Best of the Week: Lovely Laundries
A practical layout and a few decorative touches can transform the humble laundry into something special
Doing the laundry is a chore most of us can’t ignore, but we can make it infinitely more enjoyable by infusing this practical room with a dash of style. This week we’re inspired to show our laundries some love after perusing these stunning spaces on Houzz.
3. Location: California, USA
Why we love it: Because who doesn’t need a spacious, multi-purpose room where they can tackle everything from laundry, crafting and sewing to office work? With built-in joinery lining both sides of the room, it’s easy to keep laundry supplies, hampers and paperwork out of sight so you can shift smoothly from one activity to the next.
Why we love it: Because who doesn’t need a spacious, multi-purpose room where they can tackle everything from laundry, crafting and sewing to office work? With built-in joinery lining both sides of the room, it’s easy to keep laundry supplies, hampers and paperwork out of sight so you can shift smoothly from one activity to the next.
4. Location: Ohio, USA
Why we love it: White-painted joinery, black and white mosaic floor tiles, and pull-out baskets to store washing supplies – a sweet laundry that’s perfectly in tune with the traditional aesthetics of this 1825 farmhouse.
Why we love it: White-painted joinery, black and white mosaic floor tiles, and pull-out baskets to store washing supplies – a sweet laundry that’s perfectly in tune with the traditional aesthetics of this 1825 farmhouse.
5. Location: California, USA
Why we love it: Making the effort to infuse your laundry with a few personal or stylish touches can make the time you spend there far more pleasant. The laundry in this renovated family home is a great example – the owners have created a folding station from a heavy timber benchtop and lined select areas of the wall and joinery with two very different, yet complementary, patterned tiles in order to fill the space with character.
Why we love it: Making the effort to infuse your laundry with a few personal or stylish touches can make the time you spend there far more pleasant. The laundry in this renovated family home is a great example – the owners have created a folding station from a heavy timber benchtop and lined select areas of the wall and joinery with two very different, yet complementary, patterned tiles in order to fill the space with character.
6. Location: Toronto, Canada
Why we love it: Retro pastel blue joinery with a pillow-fronted profile paired with sleek brushed brass hardware makes an irresistible combination, and are sure to appeal to the pair of smart retirees who own this renovated house.
Why we love it: Retro pastel blue joinery with a pillow-fronted profile paired with sleek brushed brass hardware makes an irresistible combination, and are sure to appeal to the pair of smart retirees who own this renovated house.
7. Location: Willoughby, NSW
Why we love it: Out of sight and out of mind… if you’ve got no room for a separate laundry, why not take a cue from the owners of this Sydney kitchen and conceal a compact laundry station (including a handy shelf for laundry supplies) behind floor-to-ceiling bi-folds.
Why we love it: Out of sight and out of mind… if you’ve got no room for a separate laundry, why not take a cue from the owners of this Sydney kitchen and conceal a compact laundry station (including a handy shelf for laundry supplies) behind floor-to-ceiling bi-folds.
8. Location: Idaho, USA
Why we love it: It’s the thoughtful little features in this renovated mudroom that we can’t tear our eyes away from, such as the soothing colour palette, the pair of open shelves above the washer and dryer for supplies, and the little nook beside the stairs that’s the perfect fit for a laundry basket.
Why we love it: It’s the thoughtful little features in this renovated mudroom that we can’t tear our eyes away from, such as the soothing colour palette, the pair of open shelves above the washer and dryer for supplies, and the little nook beside the stairs that’s the perfect fit for a laundry basket.
9. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: A deep, moody colour palette, patterned encaustic tiles on the floor and splashback… whoever said that a laundry can’t be luxe?
Why we love it: A deep, moody colour palette, patterned encaustic tiles on the floor and splashback… whoever said that a laundry can’t be luxe?
10. Location: Minneapolis, USA
Why we love it: With an easy-to-clean dark tiled floor, a handy spot to sit and pull on boots, and plenty of room to fold washing, this laundry and mudroom are all about practicality.
Why we love it: With an easy-to-clean dark tiled floor, a handy spot to sit and pull on boots, and plenty of room to fold washing, this laundry and mudroom are all about practicality.
