The laundry room floor is getting the same white Octagon & Dot tile with charcoal grout as the half-bath. I had Martha Stewart’s “Cumulus Cloud” matched to Benjamin Moore paint for the walls, and it’s spot-on with their “Whirlpool” color. And hello there, sink of my dreams! I chose two faucets with built-in soap holders to go with it, and I cannot wait to see the whole thing in place. Old-fashioned sinks completely charm me.
I think a striped towel hanging from a red hook (this one or this one) near the sink will look nice, and the color will go with the red of our LG washer and dryer. We purchased those when we moved in four years ago, and they were the nicest things in our basement for a long time. Now we’ll finally have a laundry room worthy of such splashy appliances!
The wall color is a very subtle gray/blue, so in addition to the red I’m also thinking of bringing in a brighter blue as an accent. Maybe painting the back door? Or a piece of furniture? Or both? Here’s a little peek at some of the details…
I’m still planning the rest of the space. I figure we’ll need a little storage, a good surface for folding clothes on, a clothing rail for hanging items, and a drying rack. And maybe a stool to sit on. Oh, and probably some sort of laundry sorting system. Anything I’m missing here? We’ve never had a dedicated laundry room before and while I’m excited about making it lovely, I’m also dedicated to making it functional.
Thank you, Vintage Tub & Bath, for providing the sink and faucets.
michelle
February 3, 2011 at 9:26 amThis is going to be the most gorgeous laundry room
Ali
February 3, 2011 at 9:26 amI am loving the look so far.
The one thing I HATE with a passion is the area where the detergent goes. Typically it just sits on the dryer beside the washer ready to use. However its not the most attractive storage & gets messy with the stray liquid drips (or powder dust). But its got to go somewhere.
Erika
February 3, 2011 at 9:30 amThat is going to be lovely! That sink is fantastic!
Anne @Its a Baltimore Life
February 3, 2011 at 9:34 amI love that sink! It looks nice and deep like it has the functionality of a utility sink but so much cuter. Where did you find it??
Anne @Its a Baltimore Life
February 3, 2011 at 9:34 amOh duh! Just saw the link for the sink…sorry!!
Monica
February 3, 2011 at 9:37 amI cannot wait for the reveal… and love the sink.. have you check Sarah Richarson take on her laundry room… it may give you ideas for storage!
http://www.sarahrichardsondesign.com/portfolio/project/sarahs-house2/laundry-room
Making it Lovely
February 3, 2011 at 9:57 amI have the episode of Sarah’s House with that laundry room saved on our DVR. I love it.
Circa1972vs1906
February 4, 2011 at 1:02 pmMy husband knows upon pain of DEATH not to erase that episode of Sarah’s House with the laundry room on the DVR! Wow, and I absolutely love that sink – though, the price tag ($1723) is a bit rich for me and my basement. I’ll have to stick with my 100 year old concrete utility sink for now!
mrsbcs
February 3, 2011 at 9:49 amI absolutely love it! Maybe because I have a relationship to red similar to your relationship to pink ;)
T* the peach chablis
February 3, 2011 at 9:50 amI cannot wait to see this finished! Love the style and color choices. So hip!
Robin Grey
February 3, 2011 at 9:51 amI’m in love with your laundry room. I’ve been drooling over that sink for about 18 months. I just can’t dedicate $2200 of my budget for a laundry sink. You weren’t able to find any similar but less expensive options were you? (I haven’t be able.) I’m so excited to see the final basement!
Living Vicariously,
Robin
Making it Lovely
February 3, 2011 at 9:56 amI liked this one too. It’s smaller, but it’s still a good size. So many utility sinks these days are generic plastic, which I definitely didn’t want. You can always try flea markets, antique shops, and architectural salvage shops too. I’ve even seen old sinks pop up on Craigslist from time to time (but they’ve been pretty pricey from what I’ve noticed).
Dianne
February 3, 2011 at 9:52 amLooking great. Don’t forget storage container for the detergent, fabric sheets, etc. It makes a huge difference.
kq
February 3, 2011 at 9:54 amdon’t forget a fun ironing board cover! maybe you can spray the legs of your ironing board a nice colour as well.
Making it Lovely
February 3, 2011 at 9:56 amYes, good idea!
Danielle
February 3, 2011 at 9:57 amThis looks great! We redid our laundry area last year. One thing that helped was open shelving. I used jars from Ikea to put supplies in, like laundry soup powder, the lint catches, etc. Not only do they look nice, I can find everything.
Kristina
February 3, 2011 at 10:05 amSo you got the sink and faucets for free?!?
Making it Lovely
February 3, 2011 at 10:47 amYes, I approached a select few companies to work with in furnishing our new spaces. I’m excited about the partnerships because they’re all hand-picked by me, and they allowed me to choose exactly what I wanted.
Felicity
February 3, 2011 at 10:29 amOMG I’m in LOVE with that sink! We’re trying to decide between a laundry room and bathroom or both combined. If I do both combined I’ll have space for a utility sink. But who wants a utility sink in a nice bathroom? Maybe this is the answer, a beautiful utility sink!
