We’re thrilled to unveil the latest additions to our duplex renovation project: two stunning and highly functional laundry room/mudroom spaces! These rooms truly represent a significant investment of not just time and resources, but also our personal “sweat equity.” We meticulously designed and built custom tall storage cabinets strategically placed next to the stacked washer/dryer units in each room. Furthermore, understanding the constant need for organization, especially in a beach house setting, we integrated two robust hook rails per room, ensuring there’s always ample space for towels, coats, and beach bags.
One of the design elements we are particularly proud of is the seamless connection and elegant flow from the kitchens into these dedicated laundry room and mudroom areas. This synergy is, without a doubt, one of our favorite features in the entire house. From the moment you step in, your eyes are drawn to the bold statement tile backsplashes in the kitchens, which playfully transition into equally captivating, fun tiled floors in the mudrooms. The thoughtful inclusion of painted pocket doors also deserves special mention. We intentionally incorporated these to provide acoustic separation, allowing guests to effortlessly close off the sounds of laundry appliances while enjoying a meal, cooking, or relaxing with some television. This entire zone, which once possessed absolutely no charm or character, has been completely revitalized, bringing a much-needed sense of style and practicality back into the duplex.
Innovative Pocket Doors: Blending Functionality with Aesthetic Appeal
Observing the pocket doors in their closed position truly highlights their thoughtful design. We opted for solid wood doors, prioritizing sound insulation and a substantial feel, which are crucial for a rental property where guests might be doing laundry while others are relaxing. However, we cleverly integrated glass panes into the upper section of these doors. This “half-lite” design was a deliberate choice, ensuring that natural light from the mudroom’s side window could still filter into the adjacent kitchen, preventing it from feeling dark or enclosed when the doors are shut. The result is a perfect balance of privacy, sound dampening, and light distribution, and we couldn’t be more delighted with their outcome. For those looking to replicate this look, these are often referred to as “half-lite” doors, and ours were sourced from Reeb, known for their quality and durability.
To complement these impressive doors, we selected specific door pulls that strike an ideal balance between affordability and a stately appearance. Their design seamlessly integrates with the other oil-rubbed bronze doorknobs found throughout the duplex, creating a cohesive and polished look. This attention to detail, even in seemingly minor hardware choices, contributes significantly to the overall high-end feel of the renovation, enhancing both form and function for our guests.
From Drab to Fab: A Look Back at the Duplex’s Former State
Before our intervention, these spaces were utterly devoid of personality and practical utility. Imagine entering a room with virtually no distinguishing features, save for a rather outdated ceiling fan. The area we transformed into a vibrant and functional mudroom and laundry space was once a constricted and awkwardly positioned kitchen, shoehorned into what was originally an open-air side porch. This historical context confirms it was never intended as the home’s primary culinary hub, and its makeshift nature was painfully apparent. These “before” photos, illustrating the left side of the duplex, paint a vivid picture of the challenges we faced, though we will soon explore the equally dramatic transformation of the right side.
A detail from the past, almost humorous in retrospect, are the numerous black dots visible on the sheet vinyl floor in the “before” image. These were not decorative elements, but rather an unfortunate consequence of the previous occupants’ pest control efforts. Someone had, quite emphatically, set off a multitude of roach foggers just prior to our initial viewing of the property. The result was a chilling welcome: countless roaches, belly-up, scattered across the floors of several rooms. While certainly a bit unsettling, and frankly, gross, this sight ultimately failed to deter us. After years of tackling various renovation challenges, we’ve encountered far worse, and this particular hurdle simply became another anecdote in our journey to transform this property.
The Left Side: A Multi-Functional Marvel Unveiled
Fast forward to today, and the view through that same wide doorway, now elegantly framed by our new pocket doors, reveals a complete metamorphosis. This once-neglected area has been reimagined as a true “workhorse” room, meticulously designed to maximize functionality and convenience for our guests. It now boasts a modern stacked washer and dryer unit, crucial for space-saving and efficient laundry cycles in a rental property. Complementing this, a clever shelving system complete with convenient baskets (the original Ikea system is no longer available, but similar options exist) provides invaluable bonus “pantry” space, ideal for storing snacks, extra linens, or beach essentials. To the right, a dedicated mudroom portion offers an abundance of organizational features, including numerous hooks for hanging towels and bags, strategically placed shoe baskets to keep footwear tidy, and a comfortable bench for sitting while putting on or taking off shoes. Every element has been carefully considered to enhance the guest experience and make this space incredibly versatile.
Smart Storage and Hidden Solutions for Duplex Living
Stepping fully into the room and turning to face the back wall, your gaze lands upon the efficiently arranged laundry area. Here, our sleek, stacked washer & dryer units are nestled beside a cleverly integrated storage cabinet. This tall unit, an Ikea Sektion cabinet, was a key component in our design. Interestingly, our initial plans had involved installing lower cabinets beneath the window where the shelving system now stands. This would have meant that the lower portion of the built-in cabinet next to the washer and dryer would have been inaccessible, blocked by the continuous run of lower cabinetry. However, as often happens in renovation, plans evolved, leading to an even better solution.
