Utility room conumdrum (with diagram!!)

[Badweekjustgotworse]

We're doing a renovation and extension and adding a small utility to the side of the house. It's small and I think the architect has underestimated the space we actually need, but we've already got planning permission and Can't afford to make it any bigger as we're already stretched beyond our comfort zone on the finances.

The room is 1.8 wide by 2.4.

We need to house a machining, tumble dryer, gas boiler, tall unit for keeping Hoover and brush etc, as many more cupboards as we can squeeze in for general storage as the house is short on storage overall. Ideally I'd love a tall unit for coats and shoes too so that I'm not tripping over them at the front door (which is what happens in our current house and I feckin HATE with a passion)

To complicate matters our architect has put in a beautiful floor to ceiling window on one of the short walls, faced by the glazed back door and one long wall has the door to the living room on it.

I've played about with changing the windows to maximise storage (diagrams 1, 2 and 3) but DH hates all my suggestions and wants to keep the (beautiful but akward) long window. Only way I can make that work is to loose the sink and ALL worksurface. Is it madness to have a utility with no sink? (diagram 4!)

Option 1

Making the window smaller but keeping it where it is currently on the plans

Option 2
Moving window to letter box style so giving us more scope for tall units for storage

Option 3

Cleaner version of option 2

Option 3
Revised a little bit! (Forgot we'd tweaked it again!)

Option 4
The one dh likes but NO work surface or sink (weeps)

I like option 1 best, but I'd get the cabinets built in right up to the ceiling.

Who puts a full length window in a utility room? It'd mean any mess is visible from outside and adds extra unnecessary costs to the build.

Option 4 is a no brainer and clearly designed by someone who's never done the laundry.

Hi jumpy,

Agree on wall units to the ceiling, that's a definite, the kitchen designer just didn't do it in the first set of mock ups.

The long window will be lovely as long as I've enough room to shove all the shite of the day into the cupboards.... just not convinced i can manage it though!

No brained as in you like it best? Or designed by someone with no brain 😂?

If you lose your work surfaces you may end up with loads of stuff on the floor. And I would definitely have a sink on there, it makes sense as you can do your hand washing, muddy items, all sorts!

God no, 4 would be an absolute nightmare. You'll regret it if you go with that one. Brain seriously malfunctioning when they came up with that one.

It's the lack of sink that's killing me in dhs version. The utility is off the living room so not even direct onto the kitchen so you'd have to traipse theough the living room with dirty hands from out in the garden.

Of course dh scoffs when I say I'm the one who'll end up cursing it as I'm the one who'll have to clean up after everyone.

The one thing I wouldn't compromise on is having a worktop in the room.

I use mine to fold clothes, leave ironing, etc

Sorry typos, toddlers and mumsnet ting...

You need a work surface so 4 is out right away.

Ok so this thread is quickly going to need moving to relationship support

Dh is digging his heels in and I can see heated discussions about this, ~dons hard hat and body armour~

I like option 1 as pp said with units to ceiling.
do not lose your work surfaces under any circumstances. we want to refit ours - moved in recently will try to add picture.

Any of them other than Option 4. You really need a sink and worktop space in a utility.

The cleaned up version 3 looks most practical to me.

I've kept the worst for last KLAXON DRIP FEED ALERT... the only place for the bins to go is opposite the long window so we'll have a beautiful view of our black, blue and brown wheelies....

What's the point of a Utility room if you don't have a sink and work surface which you end up using when Dc's have dog shit on their shoes

I think option 1 is best. Just had a utility room done a year ago and I couldn't live without sink (for hand washing, washing up paint brushes etc after diy or being in garden) or a small area of worktop for sorting washing before going into the dryer. I hate having to bend down all the time to the floor for the washing - worktop is much more practical. Horizontal window is nice but you'd see any clutter left on the worktop. Good luck deciding

Do you need a window at all given that you have a glazed door in there, if I'm understanding correctly?

So I'd ditch the windo as that gives you more flexibility. I'd say a sink and worktop space are must haves.

I have no sink in my utility room but then it's off the kitchen - I agree in your set up (if I understand properly that the utility room door is sole/main access to the garden?) it will be a nightmare. Also agree that work surfaces are great with laundry etc - it can all be folded in the one room. I vote Option 3b (the revised one).

Option 3 cleaned up is my personal favourite but he's not going to go with the letterbox window at all... it'll have to be some form of 1, bit that doesn't give me enough tall units to house the coats and hoover etc and also house the boiler. Open to suggestions to improve it. Actually desperate for some inspiration... this isn't just about the hose now, it's personal... there's a marriage on the line here (no pressure )