Spice up your white goods
Appliances needn’t be dull — now they come in a range of cheering tropical shades, says Ella Buchan
THERE’s nothing sexy about rubbish bins. Nor washing machines, dryers and dishwashers, for that matter.
But unless we want mountains of waste and endless trips to the launderette, we all have to live with them. Here’s how to think outside the big white box and make those boring household essentials add sparkle to your home.
A STYLISH SPACE
IF YOU are lucky enough to have a utility room, TV’s Phil spencer recommends giving it some TLC.
‘Just because it’s designed for somewhat boring household chores doesn’t mean the space has to be dull,’ says spencer.
‘ First, identify a theme — modern, shabby chic or vintage.’ then treat it like any other room — plan a colour scheme and invest in attractive storage boxes. Habitat has a sleek natural rattan laundry bin in the sale (£ 55, habitat.co.uk).
interior designer Maurizio Pellizzoni suggests using pastel shades, such as Pantone colours of the year Rose Quartz and serenity (a soft cornflower blue) to create a calm environment. ‘add artwork or pin boards and the room will feel more inviting,’ he says.
don’t be afraid of giving white goods a lick of paint. Frenchic Furniture Paint, in 30 colours from Grey Pebble to fiery red Flamenco, can be used on any surface and is made from all-natural ingredients (from £5.95, frenchicpaint.co.uk).
FASHION AND FORM
CLEVER, compact design is helpful in any kitchen and essential in smaller spaces. there are plenty of slimmer, less intrusive appliances on the market, such as Hotpoint’s Ultima dishwasher, which is the width of a tea towel (£269).
Hotpoint has a compact Luce range and Bosch’s serie 8 selection is positively sleek.
But there’s no need to stick to traditional shades. the Colour Boutique range at stoves.co.uk, offers stoves in midnight blue and wild berry. smeg’s Victoria cookers are designed to complement their iconic retro fridges and come in pale blue, pink and burgundy.
Even your bin can be beautiful. Wesco has a range of slick bullet shapes in colours such as almond, pillar-box red and satsuma, plus slimline versions that tuck neatly under the sink, from £24.99 ( wescoshop.co.uk) Joseph Joseph has stylish recycling receptacles from £24.99 ( johnlewis.com).
For other rooms, Crackpots has an attractive range of wastepaper bins in fuchsia, gold and peacock (£28, crackpots.co.uk).
RAVISHING RADIATORS
RADIATORS take up precious wall space, so it helps if they look decent. treat yellowing heaters to a fresh lick of paint.
Most DIY stores stock white enamel that can be used on metals. For colour, new Valspar paint can be sprayed onto any surface. a choice of 1,700 colours makes it easy to blend your radiator with your walls. or go for a contrasting shade.
Cast- iron pieces will create a vintage, industrial look. several firms stock traditional styles, including castiron radiators.ltd.uk, which has a baroque range from £19 per section.
Lassco is another good source of vintage radiators ( lassco.co.uk).
‘ Nowadays you can consider radiators as you would curtains, providing an opportunity to work with colours, textures and shapes,’ says Nick duggan, of the Radiator Centre.
the range includes bamboo, cubist and bright designs that you won’t want to hide away.
For a quick fix, radiator surrounds can look attractive. Homebase has a wide range in oak and white finishes, ne designed to look like cabinets. or their MDF boxes, from £29.99, can be transformed with Farrow & Ball Estate Eggshell paint, , in 132 colours.
PIPE DREAM
Most of us have pipes onn display in our homes. Matt Philips, a DIY expert at handy.com, warns against boxing them off. ‘it can draw more attention to them,’ he says.
instead, paint copper, boiler, radiator and any otherher pipes in a colourlour that complements your decor. First, ensure pipes are cool. Clean off dirt and grease with sugar soap and, once dried, use sandpaper to remove residue and provide a rougher surface that the paint can stick to easily. Use an anti-corrosive on any rust, apply radiator primer, then finish with your desired colour.
if your boiler isn’t tucked away in a cupboard, several companies are offering bespoke covers. London Boiler Company ( londonboilercompany.com) will decorate your existing cover with any colour or design you like (quote on request).
OUTSOURCE
IF YOU have a garden or patio, consider creating a ‘hub’ to house your bins and recycling. a simple wooden or plastic structure with hinged doors will keep them neatly packed away.
if you have a shed or garage with room to spare, consider moving appliances there to free up space in the kitchen.
Consult an electrician on running cables underground to hook up your machines if necessary.