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Kitchen & Bath Design News, Sep 2008 by Peterson, Mary Jo

The cost and complexity of the laundry room continues to evolve, so it seems important to look at a few of the latest trends in the parts, pieces and design of this significant space.

At our “Luxury Kitchen Trends” presentation at the International Builders Show in February, I listened to my fellow speaker, CKD Connie Edwards, discuss the incredible design opportunities related to the expanding role of the laundry room in the home.

The Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in April also showcased a huge variety of laundry appliance features, both aesthetic and performance related, and Design Idea Center included concepts in the laundry area focusing on a variety of functions beyond simply the tasks of washing and drying dirty clothes.

My friendly appliance expert, CKD Mary Jo Camp, tells me that prices for the washer and dryer today run from $600 at the low end to $3,500 for a pair of front-loaders on pedestals with steam features. In these appliances can go as high as $6,500 for certain little giants or $24,000 for the commercial pair offered to the few “extreme launderers.”

Call me old-fashioned, but I’d still say these costs are noteworthy. They make a statement about the value of the laundry function to today’s consumers, and, as a result, the changing role of this space in the home from a design standpoint. We are looking at much more than a laundry room in today’s designs there’s a lot more going on in this space than just cleaning clothing so it seems a good time to mention some of the design ideas and considerations I’m finding.

CLEVER SOLUTIONS

Design considerations for the laundry space have changed, and that means we as designers must be thinking outside the box to devise clever solutions to address our clients’ primary needs and concerns. In particular, work and storage space are becoming increasingly important components of the laundry area.

While I have long been a proponent of the elevated washer/ dryer, our firm is finding many people will still opt for the standard height or front loaders with the ability to design a standard counter above them, increasing the space for folding, sorting and storing clothes prior to their return to the dressing areas of their owners.

Several of the front loaders allow for the removal of the top of the appliances to accommodate a counter finishing at the standard 36″ height.

When designed this way, access to shut-offs should be planned in an adjacent base cabinet or in an otherwise easily accessible area. Maintaining at least 48″ in front of the machines provides for clearance around the door swings and for improved access for the variety of users.

The traditional laundry tub seems less critical than in years’ past, but at least one sink for hand washing and possibly a second for auxiliary activities such as potting plants or arranging flowers seems popular – a dirty sink and a clean one, specifically.

Traditional storage of laundry detergents and aids has been next to or above the appliances. A favorite new concept for me as well is the pedestal that houses a drawer for such detergents, dispensing the proper amount as communicated by the washer, eliminating the need to lift and haul those heavy bottles. Other laundry aids are still best stored next to rather than above – the appliances, and cabinet accessories are available to make this storage easy to access.

We know the laundry room has risen from the basement, but statistics show a pretty equal division between locating the laundry near the kitchen/social center, and the bedrooms where much of the laundry is generated. Many appliance manufacturers have accommodated these preferences by creating machines that run more quietly than ever before. Even so, sound insulation in the walls should be planned to minimize the noise factor.

It is worth mentioning that multiple laundries are no longer rare – and many clients will choose to locate one in each of these preferred locations to maximize convenience