The beauty of the current setup lies in its intelligent partitioning of space. While guests have convenient access to the upper cabinet, where we thoughtfully stock laundry essentials like detergent and fabric softener, the lower shelf serves a clever dual purpose. It’s now a discreet storage spot for our personal paint cans and various house supplies, accessible only by temporarily moving the adjacent shelving system. This shelving unit is securely anchored to the wall, preventing any tipping hazards, especially with curious children around. This ensures that renters won’t stumble upon our renovation materials, preventing any impromptu “redecorating” incidents, yet allows us easy access whenever maintenance or touch-ups are needed. It’s a pragmatic solution that balances guest convenience with owner privacy and security.
A Masterpiece Underfoot: The Hand-Laid Herringbone Floor
Every time we step into this room, the floor truly captivates us. We personally laid each tile by hand, meticulously crafting the herringbone pattern ourselves. It was a labor of love, a testament to our commitment to infusing character into every corner of this duplex, and the effort was undeniably worth it. The process, detailed on our blog, transformed a mundane surface into a vibrant and inviting feature. Moving from the washer/dryer area, if you stand in the doorway where the pocket doors reside and turn right, you’re greeted by our impressive jumbo hook rail. Equipped with a generous eight hooks, this rail is perfect for hanging multiple towels, beach bags, or coats. We absolutely adore these specific hooks; they are not only incredibly affordable but also remarkably substantial, offering both practicality and a touch of elegance to the mudroom.
We extensively debated the inclusion of a built-in bench system with integrated sides and shelving above, similar to this mudroom setup. However, after careful consideration, we realized the immense value in maintaining an open and flexible layout. This design choice proves invaluable, especially for guests arriving with arms full of luggage, groceries, or beach bags. Without protruding built-ins, the space feels much more expansive and navigable, eliminating the sensation of having to navigate around fixed obstructions. This stands in stark contrast to its previous incarnation as a kitchen, where built-in elements along that same side wall made the area feel incredibly narrow and cumbersome.
Charming Details: Secondhand Diamond Doors and Keyless Entry
Turning your back to the washer/dryer, the view is instantly elevated by the striking secondhand diamond doors we painstakingly sourced for this space. These doors, with their unique glass panes, absolutely “slay” us – we are so incredibly glad we held out for them and refused to settle for anything less. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, they serve a crucial functional purpose, allowing abundant light to flood the room. Aesthetically, they beautifully echo the original diamond-paned windows found at the front of the house, which you can explore in another post. This thoughtful continuity in design makes them feel as if they were always meant to be here, connecting the past with the present in a truly meaningful way.
This particular door also serves as the keyless entry point for our renters, a practical feature given the outdoor showers located at the back of the property. Guests can easily access their beach chairs from the shed, rinse off, and re-enter using their unique code. We’ve installed this coded door lock and have been incredibly impressed with its reliability and ease of use. It has effortlessly handled countless entries by approximately 1,379 inspectors, subcontractors, and various other personnel throughout the renovation process, proving its durability and consistent performance.
The “Never Enough Hooks” Philosophy: Maximizing Convenience
Just when you might think eight hooks are sufficient, let us reiterate, in the spirit of The Greatest Showman, that it’s “NEVERRRRR ENOUGH!” Our summer spent at our other beach house taught us an invaluable lesson: you can literally never have too many hooks in a coastal rental property. Embracing this wisdom, we added four additional hooks along the charming alcove to the right of the back door, bringing the grand total to a very practical twelve hooks. Furthermore, we ingeniously tucked in a comfortable bench in this alcove, which proves incredibly handy for sitting down to put on or take off shoes. To maintain order and tidiness, we also incorporated two stylish baskets beneath the bench, providing dedicated storage for shoes and other small essentials. This comprehensive setup ensures maximum functionality and a clutter-free environment for our guests.
The Right Side: An Alternate Reality of Style and Function
Now, let’s transition to the right side of the duplex, where you’ll discover an intriguing alternate-reality version of the design principles we just explored. If this renovation were a “choose-your-own-adventure” book, and you had selected “greeny-gray doors & gray tile” instead of “pink doors and Neapolitan ice cream tile,” you would find yourself in this equally captivating, yet distinctly different, room. The core functionality and layout remain consistent, but the color palette and material choices have been artfully swapped to create a unique aesthetic experience, demonstrating the versatility of our core design framework.
A Dramatic Before & After and Thoughtful Pocket Door Design
Once again, this space has undergone a profound transformation, looking remarkably different from its original state, as evidenced by the “before” photograph below. Today, the current view through the newly installed pocket doors reveals a meticulously designed mudroom and laundry area. A subtle yet ingenious design feature of these pocket doors is how they protrude approximately three inches on each side, even when fully “closed.” We intentionally implemented this on both sides of the duplex. Our reasoning was twofold: first, it serves as a clear visual cue to renters that these are indeed pocket doors and not fixed walls, preventing them from missing their functionality. Second, and equally important, this slight protrusion allows for effortless grasping of the handles, making it incredibly easy to roll the doors open or closed. It’s a small detail, achieved simply by adding wood blocks to the end of the doors to prevent them from fully disappearing into the wall, but it significantly enhances the user experience. You could say it’s rather “handy” to grab the handles – see what we did there?
