While the upstairs (Unit A) mainly needed cosmetic updates, Big Blue’s downstairs floor plan was a full reconfiguration! From my very first sketches for this house, I pictured a Butler’s Pantry anchoring the larger unit downstairs (Unit B). Every design starts with a spark of inspiration — and for me, this was the gem of the whole project.

Why? Because it was the most unfortunate room in the house, naturally!

The Before: A Converted Lanai… Turned Bedroom?

If you can imagine it, this space started as a lanai that had been converted into a bedroom — dark, awkward, and completely disconnected from the rest of the house. It was begging for a purpose that matched its potential. If you look closely, you can see an actual weed growing indoors from the crack where the floor meets the wall. Love that! 🤣

What’s a Butler’s Pantry?

Traditionally, a butler’s pantry was a multifunctional space for storing fine china, staging meals, and keeping the formal dining area running smoothly. It often sat between the kitchen and dining room, equipped with cabinetry, countertops, and sometimes a prep sink.

These days, people are reimagining this classic utility space into something much more versatile and social! Coffee stations, wine fridges, and small appliances find their home here, keeping the main kitchen clean and ready for entertaining. And really… what’s the point of the coolest room in the house if you can’t show it off?

The Design Plan: Laundry + Coffee + Wine

My vision for Big Blue’s Butler’s Pantry was simple: to make it the workhorse of the house — a hub for laundry, coffee, wine, and creative moments.

There wasn’t a natural spot for laundry in Unit B, so this space had to multitask. But who says doing laundry can’t feel inspiring? Imagine folding clothes on a beautiful center table, coffee (or wine) nearby, sunlight streaming through new windows, and the backyard in view.

This is where functionality meets feeling. I wanted this room to make everyday chores feel like “me time” – a place where post-guest cleanup turns into a meditative rhythm, or early mornings start with a quiet ritual and a warm cup in hand. Evenings could be spent here too, chatting with friends, surrounded by that grounded, good-energy design that fills you back up.

The Feeling

Every home has that one room that quietly becomes its heart. For Big Blue, this is it. It’s where warmth, creativity, and function meet — the kind of space that makes you want to slow down, pour a cup of something you love, and just be.

I can’t wait to share the finished photos once this beauty comes to life. Until then, here’s to dreaming up spaces that work hard and fill your cup.

With love,

The Not-Self Nurse