A laundry to love

Ah, yes, the humble laundry... most often home to a washer, dryer, wobbly sink and
a couple of cluttered shelves. We introduce the laundry at its best – practical but pretty.

Before

An extension was made to the house in the late 1980s, and a very basic laundry added. The simple working laundry had a washing machine, wall-hung dryer, broom cupboard and metal sink. There was no storage space whatsoever, so when it came time for a second renovation, the owners “stole part of the old kitchen” and opted for purpose-built storage, so things can be packed neatly away.

When it came to renovating their house, Pip Pritchett and her husband Ken put their trust in Jane Thomson, from Downie Thomson Interiors, particularly when it came to the laundry. “There was a guest toilet on the outside wall of the house, so we turned a utilitarian room into a much prettier space,” says Jane, “knowing that when guests came for dinner, they would walk through to the toilet and feel as though it was more of a powder room than a laundry.” 

An old 1980s kitchen was where part of the new laundry is, so existing plumbing was accessed. “We stole part of the old kitchen to put it into the laundry. And the new kitchen was moved forward into a new open-plan space at the back of the house,” says Jane.

Light fills the space through the glass sliding door and an ample skylight. The large mirror behind the sink not only reflects light around the room, but gives the area a truly elegant feel.

Joinery was built around the ample-sized mirror, and cupboards have been designed to get as much space out of the area as possible. Above the sink, awning cupboard doors lift up and push back to enable the Pritchetts to see and access everything stored inside. Around the sink, a solid Caesarstone benchtop provides good workspace. A cupboard has been earmarked for wine storage and an entire wall is lined with a linen press. Tall cupboards either side of the sink are stacked high with shelves for laundry and cleaning items.

Make the most utilitarian room in the house a place that turns everyday routine from a chore into a pleasure. White cupboards look bright and clean, while a neutral wall colour adds to an aesthetically pleasing colour palette. Organisation and effective storage is the key to making the most of the space you have, while practical accessories, such as multi-tidy baskets and a decent iron and ironing board, will make tasks simple and easy to deal with.

Planning your laundry

• Arrange products and supplies according to how you use them. Anything you need regularly should be within easy reach, with other extras somewhere out of the way.


• Store small supplies in boxes or bins. Place stain-removal products in one, rags and sponges in another, and so on.


• If you don’t have a workbench, add a folding table or fix one to the wall.


• Attach an ironing-board hanger to the wall so board and iron are secure and out of the way, but easily accessible.


• Use free space in the laundry room to store basic tools and pet supplies.


• If you have the space, it’s a good idea to have separate laundry baskets for whites, coloureds and delicates.


• Keep a few hangers handy, so you can hang clothes after drying or ironing.


• Remember, it’s a utilitarian space, so use robust handles – like these stainless steel ones by Pittella.

How often should you do the laundry?

Try to do a little bit – whether it’s washing, drying or ironing – twice a week, before it becomes an overwhelming chore that you put off until you have no clean clothes in your wardrobe! However, to save electricity and water, it’s a good idea to wait until you have a decent load before firing the washing machine or dryer into action.

Photography: Georgie Cole. Words & Styling: Alexia Biggs.

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