What would you include in your dream utility?

29 replies

DeedlessIndeed · 02/06/2023 18:29

Hi all,

I'm part way through a house renovation and the next project is moving the kitchen which is currently a long galley stuck on the back of the house (i.e, the short wall attached to the house).

With the kitchen moved, this leaves the long galley to be converted into a decent sized utility / boot room.

The room is approximately 5.5m x 2.5m. It is single storey and I'm planning on opening up the roof space so it's full height to the rafters and put in a couple of roof lights.

We have an original victorian dolly(?) (laundry airer on a pulley that goes up into the ceiling). But apart from that, I'm stuck as to what would be great to put in there.

Apart from the dolly, obviously I'm thinking, sink, washing machine, tumble dryer, some cupboards...

But then I'm imagining a fold out ironing board station (if this exists?), and fantastical laundry arrangements...

If you could plan your dream utility, what would it include?

Anyone redone a utility recently and have anything that worked really well? Or alternatively, anything that you regret?

OP posts:

confusedlots · 02/06/2023 20:55

We're doing ours at the minute. I wanted a room I could close off and so nobody would see the drying washing, so no door through to outside. Raised washer and drier with a pull out shelf underneath to put laundry baskets on. Pull out laundry bin for all the times the kids get changed downstairs asp their clothes can go in there waiting to be washed rather than take them upstairs to a laundry bin to have to bring them down again to be washed.

Tall cupboard for mop, hoover etc, with socket inside to charge hoover.

confusedlots · 02/06/2023 20:57

VeronicaBeccabunga · 02/06/2023 20:33

At my clever builder's suggestion I had a tall bathroom towel-rail type radiator put in mine.
Excellent for drying small bits and bobs.

We had this in a holiday house once and it was fab for drying stuff after the beach/swimming. Wish I had done it in ours but I'm hoping the underfloor heating will compensate a bit!

Original poster

DeedlessIndeed · 02/06/2023 21:08

TeaAndStrumpets · 02/06/2023 20:03

We are hoping to build our dream house soon, so I have given this a LOT of thought!

I am going to have a double sink for handwashing. One essential for me will be a small folding rack over the sink for drip drying soggy clothes. We are going to raise the washer and dryer by about 30cm, which still allows for a worktop for folding clothes on top, and have a rail above for airing shirts.

We will only have skylights so will be putting a powerful extractor fan in the outside wall, one which switches on when it senses moisture.

Good point about ventilation.
It's a victorian home with original wooden single glazed windows etc. Also in Scotland so very damp air. An extractor seems like a good idea.

OP posts:

Mumsnut · 03/06/2023 10:54

Have a stainless steel sink big enough to soak your oven racks in

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