Laundry Room Renovation Design

While kitchens and bathrooms are the most popular home renovation projects, the laundry room is beginning to become a sought after renovation area. Long gone are the days of having the laundry room hidden from the rest of the home. Nowadays, laundry rooms are now integrated into home design, instead of being thrown into the floor plan as an afterthought.

Location Changes

Over the years, laundry rooms have gone through several transitions. First, they moved out of the basement and onto the main floor. Still, they were often neglected and placed in the mud room or garage. More recently, they have been making a move to the second floor, or close to the bedrooms. Oftentimes, laundry rooms will be located nearest the master bedroom, or even part of the master closet. The biggest advantage in having the laundry room near the bedrooms, or as part of the closet, is because it is near where most of the dirty clothes, sheets, blankets, and other items are generated.

While laundry rooms were once an afterthought in design, many homeowners are striving to make the laundry room (and process) more enjoyable. This is often accomplished by making the laundry room more stylish and functional, and with better storage.

Laundry Room with Several Uses

Surprisingly, laundry rooms can be turned into the perfect multi-purpose room for anything from crafts, to an office space. Having a laundry room serve as a multi-purpose room is the perfect way to add a little bit of extra space that your family needs. Some homeowners might have their laundry room located right off of the kitchen area. The laundry room can then serve as a place to store overflow pantry items, or even a a wine fridge.

Photo: HGTV

Designing the Room

When designing a laundry room, it is important to create a functional design by placing certain elements near or adjacent each other. These items include the appliances, supplies, hamper, and work surface.

Appliances. Having the washer and dryer placed side by side makes it easier to transfer wet clothes without creating a mess.

Supplies. Having the laundry detergent and fabric softener in an easy to reach place will make the process that much more enjoyable. We recommend storing detergents, stain removers, and any other related items in a bin or basket, or on an easy to reach shelf.

Hamper. A great to maximize the efficiency of the laundry area is to add in a place for the laundry hamper. This can include a pull out cabinet solution, large shelves, or an open niche.

Work Surface. Having a counter or table top space is perfect for sorting, spot treating, or making any repairs to your garments.

Some other things to include in the laundry room can include drying racks, an ironing board, and a steamer.

Photo: Pinterest

Choosing the Materials

Choosing finishes and materials for the laundry room can be tricky. Since laundry rooms experience frequent spills and sprays, it is best to choose materials that are durable versus materials that are ultra luxurious. Some great options for floors are low cost linoleum, cork, or vinyl. Having wood floors in the laundry room may not be the best choice due to the likelihood of moisture in the room. As far as countertops go, it is important to choose something that is low maintenance. While natural stones, such as marble, are beautiful and timeless, they are porous and prone to stains. For a laundry room, it is best to stick with laminate or an engineered stone, such a quartz.

Overall, renovating your laundry room will add value to your home in more ways than one. If you are interested in a home renovation project, please call Balducci Additions and Remodeling for a free estimate!

Bathroom Renovation Trend: Floating Vanities

Bathroom renovations are great investments to the home because they can increase your home value, update fixtures and storage, and create a space that is aesthetically pleasing. The recent trend in bathroom renovations is to create a spa-like bathroom experience. This is often achieved through incorporating clean lines, luxury finishes, and a muted color palette. One way to add a more spa-like feel into the bathroom is by incorporating a floating vanity. Floating vanities are one of the newest trends in bathroom renovation design. Not only are they ultra chic, floating vanities can even make the bulkiest of cabinets looks streamlined and minimalistic. Another advantage with floating vanities, also referred to as wall-mounted vanities, is that they help to make any bathroom appear larger. This is because the flooring is able to extend all the way to the wall without being interrupted.

Photo: Elements of Style Blog

Wall-mounted vanities are a great option since they can be installed at various heights. Recently, one trend that we are seeing more and more is comfort height vanities. Comfort height vanities reach 36 inches, compared to the standard 30 to 32 inches. Why? On average, people are much taller now than they were 100 years ago. Installing a vanity at comfort height means less hunching over the sink.

In addition to increased comfort, floating vanities can also be installed in accordance with accessible design and/or ADA requirements. While floating vanities may look ultra-modern, they can surprisingly be incorporated well when performing a bathroom renovation that will work for aging in place.

