09 Feb Cabin Fever | Laundry Room
Function. The utmost important word in every aspect of design, whether you are designing clothing or interiors. Over the past year and a half that we’ve had our cabin, I’m realizing that the most important projects have not been cosmetic at all, rather they have been purely functional. One of the first rooms we began to renovate was our utility room. This room is the motherboard of the house, where water-heaters, electric boards, a workbench and my favorite part, the laundry, all reside. We are still working on the renovation of this room, and many others, to be honest, but I thought I’d share some of my favorite laundry room inspiration with you in the meantime.
Being that this room hosts many functions, my laundry area is still quite tight, so making the most of the small space is key. I won’t have to stack my appliances, but I do love some of the key features of this laundry room: birch ply wood, the olive oil dispenser for laundry soap and the overall utilitarian minimalist vibe.
Our utility room is without a utility sink, something I thought we could live without until we started using the guest bathroom sink for washing paint brushes. That’s when I realized this is not a permanent solution, especially once we renovate the guest bathroom with upgraded materials. So naturally, I started looking for sink options. My husband has drilled it into my head that this is a slop sink, purely functional, so the design isn’t the most important aspect of the sink. I don’t think we have to sacrifice design for function, which is why I would like a cast iron sink similar to the one above.
A runner in front of the washer and dryer is a must. Being that the laundry is in the same room where my husband stores his tools, he’s often walking in from outside with muddy boots. A rug functions as a dirt collector that is easy to clean.
Keeping with a neutral, classic palette of white, nickel, birch plywood, black and natural feels bright yet slightly rustic for our cabin laundry room. Here is the shopping list:
Cast iron sink| A wall-mounted cast iron sink is ideal for the small space we have designated to add a sink. As a multi-purpose work horse, this style is sturdy, long-lasting and durable.
Faucet| Then comes the faucet, again, function is key, which is why I’d like to use this Chicago full-flow swing spout. A thoughtfully designed faucet with function in mind. It checks all the boxes.
Olive oil dispenser| Putting diluted organic laundry soap into an olive oil dispenser makes it easier to control the amount of soap your using while storing it in a stylish container.
Handmade clothespins | I’ve dreamt of having an outdoor clothesline my entire New York City life. And now that we have one at the cabin, I realized the inexpensive small wood clothes pins are not ideal for holding heavy bedding on the clothesline during a windy day. I’m not saying all of your clothes pins should be handmade, but having a few dozen sturdy ones comes in handy. These are made by husband and wife couple in Washington state. With a lifetime guarantee, I couldn’t recommend a better clothespin.
Retractable clothesline | This comes in handy on a rainy day when outdoor air drying isn’t an option. The utilitarian design and retractable feature make it perfect for a small laundry room or city apartment.
Wool dryer balls | If you haven’t given up your dryer sheets by now, make the switch. Reusable=zero waste and fragrance free.
Lighting | We found this vintage light fixture when we were visiting my grandparents in Traverse City, Michigan. It is an industrial factory light that swivels when you pull the handle at the bottom, a functional aspect that we didn’t know we would end up using as much as we do.
Glass jars | Decanting your washing soda and supplies reduces clutter and streamlines the look of any laundry room.
Laundry basket| There are so many beautiful baskets available these days, why not love the look of your laundry basket and make it double as decor.
Dustpan and hand broom| You’d be surprised how much you use a dustpan and hand broom in the laundry. Dust bunnies from the dryer, rocks from my husband’s clothes, all seem to find their way onto the floor and the classic black metal and horse hair broom are perfect for a quick clean up.
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