LAunDrY 9 | Home & Leisure
The laundry door Not sure whether the laundry warrants its own room? Interior designer Leeanne Kerr highlights some key considerations when making this decision. I have to confess, my laundry isn’t a space with a designer touch, because I haven’t touched it since we moved in. Luckily, a well-trained husband means I don’t have to spend so much time there that it annoys me enough to renovate it, and I suspect that it’s the same for most people; sprucing up the laundry is not high on the priority list. That’s a pity because it’s a workspace that can make your life easier if it’s designed properly, and certainly won’t harm your house sale price if even some basic work has been done. The first questions you need to ask yourself are: do I really need a separate laundry room, or can the space be better utilised as something else? At its most basic, all you need is a washing machine, and this can be placed anywhere there is a power supply and plumbing, be it the kitchen, bathroom, cupboard or garage. In the latter cases you will also want a sink. If you want to add a dryer then ventilation becomes important. If you decide on a separate room, consider how else the space can be used. Consider storage space for your ironing board, adding a countertop or workbench, or making it a sewing or hobby area. Add storage for cleaning materials or out-of-season clothing and sports gear, pet accessories and, as it has a sink, pet cleaning. Depending on its location, it can function as a mudroom where you can
shed and store dirty or wet clothes and footwear. The danger, as in any storage and multipurpose area, is that it can become cluttered and unpleasant to be in, so plan your storage and work areas around your intended uses and stick to that. One practical hint; whatever the storage, it must have doors. You can reduce the footprint of your appliances by mounting the dryer on top of a front-loading washing machine. Front loaders are good as they use less water and are suited to a kitchen or bathroom application, however, once you have set the cycle to begin you cannot reopen it again to add that sock you dropped en route to the laundry. If it’s a top loader, elevate the dryer next to the washing machine so its door is level with the top of the washing machine and add storage underneath it. Like your kitchen and bathroom, the laundry can be a high-moisture area, so use wallboard designed for the job, and/or tiles, and hard surfaces for the floor. You will also find the area better to work in if it’s well lit. Make sure you use the right light for the activity at each surface and use lighter colours for the walls and cabinets. Having said that, avoid harsh and cold whites and blues as you want the area to be warm and inviting. As in other areas of the home, artwork can be use on the wall to brighten the area.
cLever spaces: If you don’t want to waste space on a separate room for your laundry, consider hiding it away in a cupboard.
Great design accessible to all Over 10 years experience in the building industry Concept to consent Resource consent Residential projects small or large For individual designs to suit YOUR life style contact me today
LMS drafting & design m 021 082 32226
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p 03 351 6600
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e luke_seaford@hotmail.com
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