Right Side Mudroom: Efficiency and Aesthetic Harmony
Rotating to the right while standing in the kitchen and looking through the pocket door opening on this side, you’ll find a space that mirrors the functionality of its counterpart but with its own distinct charm. Here, we’ve again installed a convenient stacked washer & dryer, flanked by that generous built-in cabinet. This efficient arrangement is paramount for maximizing space in a duplex setting. Beneath the window, another IKEA shelving system provides essential bonus pantry storage. We envision guests utilizing the versatile baskets and open shelves to neatly stash all their vacation provisions, from chips and cereal to other snacks they’ll enjoy throughout their stay. This thoughtful provision ensures a tidy and well-organized environment, making their experience all the more enjoyable.
From the perspective of standing with your back to the back door, the layout on this side mirrors the intelligent design of the left. The upper cabinet of the built-in unit is readily accessible to renters, thoughtfully stocked with all necessary laundry supplies for their convenience. Conversely, the lower cabinet is discreetly reserved for our own paint and house supplies. To ensure this privacy, the adjacent pantry shelf is securely anchored to the wall, not only preventing it from tipping over but also strategically restricting renter access to our personal storage. This robust anchoring means that if we need to retrieve items from the lower cabinet, we simply move the pantry shelf, a small effort for maintaining clear boundaries between guest and owner provisions.
A Bounty of Hooks and Our Favorite Beach Towels
Along this wall, we’ve installed a robust rail featuring eight hooks, ensuring ample hanging space. And if you’ll indulge us, we must express our absolute delight in discovering truly fantastic beach towels! These are, in fact, the very same towels we purchased for our other beach house, where they’ve been in continuous use for over a year. We are consistently impressed by their appealing design, the playful fringe that adds a touch of coastal charm, and their generously oversized dimensions, perfect for a day at the beach. Crucially, they have withstood countless washes and heavy use, maintaining their quality beautifully. We wholeheartedly recommend them for any beach-bound household or rental property.
Taking a few steps back into the kitchen, you can appreciate the visual impact when the pocket doors on this side are pulled closed. We adore how they exude a sense of being original to the house, feeling substantial and well-crafted, yet ingeniously designed to still allow a generous stream of natural light from the side window in the laundry area. This thoughtful balance prevents the kitchen from ever feeling dark or cut off, maintaining an open and airy ambiance even when the mudroom is functionally separated.
Embracing Natural Beauty: The Unpainted Wood Door
Stepping into the laundry room and turning to face away from the washer/dryer, you encounter a different, yet equally captivating, secondhand door. This door, unlike its painted counterpart, arrived unpainted, showcasing a lovely, warm wood tone. We simply couldn’t bring ourselves to cover its natural beauty, opting instead to simply clear seal it, allowing its inherent character to shine through. Once again, our adoration for these secondhand diamond doors knows no bounds. They are undeniably a “space-making” choice, their glass panes contributing to a sense of openness and light, much like the beautiful glass pocket doors. Is it eccentric to have a deep “love affair” with doors? Perhaps, but we’ve decided it’s perfectly fine when they add so much charm and functionality!
Following our “never enough hooks” philosophy, we also integrated an additional four bonus hooks into the small alcove to the left of the back door here, bringing the total on this side to a consistent twelve. As you can see in the photo above, this alcove proved to be an absolutely ideal spot for placing the bench. Its recessed position prevents it from encroaching on the main walkway, a crucial consideration for guests carrying luggage or groceries. We initially experimented with placing the benches under the longer hook rails, but they felt uncomfortably cramped. The alcove placement offers a perfect fit, providing a comfortable and functional seating area without obstructing flow. We are planning a video walk-through very soon to give you a comprehensive tour of these spaces, allowing you to appreciate every inch and understand how seamlessly they all flow together.
Conclusion: Functional Beauty in Every Detail
And there you have it – a detailed look at the two distinct yet equally impressive mudroom/laundry rooms, each thoughtfully integrated with bonus pantry space, within our duplex. More than just aesthetically pleasing, these spaces add a tremendous amount of vital function to the entire house, making it infinitely more comfortable and convenient for our guests. From the clever storage solutions to the intelligent use of pocket doors and the vibrant tiled floors, every element has been chosen to enhance the living experience. We genuinely can’t pick a favorite between the two unique designs – so please don’t ask us to! Both embody our commitment to combining beauty with practicality in every renovation project we undertake.
P.S. To explore the full scope of our duplex transformation, including two redesigned kitchens, the captivating front and back exteriors, four luxurious bedrooms, six elegant bathrooms, and two spacious living and dining areas, be sure to visit our dedicated duplex category. You’ll find a wealth of information on our detailed layout planning, the intricate tiling processes for floors and backsplashes, and much more. It’s nearly two years of dedicated updates condensed into just 25 comprehensive posts!
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