A Laundry Closet Entrance Combines Beauty & Function

A relatively short update to this post focuses on the lower-level laundry closet entrance and storage area. Many of you had questions after the post came out late Tuesday night. I’ll address those, share some information about sources, and more.

 

Part 2 Begins Here

 

This post culminates two other posts about my new lower-level entry. In reality, it’s a hidden laundry closet entrance!

If you missed the other posts or need a refresher from last week, they are linked below.

The first post’s primary concern was a color scheme and how I developed mine. In addition, I asked you all to help me choose a mural. I lost count after a while, but the overwhelming majority chose a gorgeous mural from Ananbo (India) with a very deep shade of teal wainscoting. There are three doors, which will all be teal, as well. Thank you so much!

 

The trim, including the panel moulding and hidden doors beneath the stairs, will be creamy white.

 

The second post was concerned with lighting, specifically ceiling lanterns. In that post, I asked which size lantern you think was the best one. If you missed those posts, please check them out first.

This marries all of the ideas to create a beautiful hidden laundry closet entrance, with a linen closet, plus another hidden closet under the stairs with a mini fridge. It’s going to be quite a glamorous “utility” room.

In addition, we will be going over some crucial ceiling light rules.

 

So, I’ve had a lot of fun in the last several days playing around with this.

 

Below is an overview of the lower-level laundry closet entrance.

 

bedroom closet solution with understairs storage version 2

In the post from November 1st about the mural and colors, I shared a view as if I was standing in the hall in front of the linen closet near the bottom of the image above.

 

(12 hours after publishing) For those worried about the laundry door swing,;] this is the most recent floor plan (below) I did a couple of days ago.

 

checkerboard floor garden level 17 sq with closet & doors November 2023

Although, perhaps the bedroom under the stairs door should swing towards the nightstand. My thinking was it was better to have it out of the way of the nightstand. I’m just glad it’s accessible now!

 

My garden level entry Ananbo India

 

I am exceedingly lucky. In my part of Boston, it is very rare to have a ceiling height over seven feet (84″) for the lower level. Sometimes, you’ll find an eight-foot ceiling (96″). However, mine  9′-1″ (109″).

This height gives me 25″ or 26″ to work with for a bell jar lantern. For an eight-foot ceiling, there is only 12″-13″ to work with. That means if one wants a ceiling fixture, it has to be a flush mount or semi-flushmount.

Hudson Valley bell jar Hudson Valley Lighting 251-HN-C1

*This is the Hudson Valley Lighting small bell jar semi-flushmount. We’ll be coming back to this in a sec. It’s 14.75″ from top to bottom.

 

Below is the horrible advice chart we looked at the other day.

 

disastrously bad advice regarding sizes for ceiling fixtures

 

Most of these, except for the ceilings that are 10 feet or higher, the fixture would hang too low.

An important point is this:

 

  • The minimum height is 84″ between the bottom of the lantern, pendant, or chandelier and the floor, only if a person is walking underneath the hanging light.

However, the height can be lower if the hanging fixture is over a dining table, kitchen island bed, or coffee table. For the latter two, I wouldn’t have the fixture be a lot lower. It’s always best to hold the fixture up while the electrician is there to gauge how far down it will come. The exception is fixed-height hanging fixtures. Then, you’ll need to figure that out beforehand.

For dining tables, the most common height is 60″ above the floor or 30″ above the table. However, if you have a super high ceiling, it is good to raise that height by about three inches for every foot over nine feet.

Kitchen islands are usually 36″ high, and the bottom of a pendant or lantern is about 30″-36″ above the counter.

 

Okay, let’s get back to my downstairs entry.

 

We’ve already looked at the staircase railing design here. 

 

But, wait. I don’t think I ever shared the elevation for the stairs, looking at it as if there’s no wall where the electrical panel is.

 

These are in elevation view. That means, for non-designers, the elements as they are, in scale, but no perspective. In perspective, objects look larger in the foreground.