Jana
February 3, 2011 at 10:37 amBeautiful! I like the five alarm hook the best. I am thinking of putting the exact same tile in our wee bathroom :)
bungalowbliss
February 3, 2011 at 10:40 amI have the same American Standard faucet for my salvaged farmhouse kitchen sink, and I love it. I tried it out at a local (expensive) plumbing supply store, and then located online (the same site, I think) for considerably less. The soap holder was a must for me–you’ll love it!
Looking great! Can’t wait to see actual pictures!
Making it Lovely
February 3, 2011 at 10:49 amI’m glad to hear that! The faucets are here, and though they’re still in their boxes, I can tell they’re of good quality. So nice and substantial, and they look amazing!
HollyP
February 3, 2011 at 10:44 amIn preparation for the day that Eleanor and little Ned (my vote) will be able to fold their own laundry, color-coded laundry baskets. Preferably baskets with handles that are easy for the kids to lug up the stairs themselves.
As I pull laundry off the line or out of the dryer, I toss each item into the owners’ basket. Then the kids can carry their own laundry upstairs to fold & put away. Makes laundry day so much easier!
Allison
February 3, 2011 at 10:45 amOooh, please tell me you got that sink for free? Is that what you mean by provided by? Cause if so…I’m seriously jealous. That is BEAUTIFUL. I thought I LOVED your bathroom but I LOVE your laundry room!
Trudi
February 3, 2011 at 10:55 amThis looks great, and like everyone else, I cannot wait to see the end result. Two things I am struggling with in my laundry room are: a place to hide the bucket I use to soak poopy clothes (potty training…), but you probably will be addressing that with your organization. The other issue is a spot for items that cannot go in the dryer. I drape clothes everywhere, and it drives me crazy.
Making it Lovely
February 3, 2011 at 10:35 pmI think I’m going to pick up this rinsing tub. No need to hide it because it looks great!
And I have a lot of clothes that need to be hung or laid flat to dry, so I definitely need to plan for that.
Melissa
February 3, 2011 at 11:04 amIt is going to look grea – I am so jealous as right now my basement is probably like yours was – my washer/dryer are the nicest things down there.
jbhat
February 3, 2011 at 11:10 amDoing the laundry is going to become your Very Favorite chore. Wowza. Love what you have planned. So much!
jbhat
Jenn M
February 3, 2011 at 11:29 amLove it! Can’t wait to see the final!
Don’t forget a pretty little waste can for all that lint!
lori
February 3, 2011 at 11:45 amWhat about a nice stripe-y mat for some foot support, under the sink?
Can’t wait to see photos of the finished room!
Laurie @ House to your Home
February 3, 2011 at 12:23 pmI’m a sucker for a good laundry room, how that’s possible I don’t know because I hate doing laundry, I love the utility sink and I love the pop of red! Your downstairs is going to be so amazing when you’re done!
Denise
February 3, 2011 at 12:30 pmNicole,
What a great sink for bathing little ones. We have the American Standard faucet for our farmhouse kitchen sink and I love it. We’ve been using it for 8 years and it still looks brand new. I was just admiring it last night as I washed our dinner dishes. A great choice for your very stylish laundry room!
chole
February 3, 2011 at 12:39 pmOh what I wouldn’t do for a lovely laundry room! One thing I saw recently was this pedestal or stage (not sure what to call it!) for front loaders with room for baskets to sort laundry in. Love it.
http://showandtell-sausha.blogspot.com/2010/06/laundry-room-updates.html
Emily
February 3, 2011 at 12:41 pmLove that sink!!! Pricey for me, but think it would be worth it. My laundry room is right off the backdoor entry. My kids come in filthy, and they could march right to that sink and wash up, two at a time. :)
Heidi @ Budget Wise Home
February 3, 2011 at 1:08 pmI’m loving how the color scheme is coming together. I love the red and blue combo. I just redid my office with those colors and it is such a happy space. Here is the link if you want to check it out.
http://budgetwisehome.com/my-office-reveal-part-1/
Sarah
February 3, 2011 at 1:26 pmThat sink is so gorgeous I teared up a little.
I would actually do laundry at your house.
PJ
February 3, 2011 at 1:33 pmI love that color scheme! Going to file it away for possible future use in my house. Also, I’m totally jealous of your new laundry room. Our machines sit in the unfinished part of our basement, making the chore of doing laundry even more dreadful!
Hallie
February 3, 2011 at 1:51 pmA quick thought on folding area. If you’re short on space, this Ikea fold-down table is really great.(http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80091713)
I bought it for my laundry room, but did not wind up having enough room to mount it on the wall. Fortunately for me it wound up still being perfect because the tabletop fits right on top of this laundry sorter (http://www.containerstore.com/shop/laundry/hampers?productId=10000486&N=77003&Nao=32)(and also right onto my sink–double-awesome) when it comes time to fold, and fits next to my washer when not in use. I’m betting you have room to mount it though.
Tiffany
February 3, 2011 at 2:27 pmI really can’t wait to see the results. I love everything so far.
