Laundry and Kitchen Ideas

Laundry Niche

• Many odd, seemingly useless spaces are perfect for an interesting laundry area, explains Country Home. Stackable laundry sets are narrower than their traditional counterparts, usually no more than 27 inches wide. However, careful design helps them handle normal-sized wash loads. Consider a stackable set in a narrow spot, which could never accommodate a traditional set. If you have an empty space with a peaked, sloping ceiling, a traditional side-by-side set will probably fit. The peak above the space is an ideal spot for shelving.

Ironing

• A nice way to hide your ironing is by using a built-in, fold-out ironing board that look like a cabinet when closed. Construction is simple, requiring only a shallow cabinet attached to the wall, a board cut in the shape of an ironing board and a sturdy hinge for the board that allows it to raise and lower. If woodworking is not for you, purchase a ready-made version at a home improvement center. Similar cabinets open to reveal a fold-out drying rack.

Kitchen Storage

• Instead of upper cabinets throughout the room, consider open shelving in certain spots, inspired by designer Jeff Lewis' 2010 Kitchen of the Year at House Beautiful. Create open shelving by removing your cabinet doors, filling screw holes with putty and painting them. For a more custom look, install beautifully grained hardwood shelves to display your best kitchenware. Glass-paneled cabinet doors help brighten a small or dark kitchen, and interior cabinet lighting strips make the room glow.

Neutral Kitchen

• Although chili pepper red may seem like an exciting paint color for your kitchen, bold shades can lose their appeal quickly. Instead, opt for neutrals and create bold color accents with accessories. Adjust the mood of your kitchen seasonally from serene to perky to rich by changing chair covers, curtains and decorative pottery. Plants are a mainstay throughout the year, but they require extra attention in the kitchen due to grease splatters and dust that can suffocate them.

Unusual Details

• Don't be afraid to look outside the kitchen department for details. Ceramic tile backsplashes are common, but hammered copper is an unexpected detail that is not as expensive as you might think. Imitation pressed tin panels create a textured ceiling that you neighbor probably doesn't have. Plain cabinets look special with custom ordered handles and pulls, recommends Cottage Home Decorating. Cut glass door knobs, separated and inserted on ordinary pegs, make sparkling coat hooks beside the kitchen door. Glass shelves installed inside a window frame make a sunny display for small plants and special glassware. Beaded board and trim installed at chair-rail height to give your room heft and age.