A Hardworking Laundry

In many homes, the laundry room is the logical place for working on hobbies or storing recreational equipment, pet supplies, and nonperishable groceries. This laundry room combines several functions in a compact space.

The laundry equipment and supplies line one wall. In addition to the washer and dryer, there's a deep sink for soaking clothes, counters for folding clothes, a pull-out ironing board, and oodles of space for storing detergent and stain-removal products.

The opposite wall includes a general purpose table and bench, plus shelves and a wall-mounted gift-wrap center. Because the laundry room adjoins the kitchen, the designer installed space-saving louvered bifold doors. Often while entertaining, the homeowners leave these doors open, draping the washer and dryer with a floor-length tablecloth so they can use them along with the tabletop as a buffet.

Even the dog has a special place in the laundry room. The cozy tunnel below the built-in ironing board leads to a pet door on the exterior wall. Sloppy dog prints are never an issue thanks to the easy-to-clean ceramic floor tile, chosen to match the tile in the kitchen.