Hello! My name is Amy Beth Cupp Dragoo. Believe it or not, my initials are ABCD! For the last 3 years, I have written a blog called ABCD Design. I just want to thank Erika for inviting me hold down the fort on the beautiful Blu Label Bungalow while she is enjoying some time on vacation. I’m not sure how many of you know me from the ABCD Design sketchbook, but for the last 11 years I have called New York City my home. About a year ago, we sold our apartment in the heart of Soho. At that time, everything we owned went into storage while we waited for our next step to present itself.

Back in early May, we decided to keep roots on the East Coast. The Mr. and I are renting an itsy-bitsy apartment in the City and just recently purchased a home in the hills of Connecticut. We’re going to try to enjoy the best of both worlds. The Country House is going to be our primary residence, but we’re keeping the little rental for nights where we work late, or have early morning obligations in NYC.

I can’t wait to liberate all my belongings from storage, but first… we’re doing a country house renovation! For this post, Erika asked me to pick a room in our house and share my interior design inspiration for it.

I know this might seem crazy, but the Laundry/Kitchen Pantry is the room I am most excited about. It’s a little spot in the house – but for me, it packs a big punch. Never in my entire adult life have I had the luxury of dedicating an entire room to the act of storage or laundry! City apartments just are NOT built that way. One would be lucky if there is a closet dedicated to it, otherwise you have to schlep it to the laundry room in the basement, or worse yet, down the street. (Which is NO FUN in the dead of winter!)

In the new house we have three large, built-in shelves that are going to provide ample storage. I love the lighting in the room – it’s quite industrial. The question is: How can I make it my own without blowing the budget?

The house is Shaker style, but has contemporary and ultra modern elements that I would like to preserve. My aesthetic is transitional and I have an appreciation for vintage, industrial antiques and even a little bit of country flair. I always refer to my husband as Mr. DWR. (Enough said!) Together, the house we selected suits us to a T.

I have long been a fan of Cole and Son wallpaper. Malabar (From The Contemporary Collection) is my favorite pattern. I purchased three rolls of it on a trip to London a few years ago and never found a place for it in the Soho apartment. Good thing I didn’t – I think I might line the back of the shelves in our new laundry room with it. Besides storing extra food and kitchen items in the laundry/kitchen pantry room, I also hope to use the shelves over the washer and dryer to store my vast collection of cook books.

So what do you think, am I on the right track to a dreamy laundry/kitchen pantry room? Fingers crossed, (once the renovation is complete) perhaps Erika will have me back in the Fall to show you the finished product?! {ABSOLUTELY… xoErika}