Two more duplex rooms are finished and photographed, and these required a bit of sweat equity. We built tall storage cabinets beside the stacked washer and dryer units and added multiple hook rails in each room—because you can never have too many hooks at the beach. These spaces now combine practical storage with a warm, welcoming aesthetic.
One of my favorite design moves in the whole house is how the kitchens flow into each laundry room/mudroom. From bold backsplash tiles and fun patterned mudroom floors to painted pocket doors (added so you can close off the sound of laundry while cooking or watching TV), this whole area used to be lacking in character. Now it feels bright, purposeful, and thoughtfully detailed.
Here’s what the pocket doors look like closed. We chose solid wood half-lite doors so light still passes into the kitchen from the mudroom side window, preventing the kitchen from feeling dark when the doors are shut. We love how substantial and elegant they feel, and the pulls tie nicely to the rest of the oil-rubbed bronze hardware in the house.
Before the renovation, these spaces had almost no character—other than a lonely ceiling fan. At one point someone had squeezed a tiny, cramped kitchen into what used to be an open side porch, so the original layout never matched the house’s potential. These photos are of the left side of the duplex; the right side follows a similar transformation with its own distinct palette.
Before we started, the floors even showed evidence of a few unfortunate pest-control events, but that didn’t slow us down. Today that same wide doorway now houses pocket doors and a highly functional room: a stacked washer/dryer, a pantry-style shelving system with baskets, and a full mudroom section with hooks, shoe baskets, and a bench.
Standing with your back to the back door, you see the stacked washer and dryer with a built-in storage cabinet beside them (an Ikea Sektion cabinet). We had planned lower cabinets under the window originally, so the lower shelf beside the washer wasn’t expected to be regularly accessible. That ended up being a useful design benefit.
The upper cabinet is stocked with laundry supplies for guests, while the lower shelf—only reachable if we move the anchored shelving system—is reserved for paint and house supplies. Anchoring the shelving prevents tipping and keeps renters and children from accessing those items, which is exactly the kind of low-maintenance functionality we wanted.
The floor is a favorite detail. We laid each tile by hand and created the pattern ourselves, and the result feels special every time we walk in. If you stand in the pocket door opening and look right, you’ll see a large hook rail with eight hooks—and yes, we’re obsessed with hooks. They’re practical, affordable, and perfect for beach life.
We considered built-in benches with cubbies and overhead shelving but decided to keep the space open and flexible. That way, carrying groceries, luggage, or beach gear feels easy and unobstructed. When the space was a cramped kitchen, it felt narrow; now it feels roomy and welcoming.
Facing away from the washer and dryer, the secondhand diamond-paned doors are a showstopper. They echo the original diamond-paned windows at the front of the house and add a timeless, crafted touch. The glass lets in light and keeps the room feeling connected to the rest of the home.
That same door serves as a keyless entry point for renters, which is handy given the outdoor showers and beach storage out back. We installed a coded lock and it’s been reliable through countless entries by inspectors, contractors, and guests.
If you think eight hooks is enough, think again—after a summer at the beach we learned you can never have too many. We added four more hooks in an alcove next to the back door for a total of twelve hooks, plus a bench and two baskets for shoes and gear. It’s a small change that greatly improves everyday convenience.
On the right side of the duplex we created an alternate palette—greeny-gray doors and gray tile instead of pink doors and neapolitan-inspired floors. The layout and functionality mirror the left side, but each side has its own character and finishes to give renters options and visual interest.
We modified the pocket doors so they protrude about three inches at each end, making the handles easy to grab and making the doors obvious to renters. Small details like wood blocks on the end of the doors prevent them from sliding completely into the wall and improve usability for everyone.
On this side you’ll also find a stacked washer and dryer, another tall built-in cabinet, and shelving under the window for pantry-style storage. We imagine guests using the baskets for snacks, chips, and everyday items during their stay. The upper cabinet remains accessible for renters while the lower cabinet stores supplies for us.
There are eight hooks along one wall here as well, plus four more in the alcove for a total of twelve. We love finding durable, attractive beach towels and accessories that hold up over repeated use—those details make vacation stays feel both stylish and comfortable.
With the pocket doors closed, the rooms feel cohesive, original, and still flooded with light from the laundry-side windows. We preserved one secondhand door’s natural wood tone with a clear seal because its warm grain felt right in the space—those reclaimed elements give the rooms personality.
We also repositioned the benches into alcoves so they don’t intrude on traffic flow—making it easier to come and go with arms full of beach gear. The benches tuck neatly under shorter hook rails where they’re most useful without blocking walkways.
These two mudrooms/laundry rooms add significant everyday function to each side of the duplex while also delivering a polished, beach-friendly aesthetic. They’re practical for renters and satisfying for us as homeowners—ready for sand, surf, and extra towels.
P.S. You can find other completed duplex rooms and renovation updates in our duplex category, which covers layout planning, tile work, and finishing touches across multiple posts.
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