MUDROOM MARVEL

This beautiful California mudroom will make you want to do laundry all day long.

Make the chore of laundry more enjoyable with a chic and organized laundry room.

Often overlooked, yet essential for any home, the laundry room is a place where the dirt and grime of your daily grind comes to be refreshed after a quick spin in the wash cycle. Doing laundry can often seem like a never-ending task, but changing the room’s aesthetic can make the chore infinitely easier and more enjoyable. Designer Stefani Stein of Stefani Stein, Inc. took a relaxed, yet refined, approach to this Pasadena, California, home’s mudroom and gave it a new look that invokes charm with rustic and modern elements.

COHESIVE COMFORT

Upon starting the renovation, there were a few caveats for Stefani to keep in mind. “Because the mudroom was adjacent to the kitchen and visible from the breakfast nook, where the family spends a lot of time, visual continuity was essential,” she says. “I wanted to orient the space to eliminate clutter and appliances from the line of sight from the kitchen.” She chose a soft blue for the cabinets, accented with clean white walls to match the elements of the complex tilework that catches your eye when you first enter.

TILED TREASURE

Tabarka tile lines the far window and lower side of the countertop, providing texture to the mudroom with its simple color scheme and unique pattern. “I love that the tile pattern felt like it could have been original to the home,” Stefani says. The pop of wooden features, such as the border lining the tilework and butcher-block countertops, gives the mudroom a rustic, yet natural, flair. “I wanted the redesign to complement the architecture but also feel fresh and in line with the client’s aesthetic,” Stefani says. Overall, this mudroom makeover feels fresh and tranquil, combining visually interesting pieces and innovative design to create the perfect work space.

BY C A I T L I N RAGAN PHOTOGRAPHY B Y T E S S A N E U S TADT

"I love thatthe tile pattern felt like it could have been original to the home.” The tilework elevates the look of the simple wooden countertop, while wire baskets for storage provide a chic and easy way to clean up.

(top left) The space under the folding counter doubles as a dog bed for the family dog, Cooper. The tile surrounding the window brings style and alludes to blue skies just outside. (top right) Stefani included this custom drying rack, which can easily fold back against the wall when not in use. She placed it next to the large window that can open to aid with drying. (above) On the shaker cabinets, Stefani opted for leather straps rather than the traditional metal drawer pulls. The bottom drawer cleverly keeps Cooper’s food hidden from view. “My favorite element is definitely the built-in dog station,” Stefani says. “It was my first time customizing designs for a canine family member.”