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Decorating

Pro Reveal: Design Secrets of 5 Smart Laundries

Practical, attractive and sometimes even multi-functional – see how five designers met their clients' laundry briefs

Georgia Madden
Georgia MaddenAugust 7, 2020
Senior writer, Houzz Australia
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If the kitchen is the hub of the home, then the laundry is the engine room. A practical layout and efficient appliances are just the start – you’ll also want good storage, durable materials and those little extras that ensure the space delivers to your individual cleaning needs. Here, five designers reveal how they cleaned up with their clients’ laundry designs.
Jess Hunter Interior Design
1. Designer and commentator: Jess Hunter, interior designer at Jess Hunter Interior Design

Location: Berrima, NSW
Laundry set-up: A combined laundry/ironing room/butler’s pantry for a family of six
Size: 18 square metres
Polished concrete floor: Lamont’s Concreting
Hunter says: This room serves multiple functions and is used by the family on a day-to-day basis, so clever design was a must.

On one side of the room, we created a pantry with open shelving and drawers, plus a closed pantry cupboard and a fridge. On the laundry side, we added four large built-in laundry baskets, a dog-bed nook and a pull-out ironing board drawer.

There’s also a long hanging rail that runs from one end of the joinery to the other to hang shirts and school uniforms. That gets a workout most days.

I am all about texture and layering materials, so having one colour in this space was never an option. Adding timber veneer (Laminex Rural Oak) to the upper storage units adds warmth and balances out the cool greys and whites in the room.

The space is long and narrow, so it was important that the floor didn’t get crowded with discarded items. This meant being clever with the interior layouts of the joinery. There’s an abundance of space for everything from clothes, dog-food bags and a bin drawer to vertical storage for platters and vases. Every item we needed to store here was considered so they all have a place.
Jess Hunter Interior Design
Lots of bench space means we have plenty of room for appliances that need to be left out.

We have big, open cupboards for bulky items such as the vacuum cleaner (with power for charging) and mops.

There are power points everywhere in this space – they are a must when you need to have lots of appliances out.

In the Southern Highlands, having a clothes line is essential. But it also rains a lot, so you end up having clothes hanging everywhere in winter. A George & Willy clothes pulley, which can be hoisted up to the ceiling when not in use, was the perfect solution.

Looking to show your laundry some love? Find an interior designer on Houzz to help make it happen
Helen Baumann Design
2. Designer and commentator:
Helen Baumann, interior designer at Helen Baumann Design

Location: Narrabeen, NSW
Laundry set-up: A concealed and compact under-stair laundry in a two-storey beach house for a couple with one older son
Size: Approximately two square metres
Baumann says: We removed the original laundry from the floor plan to open up the living space and then positioned a small hidden laundry under the stairs so that it would be out of sight and close to the home’s exterior washing line. The client didn’t need a sink, which saved further space.

We maximised storage above and beside the washing machine in the design, including dedicated storage for the client’s ironing board.
Helen Baumann Design
Inside the laundry, we specified open shelving for storage to make the space easier to use. A large door hides everything away when the laundry is not in use.

We made use of the area to the left of the laundry by adding extra under-stair storage.

Tips: When designing a laundry, particularly a small one, it’s useful to try and imagine using the space and to consider everything you wish to store. Also factor in everyday access to the washer and dryer as well as access for maintenance.

If space is tight, opt for a smaller-than-usual washing machine and dryer or a combi washer-dryer.
GDP Interior Design
3. Designer and commentator:
Giulianna del Popolo, principal and interior designer at GDP Interior Design

Location: Watsonia, Victoria
Laundry set-up: A laundry for a young family of five in an awkward spot, clustered around a bathroom, a separate toilet, with access to the backyard
Size: Approximately 5.7 square metres
Del Popolo says: The original laundry was an extremely awkward shape, with a fridge and hallway linen cupboard bulging into it, which left room for a washer and dryer, but little else.

In the new design, we moved the linen cupboard into the laundry. The space saved on stud-wall frames was used for floor-to-ceiling cupboards.

To resolve the issue of the fridge bulging into the laundry, the wall of cupboards is deceptively shallow while still providing enough room to fit a pull-out ironing board, hamper drawer, stick vacuum and broom storage. To keep everything in a flush line, this created an extra-deep 700-millimetre benchtop, which is ideal for all laundry activities. Sometimes issues can be resolved with added benefits.
GDP Interior Design
To maximise floor space, we concealed fixtures. The cupboards were not deep enough to store a standing ironing board so we opted for a Hafele pull-out ironing board instead. This clever model can sit either perpendicular or parallel to the drawer when in use, so you can orientate it to suit the room, and it then tucks away when you’re done.

Tip: There are all sorts of options for built-in ironing boards, from drop-down stations that attach to the wall or pull-out ironing-board drawers such as this one. Whatever you choose, make sure you have adequate room to move around the board and install power points in suitable locations.
GDP Interior Design
Hidden laundry hampers are a great way to save floor space and give your laundry a streamlined look. This model hinges forward so dirty laundry is easily accessible. It can also be lifted out when necessary.

Tip: When concealing hampers, don’t be tempted to use inferior hinges or drawer runners. Full washing baskets are heavy and will put strain on cheap quality fittings over time.

If you have the luxury of space, consider multiple hampers so you can separate lights and darks and save time on laundry day.
Wilson & Bradley
Interior designer: Sally Paterson at Heliconia

4. Cabinetmaker and commentator: Luke Geercke Cabinetmakers

Location: North Balgowlah, NSW
Laundry set-up: A laundry in a two-storey home for a family of four
Size: Approximately 5.7 square metres
Geercke says: We designed this family laundry to be both practical and attractive. A timber hanging rail, for example, provides space to air dry delicates and gives the room something of a Hamptons feel. It also creates a connection with the other rooms in the house, which have timber floors.

Deep and wide under-bench drawers provide space for laundry essentials while the panelled fronts elevate the space beyond the purely functional.

Open storage at the base of the units creates space for woven baskets, which add a warm, natural touch to the space.
Provincial Kitchens
5. Designer and commentator: Dominique McAdam, CEO at Provincial Kitchens Home

Location: Birchgrove, NSW
Laundry set-up: A tiny, concealed laundry in the corridor of a terrace house occupied by one person
Size: Approximately 1.2 square metres
McAdam says: This tiny laundry is hidden behind bi-fold doors so that it can be closed off from view.

Smart inclusions include a fold-out ironing-board drawer. This set-up works very well in a small terrace as the ironing board can easily be accessed and then put away. Let’s face it, if you have a freestanding ironing board, once you get it out, most people never put it away – it’s a permanent eyesore.

There’s also a pull-out laundry hamper under the ironing board and a hanging rod above the sink for drip-drying clothes or hanging up the ironing.
Provincial Kitchens
As a designer, I like to incorporate antiques and original and unique pieces into my clients’ projects. Anyone can put up open shelves. But these original wirework baskets change the whole look and feel of the laundry and add character to this tiny space. And they don’t break the bank. The trick is finding them – I’m constantly on the lookout.

These baskets are good for holding items with a flat-bottom surface, such as washing detergents and towels. They don’t work well with small bottles or things that require an even surface.

Tip: If you like the idea of wall-mounting baskets like I’ve done here, be sure to seek out ones that are a suitable height and depth for the purpose. If they are too big and bulky, they will look cumbersome.


Your turn
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.

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Want more ideas for maximising your laundry set-up? Don’t miss this story: Do You Know the 5 Essentials for Good Laundry Design?

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