Fantastic Floor Plan Designer: Kristin Hoaglund Design Location: St. Paul, Minnesota Size: 144 square feet (13 square meters) Homeowners’ request. “This was a whole-house remodel project,” says designer Kristin Hoaglund, who’s also the homeowner. “The existing laundry was in a small entry closet location that was dark and cramped. I wanted the laundry room to be a bright, open space. The perfect solution was to move the laundry to a den located at the front of the house. The room already had two large windows that brought in plenty of natural light, and had plenty of space.” Main feature. “I think the most significant design detail is the floor plan itself,” Hoaglund says. “By moving and widening the opening into the room, I was able to connect this closed-off space to the new mudroom, making both spaces extremely spacious, functional and full of natural light — none of these details previously existed.”
SINK? WALLPAPER Raised Appliances Designer: Deborah Leamann Builder: Worthington & Shagen Custom Builder Location: Newtown, Pennsylvania Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters) Homeowners’ request. Add style, function and a sink large enough to hold a bucket and a mop. Smart idea. Deborah Leamann designed custom cabinetry that features a raised platform, or pedestal, that elevates the washer and dryer off the floor, making it easier to get in and out of the appliances. She designed the feature with enough space behind the appliances to accommodate extra-long cords and vent tubing. Leamann says a tradeoff is that two people are needed to slide out the appliances and set them on the floor for maintenance. Other special features. Off-white cabinets (Feather Down by Benjamin Moore). Tumbled travertine tile flooring. The homeowners fell in love with the patterned wallpaper (Les Touches by Brunschwig & Fils), and Leamann used the pattern for the window treatment as well for a cohesive design element. Designer tip. “When a space is small but full of activity and function, it is important to use a single decorative element to bring all of the elements together,” Leamann says. “...
Colorful Laundry Rooms Designers have long championed making laundry rooms enjoyable spaces to be in. After all, if you’re going to do a tedious chore, you might as well be in a pleasant atmosphere. But lately designers and homeowners seem to be taking that idea even further. They’re introducing energizing colors, patterns and features to transform these spaces into enjoyable rooms, making them lively, cheerful and a bit quirky. In this laundry room by Alison Kandler Interior Design, a green French door (Southfield Green by Benjamin Moore), a periwinkle backsplash tile and colorful
Haven Design and Construction Email Save A former supply closet to the left of the washer and dryer was removed in favor of new built-in cabinets and a custom drying closet with metal mesh doors. The back of the drying closet has a vent that helps to draw moisture out of wet clothes. Transitional Laundry Room by Haven Design and Construction Haven Design and Construction Email Save Three sliding drawers in the drying closet are made of mesh screens that allow the homeowners to lay wet delicates flat on them to dry. “The drying closet is a special feature that the homeowners really wanted, and I think it turned out great,” Valdez says.
RECESSED MACHINES Niche and Neat Designer: Nikki Maeda of Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Location: Portland, Oregon Size: A 60-inch-wide niche Homeowners’ request: Recess plumbing connections so the side-by-side washer and dryer didn’t extend into the hallway, as the units had before. Then create cabinet doors to conceal the appliances and add storage cabinets and a folding counter. Special features: Custom cabinet with foldout doors that conceal a large-capacity washer and dryer. Stone-and-mirror mosaic wall tile backsplash. Exposed-wood ceiling. Upper cabinets. Designer secret: Recessed pulls accentuate the clean lines of the flat-panel cabinetry. Front-load washer and dryer, 24 inches, in white: Asko; Thermal Foil cabinets in white: Brentwood; contemporary metal recessed pulls in matte chrome finish: Richelieu; wall paint: White, Miller Paint
The room’s first job is to be functional, but this family of five also wanted it to be fun. “The goal was to make a light-filled, layered and lovely laundry room that would include a home for every item and leave room for collections to grow, as well as make storing, organizing and washing the laundry a bit easier,” Mayhall says. She started by lightening up the place. The color she chose for the custom cabinets — an off-white shade of canvas — lifted the look of the entire room. “This color is a great alternative, bright neutral color if you can’t or don’t want to use pure white in a space,” Mayhall says. Finally, she added pendant lights to make the room even brighter and more inviting. This busy room is narrow, so Mayhall chose custom cabinets to maximize the space. She removed the rarely used sink and then used all the vertical space along one wall by bringing in custom-built cabinets from KraftMaid. The doors below the folding counter are actually pullout laundry baskets, which hide any dirty laundry that is waiting to be washed. And the McFaddens often host get-togethers with family and friends, so the adjustable shelving in the cabinets allow them to neatly store their ser...
