Utility areas are great if you want to create a room to hide all of your clutter and unsightly items. Washing machines, tumble dryers and ironing boards require space and are generally awkward to hide away. You can hide them away in your kitchen, although they can be noisy and disruptive.
Lots of homeowners have their own ideas when they begin the Design Phase, and more and more of our client are requesting utility areas.
A utility room offers so much more than a space for laundry; we often incorporate a pantry, an extra sink, an extra freezer (useful if you like to entertain), and even a dog shower. This is a brilliant way to enhance the practicality of your home extension. There are loads of ways to incorporate a utility room into your design and we’re here to help you figure out the best solution for you.
Awkward Spaces
The best place for the utility room is in the centre of the property. Most Victorian terraces have a middle area (typically the dining room), which struggles to get natural light. There are various ways we can ensure that this area does get natural light, be that through inflected skylights, courtyards and internal windows. Placing your utility area in this middle area is handy as you have easy access from both the front and rear of the property, and it’s likely to be near the stairs too; acting as a kind of ‘focal’ point within the property.
Our clients on Talma Road did just this. In this compact area, they placed the Utility room between the kitchen and living area. They also make very good use of what could have been wasted space between the stairs and the WC.
Dark Nooks and Crannies
Our clients on Halliwick Road (N10) used the WC and utility space to create a division between the living area and the kitchen. This central location is ideal as it is the darkest part of the ground floor, which leaves the light filled spaces for living and dining. They also made clever use of the utility area by opting for a Sheila Maid; an iconic Victorian clothes airer, which meant there was no need for a clunky floor standing airer anymore. They also hung up the ironing-board on the wall, saving even more valuable floor space and reducing clutter.
Hidden Compartments
There is a huge benefit of having the WC and utility space on the ground floor. The convenience of the additional rooms will create a more comfortable environment for you and your family and any guests you may have. However, if you don’t have the option for an additional room, dedicating a whole wall to your laundry is the perfect solution. As you can see in the plans below, our clients on Deal Road are an excellent example of how you can incorporate a designated wall into your design, exclusively for laundry and storage. Hidden behind bespoke doors, this zone is completely concealed and blends in perfectly with the rest of the dining area.
Go below Ground Level
If you would rather have the utility area away from areas in the home that are typically meant for relaxing and entertaining, the basement or cellar are both great locations. They should also provide enough space for other smaller appliances such as the hoover.
We have a House Tour coming up on Halliwick Road in N10 which showcases a fantastic use of the space, with a grand utility area. To book your slot, get in touch with our team today on 0207 495 6561 – we’re open 7 days a week!
