If you thought the laundry was the most boring room of the house, think again! Today we explore this small but oh-so-stylish laundry featuring 2 different panelled walls, herringbone tile floor, a sliding barn door, brushed brass tapware and bold pop of colour.
Laundries don’t get much more stylish than this! Let’s take a look around with Rachael Turner, owner and director of Front Porch Properties.
Related article: Sage green and marble laundry and mudroom oozing modern farmhouse vibes
Related article: A modern Mediterranean laundry you’re sure to fall in love with
Rachel had the luxury to do as she pleased when it came to creating this stylish laundry.
“The client gave me free rein to do a remodel on this home reno project. The actual level where the laundry is situated was brand new as we raised the existing house and built an entirely new level,” explains Rachael.
Before anything else, my main aim was to achieve simplicity and function in the laundry. I wanted it to be high impact with great functionality, yet keep it low-cost.
“The number one thing I look at in a laundry project, is where to put the washing machine. Ideally it should not be in direct view upon entry. So for this particular reno, we installed the washing machine on the side wall.
This laundry proves it is possible to design a stylish laundry using simple, off the shelf flat packs.
“I love using flat packs, mainly for the cost saving benefits. The addition of the wainscot panelling gives the space that wow factor it was crying out for. Plus it really helps to customise a flat pack.
“I also adore the VJ splashback because it has a high visual impact, yet is so reasonably priced. Here we’ve used Easycraft Semi Exterior VJ panelling. It saves money because you don’t have the added cost of tiles. Plus there’s no need to spend on the labour component as you don’t need to pay for a tiler,” says Rachael.
I always take great consideration with the far wall you see when you first enter the laundry. Think beautiful wallpaper, feature panelling or perhaps a cute exterior door. Make it a visual feature because why not feel nice when you’re doing your laundry?!”
Knowing where to make a statement and where to cut costs, this laundry gets the balance just right.
“A great place to save money in your laundry design is first and foremost with flat packs. Also, look to some benchtop alternatives such as Laminex or timber to further save your budget.
Consider using open shelves rather than overhead cupboards. This not only saves money, but also creates an opportunity to display some prettiness in your laundry.
“There are some things you may not think about when designing your laundry, such as your tap and sink. Consider a deep sink with a higher gooseneck tap for dog washing, or being able to fit a good sized bucket under the tap,” explains Rachael wisely.
“To splurge, I always look for beautiful door and drawer hardware. People often underestimated how important it is to have beautiful finishes, right down to the last detail.
“For this particular reno, we used very simple, brushed brass knobs on the door fronts which work beautifully with the gooseneck tap. So simple yet super stylish.
“If space allows, add in tall storage for your brooms and a vacuum. It keeps things neat and tidy which is always a good thing! Also, consider an internal powerpoint for charging cordless vacuums and other appliances.
And if feasible, you just can’t beat a gorgeous barn door into the laundry. It makes such a beautiful entrance and is a real talking piece. It doesn’t take up valuable floor space either.”
It’s refreshing to see a pop of colour used in this wonderful laundry space. Racahal share some tips.
“A laundry, like a guest powder room, is a fabulous opportunity to be a little more daring with your colour palette. Because it’s not necessarily a space where you’ll spend a huge amount of time in, so it’s nice to have some fun and add a daring pop of colour to what’s often considered a space of pure necessity,” says Rachael.
“In this particular space, we were going to add green to the wainscot panelling, but once we started painting and saw it up against the charcoal flooring, I felt it looked too dark. Instead we opted to brighten up the space by painting it white and just keeping the green on the VJ splashback.
“This just goes to show it’s ok to change your mind even after you think you’ve locked something in. You need to make sure you love it!”
Photography — Louise Roche from Villa Styling
VJ Panelling — Easycraft
Kaboodle flat pack — Bunnings
Custom panelling — Intrim
Tapware — ABI Interiors
Big thanks to Rachael for showing us around this incredibly stylish laundry. To check out more from Front Porch Properties, take a look at their website or give them a follow on Instagram.
Which was your favourite feature in this laundry project? The wainscot panelling? VJ splashback? Or perhaps you couldn’t get enough of that gorgeous sliding barn door! Let us know in the comment section below!
Please can you tell me where you got these black narrow tile and what they are called. Thank you!
Hi
We’re not sure where Rachael sourced these exact tiles but it is a 75 x 300 subway in a charcoal colour with a stone-look pattern. If you provide those details to your local tile store, they should be able to show you similar options. Hope that helps or you could reach out to Rachael directly for more details on the tile she used 😉