Amanda
February 3, 2011 at 2:31 pmMaybe I’m just dense, but I’ve never seen the need to have a sink in my laundry area. If I have to handwash something I do it in my bathroom sink usually after I take it off. Although .. it IS pretty, and it goes with your bathroom sinks upstairs (though it’s newer)
Jessica
February 3, 2011 at 3:12 pmIt probably all depends on how your laundry room is set up. We have a utility sink there because that is where our washer drains. Same with my in-laws. Plus it is nice to have a place to wash grimy things or empty your mop bucket, but you’re right, if you don’t have one, there’s other places you can do those things.
Making it Lovely
February 3, 2011 at 10:38 pmI also plan to use the sink for cleaning up after craft and DIY projects. My studio will be in the basement, as well as a space for the kids, so that’s why I wanted such a large sink for the laundry room.
haverlee
February 3, 2011 at 3:26 pmDon’t know if anyone mentioned this above but I’m constantly using our spray nozzle at our kitchen sink for rinsing baby stains off of clothes. If I ever get to design a laundry room, I would be sure to have one of those spray nozzles that pulls out from the sink for that purpose. Just thought I’d mention that but I’m a little OCD with stain removal ;) I’m sure you have your own method that works. Plus, it really wouldn’t look so attractive on that sink!!
Kathryn Humphreys
February 3, 2011 at 8:21 pmoh yes, especially if you’re going to do cloth diapers, a spray nozzle and an attractive soaking bucket for stained clothes (and boy clothes tend to get stained more than girls in my house) – very handy.
kelsey
February 3, 2011 at 3:57 pmIt has been so fun to see this come together! I love all your choices.
Stacy
February 3, 2011 at 7:11 pmWe just built two of these for our laundry room to sort and store all the clean and dirty clothes (and we have a 3 year old and 5 month old twins, so there’s a LOT of laundry going on here). They were super easy to build and very, very functional. I covered the back with some wallpaper to make them more fun. :)
http://ana-white.com/2010/11/laundry-basket-dresser.html
citydweller
February 3, 2011 at 10:04 pmi love the color choices especially that red front-loading washer! have you thought about adding a light blue/white wallpaper?
cheers!
Bethany Joy
February 3, 2011 at 10:27 pmSo so cute so far. Our laundry room is a tiny space behind our carport-definitely needs some help and your ideas are super inspiring!!
Lisa
February 4, 2011 at 7:31 amA hamper will make your life so much easier. We had this for a long time: http://www.containerstore.com/shop/laundry/hampers?productId=10025565&N=77003
It’s nice to have 3 sections: darks, lights, and special wash (aka the husband doesn’t touch this one!).
Now we’re in a much smaller place and couldn’t dedicate floor space to a hamper. So we have a 4 drawer elfa cabinet on top of the washer. 3 drawers for laundry and the 4th holds the laundry detergent, softener, and other stuff.
Lisa
February 4, 2011 at 7:39 amAnd for a drying rack: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00176080
We don’t have a dryer so everything goes on the rack. It works really well. In general, 1 load of laundry for each side. It may be too big for you if you don’t have a lot of hang dry clothes. If both sides are brought up it’s big enough to lay a sweater or long top flat.
April
February 4, 2011 at 9:58 amLove the red with the blue! I always have.
KBG in DC
February 4, 2011 at 4:24 pmI know there are two camps when it comes to ironing, but I’m in the “loathe it” Camp. An attractive place to iron, plus really nice ironing accessories (hello scented laundry spray!) in your beautiful new laundry room would probably be the only thing I didn’t see mentioned yet. Can’t wait to see the finished result!
macy dawn
February 4, 2011 at 5:03 pmMy jealousy meter just spiked when I saw this inspiration board! I’m having vicious dreams of ripping apart our laundry room and following you step by step. I’m drooling over the red accents! (But then again, I do have red countertops in my kitchen!)
Angela
April 25, 2012 at 9:38 pmYay! Quartz I assume. I L-O-V-E Quartz.
Jenn W-M
February 4, 2011 at 10:54 pmOK, I officially have sink envy. That sink is absolutly beautiful! We live in an 1918 home and that would go so perfect, if I had a place to put it. I would love to come over and do laundry any day in your soon to be completed basement!
Sarah Jane
February 6, 2011 at 8:36 pmOh how I love vintage sinks too. They make me happy.
Natalie
February 7, 2011 at 7:00 pmoooh I love the red! Can’t wait to see it all come together! I just know it’s going to be FABULOUS :)
Alana
February 10, 2011 at 3:48 pmYou’ll need a cute laundry basket!
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/organizing/5-laundry-carts-for-home-125956
little.black.tie.
February 11, 2011 at 11:24 amP.S.
We have the same sink dreams!
It’s a fabulous piece.
Jyll
February 17, 2011 at 9:47 pmLove the paint colour ideas! I am in the middle of my laundry room reno and have gray tile floors and a red washer/dryer, I was totally stumped on colours for the wall though, thanks! Hopefully we can see some pics of the finished project soon.
Great site!