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.

2017 Spring Remodelers Showcase

Knight Construction Design Inc.

Small country single-wall utility room in Minneapolis with a drop-in sink, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, beige walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer and recessed-panel cabinets.

Summerfield Vineyard Home

R & K Custom Homes

Mid-sized transitional galley utility room in Raleigh with an undermount sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, beige walls, porcelain floors and a side-by-side washer and dryer.

California Country

Laura Hunt Design

Photo of a mid-sized country single-wall dedicated laundry room in San Francisco with white cabinets, laminate benchtops, a side-by-side washer and dryer, recessed-panel cabinets, an undermount sink and green walls.

Modern New Build Home

Windram and Wood

This is an example of a mid-sized modern single-wall dedicated laundry room in Auckland with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, a side-by-side washer and dryer, black benchtop and wood.

Laundry with Chalk White Laminex Doors

Nouvelle Kitchens & Bathrooms

Photo of a small contemporary l-shaped utility room in Sydney with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, beige walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, white floor and grey benchtop.

Lake House Shimmer Laundry/Mudroom/Pantry

Lustig Custom Cabinets

Combination layout of laundry, mudroom & pantry rooms come together in cabinetry & cohesive design. Soft maple cabinetry finished in our light, Antique White stain creates the lake house, beach style.

Z11 - Hauswirtschaftsraum

Brüggemann Innenausbau GmbH

Funktionale Ausstattung und Aufteilung Dekoroberflächen weiß, Durchwurföffnungen für Wäschesortierung, Abstellflächen für Körbe vor/unter Waschmaschine und Trockner

Timeless | Kitchen & Main Level Remodel

Che Bella Interiors Design + Remodeling

This small garage entry functions as the mudroom as well as the laundry room. The space once featured the swing of the garage entry door, as well as the swing of the door that connects it to the foyer hall. We replaced the hallway entry door with a barn door, allowing us to have easier access to cabinets. We also incorporated a stackable washer & dryer to open up counter space and more cabinet storage. We created a mudroom on the opposite side of the laundry area with a small bench, coat hooks and a mix of adjustable shelving and closed storage. Photos by Spacecrafting Photography

Laundry room

Avenir Kitchen and Bath

Laundry room designed in small room with high ceiling. This wall unit has enough storage cabinets, foldable ironing board, laminate countertop, hanging rod for clothes, and vacuum cleaning storage.

Hildebrandt basement

Ruffner Remodeling and Repair, LLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized u-shaped utility room in Minneapolis with an utility sink, laminate benchtops, white walls, carpet, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey floor and exposed beam.

Wilmington Court - Laundry

Paul N. Brow, Architect, LLC

View of Laundry room with built-in soapstone folding counter above storage for industrial style rolling laundry carts and hampers. Space for hang drying above. Laundry features two stacked washer / dryer sets. Painted ship-lap walls with decorative raw concrete floor tiles. Built-in pull down ironing board between the washers / dryers.

The Willowcrest - 2018 Fall Parade Home - Laundry Room

Snowden Builders LLC

Design ideas for a large beach style galley dedicated laundry room in Grand Rapids with a drop-in sink, blue cabinets, laminate benchtops, vinyl floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey floor, grey benchtop, shaker cabinets and beige walls.

Refreshed Laundry

Angela Thelen Design, Inc.

Spcacecrafters
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional galley laundry room in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, laminate benchtops, beige walls, vinyl floors, a stacked washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor and beige benchtop.

Lake House Remodel

E. Leet Woodworking

Inspiration for a small traditional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Grand Rapids with white cabinets, laminate benchtops, ceramic floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, beige floor, shaker cabinets, a drop-in sink and grey walls.

Urban Lake View Queen Tudor

w.b. builders

Photo by Seth Hannula
Inspiration for a large transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Minneapolis with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, pink walls, a side-by-side washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor, concrete floors and white benchtop.

Ashland Kitchen renovation

Archambault Construction

Ashland kitchen/laundry renovation
Mid-sized traditional single-wall laundry cupboard in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, white walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer and grey floor.

Nest in the Trees

Anchor Builders

Design & Build Team: Anchor Builders, Photographer: Andrea Rugg Photography
Photo of a mid-sized transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Minneapolis with a drop-in sink, black cabinets, laminate benchtops, white walls, porcelain floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer and shaker cabinets.

Angular Abode

Tempus Design Studio Pty Ltd

This is an example of a mid-sized modern single-wall laundry room in Other with a single-bowl sink, laminate benchtops, white walls, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floor and white benchtop.

Laurelhurst Tudor Home

Ann McCulloch Shop & Studio

New laundry room with removable ceiling to access plumbing for future kitchen remodel. Soffit on upper left accomodates heating ducts from new furnace room (accecssed by door to the left of the sink). Painted cabinets, painted concrete floor and built in hanging rod make for functional laundry space. Photo by David Hiser

Laundry Room Design Ideas with Soapstone Benchtops and Laminate Benchtops

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.