ABCD {interior} Design: Sneak Peek of the Laundry Room

I realize I have been a little food-centric with my posts the last week or so, but I am just so happy to see my cookery books! I mean really, really thrilled. It’s the start of September which means that the cabinetry boards have been cut and they’ll soon be moving from the wood barn into the production building - more on that process later! Today, I want to talk a bit about the kitchen pantry/laundry room.{Images: Apartment Therapy, Vision Decor, and ABCD Designs’ Notes for the Design File – totally a post worth checking out!}Yesterday, my cabinet guys told me that we’re looking at a mid-October installation date. Hooray! Sounds like I’ll be able to host Thanksgiving at the ABCD Homestead! I know, it’s going to be a tight schedule by the time we get the counter tops in. Kitchens always take a lot longer to install than anyone ever thinks to account for. Of course, once it is finished, I will have the job of unpacking and washing all the dishes…{Sorry the image is so blurry – clearly I wasn’t focused on photos, it was more about washing all the dishes and crystal!}
One portion of the kitchen drawings I neglected to show you a few weeks ago is the laundry room, which will double as the kitchen pantry. You remember when I dream decorated that space over at Blu Label Bungalo a few months ago, right? As a reminder, we were blessed with an entire wall of built-in open shelves, similar to the image above. On the other side we have a sink, the washer, the dryer and a set of open ikea shelves. I decided to add a closed door upper cabinet, and a shaker style shelf above the washer and dryer. We’ll be repurposing the ikea shelves in our attic.Gosh, I l-o-v-e this shelf! As a matter of fact, I showed my cabinet makers this exact image and said “Let’s do this, only more shaker-style, less country.” Ahhhh… the benefits of going local! I quoted out stock cabinetry at the big box stores as well as semi-custom lines at smaller kitchen and bath outfitters – and guess what? By going local, I was able to get a quote for fully custom cabinets at a fraction of the price of the big box store.Cabinets are expensive no matter which way you go. I spent a lot of time getting pricing. I got quotes on everything from Quality Cabinets to Kraftmaid, Decora to Crown Point, Plain and Fancy, Thomasville, and several more. My local guy came in at a third of the cost. ONE THIRD! Not to mention, since he is literally around the corner from me, the delivery of my entire kitchen is only $90.00. The.Entire.Kitchen! Did I mention that the estimates we got for delivery with other companies (in many cases) came in at thousands of dollars? I feel like I really scored by staying local - Yes, there are often cost benefits to using a slow home frame of mind.
In the pantry: I know I told you that I had planned to arrange the cook books in color-coded fashion, but super organized personality won’t allow for it. Each time I put all the green, yellow, red or black bindings together I get all stressed about how long it will take me to find the cook book I want. Lesson learned. I need organization more than I love color-coded prettiness.
Speaking of cost, the Bayview Utility Sink looks like exactly what I could imagine in this laundry room come pantry space. I have been hunting around, and the best price I found was at Home Center. I wouldn’t be surprised if I hunt more, I’ll find a better deal or something like it that gives the same feeling.I know it’s not ideal to have closed shelving on that wall blocking the view of the window frame – but I can’t change that situation. I feel a little closed cabinetry in that room is a necessity for me. I am overwhelmed by all the visual stimulation of too many open shelves. I plan to house holiday dishes in those cabinets. If I left them open…just think of the unnecessary dusting I’d have to do…Ugh! As you know, the kitchen cabinetry is black, but we’ll be doing these laundry room cabinets in dove white to match the trim throughout the house. I plan to have matte black pulls and latches for all of the cabinets.

What else? Am I missing anything? Is there anything you’d add to this space?

Posted by Amy Beth Cupp Dragoo / Dream Decorating and The Country House and Uncategorized

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22 Responses to “ABCD {interior} Design: Sneak Peek of the Laundry Room”

  1. Dina @ White Thread on 02 Sep 2010 at 10:20 am

    OMG, I SOOOO need this right now. I’m desperately trying to redo both of these spaces in our home in an effort to make them work harder and smarter before baby comes. Can’t wait to see what you do!

  2. Julia Cantor on 02 Sep 2010 at 10:22 am

    Gosh — it is so fun watching your house unfold! I can’t wait to see the finished product!

  3. Christina Loucks Ahumada @anora grey on 02 Sep 2010 at 10:23 am

    Looking sensational! Enjoying your design process! Best of luck!

  4. ABCDDesigns on 02 Sep 2010 at 10:23 am

    Dina, I seriously suggest looking into local cabinet makers – I am beyond thrilled!

    Julia, thanks for chiming in! :D

  5. Ludmila {creamylife.com} on 02 Sep 2010 at 10:23 am

    Nope, I completely adore your plan! And the idea of open shelving makes me so happy, I love those in a kitchen!

  6. ABCDDesigns on 02 Sep 2010 at 10:24 am

    Thanks Christina!

