How hard/expensive would it be to turn this space into a utility room?

[BollocksToOpenPlanKitchens]

DH and I are moving soon. New place has an open plan kitchen. Having spent the last 6 years constantly having to turn up the TV over the racket do the washing machine I’m not thrilled about the prospect of doing it again!

BUT

New place has a random little space that I think could be turned into a small utility room. Essentially we’re moving into a basement flat of a converted house, this space extends from the front of the house to under the stairs you go down to get to our front door. It already has mains power and a window so we’d be fine to put a tumble dryer in there, but how tricky would it be to get a washing machine plumbed in as well?

Every time I suggested it to DH he moans about having the carpet/floorboards pulled up to get plumbing in, would take too long, be too expensive etc. But really? I have no experience with builders so I haven’t a clue but it seems like it should be fairly straightforward. We’d also have to put a door in as there currently isn’t one but that should be simple enough.

Pics/floor plan attached- what do you think?

Is it that long thin bit next to the sitting room? Assuming you can shut a door to it I definitely would. A self-contained laundry room with washing machine, tumble dryer, dedicated shelves and worktop with space for sorting and baskets for clean folded clothes, a place to iron (should you choose)...

A bit of expense getting water supply vs tripping over your wet towels and pants in the kitchen is worth it's weight in gold. I bet its actually not that hard or that expensive l to get done by a professional plumber (not your husband masquerading as one ).

What does he plan to do with it if it's not a utility room?

Do you really need a tumble dryer? They're expensive to run and environmentally problematic...

If you want to get water across to the area to make a utility room wouldn't it mean taking up the tiled kitchen floor to run water/waste across?

I think you'd need to lift the carpet to see which way the joists underneath the floor run before making a decision. It might not be as easy as you think if you have to run the pipes through the joists. Also you'll need to check where the existing waste water goes out of the property.

If it's possible i'd do it though.

It’s possible your water main; goes into the flat by the door which means you wouldn't have to take up the kitchen floor.

I’d definitely do it.

Yes, it’s the area on the bottom left of the floor plan. We’d have to have a door made as I think the opening is slightly wider than a standard door frame. I certainly wouldn’t trust DH with the task, he’s not the most practical of men- he can barely assemble flat pack furniture!

Odd place for a utility room but really odd space full stop. What's it intended for?

I use an understairs like this as a utility room. I can't remember what it cost to plumb in the washing machine but I would do it if I were you. I'm in Ireland so even if I remembered it would cost you less!!!!

Sorry that was in response to Pascha’s post.

If not a utility room it will at least be a space to air laundry- we have a washer/dryer at the minute and although we barely use the dryer function because it’s crap it would be nice to have one for things like towels and bedsheets. And I expect it will be a dumping ground for stuff like the hoover, suitcases and other things that just never seem to have a home. DH had ideas about making it into a little workspace for the once in a blue moon occasions when he works from home but I don’t see that happening!

Is there a way of finding out where existing pipes are without taking up any flooring? I doubt there are blueprints or anything available as it’s so old.

I don’t think it’s intended for anything in particular- there’s nobody living there at the minute but I’d imagine it’s just been used as storage space. The white goods are included in the sale so there’s already a washing machine installed in the kitchen. No dryer though.

presumably it was originally the front entrance and hallway