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Original poster

Where to put the laundry room?

119 replies

CurrerBell · 10/10/2012 18:15

We are just about to go through building regs for our extension, and I'm having last minute doubts about the layout...

I always envisaged a lovely futility room (have never had one before) when we started the plans. However, we've ended up with basically a cupboard off the hallway, which just fits the washing machine and tumble dryer side by side. Not much space in front, so to access it I'd have to stand in the doorway, blocking the corridor. It might be fine... but it's a compromise as we also want to fit in a decent sized playroom-cum-study downstairs. The only alternative really is having the white goods in the new kitchen diner.

After seeing it mentioned on a few threads, I am wondering about having an upstairs laundry room... It would mean sacrificing our small fifth bedroom (currently our study), but we would have the space for washing machine, tumble dryer, ironing board, clothes airers, extra wardrobe space... and it would save all the trips up and downstairs with dirty washing. Has anyone done this and got it to work for them?

We have no plumbing on this side of the house though, so I'm not sure how difficult it would be to sort that out? Please, help me make a decision before the plans are set in stone!

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FishfingersAreOK · 13/10/2012 00:10

Arghhh cannot see on phone and camping for the weekend...would love to look so will check on Sun night.

EverybodysSpookyEyed · 13/10/2012 00:16

I like the open plan design - so will the playroom be in the room off the kitchen? I think it would be nice to make that a bit more open. Maybe even if it is just that you have no wall full height behind counters

EverybodysSpookyEyed · 13/10/2012 00:17

Wanted to add that we have a formal lounge that dh and I spend our evenings in. It is a lovely clutter free adult space!

BerylStreep · 13/10/2012 07:29

In order of preference I like:

Kitchen
Redesign
Open Plan

I'm afraid I don't like redesign 2 at all.

The only issue with the lounge in 'Open Plan' is that there is no direct access from the hall. Not such a big deal for a playroom, but I think it is for the lounge.

BerylStreep · 13/10/2012 07:33

Sorry, I meant to say:

Kitchen
Open plan
Redesign

Original poster
CurrerBell · 14/10/2012 11:28

Thanks Beryl. We have looked again at the Kitchen in the Lounge idea but can't seem to get the new (proposed) lounge to work... Haven't completely ruled it out this idea though!

We were talking last night about how we usually spend our time. Our current dining room is at the heart of the house, with a good view of the garden. This is the room where I spend most of my time - usually on the laptop on the dining table. We hardly ever sit in the upstairs study, but we have to run up the stairs several times a day to get print-outs, reset the wi-fi box, put paper work away etc. Paperwork just floats around in the dining room until it's put away upstairs. When we have meals, we have to clear the dining table off and stuff the laptop/paperwork on the floor. We also listen to music in here and DH plays the piano in the evenings. I was thinking the room works well for this (as a sociable study/music room) but less well as a dining room!

We were also thinking that den/playroom/snug would be best off the kitchen, at the other side of the house. We'd like this to be big enough for a big comfy sofa for watching TV (so we can keep our lounge as a more formal sitting room). That got us to talking again about the laundry room, and how it would be better upstairs!

DH has suggested we use the bedroom nearest to the new Master bedroom as a dedicated laundry and dressing room. We could have wardrobes / hanging space so that we could get our clothes from there without even putting them away in our rooms. Like a big communal wardrobe. We think this room would be easier for sorting the plumbing as well.

Anyway sorry for waffling on. Have done a new plan! It's here under the name 'Downstairs Study'. There's an upstairs one [http://pl.an/3ln9ku here]] called 'Upstairs Laundry'.

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BerylStreep · 14/10/2012 12:42

Looking good!

EverybodysSpookyEyed · 14/10/2012 13:32

I like that very much - it flows better downstairs

Not 100% sure about the huge laundry/cupboard room - my utility room always feels a bit damp and i'm not sure i'd want to keep all my clothes in there.

we are about t embark on an extension and everyone thinks we should move the kitchen. Whilst it is what most other houses like ours have done, we actually like where the kitchen is and it works well for how we live. So I think you have to do what will suit you best

Original poster
CurrerBell · 14/10/2012 14:45

Ah - I didn't think about the damp issue. I guess what we need is to carve out a laundry cupboard for washing / tumble drying but have other space set aside for drying / hanging, which we could turn back into a bedroom if need be.

It is so annoying that our downstairs WC is just slightly too small to fit the white goods in. It could work if we moved the toilet and had a folding door, I suppose. Our white goods are currently in the garage, which will be demolished when we do the extension, so we need some solution to bringing them inside!

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BerylStreep · 14/10/2012 16:38

Currer,
I have been looking at the first floor plans again - there is one version that you have - called 'through bathroom' which looks good. Where you have indicated the space for solar tank - could you not put your laundry there? You could have an overhead pulley for drying (which I really want but don't have the height for).