LOVE Laundry Drying Rack, 28" Choose a Size: 28"40" $36.99 Quantity: Add to Cart Our wall mounted telegant clothes drying rack folds flat for use as a towel bar between laundry days. Its one of our most popular items. Sure its great for sweaters fine lingerie and stockings but how about using it for drying hats and gloves at the back door or bathing suits near the pool? The arms and back are made of ABS plastic. The rods are epoxy-coated steel. The unit is fully coated so you could even install it in bath for handy drying of fine washables. Telefix 70: 28"W x 1-7/8"D x 4-1/8"H/ Pulls out to 14-1/2" (item 83250 and 83201)Telefix 100: 40Wx3D x 5H/ Pulls out to 24.75" (item 83150 and 83100) Specifications Sold By MoreStorage Inc Width 28" Depth 40" Height 5" Size 28"
Rattan Shelf Basket With Liner, Honey Brown - $49.50 Clothes won’t snag on this natural-looking shelf basket, thanks to the liner. And the liner is washable, so it can always look fresh.
Round Rattan Hamper with Cotton Liner, Honey-Brown - $99.50 Tuck your laundry out of sight in this naturally beautiful hamper woven from rattan. A machine-washable cotton liner protects your clothes has built-in handles for easy carrying.
Steam Press - $299.99 Get a professionally pressed look right at home with this steamer. It could even lower your tab at the dry cleaner over the long haul.
LAUNDRY A fold-up ironing board isn’t revolutionary, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t useful. This is a great way to store all your ironing tools right with the board. Household Essentials StowAway In-Wall Ironing Board, White $199.99 A fold-up ironing board isn’t revolutionary, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t useful. It's a great way to store away all your ironing tools. Having one of these may actually make me more inclined to iron because I won’t have to drag everything out of the closet — or that may just be wishful thinking.
GREAT LAUNDRY WALLPAPER..... A-TWITTER WALLPAPER, SUMMER - $213 This wallpaper, with its colorful songbirds perched on bare branches, has a modern, fresh look. I imagine it in a laundry, nursery or powder room.
The counters are covered with soapstone, a material common to potting sheds. A cutout backsplash is a fanciful footnote and helps protect the wall from splashing. Imber covered the floors with Texas Lueders limestone laid in a Versailles pattern. “Don’t get shoehorned into typical materials,” advises Imber. “Think of what you want the feeling of the room to be and choose the materials accordingly.”
“I didn’t want it to feel like a laundry room,” says Imber, who incorporated a rough, beamed ceiling and ample windows to give the space the indoor-outdoor character of a potting shed. The cutout doorway adds a playful note. “I wanted to have fun with it,” Imber says. The architect bathed the room in Sherwin-Williams’ Waterscape, a cool, calming shade that extends across the rough-sawn pine walls, ceiling and cabinets, enveloping the homeowners in its tranquil embrace. “Don’t be afraid to use the ceiling to evoke a feeling,” Imber says. The same flat paint was used on all the surfaces, so that the cabinets would look more integrated into the room. (With today’s scrubbable flat paints, Imber notes, cleanup is not an issue.)
hidden laundry
The laundry room sits opposite the staircase; it has an oversize ceramic utility sink and vintage cabinetry that contribute to the English cottage feel. Family photos line the shelves.
A second washer and dryer. Who says you have to stick with one set? If you have a huge family, having two washers and dryers can save you hours of precious time. Design tip: If you have a large laundry room, consider adding a spacious folding table with a shelf below. You can stow baskets of sorted clothes below, and the top can double as a craft or sewing space when you are not folding clothes.
Ironing board. For those short on space, a drawer ironing board can give you the benefits of a built-in board without taking up wall or cabinet space. You'll never have to wrestle with a squeaky freestanding board again. These are easy to retrofit into budget remodels, too.
