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!)

I've just had a utility room built (at the back of our integral garage). There is no window but we had a small roof light fitted, I am absolutely delighted with it as it lets in so much light, even though its north facing. I saw on a house programme recently that a roof light lets in 3-6 x more light than a window.
My room is 3m x 2.4, and I've got 3 tall cupboards, the rest low, going for maximum storage, like you want. I did think about having no sink, but read lots of other mums net threads about it before deciding to keep it in. Having no window to work round made it so much easier! Good luck with your negotiations.

Mine is 5 mX 1.2 m. A squeeze but it has a long line of white goods, boiler, open shelves and worktop. No windows - but 3 skylights giving lots of lovely light.

First and foremost, it's a functional room. If he really wants a lovely big floor to ceiling window maybe you can put it in the garage?

I agree with whoever suggested swapping the exterior door into that wall. Make it a stable door even. Then put the units on the opposite wall where the door is currently placed. Extension looks nice from outside, you have useful utility.

Haven't RTFT but does your DH understand what a utility room is for? What kind of activities does he think go on in there? Are you in agreement about this? Sure the tall window looks good, but you need both a sink and worktop.

Haven't RTFT, but who does most of the washing in your house? I'll bet it's you, so you decide.

When renovating our kitchen, DH had final word over design as he did all the cooking.

You definitely need a work surface.

I have a teeny tiny utility with window, sink and worktop. I could not live without any of these :-)

Diagram 4 stylish but so not practical.

Seem he doesn't care... the way the house looks is more important... im totally pissed off.

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If he's that bothered - suggest you bring in a pro to design it with you both ! There are a few of us independent ones (who don't try to sell you anything) about.

Sorry to hear that. It does seem to be a very entrenched position your DH is taking.

I think you're right obviously and whoever is using the room it needs to be a practical space. What is he prepared to compromise on? Is it the SLW or the counter top as well?

The house isn't going to look that good from the outside if people can see straight in, surely.

Someone else suggested blocking up your other door and turning the SLW into a glazed door, is that doable? You can get blinds that clip onto the frame around the glass or window film.

Have a search on Pinterest for ideas to jazz up a plain brick wall. From growing a pleached fruit tree, adding up lighters/downligters, the house name, exterior shelf/recess for pot there are a hundred ways of making your house interesting.
What you choose will depend on the architecture of the house, but could look wonderful.

Windows in themselves are not the be all & can look just awful. A local 1930s semi has just had £10,000s spent on it - rebuilt, re-rendered, new drive, all new interior. The builders have been working on it since September. The windows have gone in recently. Think early 1970's double glazed picture windows with tiny opening lights at the top. It looks dreadful & quite a sad result after so much work.

Honestly if DH tried to be so impractical and inflexible about a room he seldom used he would be doing All The Washing for the Rest Of Time.

Does your DH like washing?

I would go for option 1 but with shelves instead of the wall cupboards. You could have a high up letterbox window as the higher the window the more light it lets in.

Option 3 (tweaked) is clearly the better option. Do not go for 4 it will drive you nuts and if it comes to selling would put me right off (I'd have to redo it, ergo money spending on it).

Dig your heels in and do not budge on this.

My ex insisted on a new bathroom (before he pissed off with the other woman to the arse end of nowhere). I hated that bathroom with a passion equal only to the passion they both felt for each other.

Are you divorced yet OP?