Laundry Room

Today I want to give you a look at what I’m designing for our mudroom/laundry. I am creating final drawings and locking in my cabinet choices. This part always makes me excited and a little bit nervous. Committing to these expensive, hard-to-change architectural details is a big deal!

As you know, our home isn’t that big, so we needed to combine the laundry and the mudroom. Mudrooms are essential in our area. We need lots of coats, gloves, and hats (tooks, for my Canadian friends). Add on the fact that my family has picked up every risky sport there is (motorcycles, jumping horses, skiing/snowboarding) and we have a real need for helmet storage. I hate tripping over everyone’s shoes while I do laundry, so we’ve taken some steps to remedy the issue.

Once again, here is the floor plan:

 

We’ve changed our floor plan in the mudroom a little bit. I decided to do a stacked washer and dryer to give me room for a laundry basket and drying racks. The door in the hallway is now going to be a barn slider, so nothing obstructs access to the washer and dryer. The lockers stayed the same.

Here is the elevation of the washer/dryer nook. I have to admit, I haven’t run this by my husband and I don’t know if it will stick, but I was trying to think of something relaxed and creative for our mudroom. I need a drying rack for my running gear and a hamper with three sections (darks, whites, and colors). I thought a rustic ladder would be a fun way to do a drying rack. The space above the washer and dryer would hold detergent and the loose change found in pockets. I think I want it to be open and everything to be in pretty jars.

 

Let’s talk appliances for a second. I get asked a lot which appliances are best, and it’s hard to say. I try to talk to repairmen as much as I can, as well as the stores that sell appliances. Sometimes we run into issues right away with our clients, and then I hear mixed reviews when I talk to other designers. We have forums where we share the good, the bad, and the ugly. That begin said, appliances are like cars. Everyone has an opinion on the best one, and you can always get a dud. I believe that they are making appliances to be disposable, which isn’t cool.

I’m going to try Speed Queen for our laundry appliances. I hadn’t heard of them until a few months ago. They aren’t very pretty, but they are made in the U.S., are constructed with metal parts (most appliances now have plastic parts) and rigorously tested electronic boards. They have the best warranty I’ve ever heard of and claim they will run for 25 years. I’m going to give them a try. We are crossing our fingers that they are good!

This is the locker side of our mudroom. The cabinetry will be stained black, and I am putting outlets in each one to charge small electronics and headlamps. I run a lot in the dark, so my headlamp is important to me!

 

This mood board will hopefully help give you the vibe I’m going for.

After sixteen years of marriage and moving 13 times, as well as designing for clients, you start to really hone in on what you want and what you don’t. I’ve learned that I don’t need a sink in my laundry and that I air dry a lot of clothes. Who knows? Maybe I will have Dave make an outdoor clothes line for me when we put in our yard.

That, my friends, is the plan for my mudroom/laundry! If you have a minute, share one thing that you would love in your laundry room. Until next time……