Two more duplex rooms are complete and photographed—and these two took a bit of elbow grease. We added tall built-in storage cabinets beside the stacked washer/dryers and installed two hook rails in each room (you can never have too many hooks at the beach).
One of my favorite design moves in the whole house is how the kitchens flow into each laundry/mudroom. From bold tile backsplashes and playful tiled mudroom floors to painted pocket doors (added so you can close off laundry noise while cooking, dining, or watching TV), this area went from zero character to a real focal point, and it feels great to give it personality.
When closed, the pocket doors are solid wood with glass panes at the top so light from the mudroom side window still reaches the kitchen. We went with half-lite doors from Reeb and added pulls that feel affordable and stately—matching our oil-rubbed bronze doorknobs throughout the house.
These spaces used to have almost no character—aside from that ceiling fan. At one point someone shoehorned a cramped kitchen into what had been an open-air side porch, so the previous layout never felt right. These photos show the left side of the duplex; we’ll cover the right side next.
Before, the doorway looked tight and awkward. You might notice the black dots on the old sheet vinyl—those were roaches from previous fogging. It was gross, but not a dealbreaker; the space had much bigger potential.
Now that same wide opening has pocket doors and a fully usable room: stacked washer/dryer, pantry-style shelving with baskets (we used an Ikea system similar to one that’s no longer sold), and a mudroom area to the right with plenty of hooks, shoe baskets, and a bench.
If you stand with your back to the back door, you see our stacked washer and dryer with a built-in storage cabinet we constructed next to them (an Ikea Sektion unit). Originally we planned lower cabinets under the window, so we didn’t expect to have that bottom cabinet accessible from the washer area. It turned out to be useful: renters can access the top shelf stocked with laundry supplies, while the lower shelf—hidden behind the shelving unit—stores paint and house supplies for us.
We anchored the shelving to the wall for safety and to prevent renters or kids from accessing our stored supplies. That solution keeps the space functional and secure.
The tile floor still makes me smile every time I walk in. We laid each tile by hand and created the pattern ourselves, and it was totally worth the effort. From the doorway, the jumbo hook rail with eight hooks is right to your right; we love these substantial, affordable hooks.
We considered a built-in bench with cubbies, but keeping the space open felt smarter—it prevents collisions when you come in with arms full of groceries, bags, or luggage. When the room was a kitchen it felt narrow because of all the built-ins; now it’s much more welcoming.
Facing the washer/dryer, the secondhand diamond door we tracked down is a favorite detail. The glass panes add light and echo the original diamond-paned windows at the front of the house, so they feel right at home.
That door also serves as the renters’ keyless entry, which is handy when people come in from the outdoor showers or shed. We installed a coded door lock that has been used by many people without issue.
And because you can never have too many hooks, we added four more in the alcove to the right of the back door for a total of 12 hooks. We also squeezed in a bench for sitting and two baskets for shoes and small items—small additions that make everyday comings and goings easier.
Now to the right-side unit, which feels like an alternate take: if the left is “pink and neapolitan,” the right is “greeny-gray doors and gray tile.”
The transformation on this side is equally dramatic. We left a bit of the pocket doors exposed—about 3″—so they’re easy to grab and renters can clearly see they’re there. We achieved this by adding small wood blocks to the door ends so the doors can’t disappear entirely into the wall. It’s a small detail that’s surprisingly useful.
On this side, a stacked washer/dryer sits next to another built-in cabinet, and we added a second shelving unit under the window for pantry-style storage. We expect guests will use the baskets and shelves for snacks and staples during their stay.
Just like the left side, the top cabinet is renter-accessible and stocked with laundry supplies, while the lower cabinet hides our paint and house supplies. The shelving is anchored so it won’t tip and renters won’t be able to access the lower storage without moving the unit.
We installed eight hooks along one wall on this side, and added four more in an alcove near the back door—a total of 12 hooks here as well. The alcove is the perfect spot for a bench, tucked out of the main walkway so people can sit to put on shoes without blocking passage.
With the pocket doors closed on this side, the rooms still feel light and connected because the glass in the doors lets daylight pass through. We left the secondhand wood door unpainted and clear-sealed to preserve its warm tone; details like that make a big difference in the overall feel.
We’ll probably do a short video walk-through so you can see the flow of these spaces in motion, but for now—both mudrooms/pantry-laundry combos are finished. They add a lot of function to the duplex and are a joy to look at. I genuinely can’t pick a favorite.
P.S. You can find other finished duplex rooms and renovation updates in our duplex category—many rooms, layouts, and tiling posts collected over the last couple years.
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