A Bathroom & Laundry Room Fit Inside 85 Square Feet
A basement renovation gives a Canadian family a functional laundry room combined with a second bathroom
Morgan Province
26 March 2018
Houzz Contributor. Enjoying a life of travel around the world and writing fun stories along the way. In my spare time, I plan my dream home on Houzz, read all kinds of books, and cuddle with my two Westies.
Houzz Contributor. Enjoying a life of travel around the world and writing fun stories... More
Bathroom-laundry room at a Glance
Location: Saint-Lazare, Quebec
Size:7 square metres (85 square feet)
Designer: Stephanie Fortier
“After” photos by Bodoum Photographie
Location: Saint-Lazare, Quebec
Size:7 square metres (85 square feet)
Designer: Stephanie Fortier
“After” photos by Bodoum Photographie
Before Photo
Before
This family’s basement was a multipurpose space that housed a family room, an art studio and a storage space. It also contained an unfinished laundry area, pictured. The washer and dryer sat out in the open, without cabinetry or decor to make doing laundry a more organised or enjoyable process for the family of three.
The homeowners decided they needed a real laundry room. And because their home had only one bathroom, they decided to add one to the space. They enlisted designer Stephanie Fortier to create a more functional laundry room with a bathroom.
This family’s basement was a multipurpose space that housed a family room, an art studio and a storage space. It also contained an unfinished laundry area, pictured. The washer and dryer sat out in the open, without cabinetry or decor to make doing laundry a more organised or enjoyable process for the family of three.
The homeowners decided they needed a real laundry room. And because their home had only one bathroom, they decided to add one to the space. They enlisted designer Stephanie Fortier to create a more functional laundry room with a bathroom.
After
The homeowners asked Fortier to keep costs low but otherwise gave her a lot of freedom to come up with a design. She presented them with several possibilities. After they chose the one that best served their needs, she collaborated with TD Renovations and Eco Electrique – with whom she had worked before – to implement the design.
Fortier says when designers and contractors work together frequently, they can strengthen their communication and problem-solving abilities. “We act as a team, and the client benefits immensely from this dynamic.”
The homeowners asked Fortier to keep costs low but otherwise gave her a lot of freedom to come up with a design. She presented them with several possibilities. After they chose the one that best served their needs, she collaborated with TD Renovations and Eco Electrique – with whom she had worked before – to implement the design.
Fortier says when designers and contractors work together frequently, they can strengthen their communication and problem-solving abilities. “We act as a team, and the client benefits immensely from this dynamic.”
Laundry area
The washer and dryer now have a home. The front-loading machines are enclosed in a custom-built shelf – an element that Fortier likes to use in her laundry room projects because it makes a room feel customised. The shelf also gives the family a surface for folding clean laundry and storing supplies.
Check out the most popular laundry areas on Houzz
The washer and dryer now have a home. The front-loading machines are enclosed in a custom-built shelf – an element that Fortier likes to use in her laundry room projects because it makes a room feel customised. The shelf also gives the family a surface for folding clean laundry and storing supplies.
Check out the most popular laundry areas on Houzz
Floor
Dare to be bold with your room design, Fortier says. “It doesn’t have to be complicated or too crazy,” she says. “Just try and have one element that stands out and is different than what you are used to.”
In this project, the daring element was the patterned floor tile. When Fortier presented it to her clients, they initially were hesitant because the graphic pattern was out of their comfort zone. But they decided to trust the designer. Fortier describes it as the wow factor in the room.
After the homeowners decided on this statement floor, they chose the rest of the room’s materials.
Dare to be bold with your room design, Fortier says. “It doesn’t have to be complicated or too crazy,” she says. “Just try and have one element that stands out and is different than what you are used to.”
In this project, the daring element was the patterned floor tile. When Fortier presented it to her clients, they initially were hesitant because the graphic pattern was out of their comfort zone. But they decided to trust the designer. Fortier describes it as the wow factor in the room.
After the homeowners decided on this statement floor, they chose the rest of the room’s materials.
Style
Fortier and her clients had decided on farmhouse style for the room. To create this look, she outfitted the space with Shaker-style cabinets, cup pulls for the drawers, a white apron sink, natural wood countertops and subway tiles.
Black cabinets contrast with the light wood counters and open shelves and the white subway tile. Grey grout between the tile helps bridge the transition from dark to light, Fortier says.
See how these bathrooms make the most of less space
Fortier and her clients had decided on farmhouse style for the room. To create this look, she outfitted the space with Shaker-style cabinets, cup pulls for the drawers, a white apron sink, natural wood countertops and subway tiles.
