Back to the room that literally didn’t exist a few weeks ago. Forgive the all-caps enthusiasm, but this is the kind of project that makes me giddy. (Side note: I dreamed about a newspaper column called Shellac This!—a daily feature about shellacking a different piece of furniture—and people were obsessed with it. It was ridiculous and fun.)
We left off with the laundry room primed and ready in Monday’s post, so that’s where we pick up (we used VOC-free Kilz Premium). The space is compact—about 7′ wide by 8′ deep—so progress came quickly. Here it is, prepped and ready for paint:
Before choosing paint, we selected the floor tile. It’s Blast Anthracite from The Tile Shop, and it was an affordable, stylish option for this room. We were drawn to how well it pairs with the accent tile we plan to install above the washer and dryer, just below the wall cabinets.
The tile isn’t too light, so it won’t show every bit of lint, and it complements the hardwoods in the hallway. The thing that sold us was the subtle veining and variation—the texture and striations look even better in person.
With tile chosen, I made a small mood board to visualize the room—how the tile, finishes, and color would work together. Everything here is subject to change as we move forward, but it was a helpful starting point.
- Warm wood elements—like a butcher block counter—will balance the gray tile and stainless appliances.
- Our washer and dryer will sit here.
- We’re considering a geometric ceiling light from our lighting collection for a cozy, modern touch.
- A colorful woven basket will add natural texture and a pop of color.
- We’ve been eyeing a set of prints that might be perfect for this small, cozy room.
- A small wood letterpress drawer could display little collected items.
- White cabinets will tie into the appliances and make the butcher block stand out.
- Simple knobs that echo our lighting choice could be a fun detail on the cabinets.
- We’ve already chosen an accent tile for above the washer and dryer.
- And here’s the floor tile we selected.
- A small Dash & Albert rug will add texture and a subtle color accent.
After seeing how the tile and warm woods paired with artwork, we focused on a wall color. We wanted a light hue (the room has no windows), but not stark white—so the trim and cabinets would feel like architectural details against the wall. Rather than rely on a hundred swatches, we built a simple in-room mood board using items from around the house to test colors and finishes in place.
We gathered pieces like the white drum stool (close in color to our appliances), tile samples, and wood tones. The small terrarium stood in for the light fixture because it shared a similar color and line quality.
Putting those elements together in the actual room made the paint decision clearer. Our favorite swatch was “Going To The Chapel” by Benjamin Moore—the same color we used in Teddy’s room. We liked the idea of repeating a color in different spots around the house to create a cohesive palette. We painted the laundry room in Benjamin Moore Natura, eggshell finish (VOC-free).
The photo doesn’t capture the full difference—the space went from stark and unfinished to feeling polished and room-like. Painting the end of the hallway to match helped the new work blend into the original areas, making it look like this has always been part of the house.
It’s surreal to think that we were sketching ideas a month ago and now these rooms and doorways are actually happening.
We also picked the glass door for the future bunk room. After weighing options, we decided to match the 15-paned glass door style we have downstairs. Keeping the panes consistent will help everything feel cohesive and original. We prefer clear glass so we can choose to frost it later or add a shade for privacy.
The door is in stock at Home Depot, which keeps the cost reasonable. We’ll paint, trim, hinge, and hardware it ourselves—details I’m excited about. With that decided, here’s our updated to-do list:
Move washer & dryer and remove cabinetryDemo cased opening, side wall, back wall, part of the floor and the attic stepFrame new walls & doorwaysMove laundry plumbing hook-ups & drainsMove laundry electrical (plus other lights, switches, and outlets)Move dryer vent & HVAC ductHang drywallAdd insulationMud, tape, and sand all new drywall seamsPrime & paint laundry room and hallway walls- Tile & grout new laundry floor
- Add baseboards and door casings
- Rehang laundry door
- Add new glass door to future bunk room
- Add upper cabinetry and crown molding
- Add lower cabinet next to washer & dryer with countertop
- Tile & grout laundry room backsplash
- Reinstall washer & dryer
- Add ceiling light fixture
- Hang art, ironing board, and bring in other laundry room items
- Finishing touches and small repairs (drywall patching in garage, attic step, etc.)
Next up is installing and grouting the laundry room floor tile, which we hope to complete by Monday. That step will make the space feel like a real room and bring us closer to returning the washer and dryer. Laundry itself might not thrill everyone, but being able to wash at home again has me genuinely excited—expect a happy little dance around the machines when they’re humming.