    I am so happy that people are enjoying walking though this very personal project with me. :)

  7. Chanee on 02 Sep 2010 at 10:29 am

    So beautiful! I’m thrilled for you. I love seeing functional and lovely utility rooms like laundry, pantry and mudrooms. I must get that book – the pantry. Great post!

  8. sandy@oohlafroufrou on 02 Sep 2010 at 10:33 am

    It’s so much fun going on this decorating journey with you, darling Amy!! It’s like a little mini-home-tour each time we visit your blog :) Love it!

    I too love, love, love the beautiful ceiling to floor glass cabinetry. My husband actually built my kitchen cabinetry for me (it’s painted white with white marble counters) because I didn’t want any formaldehyde outgassing from stock cabinets in my kitchen. In my kitchen (in a 1929 tudor) one of my cabinets is a ceiling to floor glass cabinet with a long door that I keep all of my white dishes in (I too am all about visual!) and I love that cabinet!! I also had him turn another cabinet that was originally a single door narrow cleaning closet with a solid door into the same kind of thing with a white glass fronted floor to ceiling door, installed white beadboard inside and glass shelves and lit it and call it my Silver Vault for all of my silver & crystal (“Silver Vault” is actually painted on the wall above!)

    Good luck with it all — we can’t wait to see more photos!

  9. cynthia at the daily basics on 02 Sep 2010 at 11:33 am

    Good stuff Amy! I will take any of those pantries anyday! My kitchen designer, @susanserrackd did my kitchen and designed a pantry hutch for me next to the stove for convenience. I LIVE out of that pantry. In addition, we have no above the counter cabinetry (saved a bundle) but we put in two walk in pantries with glass front doors instead. I CANNOT wait to see your new kitch!

  10. Sally@DivineDistractions on 02 Sep 2010 at 1:47 pm

    I am totally covetous of the open floor to ceiling pantry with all the matching glass containers! Oh, how much all that costs, but the look is extraordinary. I think even I could stay organized with that wall. Love it! I think you’re smart to reorganize your cookbooks as well as have closed cabinetry for the “non-pretties”. We all have them! And you are really smart to go with local custom cabinets. I always spec out custom cabinets because I get exactly what I want, and they come out and do all the measurements and installation. Sure saves time and energy on my part.
    It’s going to be lovely!! Can’t wait to see it complete.

  11. ABC Dragoo on 02 Sep 2010 at 3:02 pm

    Ladies!

    I can’t explain how fun it is for me to read your comments — I *so* appreciate them!
    xoABCD

  12. sharon on 02 Sep 2010 at 3:27 pm

    What an exciting process. It’s so grand when it all starts pulling together! so pleased for you! I can hear excitement in your voice again (well your paper voice …LOL) …. which is so lovely to hear! So looking forward to seeing it complete ;-)

  13. Suzanne Cummings on 02 Sep 2010 at 3:46 pm

    Amy,

    This post is beyond inspiring. You truly are creating a labor of love and it shows in every special detail. Thank you for sharing your journey.

    xo,

    Suzanne

  14. Phyllis Cheung on 02 Sep 2010 at 4:21 pm

    Wow Amy! Gorgeous watching everything come together! You’re right with going local – we went local with our kitchen remodel and it was a huge savings over the big box stores – would definitely go that route again for our next home!

  15. ABCDDesigns on 02 Sep 2010 at 4:33 pm

    Thanks for being a first time commenter Phyllis!

    I am so happy that you’re enjoying watching my little renovation. Thanks for taking time from your day to take a peek! :)
    xoABCD

  16. ABCDDesigns on 02 Sep 2010 at 4:34 pm

    Sharon, my voice ~ LOL!! Too funny. But yes, I always say it’s great to “hear” your voice when people chime in with comments — so I get what you’re saying.
    xoABCD

  17. ABCDDesigns on 02 Sep 2010 at 4:34 pm

    Suzanne, you’re such a dear. I hope one day we can meet and talk flowers! I really do!!
    xoABCD

  18. Catherine Seiberling Pond on 02 Sep 2010 at 5:52 pm

    Dear Amy, What an inspirational blog! I just learned of it today and am delighted and grateful for your nod towards my book, THE PANTRY.

    The image of the laundry room with that shelf that you like is similar to what has been in my head for weeks, clarifying for me what I’ve been envisioning for a future laundry space.

    Thank you! Catherine Pond

    http://www.CatherinePond.com
    http://www.InthePantry.blogspot.com

  19. stephany on 03 Sep 2010 at 11:44 pm

    LOVE this! I dream of a laundry/mudroom one day…more than just a closet or a pass through from the garage. You can never have enough or too much storage! Love your posts about you own home projects!

  20. Jenny on 04 Sep 2010 at 11:37 am

    Fantastic! I’m with you, I would need the closed shelves too! I’m enjoying your updates, it’s a great journey!

  21. laundry room cabinets on 03 Nov 2010 at 3:52 am

    Nice step by step pics of you going through the process of designing your laundry room design and cabinet selection.

  22. Sam on 09 Jul 2011 at 5:00 am

    Looking awesome…. I have enjoyed your design. thanks

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