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The mud stops here.

Mud and laundry rooms are one of the utilized spaces in a home, yet are often neglected during the design phase.  If you are building a new house or renovating a home, don't forget to pay attention to this space!  

Things to think about:

  • LIGHTING.  Who wants to fold clothes in a small, dark space? Add a skylight if there isn't a window or, at least, install plenty of overhead LED lighting to make the space bright. I use Aspect recessed LED in my projects.
  • ROUTINES.  Who uses this space?  Are you hanging school bags and sports equipment?  What about mom's tennis gear?  Don't forget pets - dog food storage and a feeding area could help keep Fido organized too!
  • STORAGE, STORAGE, STORAGE.  Install cabinets of various depths to keep vacuum hoses from tangling, towels stacked, and shoes tidy in cubbies.   
  • WATER.  If you can, put a sink!  Having a space to wash & rinse away dirt just may save your life.  This Blanco undermount is one of my favorites.
  • FLOORING.  Make sure you put a durable product on the floor.  Tile is the No. 1 choice, but be creative and use an interesting pattern or texture.  Tile comes in finishes that look like natural stone, wood and even brick!  What I wouldn't give for a herringbone brick floor in my mud room!

Back-To-School Blues?

If you're like me, you're anxious about getting the kids (and yourself) back into the school swing.  Every mom is chattering about demanding homework schedules, after-school activities, and school expenses.  What can you do to make this year better?  Think about some organization and space planning for your kids rooms, play areas, and homework / craft centers.  Send me a photo of the space you want to transform and I will give you some design suggestions.  I may even feature the before/after here!!

Here are some great examples of kid-friendly spaces to inspire learning and productivity!  Setting aside a special place for studies or reading.  This lets your child know that schoolwork is a priority!  Clearing  a corner of the cluttered breakfast bar probably isn't going to encourage concentration.  Give your child his own table with colorful containers full of pencils and bins for materials needed to get his work done.  

Being organized and ready to tackle the task at hand will alleviate everyone's stress and get you closer to baths, bedtime, and that well-deserved glass of wine.

 

Easter is More Yummy with Carrot Cake.

I'm a sucker for carrot cake... throw in some cheesecake and I call it perfection!  This recipe for Bakery Style Carrot Cake Cheesecake Cake from Wicked Good Kitchen looks AH-mazing.  

Of course, this recipe is going to be much more fun to create if you have a Kitchen Aid Mixer that pops up out of your cabinetry for easy use and storage!

How to Organize the Linen Closet

I mentioned last week that I'm ready to pack away the heavy blankets and slide into summer. When you open the linen closet to swap those flannel sheets for crisp cotton, are you threatened by a mound of linens ready to topple out? Is it a struggle to find a matching set of sheets?  If so, then it’s time to reorganize your linen closet!

PURGE: Take inventory of what's in there and toss incomplete or mismatched sets, worn-out or stained linens and anything you no longer use. I like to have two sets of sheets per bed – one for the bed, one for the laundry.  After purchasing this amazing flannel set for our bed, I'd love to splurge on a extra set for every bed!   Three sets of bath sheets (towels, hand towels and washcloths) for each person in your house and a couple extra sets for guests is adequate. As for blankets or duvets, one for summer and a couple for winter is plenty. 

SORT: Next, divide linens you regularly use by room: sheets for bedrooms and towels for bathrooms. Set aside extra pillows, out-of-season bedding and any bulkier, less frequently used items for separate storage. You won’t be reaching for these on a regular basis.

DESIGNATE STORAGE SPACE: Where you keep your everyday linens really depends on the closet space in your home. If you don’t have a central linen closet, then you may store linens right where you use them in each room. For bedrooms, consider storing linens in a closet or a storage bench (I do this in the beach bedrooms, so it's easy for guests to strip and remake beds before leaving). An open shelf vanity or an attractive woven basket can provide towel storage in bathrooms.

ORGANIZE: Plan to store your everyday linens front and center. How you fold and organize them is equally important for convenient putting away and taking out.  If you have anyone in your house that claims they can't fold sheets: