Laundry room lowdown: How to improve the function and look of this utilitarian space - Brief Article - Illustration

Sunset, March, 2002 by Mary Jo Bowling

There's no way around it: Doing laundry isn't fun. But, although you can't eliminate the burden of washing clothes, you can lessen it by making the laundry area more efficient and attractive.

The key elements of the ideal washing and drying space include a 36-inch-high counter or table for convenient folding; a utility sink for items that need to be washed by hand; a rack, bar, or clothesline for drip-drying; water-resistant, easy-to-clean surfaces; ample storage for soaps and softeners; and adequate task lighting. An optional but important feature to consider is a drain in the floor for drips or the occasional overflow.

Launching and landing pad

A laundry room that serves multiple functions is essential when space is tight. This example forms a galley between the garage and the kitchen. Opposite the washer and dryer is a mudroom, with coat hooks, cubbies for boots and toys, and a bench for use while changing shoes. Toward the kitchen end is a message center with slots for mail. A large sink is outfitted with a hand-held sprayer for rinsing clothes or muddy boots.

DESIGN: Kirsten Dumo, Satterberg Desonier Dumo Interior Design, Mercer Island, WA (206/232-1830)

Open-and-shut case

Bob and Jackie Macdonald have two jobs and three children, so they need a laundry room that works as hard as they do. The closet between the entry and kitchen didn't suffice, so they expanded the work area by borrowing space from a powder room and closet. Now one side of the laundry is closed; bifold doors hide the washer and dryer and adjacent wall cabinets. The other side (shown at right) is open for a spacious feeling and contains a folding and storage area, where tall cabinets hold brooms and mops. The granite countertop and maple cabinets integrate the space with the adjacent kitchen.

DESIGN: David Upchurch, S.E.A. Construction, San Carlos, CA (650/802-9585); Kathleen Navarra, San Francisco (415/409-6280)

Island of activity

This Wilsonville, Oregon, laundry room between the garage and the kitchen is organized around an island, which provides a place to fold and sort clothes or to put grocery bags as the car is unloaded. Under the island there's room for a rolling, sectioned hamper. Opposite the island, a chute delivers laundry from upstairs bedrooms to a cabinet above the washer. A wall-mounted ironing board swings down when needed. The backsplash behind the washer, dryer, and utility sink is made of tiles painted by the family's children, their cousins, and their friends. A towel bar mounted over the sink is a drying rack.

DESIGN: Jayne Sanders Interior Design, Vancouver, WA (360/695-2279).