To speed up the makeover, Hay went with stocked and immediately available cabinets, countertops, and a sink basin from IKEA. Especially over the past year, when the pandemic has caused many items to be delayed and backordered, only using in-stock pieces sped up the process by several months. Another timesaver: Hay’s husband installed the subway tile backsplash himself rather than waiting to hire someone. The only time the couple took a pause on the project was while waiting for the plumber to hook up the faucet and appliances. For a stylish, high-contrast effect, Hay paired black lower cabinets with pristine white subway tiles above. “I wanted to take a risk in this space,” Hay explains the decision to install black cabinets. “It’s a basement laundry room so it’s a great opportunity to have a little fun! Taking a risk in a small space is what I always encourage my clients to do.” The butcher block countertop, brass hardware, and woven accents warm up the room and prevent it from feeling stark. A few bursts of color are brought in through accessories and the striped rug. In addition to serving as the family’s laundry room, this basement area is also a storage space and has a spare refrigerator for overflow food and drinks during the holidays. By searching the scratch-and-dent section, Hay was able to score a new refrigerator (with minor damage) at a big discount.
