This Seattle Laundry Room Makes a Case for Moody Wallpaper
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When it comes to designing a home after an extensive gut renovation, some spaces—the primary bedroom, living area, and kitchen, to name a few—tend to take priority. Such isn’t the case for Seattle-based interior designer Jessica Nelson, who transformed a formerly dingy and nearly dilapidated nook into an elegantly moody laundry room. Nelson explains, “I love taking spaces that can be forgotten or overlooked and making them a true design statement.”
The newly dapper space, which includes two distinct zones, resides in a dark wing of a Seattle Tudor built in 1927. The first zone is the one near a small window that lets in little natural light, and it’s where the washer and dryer live. The second is home to a large farmhouse-style sink. “I love that there is enough room between the two that two people can be using the space at once if needed,” Nelson adds.
The two areas are connected by way of an ornate botanical Morris & Co. wallpaper that William Morris himself designed in 1877. Nelson perfectly matched the antique indigo base color of the detailed wallcovering and swathed the cabinets and drawers in the exact same shade, giving the quietly glamorous laundry room an undeniable freshness. She says, “I love that this space feels like a peaceful escape. We went super moody and bold to truly create a space that they enjoy spending time in.”
It may be a dreamy oasis now, but getting it there wasn’t so easy. In fact, both Nelson and the clients were confronted with an insurmountable problem shortly after embarking on the renovation. “When repairing the basement slab, we encountered a literal stream under the home,” Nelson says. “It was quite the curve ball, and we had to put in a pump and drainage system to ensure flooding would never be an issue.”
The unexpected body of water also happened to be where Nelson focused most of the budget for the space, so she saved where she could. The affordable lighting, which Nelson sourced from Etsy, helped keep the project within budget. She also substituted Calcutta marble with more cost-effective soapstone.
A stunning display of high and low, the newly finished laundry room will indeed become one of the most popular areas in the home. “We wanted to create a fun and refreshing space that didn’t feel like an afterthought," Nelson adds. "I want them to delight in their spaces and enjoy spending time there.”
Above: Nelson swathed the Super Cabinets in a rich shade of blue, which matches the Morris & Co. Apple wallpaper. Adding to the laid-back luxurious feel of the space, Nelson opted for an Etsy pendant.
“Before it was a totally unfinished, cluttered space that was packed with storage items and hard to get back into. We now have a dedicated room for laundry, a good size sink, and drying space,” Nelson explains.
Laundry Room
Nelson’s goal for the space was to create a fresh and elegant room where her clients would actually want to spend time. She started with a Morris & Co. wallpaper pattern designed in 1877. Next, she coated the cabinets in a similar antique indigo shade and installed glossy hardware from Rejuvenation.
Washer and Dryer
The space is split into two zones, one of which includes the LG ThinQ® Laundry washer and dryer, which Nelson covered with a slab of soapstone, a more affordable alternative to the Calcutta marble she used in the kitchen.
Storage
Storage is key in any laundry room, so Nelson turned to Superior Cabinets to custom build the cupboards and drawers, which she painted in Mediterranean by Sherwin-Williams.
Sink
A much-welcomed interruption to the dark soapstone counters, a bright, polished farmhouse style sink complete with a Rejuvenation faucet incorporates the English countryside vibe that the wallpaper introduces. The light fixture is from Etsy.
Entry
Nelson quite literally redesigned the laundry room from the ground up, starting with the flooring from Exquisite Surfaces. The ceiling boasts the same rich Sherwin-Williams blue on the cabinets.
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