Spin doctor

Traditionally, laundry have remained behind closed doors, a purely functional place where utilities, piles of linen and household necessities are stored. Having this extra room, however, is often an unobtainable luxury for those living in smaller apartments.

Carefully designed cabinetry, along with the removal of a door, was used to maximise space in this laundry, transforming it into an integral part of the kitchen, says Susan Palmquist of Sawhill Custom Kitchens & Design.

"The apartment is contained in a high-rise building, so the existing plumbing and electrical connections needed to be maintained. Keeping the new laundry in same place, we took out the door that separated it from the kitchen, raised the ceiling and removed a sink that was between the washer and dryer," she says. "The extra room enabled us to build a tall bank of storage cabinets along one wall and add a new benchtop."

As with the kitchen, the appliances have been integrated into the quartersawn maple cabinetry to maintain a streamlined look.

"Miele appliances are well-known for their quiet operation. That, coupled with the fact that they are concealed behind cabinetry, means noise levels are kept to a minimum," says Palmquist.

The benchtop, made of Cambria manufactured quartz in Burton Brown, is not just for laundry purposes. Its close proximity to both the kitchen and an informal dining nook also makes it a convenient place to prepare food and keep small appliances such as a blender and a toaster.

Tucked under the benchtop are the washing machine and dryer while storage cupboards above hold detergents and other laundry-related items. Niche shelving houses the microwave, and the cabinets between the washing machine and dryer can be used to hold laundry baskets.

Story by: Trendsideas