In addition, I’ve added the bell jar lanterns to scale, so we can see what the deal is.

 

Let’s begin with the large size in the chart for a nine-foot ceiling.

 

 

While the bell looks handsome, it will hang down to about 78″ or 6′ – 6″. We might be able to get rid of all the links to raise it a bit, but then, the lid will only be about two inches below the ceiling.

The horizontal line is 6′-3″. That’s how tall my son Cale is, or maybe 1/2″ less. However, he has friends who would hit their heads on these lanterns.

 

Laurel, is that you waxing the floor? lol

 

Uh-huh. :] Please also ignore the color of the hidden doors under the stairs. I did that for my contractor. Yes, the doors are different sizes. That’s to help them work as seamlessly as possible into the panel moulding. The left side will hold the mini fridge, and on the right side, I’d love some built-in storage. Or, maybe I’ll get something from the Container Store.

 

Now, most of you suggested the small-sized bell jar lantern.

 

One person said that 16″ should be enough.

That makes sense, but let’s see.

 

The small is only 7″ in diameter. That is very petite for a bell jar ceiling light.

 

hidden double doors staircase lower level stair railing - small bell jar lantern

 

Yes, these could hang a few inches lower, but they look pretty puny here.  That line represents my height of 5′-6″ if the cartoon me was standing up straight.

 

Now, let’s look at the medium bell jar.

 

hidden double doors staircase lower level stair railing - medium bell jar lantern
This is the best size. They will hang down to about seven feet. Actually, they are an inch or so more narrow than this. The height is accurate.

Now, for those who said the small size would be best, no worries. I just made the same mistake when I ordered two semi-flushmount bell jars from Hudson Valley Lighting. *(The one pictured above) One is going near the upstairs bathroom, so it’ll be fine and out of sight. I should’ve drawn it out, but I didn’t.

 

Now, let’s take a look at some renderings I made. I saved the pretty pics for last.

 

wawy waxing floor medium bell jars

The first one, I did without wainscoting. However, this big mural would be too much for the space. Also, this perspective is off, as the railing should appear closer to the far wall.

 

too small bell jars - dark teal wainscoting & doors x staircase
Okay, I fixed the stairs; these are the small bell jar lanterns.

 

So, here’s what we all need to pay careful attention to.

 

When manufacturers give the measurements, ideally, they should be very specific. Some are, and some aren’t.

Yet, the industry standard is that the width = the widest part, no matter how small. In this case, that includes the little hooks. For some of these fixtures, that could add three or more inches to the width! That can be extremely misleading!

As mentioned earlier, the height gets measured from the top connecting ring to the chain or rod to the very bottom point.

 

Laurel, not to change the subject, I see you used a different part of the mural. I miss the building.

 

Ananbo India mural

It’s a formatting issue. It was either the building or the big palm tree to get it to fit. This way looks best to me. Plus, there is a bit of the building at the end.

 

Let’s look at the last rendering.

 

medium bell jars - Benjamin Moore Pacific Sea teal wainscoting & doors x staircase

 

This is the medium bell jar lantern. The doors are eight feet tall. And, yes, this is a new deep teal color. It is not necessarily the one I’ll be using.

Please note this view of the entry does not exist because I’d have to tear the wall down. Imagine that!!!

Benjamin Moore Pacific Sea Teal 2049-10

It’s a little deeper than Narragansett Green below. Of course, I’ll get samples of a few colors to try out.

Benjamin Moore Narragansett Green
medium bell jar ceiling lanterns - dark teal wainscoting & doors x staircase
This is the only wall with wainscoting, and it’s a pretty low one at about 27″ or so. The stair wall with hidden doors will be paneled.

On the chest will be a table lamp with a mirror behind it.

 

Someone also asked if the linen closet on the right would be painted the deep teal.

 

Yes! They are identical twin closet doors, which, of course, clear the lanterns. ;]

 

Well, I don’t care what you say, lol; I love this!

