1. Multipurpose Mash-Up
Designer: Tami O’Malley Design
Location: St. Charles, Illinois
Size: 66 square feet (6 square meters); 5½ by 12 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This compact room had to fulfill multiple roles,” designer Tami O’Malley says. “Serving as a side entrance and main thoroughfare near the kitchen, it needed to function as a mudroom for storing kids’ school and sports gear, a laundry room and a sleeping spot for two beloved dogs. We aimed for the space to be practical in all these aspects while also offering a welcoming first impression of the home to guests.”
O’Malley used Houzz Pro business software to help manage the project. “We utilized Houzz Pro to collect initial measurements and to create a basic room layout,” O’Malley says. “We also use it to source contractors for our projects, such as Hunter Woodworking and Optimum Granite & Marble.”
Special features. Serene green-gray Shaker-style inset cabinets (Comfort Gray by Sherwin-Williams). Botanical wallpaper. White oak bench and door. Porcelain tiles in checkerboard pattern.
Designer tip. “We asked the contractor to cut 12-by-24-inch tiles into squares for the checkerboard floor,” O’Malley says. “This added some cost to the installation, but by choosing porcelain over marble we significantly reduced our budget. It was a win-win.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Given the small space that needed to serve multiple functions, we filled it with features, which made it difficult to access mechanicals due to the floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and surrounds,” O’Malley says. “To address this, we created an access panel on the side of the washer-dryer and mudroom area. This was disguised as a Shaker-style panel for aesthetic purposes. It has proven to be useful on more than one occasion.”
White oak door and bench: Hunter Woodworking
Find an interior designer on Houzz
Designer: Tami O’Malley Design
Location: St. Charles, Illinois
Size: 66 square feet (6 square meters); 5½ by 12 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This compact room had to fulfill multiple roles,” designer Tami O’Malley says. “Serving as a side entrance and main thoroughfare near the kitchen, it needed to function as a mudroom for storing kids’ school and sports gear, a laundry room and a sleeping spot for two beloved dogs. We aimed for the space to be practical in all these aspects while also offering a welcoming first impression of the home to guests.”
O’Malley used Houzz Pro business software to help manage the project. “We utilized Houzz Pro to collect initial measurements and to create a basic room layout,” O’Malley says. “We also use it to source contractors for our projects, such as Hunter Woodworking and Optimum Granite & Marble.”
Special features. Serene green-gray Shaker-style inset cabinets (Comfort Gray by Sherwin-Williams). Botanical wallpaper. White oak bench and door. Porcelain tiles in checkerboard pattern.
Designer tip. “We asked the contractor to cut 12-by-24-inch tiles into squares for the checkerboard floor,” O’Malley says. “This added some cost to the installation, but by choosing porcelain over marble we significantly reduced our budget. It was a win-win.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Given the small space that needed to serve multiple functions, we filled it with features, which made it difficult to access mechanicals due to the floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and surrounds,” O’Malley says. “To address this, we created an access panel on the side of the washer-dryer and mudroom area. This was disguised as a Shaker-style panel for aesthetic purposes. It has proven to be useful on more than one occasion.”
White oak door and bench: Hunter Woodworking
Find an interior designer on Houzz