At Home Memphis & Mid South: What are the key features any good laundry room design should include? Katie Clark: Countertop space, hanging space and a sink. When designing a laundry room, that’s an easy thing to overlook. I don’t think they need to be large components by any means, but they are certainly features that will make life easier down the road—and they help with resale value. AHMMS: What kind of flooring and
countertop materials do you recommend for this kind of space?
KC: Definitely something durable. I always
put tile flooring in the laundry room because it is a wet area. For countertops, I use granite or quartz. You want to stay away from marble or any material that is soft or porous. Keep in mind that this is where you will store and use cleaning supplies, bleach and other potentially harsh chemicals so you want to avoid material that can be easily damaged.
AHMMS: What's the ideal location for a laundry room? KC: There are multiple theories on this one. Basically it boils down to having it close to the areas you spend time in (ex. near the kitchen) or close to the bedrooms. Personally, I prefer it close to the main living space. That way you can hear when a load of laundry is finished and switch it quickly or throw dirty or wet clothes in there without carrying them through the house. For people without children, off the master bedroom may work best because the adults are the only ones doing laundry. It completely depends on your lifestyle. AHMMS: How can you add beauty and a “wow” factor to this utilitarian space? KC: Laundry rooms have really changed
so much over the past several years. We actually do spend a decent amount of time in them, so why not make the space enjoyable? Because this is typically a smaller space, I am seeing people make more creative color selections than they would pick for a highertraffic area of the home. It’s a space you can have some fun with, whether that is a colorful backsplash or a bold wall color. September 2017 • athomemms.com | 39