I can’t wait to do laundry!!!

 

In closing, I know I promised you sources.

 

However, that will need to be for Thursday. That’s because I also want to share with you a cool trick I’ve discovered where you can see the perspective without using Picmonkey.  In addition, I’ll have another reno update for you. If you missed yesterday’s, please see the big news here.

 

*********************************************************

Part 2 Begins Here

 

Hi Everyone,

In this part 2, I will try to answer questions and address a few comments. In addition, I promised you sources as well as a trick I’ve discovered for getting the sizing correct without having any art background.

So, let’s begin there.

If you go to the site, Lumens, most fixtures can be put into a virtual room where you can see the scale. So, if your fixture is on that site, that’s perfect. However, what if your fixture isn’t on their site?

In that case, I would try to find one as close as possible.

So, let’s take the Hampton semi-flushmount from Hudson Valley Lighting.

 

Hampton Pendant Light - Lumens sizing chart

The size on the left is the one I got, and too small for my hall. The one on the right, the medium size, would be perfect for my hall because I have an additional 13″ of ceiling height.

 

The closest lantern to the one I want is the Hampton Pendant lantern, which has the classic smoke bell jar lid.

 

Hampton Bell jar pendant large sizeThis lid is set quite high, making it ill-advised to use with a nine-foot ceiling. (if walking underneath the fixture.) I don’t know, for sure, but it might be possible for a qualified pro to cut the stem down and rewire it to set the lid down lower.

Also, please bear in mind that the width includes the hooks. For this lantern, the hooks add about two additional inches.

 

Guys, some of you crack me up with your cleaning concerns.

 

Sure, everything needs maintenance. However, these light fixtures have historical significance from the 19th century. Like my prized sconces, they are Anglo-Indian and called Hundi or Smoke Bell Jar Lanterns. In the 19th c., before electrified fixtures, the lid helped keep the smoke inside the lantern.

Of course, those babies got dirty, and quite quickly, too. It’s part of their charm. I’m not saying they don’t need to be cleaned. However, a few swipes with a Swiffer regularly will keep the pieces looking presentable, if not pristinely clean. If you’re someone for whom one speck of dust makes you crazy, then these are probably not the right fixtures for you. But, please try not to spoil other people’s joy.

I have loved these ever since I was in utero. The heart wants what the heart wants. ‘Nuff said.

 

So, where do you get the bell jar lanterns with the Greek Key design, and who makes them?

 

Well, most, if not all, of the authentic ones come from India.

I tracked the manufacturer down to A. Sanoma. They are a to the trade source. At least, I think that they are. I discovered this because I first found them on Houzz, and Houzz listed the source.

They also might be sold at the Enchanted Home. However, I only found them through a search. 

 

The bell jars she’s currently showing on her site have very flimsy-looking hooks, and you have to provide your own canopy. That’s not a big deal. But, I don’t know if she still carries the A. Sanoma fixtures or not, as I said, they are not visible on the website. However, it is possible, the page is still being indexed on Google.

One important thing. The image they show is one of the two largest sizes. The size I need has only three bulbs.

 

This is what happened when I inquired about the bell jar lanterns.

 

I contacted A. Sanoma, and my “wholesale” price is the same as Tina’s (Enchanted Home) RETAIL price.

Yes, it is.

When I questioned the rep, she said that Tina’s prices were not up-to-date. Oh, I see. Well, now it makes sense. :/

Still, Tina also offers wholesale pricing off her “retail” prices. I inquired about that, filling in the form with Tax ID, etc, but didn’t hear back.

The rep at A. Sanoma told me that the true retail price is at least 2.5 times the price on Tina’s website.  (She told me this before we discussed the price for which Tina is selling the lanterns.) I guess that means Tina’s retail prices are indeed outdated and are from circa 1983.

 

This woman also tried to sell me a bridge. ;]  I think you get my drift.

