Laundry Rooms
Position the most-used appliances with care first, then build storage around them. Consider locating the washing machine higher up so you don’t have to bend down to access it. An even more useful solution is to ask a cabinetmaker to build a pullout surface beneath the appliance, on which you can rest items while loading and unloading.
Adding a custom built-in that elevates laundry machines can save one’s back from the wear and tear of having to stoop down or bend over when changing laundry. Amy Hendel of Hendel Homes in Minneapolis added beautiful built-in cabinetry to house elevated machines in this remodeled laundry room. “Having elevated machines makes laundry so much easier to perform,” she says. “You do need extra support to house these machines, and the pre-planning for this definitely takes additional work and thought.”
A drying cabinet is another useful way to integrate a drying area into a laundry room. Timberline Contracting in Denver added wire mesh door fronts to some of the built-in cabinets in this recently remodeled laundry room. The mesh doors allow air to circulate through the cabinet, enabling one to hang clothes that are still damp to dry over time without shrinking or wrinkling in a dryer.
Designer tips. “Pullouts for supplies make things easily accessible,” designer Shirley Meisels says. “A devoted drying space is handy too. We used a Caesarstone top on the base for waterproofing against drips. The wool rug, which is very durable around water, adds a fun hit of color and adds warmth to a functional space.”
“The homeowner loves using her standing clothes steamer,” designer Stephanie Frees says. “I needed to figure out a way to allow that to be stored away yet easily accessible for use. The tall storage cabinet was modified to have the toe area attached to the door, so that the steamer can simply roll in and out of the cabinet.”
Drying rack drawers
Extra-long hanging rod. Slim, wall-mounted designs, like the Shaker peg rail and hanging rod shown here, make the most of a narrow room. Use the rod to drape damp clothes to dry and the peg rail above to hang hangers.
Add drying space to your laundry room. It’s sweater weather — which means more woolens taking up space on the drying rack. Give those pullovers and cardigans a bit of breathing room with an extra drying rack. To save space, look for a version that folds up when not in use.
This practical laundry unit features eye-level machines for easy access, with hamper drawers underneath and a handy pull-out platform to place the basket on or use as a folding station.
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