Wide-open spaces

One of the vagaries of building a home is how little attention is paid to service spaces, such as laundries. An essential element in any home, the design of these spaces rarely rates anything more than cursory attention.

Yet the benefits of an efficient laundry room make the process a worthwhile investment, says Royston Wilson of Royston Wilson Design.

"It's about practicality by thoughtfully designing the laundry you end up with a utility center that extends the functionality of the room beyond just washing clothes."

The laundry featured on these pages is an extension to the house and as such was intended to fulfill a number of functions. The laundry itself links directly with the pool area via a large mudroom, which incorporates added storage as well as a toilet and shower.

"The mudroom stores pool accessories and other outdoor items, while the toilet and shower eliminate the need for people using the pool to enter the house itself," says Wilson.

Attached to the laundry room is another bathroom, complete with bathtub, where children can get cleaned up when they come home wet and muddy.

Adjoining the kitchen, the laundry also serves as a scullery or overflow space when the owners are entertaining, so ample countertops were incorporated into the design, says Wilson.

"The idea was to provide maximum storage in the most user-friendly way, without compromising the aesthetic. The open shelf, for example, provides storage without making the space look closed in, while the overhead cupboards were made deeper than usual," says Wilson.

Story by: Justin Foote