Laundry room has life sentence commuted
Dingy space turns light and bright
PATRICK LANGSTON Back in the day, doing the weekly wash was a test of endurance.
“Laundry rooms were in the basement with concrete floors,” Ottawa interior designer Penny Southam says. “You’d stare at the foundation walls. It was dismal.”
No more. Laundry rooms — mostly on main or even second floors — are now bright, stylish places spotlighting efficiency and the clever use of space.
Along with built-in cabinetry and gleaming tile floors, Southam says she’s doing everything from designing pullout drying racks for sweaters to specifying dropin stainless-steel sinks with chic faucets. Art work, often the children’s, adorns gaily painted walls. Small flip-out televisions are the latest must-have.
“It’s about making laundry rooms nice environments to be in,” she says. “Doing laundry isn’t a (prison) sentence anymore — or at least now it’s in a nice place.”
Good illumination is essential. Designers recommend a mix of task lighting such as under-cabinet light bars for folding and sorting laundry on countertops, along with ambient lighting from wall sconces or lamps. Even chandeliers, albeit modest ones, aren’t out of place.
Pedestals reduce bending for front-loading washers and dryers. Costing $200 and up at places like Home Depot, they typically include a drawer for laundry supplies.
If your laundry room is on the main or second floor, a steel pan under the washer will minimize water leak damage, Southam says. To prevent leaks, use steel-braided laundry hoses. A brass washing machine shut-off valve that connects the water supply to the hoses gives added protection. Both are available at building-materials stores.
For laundry rooms near sleeping quarters, look for a low-decibel washer with vibration control.
Other nifty items include Rev-a-Shelf ’s ironing board in a drawer. The $280 gizmo unfolds when you open the drawer. It’s good for smaller items and touch-ups.
Depending on size, laundry rooms can double as craft or other specialized areas (one enthusiastic website suggests using it as a potting area for plants, but that seems counterintuitive).
To conceal the washer and dryer, look for flipper hardware. Normally used for entertainment units, it allows cabinet doors to be opened and then slid out of view beside the appliance.
Speakers for your iPod make the room even more enticing.
When considering a laundry reno, plan carefully and calculate how much space you need, Southam says.
“Will you do your ironing there or somewhere else? Is there room for cabinets? Do you want drying racks?” she asks.
Hiring a designer will likely give you the best results. Even so, start by gathering ideas. Canadian House and Home Magazine offers online advice and is one of many good places to begin planning your escape from prison.