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L AU NDRY LOV E
]T
helaundryisusuallythelastroom
inthehousetoundergoa makeover.
Whileitsglamorousstablemates–
kitchensandbathrooms– receiveallthe
attention,thelaundryreliablyhumsaway
inthebackground.Butshowthelaundry
somelove– combinedwithgoodplanning
anddesign– and you’ll soon be humming
happilytoo.
“Laundrieshavetraditionallybeen
neglected,butpeopleareincreasingly
puttingthoughtintothedesignandlook
ofthem,”saysSweden-born,Sydney-based
interiordesignerAnna-CarinMcNamara,
authorofMakea HometoLove. “Irecently
hada clientwhosaid‘I wantthelaundry
tobesomethingunexpected.WhenI spend
timethere,I wanttofeelhappy’.”
It’sanunderstandableaspiration:create
a roomthatmakesyouhappyanditwill
helpelevatetheeverydayactivityofdoing
thewashing.Andwhodoesn’twantthat?
Butthelaundryissomuchmorethan
justa placetowashclothes,saysAnna-
Carin,whosedesignapproachisbasedon
theScandinavianprinciplesof“simplicity,
functionalityandsustainability”.Inmost
households,thelaundryisalsotheplace
forstoringallthethingsthatdon’tbelong
anywhereelse:reusableshoppingbags,
sewingkits,shoepolish,picnicbaskets,
gardening tools, gumboots... the list goeson.“Inmosthomes,thelaundryisvery
mucha multipurposeroom,”shesays.
Thekeytodesigninga laundrybegins
withplanningandattentiontodetail,says
Anna-Carin,anambassadorforSwedish
appliancebrandElectrolux.First,make
surethedesignencouragesdaylightand
freshairintotheroom.“Thenputyour
thoughtsonpaper.Thinkaboutallthe
thingsyoustoreinthelaundryandcreate
clear,definedspacesforeachofthem.”
Theaimis tostreamlinethestorageand
de-clutterbenchspace.“Optimisestorage
withfloor-to-ceilingshelving;include
hooksandracksonthewallsforhanging
items.Considerstorageforyouriron,
ironing boardandvacuumcleaner.
I alwaysliketoplacethewashingmachine
anddryerunderthebenchtomaximise
benchspace,andI highlyrecommend
includingspacefora clothesdrying rack,
andhangingspaceforshirts.”
Forluxurioustouches,Anna-Carin
recommendsunder-floorheatingand
stoneforthebenchtop.Thelaundryis
notonviewsoyoucanbeadventurous
withcolour,shesays.“It’salsoa place
where youcanplaywithtilesand
textures.”Accessoriesareimportanttoo:
thinksleektraysandcontainers– “little
thingsthatgiveyoua bitofenjoyment
every time you use them”. #3 OFAKIND
DRYERS3 OFAKIND
WASHERSWASHERSFromtopEWF1042BDWA10kgfront-loader,4.5-starWELSand5-starenergyrating,
$1699,Electrolux.WH1260F112kgfront-loader,4.5-starWELSandenergyratings,$2299,Fisher
&Paykel.WTZH 730 WPM8kgwasher/dryer(5kg),4-starWELSandenergyratings(washer)/
4.5-starenergyrating(dryer),$4299,Miele.DRYERSFromtopAskoT408HDLogic8kg
heat-pumpdryer,8-starenergyrating,$2199,TheGoodGuys.EDH903BEWAUltimateCare
9kgheat-pumpdryer,7-starenergyrating,$2099,Electrolux.HooverDXH85TCEX-AUS8kg
heat-pump dryer, 6-star energy rating,$1699, Appliances Online.For Where to Buy, see page 198. Text by Elizabeth Wilson. Shopping information by Georgia Madden.Turn your unsung hero into a room that sings.