Brunswick Parlour transforms a Victorian cottage into a hard-working, personalised home for a family of four. Our clients loved the character of their Brunswick terrace home, but not its inefficient floor plan and poor year-round thermal control. They didn't need more space, they just needed their space to work harder. The front bedrooms remain largely untouched, retaining their Victorian features and only introducing new cabinetry. Meanwhile, the main bedroom’s previously pokey en suite and wardrobe have been expanded, adorned with custom cabinetry and illuminated via a generous skylight. At the rear of the house, we reimagined the floor plan to establish shared spaces suited to the family’s lifestyle. Flanked by the dining and living rooms, the kitchen has been reoriented into a more efficient layout and features custom cabinetry that uses every available inch. In the dining room, the Swiss Army Knife of utility cabinets unfolds to reveal a laundry, more custom cabinetry, and a craft station with a retractable desk. Beautiful materiality throughout infuses the home with warmth and personality, featuring Blackbutt timber flooring and cabinetry, and selective pops of green and pink tones. The house now works hard in a thermal sense too. Insulation and glazing were updated to best practice standard, and we’ve introduced several temperature control tools. Hydronic heating installed throughout the house is complemented by an evaporative cooling system and operable skylight. The result is a lush, tactile home that increases the effectiveness of every existing inch to enhance daily life for our clients, proving that good design doesn’t need to add space to add value.

Rouse St, Port Melbourne

M.J.Harris Group

The industrial feel carries from the bathroom into the laundry, with the same tiles used throughout creating a sleek finish to a commonly mundane space. With room for both the washing machine and dryer under the bench, there is plenty of space for sorting laundry. Unique to our client’s lifestyle, a second fridge also lives in the laundry for all their entertaining needs.

Karaka Lifestyle Laundry

Du Bois Design Ltd

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary galley dedicated laundry room in Auckland with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, white walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, white floor and grey benchtop.

Jett Rd Spec House

Haggard Home Cabinetry & Design

Photo of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped dedicated laundry room in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, engineered quartz splashback, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor and grey benchtop.

Transitional Gem in Willow Glen

Spaces By Juliana Linssen, Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped dedicated laundry room in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, grey walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Boho Farmhouse

Alison Interiors

Photo of a small transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in San Diego with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain floors and a side-by-side washer and dryer.

Montefaro

Studio Henree LLC

Design ideas for a small transitional dedicated laundry room in San Diego with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, matchstick tile splashback, white walls, ceramic floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor and grey benchtop.

Past Projects

Cuddu Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional single-wall utility room in Detroit with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, grey walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor and black benchtop.

Laundry with hanging rails and subway tiles

Improva

This is an example of a mid-sized modern single-wall dedicated laundry room in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, white walls, ceramic floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Bayfront Beauty

April Balliette

This is an example of a large contemporary l-shaped dedicated laundry room in Tampa with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, engineered quartz splashback, grey walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Cabinetry update of kitchen and Master Bath near LaPine Oregon

The Hidden Touch

This is a hidden cat feeding and liter box area in the cabinetry of the laundry room. This is an excellent way to contain the smell and mess of a cat.

Agoura Hills Home

Riki S. Design

Mudroom room featuring gray and white Spanish floor tiles and custom built-in cabinetry.
Design ideas for a small eclectic u-shaped dedicated laundry room in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, white walls, ceramic floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer and multi-coloured floor.

HUNTINGDALE RESIDENCE

Kitchens by Emanuel

LOUD & BOLD - Custom designed and manufactured kitchen, with a slimline handless detail (shadowline) - Matte black polyurethane - Feature nook area with custom floating shelves and recessed strip lighting - Talostone's 'Super White' used throughout the whole job, splashback, benches and island (80mm thick) - Blum hardware Sheree Bounassif, Kitchens by Emanuel

Alma Road Renovation - Hunting For George

DIY Blinds

Photo of a contemporary single-wall laundry room in Melbourne with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, black cabinets, grey splashback, shiplap splashback, grey walls, light hardwood floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, beige floor, black benchtop, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Laundry Spaces

Rachael Elise Design

This is an example of a mid-sized single-wall dedicated laundry room in Dallas with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Modern Farmhouse with Golf Simulator

Wyrick Residential Design

Photo of a mid-sized country u-shaped dedicated laundry room in Houston with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, shiplap splashback, grey walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor and white benchtop.

Laundry Room detail of reclaimed wood accent wall.

User

Photo Credit: N. Leonard
This is an example of a large country single-wall utility room in New York with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, granite benchtops, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, brown floor, grey splashback, shiplap splashback and planked wall panelling.

Laundry Room - Westfield, NJ

User

Laundry room with farmhouse accents Photo Credit: N. Leonard
Large country single-wall utility room in New York with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, granite benchtops, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, brown floor, grey splashback, timber splashback and planked wall panelling.

Certified Luxury Builders-Dacoda Homes-Bellevue WA-Custom Home 2A

Dream Coast Builders

This is an example of a large contemporary l-shaped laundry room in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, white benchtop, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, marble floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer and black floor.

The "Sana" for St Jude

Marnella Homes

Laundry room cabinets by Hayes Cabinetry, 3cm quartz counters by caesarstone, Bosch laundry. Brizo plumbing fixture and Shaw industries tile flooring

Laundry Room Design Ideas with Grey Splashback and a Side-by-side Washer and Dryer

Laundry designs seldom receive the attention they deserve, especially considering how often they’re used. A well-planned laundry, complete with built-in cabinets, a laundry sink, washing machine and clothes dryer, can serve many needs. It can help simplify your household chores; store drying clothes and cleaning products; and can even provide a spot for you to groom pets. Because of its hardworking, multipurpose potential, a laundry renovation is a worthwhile investment. Smart laundry designs have layouts that save you time and effort. For example, a washing machine and clothes dryer should be positioned next to one another or stacked, and laundry baskets and hampers should be within easy reach; while an ironing board should be stowed by a power point. Ample storage, bench space for laundry baskets and practical lighting are also essential. Browse the photos on Houzz for efficient laundry ideas, from layouts and storage to appliances, and strike up a conversation with the designers of your favourite laundry renovations. For more laundry ideas, browse the Stories section on Houzz.

How do I add storage to my laundry?

A combination of storage solutions is key to running an efficient laundry. Include shelves above or beside the washing machine to store washing detergent, softener and other cleaning products; and laundry bins for dirty clothes. Consider a custom-built cupboard for an ironing board, so it can easily fold out when you need it, or mount the ironing board directly to the wall or on the back of a door. A retractable clothesline is a handy addition to dry delicate clothes, while a clothes hanger mounted to the wall is ideal for hanging freshly pressed shirts.

What else can I use my laundry for?

Multipurpose laundry rooms or utility rooms can help save valuable space in your home. The laundry sink can be used to bathe your furry friends; your laundry cupboard can store sports equipment, gardening tools and umbrellas; and a spare nook can be filled with a desk and chair to create an office space while you wait for your load to finish. If your laundry is at the front of the house, consider using it as a drop station for mail, mobile phones and keys. Include a bench seat or stool, wall-mounted hooks for bags and a coat stand and it can even be used as a place to get the kids organised before you walk out the front door.

How can I decorate my laundry?

Laundries are usually filled to the brim with appliances and storage, so take advantage of your walls when decorating and use cheery paint colours or wallpaper to make doing the chores more pleasant! Fun signs, posters, murals and wall decals will also add character to the space. Think of your storage as decor, too – look for bins and baskets with decorative touches, and use brightly-coloured or patterned hangers.