2007 HC&G IDEA HOUSE TOUR

Since the laundry room is sandwiched between the mudroom and the kitchen, Tom Vecchio of Bilotta Kitchens designed an extremely functional yet plush space that would complement both rooms while retaining its own distinct identity.

Three sets of cabinets, along with an additional wooden bench with drawers at the center of the space, are all made of maple painted an off-white. The wall adjacent to the kitchen has standard hanging cabinets overhead and a washer and dryer underneath, which flank a pull-out hamper. The large center wall features tall closet storage on the left and a hide-away ironing board on the right, with a farm sink and open shelving between them. A few steps away, a smaller, open cabinet on the wall near the mudroom has coat hooks for jackets and storage baskets below.

The decoration is subtle but attractive, showcasing the materials used. A textured limestone floor—"it's virtually indestructible," Vecchio says—is complemented by a warm terra cotta-colored paint on the walls. The designer chose thick travertine marble countertops not only for their durability, but because "they look great and they blend really well with the cabinetry and the copper fixtures," he says. Beadboard on the exposed walls behind the shelving completes the country-cum-contemporary look.