11. Location: New York, USA
Why we love it: A silver-tiled splashback adds a touch of glamour and fun to this tiny New York laundry.
Why we love it: A silver-tiled splashback adds a touch of glamour and fun to this tiny New York laundry.
12. Location: Utah, USA
Why we love it: The spacious laundry in this family home does double duty as a craft room, and it’s packed with practical features, including hampers on castors to keep everyone’s laundry under control, durable cement floor tiles, and open shelving with jars and baskets to store crayons, ribbons and the like.
Why we love it: The spacious laundry in this family home does double duty as a craft room, and it’s packed with practical features, including hampers on castors to keep everyone’s laundry under control, durable cement floor tiles, and open shelving with jars and baskets to store crayons, ribbons and the like.
13. Location: Wiltshire, UK
Why we love it: The perfect solution for anyone who’s tired of bending over to load and unload the washing machine… simply raise the washer and dryer to a more comfortable height as the owners have done here. Then add in a smart black and white tiled floor and a twinkling chandelier, and you’ve got a classic laundry look that’s sure to last the distance.
Why we love it: The perfect solution for anyone who’s tired of bending over to load and unload the washing machine… simply raise the washer and dryer to a more comfortable height as the owners have done here. Then add in a smart black and white tiled floor and a twinkling chandelier, and you’ve got a classic laundry look that’s sure to last the distance.
14. Location: Toronto, Canada
Why we love it: The architect tasked with redesigning this 100-year-old home came up with an ingenious solution for how to add a laundry to the bathroom. So as not to lose the bathroom’s relaxed, sanctuary-like vibe, he installed the practical laundry zone inside a self-contained timber box, which can be hidden away behind folding doors.
Why we love it: The architect tasked with redesigning this 100-year-old home came up with an ingenious solution for how to add a laundry to the bathroom. So as not to lose the bathroom’s relaxed, sanctuary-like vibe, he installed the practical laundry zone inside a self-contained timber box, which can be hidden away behind folding doors.
15. Location: San Francisco, USA
Why we love it: Home office, crafting station, laundry… with so many activities taking place in this room, the owners have cleverly stuck to a simple scheme of charcoal, pale grey and white, with a clear Philippe Starck Ghost chair that doesn’t provide any visual obstruction.
Why we love it: Home office, crafting station, laundry… with so many activities taking place in this room, the owners have cleverly stuck to a simple scheme of charcoal, pale grey and white, with a clear Philippe Starck Ghost chair that doesn’t provide any visual obstruction.
17. Location: Kew, Victoria
Why we love it: The laundry in this renovated family home is bright and welcoming. Better still, it boasts oodles of under-bench baskets that make laundry distribution a breeze.
Why we love it: The laundry in this renovated family home is bright and welcoming. Better still, it boasts oodles of under-bench baskets that make laundry distribution a breeze.
18. Location: Detroit, USA
Why we love it: Sophisticated detailing defines this narrow laundry – we can’t look past the sumptuous marble benchtop and floor, and how the dark timber cabinetry perfectly matches the window frames.
Why we love it: Sophisticated detailing defines this narrow laundry – we can’t look past the sumptuous marble benchtop and floor, and how the dark timber cabinetry perfectly matches the window frames.
19. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Why we love it: Warm plywood joinery, contrasting black-painted walls, and little touches such as the folding door handle lining up perfectly with the negative detail under the benchtop – proof that even the most practical areas of the home can benefit from an injection of style.
Why we love it: Warm plywood joinery, contrasting black-painted walls, and little touches such as the folding door handle lining up perfectly with the negative detail under the benchtop – proof that even the most practical areas of the home can benefit from an injection of style.
20. Location: Tonimbuk, Victoria
Why we love it: Because laundry day would surely be far more pleasant with a view like this.
Why we love it: Because laundry day would surely be far more pleasant with a view like this.
21. Location: New York, USA
Why we love it: This compact laundry station has been so thoughtfully considered – we love the way the dark timber contrasts with the loft’s pale walls, and how the floor-to-ceiling design provides just the right amount of space for towels and laundry supplies.
