stack of vintage wildlife and gardening books tucked in the corner that I can gain insight at any time. I also love to add in decor that’s repurposed, like this vintage French oyster basket that I use to keep extra clean towels in.
This room brings so much inspiration to me while still being a utility room that also provides so many different workspaces for us that we love. The way I’ve put thoughtful intention into this space makes me want to retreat to this room every single day. I encourage you to consider your work rooms too and how you can add in a little inspiration with things that bring you joy.
Sources:
Mudroom
Reclaimed Dutch Cheese Boards Bench
Watering Cans - Antique store finds
Brick Floor - Vintage Old Chicago Brick from a 1930 Brick Yard in Chicago. Each brick is marked.
Wood Door - Thrift find that we restored. It still has the mail slot in the door.
Laundry Room
Countertop - Honed Carrara Marble
Cabinetry - I worked with a local cabinet maker to custom make our design