It's easy to get swept up in photos of luxurious laundry rooms – modern appliances and sparkling quartz counters, Instagram-worthy accessories holding soaps and fabric conditioners as natural light lands on whimsical artwork or a vase of flowers.
What those elegant illustrations don't relay, however, is whether the space actually works.
And that's why, when beginning a renovation, Desirée Inouye's first question is simple: "How do you do your laundry."
While the question may seem basic, the answers will be highly individual and instructive.
Consider the person who never irons or hangs clothes to dry – space and accessories to let them do so would be wasted. And if they typically fold their laundry while watching TV, there's little use for that elegant counter atop the washer and dryer, explains Inouye, Interior Designer and Design Centre Coordinator for award-winning MAC Renovations, serving Greater Victoria.
"A laundry room can be 100 per cent designed for how you use it," she says, pointing to the fabulous array of laundry room accessories available, from slide-out drying racks to hide-away hamper storage with built-in venting.
Don't care about that quartz counter, but dream of laundry that's easier on the back? Look for riser storage for your front-loading appliances – laundry will never be a pain again!
And that brings us to the machines ... Today's appliances offer a lot to consider, not only in configuration (stacking vs side-by side) but in the array of possible features, courtesy of the latest technology. If it's been more than a few years since you've purchased appliances, you'll want to have a good look at what's available, but before getting caught up in the shiny new bells and whistles, be mindful of what features you'll actually use.
Inouye also likes to provide clients with a cheat sheet of specifications they can share with sales people at the appliance store – it narrows down the selection to only those that will work in their home, she explains.
For example, if you really do want a counter for folding, you'll need front-loading appliances that aren't too tall. If you don't have adequate ventilation, you may want to pass on the steam dryer. If you're creating a small laundry room, or one that needs to do double-duty, perhaps a unit that's both a washer and dryer is the right space-saving solution.
When is a laundry room not just a laundry room? When it's also a mudroom, closet or other double-duty space that requires additional layout, design and material considerations.
Many homeowners find renovation cost-savings in laundry rooms – choosing laminate counters over granite, for example, or vinyl floors instead of hardwood. But as you consider materials, it's also important to consider potential limitations – undermount sinks don't work with laminate, for example – and whether the room also serves other purposes.
If it's in a mudroom, will it be the family's main entrance? Flooring may need to withstand kids, dogs and rain gear, as well as potential moisture from the washer, and additional storage may be required to keep everyone organized. If the laundry is part of a powder room, you may want higher-end finishes to create a guest-worthy room, or find unique solutions to create distinct spaces.
By answering these questions, you and your design team can create a laundry room that works well and looks good, too!
To learn more about the possibilities for your laundry room, visit MAC Renovations at macreno.com or call 250-384-6091.