 

In addition, there is no price list to the trade. One has to call for the price. Plus, the retail prices on Houzz are only about 30% higher than Tina’s prices, not 150%, as I was told the retail price should be.

If I could find another inexpensive source for the Greek Key bell jar lanterns, you better believe I’d get them there.

 

Aside from all of that, where else can you get bell jar lanterns?

 

One fantastic and reasonably priced source is Antique Lamp Supply

However, they don’t have the Greek Key pattern.

Of course, you can often find these on places like *eBay, Chairish, and 1stdibs. You can also find them being auctioned.

A wonderful trade source that carries them is Vaughan.

However, I believe these might be from A. Sanoma and privately labeled.

*Some are not electrified on eBay, but that could be retrofitted.

Other sources include a few styles on Wayfair. Here’s one of them without a lid.

 

Okay, now I will address some of your questions and comments.

 

I have not selected a paint color yet, but will be looking at a few possibilities. We’re a very long way off from that.

 

Another question was picking a color that’s not actually in the mural.

 

There are already numerous shades of green in the mural, and colors, if not quite teal, then just on the other side. These analogous green shades, from gold to teal, always look great together. If it looks good in the rendering, it will most likely look good in real life, too.

As for the sizing of the mural, the reason the formatting seems inconsistent because Ananbo will custom-make your mural in increments of 10 centimeters in height from 140 – 270.

However, all of the panels are only 100 cm wide. Therefore, depending on what height you get, the design will fall differently on the panels. In other words, a panel height of 270 cm takes far more panels to get the complete mural than a panel height of 140 cm.

 

And, finally, a few of you wanted to know what happened to the electrical panel.

 

Oh, it’s there.

In the case of my building, the power would get shut off at the mother panel near the street side of the building. Still, I think it’s a good idea to make a hidden panel obvious that it is the electrical panel.  Since only the front of the panel door can be covered, there will be a visible line where the door is.

There is also a little handle that is usually black.

But, I thought it would be fun to take it a step further, so I took the liberty of making a little artistic alteration to convey a source of electricity.

medium bell jars - Benjamin Moore Pacific Sea teal wainscoting & doors x staircase -lightening bolt
What do you think?
 

Oh, how I love that little storm cloud.

 

It’s a good reminder that life isn’t perfect, and there’s danger and dust all around us. But, for God’s sake, please get out of the water during a thunderstorm!

I do have a reno update, but it’s quite short. I had a meeting early this afternoon with my contractor, and he gave me a few tasks that need my immediate attention.

However, I have posted a few pics on the Renovation News page for you to see.

 

Please check out the newly updated HOT SALES!

There is now an Amazon link on my home page and below. Thank you for the suggestion!

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Please click the link before items go into your shopping cart. Some people save their purchases in their “save for later folder.” Then, if you remember, please come back and click my Amazon link, and then you’re free to place your orders. While most vendor links have a cookie that lasts a while, Amazon’s cookies only last up to 24 hours.

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52 Responses

  1. As promised, I will also share some useful resources and a trick I have discovered to get sizing right, even if there is no art background. Let’s start with the sizing. The Lumens website offers a great feature where you can almost place a fixture in a room to control the scale.

  2. Laurel, Are you sure there is enough space for a stacked W/D in the closet? I recently installed one and need 6+ inches behind the unit for venting the dryer.

  3. I absolutely love the transformation of the lower-level entry! The color scheme and design choices are fantastic. Just a thought – have you considered adding a rug to the space? I feel like it could bring in some warmth and add even more volume to the overall aesthetic. Of course, it’s all subjective, and your vision for the room is already stunning!

  4. I have the same concern as Loren about the closet door swing next to the night stand. I can’t see how you can open the door and enter the closet unless you are standing on the bed. There isn’t enough clearance next to the bed for you to face the door, grasp the handle and open it.

    I am grateful you shared such details about choosing the right proportioned lantern for a space. I would like to see an opaque shade to avoid seeing the vertical lines created by the lantern hardware which seems to clash with the crosses on the railings.

