Learn how stylish a former Wash & Tan can be when it’s turned into a home for a young family.
It’s homey with a modern aesthetic.
When developer Duane Cronin was offered the challenge of converting a laundromat into a house, he jumped right in. Midway through the project, he had the opportunity to buy it and when it was ready, he moved his young family right in.
“It was kind of a boring building,” he says. It had cement block walls and concrete floors. When he removed the dropped ceiling, though, he discovered the “hidden gem” of the property: a beautiful old roof truss system. To highlight it, Duane vaulted and paneled the ceiling and built a loft level toward the back of the living space.
Duane and his wife, Nicole, love a clean, modern look, so the simple windows and white walls were good choices. Another element they love is the concrete floor. Duane repoured it, darkened it with a stain and then sealed it. It is the perfect, low-maintenance material for their young son and large dog.
The 1,800 square feet in the house are put to good use, divided into the large central living area, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, laundry/storage room and the loft. There is also a new balcony that seats six.
Although their house doesn’t have the traditional styling of the others in Newport’s Historic East Row neighborhood, the Cronins love living there. They say it’s a friendly community with lots of events and residents who care about the area and who have made them feel welcome.
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