Terra Cotta Part II: Let’s Talk Laundry

Interior design moodboard for terracotta laundry room — sage green cabinetry, matte black fixtures, drying rack and wood accents

Laundry rooms - often the unsung heroes of the home - hold a special place in our hearts.

For this Toronto client it wasn't all about laundry. The space needed to function as a mudroom, provide extra kitchen storage and house their homemade canned goods, all with easy access to their vegetable garden.

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The existing floor tiles and laundry machines were here to stay, but otherwise, we had a blank canvas to work with.

Before settling on the final design, we played around with a few different moodboards, each showcasing a unique vibe for this space.

Each option helped us narrow down what felt just right for the client - balancing practicality with a look that perfectly fits their lifestyle.

Laundry room design moodboard options — option 1 white cabinetry with wood countertop, option 2 deep red millwork with open shelving, option 3 sage green mudroom cabinetry with terracotta tile floors

Custom millwork became our secret weapon, allowing us to tailor the space to suit their many needs - and make it look beautiful in the process.

The original plumbing had the washer and dryer flanking the sink, and luckily, their compact size worked perfectly with the layout. With larger machines, we might’ve had some awkward jogs, but here everything aligned just right.

Having counter space on either side of the sink is always a bonus, so we built the design around this feature. To the right, we added pull-out laundry baskets for easy sorting - functional and tucked away.

Laundry room millwork drawing — custom cabinetry design with shaker doors, ship lap backsplash, built-in laundry hampers and pop-down drying rack, painted Benjamin Moore Carolina Gull
Terracotta tile laundry room before renovation — cluttered white cabinetry with mismatched appliances
Terracotta tile laundry room after renovation — sage green custom cabinetry with matte black faucet and shiplap backsplash by Megan Crosbie Design Toronto
Terracotta tile laundry room with built-in laundry hampers — sage green cabinetry and wall-mounted drying rack

Drying racks are essential but don’t have to be clunky or unattractive. We incorporated built-in drying racks that not only look great but are super practical when you need them.

Because this room stores everything from gardening tools to laundry supplies, we added ventilation to the cabinetry, giving a charming, functional detail to the doors.

And speaking of storage, we integrated a panel-ready fridge into the floor-to-ceiling cabinetry.

It’s worth the extra investment for that seamless look - it brings a sense of calm and cohesiveness to the room. By taking the cabinets up to the ceiling, we drew the eye upward, making the space feel larger while adding tons of storage.

Terracotta tile laundry mudroom before renovation — cluttered white cabinetry and disorganized utility space
Terracotta tile laundry mudroom after renovation — sage green floor-to-ceiling cabinetry with matte black handles, back door entry and custom millwork

This Toronto laundry room renovation is a great example of what custom millwork and thoughtful design planning can achieve - even in a hardworking utility space.

If you're planning a renovation and want to see how we approached the full Terra Cotta project, explore the complete case study in our portfolio. And if you're thinking about your own renovation, we'd love to hear about it.


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