    1. No worries, about the door, Robin. Things have changed considerably in the interim.

      No worries about shadows, as well. There’s a table lamp in front of the stairs which will soften any shadows you’re worried will interfere with the railing design. There is also lighting coming from the living room lights.

  5. Laurel I think you will be happier if you open the closet door toward your nightstand…grab things and put them on the bed. Just saying.

  6. Thanks for taking us on this journey. I find it can be the small things that I didn’t think about that are the most annoying when it’s time to live in a home. Loved the woman buffing the floors! Reminds me of my mom lining all four of us kids up at one side of the living room with cans of wood wax to rub on the wax and then watching her buff the floor to a shine. Remembering that makes me understand why she wanted wall to wall carpet years later when all us kids were grown and gone.

  7. Thank you for sharing this journey, all of it. The ups,downs,discoveries,choices,dilemmas,laughs and the details. Almost,almost makes me want to tackle a big project round here but then I recall what a PITA they are. You do have me contemplating that fab Hudson Valley lantern. Absolutely love it. Reminds me of the Hector Finch version that Ben Pentreath used for a project in Highgate. Great minds and all that.

  8. Hi, Laurel!

    I’m inspired by your laundry…my favorite household task is laundry folding. Anne of Green Gables would say it gives “scope for imagination,” as I gaze out my many southern windows ( past the clothes hanging up on hangers regardless 😊) And you will have that lovely mural!

    I agree with all the others who mentioned the door swung. I tried switching the opening on our dryer, ad thought I was so clever…until I discovered it didn’t actually close when I reversed the door 🫣 So I put it back, and now it’s a bear to close it after my “improvement attempt.” Oh, well, live and learn!

    As regards the ceiling fixtures, follow your heart. It’s amazing how dirty things get, but glass, imo, is one of the most forgiving surfaces, and sadly, most people will just notice your beautiful space, without actually seeing the light fixtures. So enjoy those bell lanterns when you find them!

    Happy progress!

  9. Wow everything looks so gorgeous! I love the realistic renderings! Are you still using Pic Monkey to make these?

    1. Hi Jennifer,

      Yes, it’s Picmonkey all the way! They look realistic because I use real photos, and then embellish or manipulate them. For the perspective, I studied perspective drawing in design school. It was one of the most useful courses I took. One exercise our teacher had us do is create objects in perspective by eyeballing them.

  10. Looking good. You are correct that the bedroom closet door needs to swing toward the nightstand, which shouldn’t be an issue since this closet won’t be accessed often. If you leave it the way you have it now, you’ll need to jump on the bed to get out of its way. Having taken ballet lessons, I’m sure you could do that very gracefully, too.

    The mural provides great camouflage for the electrical box and your storm cloud and lightning adds a bit of whimsy, while serving a purpose. Whether anyone understands it is another matter. You might want to wait to put up the mural until after the final inspection. I’m not sure if the inspectors will approve it. They’ve probably never encountered anyone quite so creative. They might say the box isn’t easily found in an emergency, even though as you have pointed out, they won’t be shutting off the power there anyway.

  11. Laurel, I was wondering with the laundry door, could the contractor have opened the wall and then you could put a pocket door there? Then, no worries on which way the door swings.

  12. Laurel, am addicted to your renovation news and was just checking up on your progress. Saw the changes to how the doors now swing and like your changes very much. And, I was just looking at the plan where the laundry closet is located. Looks like it is between interior walls. So I was wondering if your contractor has asked how you want the dryer to be vented. Are they running the duct through the walls or ceiling to an exhaust vent in an outside wall?

  13. Your laundry closet entrance is turning into a masterpiece! The deep teal wainscoting and doors, along with the medium bell jar lanterns, create a glamorous yet functional space. I love how you’ve considered every detail, from the color scheme to the hidden doors under the stairs with a mini fridge. The rendering with Benjamin Moore Pacific Sea Teal is stunning, and the attention to height measurements for the lanterns is spot-on. Can’t wait for the Thursday update with sources and the cool perspective trick. Your passion for this project is contagious, and it’s inspiring to see your creativity come to life!