Photo: L.EvansDesignGroup,inc via Houzz

Since floating vanities allow for the floor to extend to the wall, this then creates an opening under the cabinets. Having the floor open under the cabinets allows for easy cleaning, as opposed to "standard" cabinets that tend to collect dust bunnies underneath. Not only does this area allow for easier cleaning, it also allows for new decorating possibilities under the wall-mounted cabinet. Some ideas include adding baskets, bins, and other small pieces of storage that can be easily moved around for cleaning purposes.

In addition to storage and other decorating possibilities under the cabinet, lighting is also a must. We recommend adding strip or spot lighting below the cabinet. This helps to add a luxurious feel to the room, in addition to added safety.

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Floating vanities are a great option for any bathroom. They can help to keep a bathroom from looking too cluttered with its clean, minimal lines and open area underneath. Wall-mounted vanities are extremely versatile. Not only can they be installed at nearly any height, the can be a great option for multi-generational families. For example, floating vanities can be used by those with mobility problems since a wheelchair can be rolled under the vanity. Additionally, a step stool for younger children can be placed under the vanity and pulled out when needed.

If you are considering a bathroom renovation, installing a floating vanity can be a great choice. Feel free to contact Balducci Additions and Remodeling for more information about floating vanities, or if you have any questions about your own bathroom renovation ideas!

Types of Home Additions

When a home no longer fits your needs, it may be time to consider a home addition. A Home addition is a great way to add some additional living space, customize your home, and keep neighborhood ties. There are several types of home additions to choose from. Here are some ideas:

Bump-Out Addition

Bump-out additions are the perfect option for those who would benefit from slightly more square footage space. With the high costs associated with most full-sized additions, bump-out additions are a great option for those yearning for a little more space. As opposed to full additions, bump-out additions can only extend up to 3 feet away from the home and add 10 to 12 feet in width. These types of additions are best for those who want to add a little space to a particular room without reconfiguring the adjacent rooms in the home.

First Floor Addition

First floor additions are popular for homeowners who wish to have more entertainment space. This can include an extension of the kitchen, living room, or dining areas. Other options would be to build on a sunroom or formal sitting area to provide a more "private" entertainment area. More recently, there has been a spike in popularity in first floor master suites. This may be due to the desire to age in place; as well as the increasing popularity in multi-generational living situations. One thing to keep in mind about first floor additions is that they will take up some yard space, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your preferences.

Dormer Addition

A dormer addition allows for a little extra living space on the top floor of a home with a steep roof line. Many homeowners choose to build a dormer when they are in need of more space in their home, specifically an extra bedroom, guest room, or bathroom. For example, many homeowners may buy a home that fits their needs initially; however, their needs can change as the years pass. Dormer additions can be built in several styles. Some types of dormers to consider include: gable, shed roof, and hip roof. Additionally, dormer additions can be a great way to enhance the curb appeal of your home since they add an interesting architectural element.

Photo: Pinterest

Second Story (or Third Story) Addition

A second story, or third story, addition is a great way to take advantage of any views and to maximize yard space. Building a second story addition can allow you to locate all bedrooms to the same floor. Our rule of thumb is to add 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms to the second floor; however, every home is different and has different requirements. We recommend researching the average number of bedrooms and bathrooms in your neighborhood prior to coming up with the final numbers. By locating the bedrooms on the second or third floor, this will most likely provide more space for the kitchen, dining, and living areas on the main floor. Hello, open concept living!

Garage Addition

Garage additions are perfect for storing your cars, tools, and other miscellaneous items. It can serve as the perfect place for a workspace. The size of a garage addition can differ greatly due to the variety of car sizes available on the market today. Garages can be built to be either attached or detached, with advantages and disadvantages for both options. Attached garages are more convenient, since they allow for easy access to the main house. On the other hand, detached garages offer more flexibility in size and location.

While the type of home addition that you built can differ greatly, so will the costs. The cost of building an addition will depend on the type of addition, size, quality of materials, the age of your home, and other factors. Overall, building an addition that you and your family will enjoy is well worth the cost.