Black cabinets contrast with the light wood counters and open shelves and the white subway tile. Grey grout between the tile helps bridge the transition from dark to light, Fortier says.
See how these bathrooms make the most of less space
Storage area
Because the family uses the room for many kinds of washing – doing laundry, showering and washing paint brushes from the nearby art studio – they wanted a good organisational system and plenty of storage space.
Fortier achieved this with a combination of closed cabinets and open shelves. Behind the cabinet doors, you’ll find items like the family’s vacuum cleaner. Detergents and soaps are stored in clear jars on the open shelves.
Fortier installed a floating shelf above the laundry area to give the room a custom feel. For an unexpected look, she stopped the subway tiles below the shelf and painted the area above the shelf the same gey as on the other walls.
Sink
A sink is useful in a laundry room and essential in a bathroom. But this sink perhaps has been most helpful for the painter of the family. Since this family member’s art studio is also in the basement, having a place nearby to clean her brushes is convenient.
Take a look at bathroom storage ideas
Because the family uses the room for many kinds of washing – doing laundry, showering and washing paint brushes from the nearby art studio – they wanted a good organisational system and plenty of storage space.
Fortier achieved this with a combination of closed cabinets and open shelves. Behind the cabinet doors, you’ll find items like the family’s vacuum cleaner. Detergents and soaps are stored in clear jars on the open shelves.
Fortier installed a floating shelf above the laundry area to give the room a custom feel. For an unexpected look, she stopped the subway tiles below the shelf and painted the area above the shelf the same gey as on the other walls.
Sink
A sink is useful in a laundry room and essential in a bathroom. But this sink perhaps has been most helpful for the painter of the family. Since this family member’s art studio is also in the basement, having a place nearby to clean her brushes is convenient.
Take a look at bathroom storage ideas
Bathroom area
Since this bathroom has been completed, the homeowners have found themselves using it almost every day. They come downstairs to enjoy the spacious shower and then return upstairs to finish getting ready. The heated flooring also keeps them coming back.
Budget
Fortier kept the price tag of this project low by choosing affordable materials and working with standard sizes. “The team splurged on the custom wooden shelves around the appliances and above the cabinets, but that was possible because other design choices throughout the room were affordable,” she says.
The designer chose cabinets, hardware and plumbing fixtures from Ikea and designed the room’s layout around these items.
Pro tip: If you’re planning a remodel, look at standard cabinetry and appliance options, and see how you can work your design around them. You can combine off-the-shelf items for a more creative look that fits your space.
The family also saved money on the tile floor. These porcelain tiles are imitations of a more expensive option. In addition to providing cost savings, the tiles were easier to install and more scratch-resistant.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: Clever Layout Boosts Space in This 300 Sq Ft Home
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this renovation? Tell us in the Comments below.
Since this bathroom has been completed, the homeowners have found themselves using it almost every day. They come downstairs to enjoy the spacious shower and then return upstairs to finish getting ready. The heated flooring also keeps them coming back.
Budget
Fortier kept the price tag of this project low by choosing affordable materials and working with standard sizes. “The team splurged on the custom wooden shelves around the appliances and above the cabinets, but that was possible because other design choices throughout the room were affordable,” she says.
The designer chose cabinets, hardware and plumbing fixtures from Ikea and designed the room’s layout around these items.
Pro tip: If you’re planning a remodel, look at standard cabinetry and appliance options, and see how you can work your design around them. You can combine off-the-shelf items for a more creative look that fits your space.
The family also saved money on the tile floor. These porcelain tiles are imitations of a more expensive option. In addition to providing cost savings, the tiles were easier to install and more scratch-resistant.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: Clever Layout Boosts Space in This 300 Sq Ft Home
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this renovation? Tell us in the Comments below.
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Frankly, I think having the laundry in the bathroom is a bit gross because of "toilet plume". Toilet plume occurs when you flush a toilet, the swirling water that removes your waste from the bowl also mixes with small particles of that waste, shooting aerosolized feces into the air. There is no way that everyone using this bathroom is going to close the lid when they flush. As such aerosolized feces will land on all surfaces including the shelf area above the washer/dryer that is used for folding clean clothes.
I'm looking to a similar layout. What are the dimensions of the shower?
This is excellent, seems to be what will fit my needs perfectly. Presently have a laundry room that is rather spacious with counter tops, floor to ceiling cabinetry, and sink. We need an additional bathroom and these pictures provided me with a potential solution. Looks like this project turned out great!!