  14. To answer Anne, A bell or bowl type fixture is high maintenance, if you care how it looks. A tall ladder is needed, and the help of a 2nd person to hand the unattached bowl/ bell, which is heavy, when it needs to come down. One person can’t do this alone. It has to be undone, handed to someone, cleaned, bulb replaced, then get back up the tall ladder, handed up to the person on the ladder, and then reattach the cleaned heavy glass. I had to change them when they were in my other home. A lot of work, but each to their own. Check weight of the glass part on the specs. Hope this helps. More difficult with high ceilings,

  15. From a practical POV I have just one question for bell jar pendant users: what’s the maintenance like? I’m assuming the top (ceiling facing) is open to dust, bugs and other household debris. How often does one have to take the whole fitting down to wipe and clean?

    Busy choosing light fittings with an interior decorator who specialises specifically in lighting and I’m curious since the bell jar idea has never once come up as an option. Not sure if it’s just a matter of taste or pragmatism

  16. Hi Laurel, Just wondering where the electrical panel is located in this area? Is it located in any of these views? Best of luck with all your endeavors!

  17. Laurel,
    Yes I agree the medium size looks best. I adore the vision you’ve created, the colors, the mood, everything.
    Yes also, IF you can swing it Do hire a kitchen planner. However I’m on a tight budget with far to many things to buy and mistakes to correct…Aside from the fact I got cocky and said to myself, You can do this! Well I’ve had to correct three mistakes I made in my cabinet order so far. Thankfully before they went into production, whew.
    I have a great contractor who reminds me of things that hadn’t occurred to me.
    The worst is living here while it’s being ripped apart. I’m wearing earplugs all day😉
    Thank you Laurel for the beautiful updates and advice.

  18. Just gorgeous…
    And who uses this entry – just you or all guests…?

    Prefer the original teal choice – perhaps a little darker…
    Every detail thought out…
    Call in the professional photographers…

  19. Hi,
    Regarding the laundry door swing…would one direction be more compatible with the way the washer dryer doors open?
    I realized recently that having my dryer door swing opposite to the washer was annoying. They’re stacked and turns out it was simple to switch the dryer door to swing the same direction as the washer. Now the “flow” of moving laundry from washer to dryer is smoother as well as pulling out dry clothes to the adjacent folding area. Before I was doing this weird ducking manoeuvre around the open dryer door.

    I don’t know if a washer door can be switched so maybe if this hasn’t been considered yet you might want to look at the impact of the laundry door direction with the washer/dryer door direction.
    Thanks for such helpful posts on your blog. I always learn something very useful every time I read your blog.

  20. It looks gorgeous ! I race to my email in the morning to read the latest update…
    I recently spent a week with my sister in Colorado. She was unhappy with the paint colors in her home. We poured over your site and suggestions for the week, and made decisions based on your “best whites” blog. We reviewed your decor boards and we shopped. She’s still working on putting it all together because life interrupted. But she’s thrilled and Im thrilled for her. Thank you, thank you 😊

  21. Laurel, it’s so fun and informative seeing all your plans and thinking. I love this kind of stuff too and have enjoyed every detail of my various small Reno’s.
    I used the Hudson valley semi flush bin bronze for my last house front entryway. It is beautiful and substantial in person and I regret leaving it behind. If you haven’t seen it in person you won’t be disappointed. I think it’s somewhere in my IG gallery if you want to go look at it in my front hall. I’m windlost1 on IG. You follow me. Haha. Xox

  22. Truly lovely, Laurel! My only suggestion is that floor waxing Laurel add pearls to her heels and dress
    🙂 But, then, I’m from the 50’s…
    (Ever fond of the Laurel inserts in old oil paintings and this one!)

