Smart Solutions

The Barnes’ laundry room provides ample storage for cleaning and laundry supplies, keeping the space free of clutter.

The home office area of the laundry room features plenty of counter space, as well as adjustable shelving for books and decorative items.

At 78 square feet, the laundry room is well-organized and functional, thanks to the space planning expertise of organizational specialist Nila Ciesiel.

During the planning stages of their new home in Little Rock’s Ferncrest Estates, Debbie and John Barnes made certain to address storage and organization concerns, and with the expert guidance of organizational specialist Nila Ciesiel, a designer with Closet Factory in Little Rock, numerous spaces throughout the home are testaments to order and function, including the multi-purpose laundry room.

At just 78 square feet, the Barnes’ laundry room not only accommodates laundry duty, but it also provides ample space for storing cleaning supplies and a home office area.

“John and Debbie had really thought about how they wanted to utilize the space, and I suggested several features to enhance and complete the design,” says Ciesiel.

Doors on either end of the laundry room allow for smooth traffic flow and easy access from two areas of the home. In addition to offering plenty of space for a full-size washer and dryer, as well as a sink area, the melamine cabinet system provides room to store cleaning and laundry supplies, with taller cabinets that can accommodate larger items such as an ironing board and vacuum cleaner.

In perhaps one of the most genius aspects of the space, chrome pull-out laundry baskets that can be accessed from the master bedroom closets on the other side of the wall are hidden behind cabinet doors, eliminating the need to carry piles of clothes to the laundry room.

Performing double duty as a home office, the laundry room’s cabinetry also conceals file and storage drawers, upper storage for office supplies, open shelving for books and decorative items, and a countertop that spans the 12-foot length of the room, which not only provides space for a laptop and other office necessities, but also makes for a great folding station as well.

“As a trained organizational specialist, I listen to the client’s needs and help them visualize the optimum use of the space,” says Ciesiel. “And it’s always great to work with clients like John and Debbie who have ideas about how they want their space to function.”