Can Chat GPT help you with Home Renovations?

By Scott Moore, Realtor

You pretty much can’t go out for dinner or open your social media without having to think or talk about the ways ChatGPT and AI are making our lives better… or worse.

As I’m planning a laundry room renovation at my house, one area that interests me is how ChatGPT can help with planning home renos, so I decided to give it a try and here are my thoughts.

Here’s what I asked: I want to renovate my laundry room. It is approx. 8 ft by 8 ft, with a large window on one wall. I want a fridge and sink on the wall to the left of the window and the stacking washer and dryer on the wall to the right of the window. How should I arrange the cupboards?

ChatGPT replied:

Cupboard Placement:

Upper Cabinets above the Sink and Fridge: Install upper cabinets above the sink and fridge for convenient storage. These cabinets can be used to store cleaning supplies, laundry detergents, and other items you want to keep within easy reach.

Upper Cabinets Above the Washer and Dryer:

Place upper cabinets above the stacking washer and dryer. These cabinets can be utilized to store laundry essentials, such as detergents, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets.

Scott’s Thoughts: A stacking washer & dryer combo is usually around 6 and half feet tall. Installing cabinets above the stacking washer & dryer to store daily-use essentials is a terrible idea.

 Lower Cabinets:

Install lower cabinets under the sink and the area beside the fridge. These cabinets can provide additional storage space for larger items, such as cleaning supplies, extra towels, and pantry items if needed.

Scott’s Thoughts: I like that it caught the storage for pantry items, as I do want to use the laundry room for overflow. I wouldn’t store pantry items under a sink though. Somehow that seems gross.

Sink and Fridge Placement:

Sink: Place the sink on the wall to the left of the window, as you mentioned. This placement provides easy access to water for handwashing and other cleaning tasks.

Scott’s thoughts: Yes, a sink does provide access to water…

Fridge:

Position the fridge next to the sink. This placement allows you to access cold drinks or snacks conveniently while working in the laundry room.

Scott’s Thoughts: It cares about whether I have access to a cold beer in my laundry room!

Washer and Dryer Placement:

Stacking Washer and Dryer: Position the stacking washer and dryer on the wall to the right of the window. This placement maximizes the use of available space and keeps the laundry appliances together.

Scott’s Thoughts: Yes, keeping the washer & dryer together would be ideal.

Window Considerations:

Window Treatments: Opt for window treatments that allow natural light to filter in while still providing privacy. Consider installing blinds or sheer curtains that can be adjusted as needed.

Scott’s Thoughts: I guess I will need privacy in my laundry room so no one can see how many cold beers I am drinking.

Workspace Consideration:

Counter Space: If you have sufficient space, consider adding a countertop above the washer and dryer. This provides a convenient folding area for clothes and other laundry tasks.

Scott’s Thoughts: Definitely seems to have missed the concept of a stacking washer and dryer.

Remember to measure the available space accurately before purchasing cabinets to ensure they fit properly. Additionally, choose cabinet designs, colors, and finishes that complement the overall style of your home and the laundry room.

Scott’s Thoughts: Good advice, but really nothing very concrete here.

This suggested arrangement should help you create a functional and organized laundry room that meets your needs. If you're unsure about any specific details, it's a good idea to consult with a professional designer or contractor who can provide tailored advice based on your space and preferences.

Scott’s Thoughts: Also good advice…

I do know that writing the correct Chat GPT prompts really is a big part of having success with it, so I did go back and refine my question a few times, and did then start getting some more helpful advice. Once it realized that I wanted a countertop & cabinets under the window, we started to really get somewhere, although when I asked for drawings of possible layouts and floor plans, or inspiration images, it said it was very sorry but couldn’t provide either, and suggested I try design software, or Pinterest. So clearly not the one-stop-shop that people are making it out to be!

Overall there wasn’t any information here from ChatGPT that moved my project or ideas forward in any way. Most of the advice it provided was obvious, and some just terrible. All in all, I give this little exercise a big thumbs down.