  23. Love seeing all of this. The mural colors are amazing. I put a link to a fave light fixture…similar to what you are looking at. I have had the Hinkley 3-light semi-flush lanterns from the Cambridge Collection and loved them. Just FYI…😂

  24. Wow! What an amazing “laundry space”! So elegant!
    I’d love to read a post of your thoughts on color coordination vs color matching. I think the teal color(s) you’ve selected all look great with the mural, even though I don’t see much if any true teal in the mural; the greens in the mural all look less blue and more olive. Many of us, including designers, would try to “pull” a green from the mural, i.e. match the colors. But I often see photographs of rooms done by very talented designers using varying hues (not values) of the same color which is done intentionally according to the accompanying text and which end up looking just fine (like in your mockup with teal green paint with the more olive green mural) But others would consider these combinations “off”. Candidly matching always feels safer and I’m apprehensive to attempt otherwise. Because sometimes not matching seems to work and other times it does look “off”. Is there a method to know when it will work and when it won’t? Thanks for enlightening us, and apologies if you’ve addressed this previously and I missed it!

    PS: I agree with the comments on the swing of the laundry door.

  25. This is so exciting to see the downstairs hallway – I have a question about the MURAL – Is the rendering accurate showing the Palm tree cut off and the building cut off ? Also is there a place to fold laundry?
    Lawrie W

  26. Laurel, as usual it’s all beautiful but looking at the plan view, why is the laundry closet door opening in that direction? Wouldn’t you want it to ‘land’ on the wall and provide easier access? Or, does the plan view get reversed when you put it online?

  27. This is so, so beautiful!! Love the woman buffing the floor. I still have my mothers floor buffer from the 40’s, and would be happy to send it to you 🙂 It’s your favorite color – green!
    Thank you for sharing all the details. I learn so much from every post.

  28. Looks fancy ! 👍 I wish you could fix my new build laundry entry area. I’ve been thinking and struggling with it for almost a year 🙄😳

  29. Laurel, this is the most beautiful laundry room area ever. I would never get the laundry done. Because I would be sitting on the stairs just gazing around before ever putting the clothes into the washer. I love the bell jar lanterns. They look perfect. My mind is always going to the practical with regards to how easy will it be for me to clean the dust away or change a burned out bulb. So, how tall is your son? 😉

  30. What I know is you are so talented and if I ever win the lottery, and you are available, I would pay you to come to where I live and turn you loose. I would move out and let you make all the decisions. I live three minutes from the ocean so on your break time, you could go for a swim. You are truly incredible and you rock it out of the park with details.
    For me for the light, I always think, “go big or go home”. However, I know you know best and I’m so excited to read your blog every time it pops up on my computer.

  31. Hi Laurel,

    I LOVE the new room, layout and color choice, bravo! I just wanted to point out that on you plan, you have your laundry door hinged on the hall side, which would mean having to walk around an open door. In all your pics, you have it hinged against the wall (which is what I think you want for ease of use). Seeing how fast things are happening, I don’t want you to show up one day, only to find the door hung according to the plans and perhaps not what you wanted. Happy laundry indeed!

  32. You waxing your floors cracked me up. Thank you for making me laugh this morning.
    I’ve always been curious, which entry do your guests use? I’m assuming the upstairs entry?

  33. I’m sure I missed it, but did you get permission to move the downstairs door from your bedroom to the hallway? This looks lovely. By the way, everything is just gorgeous.

  34. Hi Laurel,
    I look forward to your blog every day! Your home is going to be gorgeous. Every detail is so elegant and Perfect.
    I just want to say that I prefer the Twilight Teal over this new color.
    It has more life and complements the mural better.
    Please give it some more thought.
    Best wishes,
    Nina

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Welcome To Laurel Home!

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Hi, I’m Laurel, and Laurel Home is the website and blog for Laurel Bern Interiors.
I’ve been creating new-traditional interiors since 1988. The blog is where I share all.

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