Drip-drying location. A drip-dry station in this spacious laundry room allows wet garments to dry without making a mess. In lieu of more cabinetry, this cavity was tiled all over for ultimate water protection. Tip: A bar from the top provides a spot to hang clothes, and the floor drain guarantees there is no standing water.
Raised washer and dryer. Bending down to take heavy loads of clothes out of a washer and dryer isn't good for anyone's back. A platform like this takes the (literal) pain out of washing and drying and has a seamless look. Tip: Aim to lift your washer and dryer at least 15 inches for the best fit.
Dog washing tub. Every friend and neighbor with a pooch will be green with envy when you show them your personal dog washing station. This is a great addition for laundry rooms that have an entrance to the outdoors or a garage. Wash Fido's dirty paws and soiled fur before he comes into the house. Tip: Tiling the washing station and your laundry-room floors will make cleanup a cinch.
Laundry flooring requires just as much attention during the design process. With so much water in the room and a risk of leaks and flooding, you'll need to apply a waterproofing membrane before you lay down your flooring. Nonslip tiles are the most practical in high-moisture zones, since hardwood floors may swell over time. Tiles are also a clever way of bringing a colorful design feature into a bland laundry.
Ample lighting will help you see and fight stains better. Use a mixture of task lighting installed under your cabinetry and ambient ceiling lighting. Tip: Install double wall sockets above countertops for clear task lighting. My rule of thumb is to install one fixture every 6 feet.
Raised appliances are great ergonomic options and can help free up storage space. Certain front-loading models come with an optional drawer underneath. If you don't have a lot of space for baskets, you can use one drawer for clean clothes and one for dirty items. Tip: If your laundry is near bedrooms or living areas, choose appliances with extra insulation and quality suspension to keep the noise down. Dryers with no decibel rating and washing machines with a high-speed spin cycle of more than 1,000 revolutions per minute will likely be noisy.
DRYING RACKS Drying racks are less expensive than drying cupboards. Installing drying rods above your sink or countertop and leaving enough room at the back for hangers can help double up on available room, too.
Drying cupboards use high airflow and low heat to dry just about anything. These units come with adjustable pullout racks — some have up to 52 square feet of hanging space. They're great for cold climates and apartment living, or for anytime air drying large quantities of clothes or heavy-duty items is difficult. Tip: Some drying cupboards are better than others, so do your homework. You'll also need adequate ducting or a very well-ventilated area for a drying cupboard to operate correctly.
Create a folding zone with a basket for clean clothes, a countertop for folding and hanging rods for anything that needs to air dry. Tip: If you are renovating your laundry, ask your cabinetmaker to install pullout baskets inside cupboards for your dirty and clean laundry.
The 3 Laundry Zones There are three different zones in every successful laundry room. The size of each zone will be different according to the laundry room's overall size, but having all three will make a laundry room more efficient. First there's the preparation zone. This area should have space for baskets of dirty clothes, overhead cupboards and a sink to help you get your laundry ready for washing. Tip: A deep sink will help when you're soaking woolen items and delicates. A swivel tap, like the one in this photo, can also make watering indoor plants a breeze.
Other special features. Folding table on casters. Pulley-system overhead drying rack. Granite-composite sink. Marble-look quartz countertops. Concrete-look porcelain floor tile. Custom cabinets with inset doors. Custom light fixtures. Geometric wallpaper. Designer tip. “A laundry room must first be functional, but if you can add some beauty to the space, it makes it so much more enjoyable to use,” Hoaglund says. “Even one or two special details can make a difference — for example, a really great faucet or a shelf that can hold detergent as well as a decor item.” “Uh-oh” moment. “I knew converting the den to the laundry room was the perfect plan,” Hoaglund says. “I also knew I did not want to move or lose the two existing windows. So, the biggest challenge was to figure out how to get a countertop surface to use for folding and a place to hang clothes without interfering with the windows. Solution: a table on casters and a drying rack with a pulley system mounted to the ceiling. The windows remain, and every problem is solved.” Wallpaper: Mont Cream Geometric by Eijffinger, Brewster Home Fashions; wall paint: Oxford White, Benjamin Moore
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