Why we love it: This compact laundry station has been so thoughtfully considered – we love the way the dark timber contrasts with the loft’s pale walls, and how the floor-to-ceiling design provides just the right amount of space for towels and laundry supplies.
22. Location: Grand Rapids, USA
Why we love it: A wall of saturated, juicy-orange joinery energises this practical laundry. Note how the hanging rail opposite is a perfect colour match.
Why we love it: A wall of saturated, juicy-orange joinery energises this practical laundry. Note how the hanging rail opposite is a perfect colour match.
23. Location: California, USA
Why we love it: The built-in joinery here has been designed to make use of every bit of available space, even taking in the area around and above the window. Add in storage cubbies for all the owner’s laundry essentials, and we’re starting to feel organised just looking at this space.
Why we love it: The built-in joinery here has been designed to make use of every bit of available space, even taking in the area around and above the window. Add in storage cubbies for all the owner’s laundry essentials, and we’re starting to feel organised just looking at this space.
24. Location: Kew, Victoria
Why we love it: The laundry in this renovated family home boasts a calming scheme with gorgeous touches, such as the contrasting timber drawer handles and the pull-out drawers with the words ‘Black’, ‘White’ and ‘Coloured’ etched into the fronts.
Why we love it: The laundry in this renovated family home boasts a calming scheme with gorgeous touches, such as the contrasting timber drawer handles and the pull-out drawers with the words ‘Black’, ‘White’ and ‘Coloured’ etched into the fronts.
25. Location: Townsville, Queensland
Why we love it: Pared-back styling and practical inclusions, such as a hanging rail for wet clothes on one side of the room, and hooks and seating on the other to make visitors welcome, transform this laundry/mudroom into a standout space.
Why we love it: Pared-back styling and practical inclusions, such as a hanging rail for wet clothes on one side of the room, and hooks and seating on the other to make visitors welcome, transform this laundry/mudroom into a standout space.
26. Location: Perth, WA
Why we love it: This room takes the idea of multi-functional to a whole new level, with space for a washing machine and dryer, a benchtop for sewing and craft, and even a sofa to unwind on when you’re done.
Why we love it: This room takes the idea of multi-functional to a whole new level, with space for a washing machine and dryer, a benchtop for sewing and craft, and even a sofa to unwind on when you’re done.
27. Location: Minneapolis, USA
Why we love it: Small space? No problem. The owners here have managed to squeeze a fully functional laundry, including a deep sink and folding station, into this compact spot. They’ve even added in some warm touches, such as the dark-blue chevron patterned floor and artwork on the wall.
Why we love it: Small space? No problem. The owners here have managed to squeeze a fully functional laundry, including a deep sink and folding station, into this compact spot. They’ve even added in some warm touches, such as the dark-blue chevron patterned floor and artwork on the wall.
28. Location: California, USA
Why we love it: A great example of how to work a patterned floor – the owners have picked up the same black and white for the walls, and have kept the rest of the scheme deliberately simple so there’s no mistaking the star of the show.
Why we love it: A great example of how to work a patterned floor – the owners have picked up the same black and white for the walls, and have kept the rest of the scheme deliberately simple so there’s no mistaking the star of the show.
29. Location: Montreal, Canada
Why we love it: The owners have cleverly used the empty space at the bottom of the stairs to pop in a washer and dryer… plus a cosy pet nook for their cat.
Tell us
Did you enjoy this story? Tell us your favourite space in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, let us know which other spaces you’d like to see in our ‘best of’ series.
More
Best of the week: Wondrous wallpapers
Why we love it: The owners have cleverly used the empty space at the bottom of the stairs to pop in a washer and dryer… plus a cosy pet nook for their cat.
Tell us
Did you enjoy this story? Tell us your favourite space in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, let us know which other spaces you’d like to see in our ‘best of’ series.
More
Best of the week: Wondrous wallpapers
Why we love it: When the owners of this renovated family home were faced with how to combine a bathroom and laundry in one, they decided to conceal their utility space behind a bank of bi-folds. But with its stunning tiled splashback and dark timber shelving that picks up on the black ceiling, we believe it’s beautiful enough to be on show all year round.