I don't think having an external soil pipe is a big issue - it is unlikely to freeze, as the contents go straight down into the drains.

minipie · 14/10/2012 17:39

Definitely sounds like you need a set space for study/paperwork downstairs, so I like the downstairs study plan.

Personally I'd probably play the piano and listen to music in the lounge rather than in the study, but that's just me!

Original poster
CurrerBell · 14/10/2012 23:16

Beryl, the 'Through Bathroom' plan was the architect's original plan... It leaves us with a four bedroom house but gives us a larger family bathroom. I hadn't looked at this one for a while as we'd discounted it for cost reasons. But yes, the laundry could go in the large cupboard carved out of the old bathroom. Is this a much better plan than the other?

I'm still pondering the 'Kitchen in the Lounge' idea, but really can't get the new lounge to work - too many doors again!

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Original poster
CurrerBell · 14/10/2012 23:18

PS - here's a link to the upstairs plans.

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FishfingersAreOK · 14/10/2012 23:20

How about from left to right Lounge, kitchen/diner/snug and then study/music at the front right?

Could you steal some of the front right roommate for utility?

Original poster
CurrerBell · 15/10/2012 14:11

Thanks Fishfingers - am still working on the layout but still struggling to fit a utility in.

I am so incredibly stressed as the electrician is starting tomorrow...

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Pannacotta · 15/10/2012 14:22

Its hard to give advice on layout on the internet so someone you dont know but is it worth delyaing the electric work until you are sure about the layout and uses of the rooms?
That is whay I;d do in your shoes.
Re the downstairs, I'd probaly try and combine study and music room in one and have only one table for dining.
I'd also try and fit in space for drying clothes - ie your idea of a utility/drying room as this keeps the rest of the house much tidier.

FishfingersAreOK · 15/10/2012 14:52

I kind of agree - the electrics depend upon knowing how you will use the space. You have an amazing amount of space - but you need to get the layout so you are 100% happy with it. There maybe the odd compromise (eg our futility/downstairs loo is teeeeennny - but the open plan area is brilliant) - but you need to make sure the compromise is the right one.

Put the electrician off. Better to get the fundamental bit right. And when you do the electrics make sure you remember to factor in where light switches go as well as your data point/sockets/TV points [goes off muttering about light switch placement emoticon]

BerylStreep · 15/10/2012 17:02

Yes, from experience, electrics are something that you want to have fully planned before a spark even sets foot in your house! Down to every double socket, spotlight and extractor fan - and if you want electric showers, or spots on separate circuits - you need to have it decided beforehand.

It's not impossible to change your mind along the way, but it does mean ££££.

BerylStreep · 15/10/2012 17:07

Currer, I really like that latest link. All the bedrooms are good sizes, and there doesn't appear to be any wasted space on the landing. What sort of boiler do you have? If it is gas, could you combine the boiler cupboard and laundry to give more space (and benefit from any residual heat)? Wouldn't work if it is oil though - probably too smelly.

Original poster
CurrerBell · 15/10/2012 22:50

Ahh, major panic earlier, but we've just had a brainstorm and think we may have got it!

The kitchen/diner really is key - we need it to be the hub of the house. We want to create a big open family space, ideally with a sofa in there as well. Plus a big table for entertaining. By moving the kitchen bit into the extension we think it may work.

The utility room is also key... it keeps coming back to this! I have always wanted a decent sized utility room, like a second kitchen where the clutter can be stored out of sight.

Anyway here it is: pl.an/l314k2

Do you think this could work?

Still mulling over upstairs. 4 decent-sized bedrooms and larger family bathroom, or 5 bedrooms and tiny (but functional) family bathroom... Think we are going towards the four bedroom idea now (which is the one we went to Planning with).

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Original poster
CurrerBell · 15/10/2012 22:51

Link done properly.

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EverybodysSpookyEyed · 15/10/2012 22:59

I think that's the best so far.

As handy as it would be to have the utility room upstairs, sometimes it just isn't practical

I would go with 4 bedrooms, one with ensuite and walk in wardrobe, and a good sized family bathroom.

minipie · 15/10/2012 23:09

Oh yes, i like it, as long as you're happy for the play area to be part of the kitchen space. Which I would be.

castlelough · 15/10/2012 23:45

Good luck Currer! At least you have had a good think about it all!
Wish we had spent time thinking our layout through....I now want to change SO many things! Have dream renovation/extension plans and we haven't finished building the original house yet!

Put lots of extra sockets in, in case you change your mind about furniture layout or change room decor later on! Also be very sure of your exact kitchen layout. I'm going to need to move two sockets as they will end up being inside in cupboards if I go ahead with my dream kitchen plan. DH is NOT impressed!

Original poster
CurrerBell · 15/10/2012 23:48

Yay - thanks Smile. I can't tell you how helpful all your messages are.

Ironically, this is pretty much the plan we went to Planning with, just with the kitchen units switched around. I got sidetracked trying to create a playroom, when really we had what we wanted all along... A big sociable space. And a lovely big futility!

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