Date: July 29, 2019 | Story: Cate Willis | Photography: Rett Peek |
From ordinary utility room to an eye-catching space, designer Marianna O’Dea renovates with equal parts function and style
Marianna O’Dea first met Lindsay and Kyle Skinner when they lived near one another. When the Skinners moved into a new house, they knew just who to call for help with a few updates to their new home. The first order of business was the laundry room. “With three kids, she is doing laundry all the time,” Marianna says. “She wanted a space where she could come in and not feel stressed.” Overall, Lindsay desired a room that was calm, soothing, and easy on the eyes.
BEFORE
BEFORE
The cabinetry color was the starting point for the design, followed by the floor tile. “This truly set the color palette for the rest of the room,” Marianna says. Other elements, including the metallic ceiling paint and wallpaper, seemed to follow naturally. Lindsay also wanted to expand her countertop space and prioritize storage. Marianna knew she had to get creative to check these boxes in a small space, recalling Lindsay “no longer wanted to see her stuff out or have piles of laundry on the floor.” The renovation now includes solutions personalized to the family’s needs, such as space underneath the countertops for a vintage-inspired rolling laundry cart.
“Starting with a small space gives you a direction to bleed into the rest of the house,” Marianna says. “With a such a cool laundry room, it really sets the bar high.”
MIXING METALS
A gold fixture sheds light on the sink and allows for a streamlined look in the space. “I wanted something that was simple and sleek,” Marianna says.
WISH LIST WANTS
The faucet incorporates a more sculptural element into the space. The sink is surrounded by quartz countertops with a waterfall edge on the far end, a feature the homeowner knew she wanted.
TILE THAT INSPIRES
The geometric marble mosaic tile was one of the first design decisions Marianna and Lindsay made. “It really established the overall color palette,” Marianna says of the flooring.
A KNACK FOR KNOBS
“Lindsay loves Anthropologie,” Marianna says, noting the retailer was the first place they went to look for knobs for the cabinetry doors. The animal-print influenced wallpaper mimics the lines in the quartz countertops and includes metallic silver tones, adding to the mix of metals.
Design Resources
Contractor John Ashley Magee, J. Hamilton Builders Interior design Marianna O’Dea, NCDIQ, ASID, O’Dea Studios Accessories, fixtures, and hardware O’Dea Studios Cabinets Keith Davis, Davis Woodwright Countertops Casa Blanca Granite, Marble & Tile Fixtures Signature Hardware Lighting TEC Electric Flooring Kaufman By Design Millwork Davis Woodwright and J. Hamilton Builders Paint Sherwin-Williams Painting Daniel Canesco Wallpaper Designer Effects Wallpaper (installation) Becky and Butch Hardin
BEFORE & AFTERS
