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Original poster

Utility room conumdrum (with diagram!!)

140 replies

Badweekjustgotworse · 19/07/2017 17:12

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!)

OP posts:
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HughLauriesStubble · 19/07/2017 17:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Badweekjustgotworse · 19/07/2017 17:32

Hassled there's glazed doors (sliding or bifold haven't decided yet) off the main living area so the utility has the 'back door' but not the only garden access.

OP posts:
Deux · 19/07/2017 17:33

Also I'd move your sink so that it's not centred as you'll get a bigger run of worktop that way.

I don't have a window in my utility, just a part glazed door to the side of the house.

Middleoftheroad · 19/07/2017 17:33

ignore alcohol this is what we have moved into. the work top will be replaced and I like your design so want tall unit too. The window is good for ironing etc so think window is an essential

Utility room conumdrum (with diagram!!)
Original poster
Badweekjustgotworse · 19/07/2017 17:33

hugh yes, it's a classic case of style over function

OP posts:
choccoffeegeek · 19/07/2017 17:33

Does he do the washing / laundry? Who's going to use the space most often?

PotPlantAddict · 19/07/2017 17:34

Could you keep layout four but tweak the inside of the cupboard layout to include sink and worktop, maybe with shelves above!

That way you will still have your tall cupboard on left, your sink and a tonne of shelving in middle and the washer dryer too. A little like this photo...

Utility room conumdrum (with diagram!!)
Original poster
Badweekjustgotworse · 19/07/2017 17:35

I don't think I'd have enough room to actually do the ironing in there so I guess the window is essentially none essential, but the ironing board has to live in there

OP posts:
Deux · 19/07/2017 17:35

How much light will come into the room from your glazed door? Is it sufficient enough to ditch the window?

NotTheCoolMum · 19/07/2017 17:37

Who is the main user of the washing machine?

... not DH I'm guessing.

I would be telling him to f off with his opinions on MY workspace

Deux · 19/07/2017 17:37

Also if you needed more light, could you have a part glazed door with opaque glass between the utility and sitting room?

OlennasWimple · 19/07/2017 17:37

The moment you said you would have to walk through the living room to get to a sink clinched it for me - how can you not have a sink in there?

The glazed window seems out of scale with the space TBH. And if you are south facing, might make the room very stuffy

Original poster
Badweekjustgotworse · 19/07/2017 17:38

cockcoffee oh god!! I did bring that up and the kitchen designer actually excused himself from the room as dh was an arse and started moaning about how he was paying for it, which obviously I pulled him on and set him straight that I would be contributing to paying for it if we hadn't agreed as a couple that I would stay at home and not 'earn' for the first couple of years with the babies and if he didn't see that as valuable work he could bog off.

OP posts:
choccoffeegeek · 19/07/2017 17:39

Get him to do the laundry for a couple of weeks and see if he changes his mind!!

Deux · 19/07/2017 17:41

Yes, get your DH to do the laundry then and bend up and down and trip over the laundry on the floor.

Deux · 19/07/2017 17:41

X posts.

BubblesBuddy · 19/07/2017 17:41

Why only two walls? Am I missing something? Where are the doors or door? I have a walk through laundry. Door into hall is opposite double glazed door to outside. I have a stacked washer dryer and this saves space. Storage for detergents above. Work surface and sink with cupboards under to the right of the machines. Opposite side has tall cupboard with storage for brooms and mop, iron and cleaning materials and work surface to the right of that with hanging above for drying laundry. Cupboards above that. Below work surface is storage for recycling and boot store. Coats are stored under the stairs.

The solutions above look very cupboard heavy and shabby. Not attractive to look at in my view. You do not need both a window and a glazed door, but a working room needs good lighting, and preferably natural light. I could not have a laundry room without hanging. It makes mine fit for purpose.

Original poster
Badweekjustgotworse · 19/07/2017 17:42

potplant love that, it doesn't give us space for the the boiler which needs wall mounted though without losing the option of tall storage for Hoover and ironing board etc.

It's a total head wrecker!

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BewareOfDragons · 19/07/2017 17:42

Anything but Option 4. What idiot thought that was a good idea? No sink! No work surface! Big, useless window, though... Hmm

It looks like it was designed by a man who doesn't do his share of the laundry and sorting out of mucky children on the way into the house.

My favourite Options are 2 or 3, depending upon how you feel about reaching up to use the dryer, BUT I would have the cabinets go all the way to the ceiling, too, in either option.

Hullygully · 19/07/2017 17:43

It's a utility room. It's entire purpose is to be useful and functional, no one is going to hang out in there admiring the tall window with the view of the bins. Or if they are, they clearly need to be taken to a Home.

Original poster
Badweekjustgotworse · 19/07/2017 17:45

Bubbles the door to the living room is roughly where the point of view is for the diagrams. The room is only 1.8 wide, so we can't have cupboards on both sides as it's too narrow.

OP posts:
blueskyinmarch · 19/07/2017 17:46

I only have a half glazed back door in my utility room. It is plenty light enough.

Original poster
Badweekjustgotworse · 19/07/2017 17:46

hully if you're offering to take my dh to your home, I'd gladly lend him out for the weekend so you can give his head a wobble for me Grin

OP posts:
toledanosunshie · 19/07/2017 17:48

I'd completely ditch windows altogether. I didn't have one in my last utility room and I'm not having one in this one either. I don't think you need it

flumpybear · 19/07/2017 17:48

Utility room for me is function only - those small windows look like you can see over the garden - is that rift?! Would be good so you can see young kids perhaps? I wouldn't be preferring a nice long window over a work surface and view of the kids playing

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