Welcome back to a tour of my new home! I’d like to show you how function meets beauty in my new home’s utility and bath spaces.

Did you catch the tour of my boys’ bedrooms and our guest room? And if you missed the walk-through of our kitchen and family room, catch it here.  Gosh, I love the way it has turned out SO MUCH!

Today we’ll take a little detour through some utilitarian spaces–the mudroom, pantry and baths (Although I’ll save the master bath for the tour of our master suite, so stay tuned!) In these necessary rooms, function is key, of course.  But who wants to sacrifice lovely on the altar of utility? Not me! Never skimp on the pretty if you can help it.

Here’s a “during” shot that shows you the message we had inserted into the tile floor of the mudroom.  This is the feeling I want us to be reminded of every day. (A shout out to my wonderful tile installers!)

Must. Have. Drop Zone.

Because we chose the country life, a mudroom entry was critical for my sanity. This handy drop zone and wash up area has been a lifesaver already!

With two boys and a rambunctious dog, we needed a landing place for clutter. The mudroom is between the house and the garage–very handy, because it gives us a spot to leave anything that is going out or coming in.

I used a little more color in this space, painting the trim and doors a smoky gray blue. The laundry is adjacent to the closet, which makes it nice when its time to wash. Which, let’s face it, feels like every day. 

Laundry is a fact of life, right? But if you can do laundry in a beautiful room, it’s less of a chore! The crisp blue and white grounded in the black tile just makes me happy.

Pantry: a good way to hide function and show off personality

When you plan and build your forever home from the ground up, don’t settle for builder grade finishes.  Create the personal touches that make the home uniquely yours. One of my favorite accents in our new home is the pantry wallpaper I created from family recipe cards.  Every time I walk in this little room to microwave a dish, I’m reminded of the dear ones that have contributed to who we are as a family.

A powder room is a little space that can make a big statement. I love the trough sink in here.

The boys’ shared bath repeats our home’s black and white with neutrals theme.

I couldn’t resist a fun rug-like border inset for the black penny tile in here.  Double sinks were a must for ease of morning routine, but I kept the look pretty neutral and masculine for my guys. Really, this classic bath look would work for anyone.  Pop in brightly colored artwork and towels and you’d have an entirely different room!

Graphic patterned tile

In the boys’ bath/shower combo, we took a more graphic approach. A traditional motif on a large scale, the black and white houndstooth check tile packs a punch. It’s a stunner, don’t you think?

Guest bath is serene

In the several homes we’ve owned, we’ve never had a separate guest room, let alone a separate guest bath! Building our home was my opportunity to incorporate both for our visiting family and friends.  In the guest bath, I opted for a softer grey version of my black and white theme. A favorite feature is my polka dot tile floor.  My tile guy loved me for it, LOL!

In the shower, we reversed the dot scheme.  And what about my little penny tile heart in the soap niche? Adorable, or what?

When you’re designing your own home, be bold! Take chances! It’s your space, so make it a reflection of the things you love. I certainly have!

See other design ideas on my home page courtneywarren.com and on Instagram @courtneywarren

Got a remodel project in mind? Let’s connect!

As always, I am happy to guide you on your design journey. We’re all about designing for real life. We want your home to work well for you and your family. Good design always incorporates BOTH beauty and function! 

I offer a complimentary, no-strings-attached phone call consultation.

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