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This laundry renovation and update was planned around an indoor hot-water service in a tricky spot.
The project
Over the 11 years that we've been at our 1969 suburban house, we've done a range of small renovation jobs and updates (new deck, exterior landscaping, front entryway) and it was time to give the poor old laundry some reno love.
There were a few constraints, including the electric hot-water system on the side wall, as you can see in the photo above and the sketch below.
I started by asking for advice right here on Bunnings Workshop, and got some great ideas and some amazing mockups from MitchellMc, EricL, Nham and others to seed my thinking.
I sketched out what I could do, given the small space available, and what we wanted to use that space for (more storage, brighter outlook as you go through from garage to the house).
There were a few different options in the mix – like whether or not to move the hot-water system to the corner, or out of the laundry completely, and whether to increase the budget to include ripping up the old floor tiles. But in the end I kept the project tight and purpose-led.
After contracting an asbestos remover, I had the help of a builder to re-clad the walls in water-resistant fibreboard, remove the little old window, and install some new cabinetry.
That was the bulk of the cost, though I used standard cabinet widths and heights where I could to keep costs down.
We also got a plumber to redo the pipes so that the inlet and outlet would all be hidden under a benchtop to leave a, nice clean splashback area.
Ah, the benchtop! There was some internal drama bubbling over whether or not we would stick with our existing top-loader washing machine (Bigger loads! I can't open it while it's washing a load! Why buy what we don't need?) or go for the front-loader. This would of course fundamentally affect the design.
In the end, having a nice longer bench top sealed the deal for a new front-loader. This also made it easier to incorporate a new wall-mounted dryer into the design.
Once the benchtop and swish new tub were in place I repainted the ceiling and painted the walls, leaving the space ready for the tiles of the splashback area. We also installed a new power point underneath the bench so that the washing machine could be plugged in from within the frame of the cupboard.
I wanted tiles that had a bit of a mid-century modern flavour to go with the rest of the house. I nearly chose some pool tiles (tiny aqua squares looked pretty hip), but these mint ones were just the ticket.
The last thing I did was obsess over getting the beautiful grain of that benchtop looking and feeling as good as possible, with lots of fine sanding and three coats of Cabot's Benchtop Clear. All it needs now is a plant and a raffia mat! We're really happy with it, and it's turned a dowdy, awkward old eyesore into a graceful, integrated utility area that enhances the mid-century modern feel of the whole house.
Again, many thanks to everyone for their help. The transition to the front-loader has been smooth and it really helps having a drier now with all this wet weather.
Before and after
How to plan a laundry renovation
With research and planning you can turn your laundry into an efficient and even welcoming space. Check out the guide How to plan a laundry renovation by experienced Bunnings Workshop member Adam Woodhams for renovation tips and space-saving ideas.
More laundry project inspiration
Bunnings Workshop member ashleesellen transformed part of a bare garage became a spacious laundry with feature floor tiles.
Workshop member houseonhockhill brightened their laundry with a timber benchtop and a tiled splashback.
There are also plenty of great ideas in our Top 10 most popular laundry renovation projects.
Let us know if you need a hand with your own project. Start a discussion in the Bathroom and Laundry board and tell us what you need.
