Once a dark, cramped utility room, this little laundry is now one of the most colourful spaces in our 1970s home. Practical storage, bold greens and tiny details have created a room that works hard and still brings plenty of personality.
This Colour-Drenched Laundry Makes Every Millimetre Count
As the homeowner, I selected the materials and finishes and sourced all fixtures, working with Kitchen Shack, who supplied the cabinetry and benchtop. Photography by Emma Maguire.
The Starting Point
The original laundry was typical of its era, with a freestanding sink, a storage cupboard and little usable benchtop space.
The washing machine had become an unofficial work surface, while a bulky external door restricted access and blocked natural light. Built-in shelving from the adjoining dining room further tightened the already narrow footprint.
As the main access to the back garden, the laundry needed to do more than wash clothes. We wanted room for a separate washer and dryer, practical storage, a place for coats and shoes, and extra benchtop space that could extend the kitchen.
Behind the Design
*
Behind the Design *
Reclaiming the unused dining room shelving and removing the original cupboard gained nearly 1sqm of space. Keeping the cabinetry and appliances along one wall opened up the walkway and made the room feel more spacious.
Haymes Drab Green walls and Dried Basil ceiling and trims bring the room to life. Layered with green patterned Roman blinds and tiles, the colour-drenched scheme creates a bold, cohesive space.
Matching cabinetry, benchtops, sink and tapware create a natural connection to the kitchen.
A diamond laying pattern gives these simple square tiles a more elevated look. At just $22 per square metre, they prove it's not always the material itself, but how you use it.
A fluted glass flush-mount ceiling light echoes the textures of the kitchen lighting and adjoining pocket door, helping tie the rooms together.
Black appliances sit more comfortably against the off-white cabinetry than white alternatives.
Unlacquered Brass Coat Hooks: The Brass Addict
Drab Green: Haymes Paint
Classic VJ: Surround by Laminex
Nurlin Solid Brass Handles: AliExpress
Parchment - Natural: Laminex
Dried Basil: Haymes Paint
William Morris Acorn Leaf Roman Blind: Tuiss Blinds Online
5100 Vanilla Noir: Caesarstone
Seba Brushed Gunmetal Sink: ABI Interiors
Elysian Kitchen Mixer - Brushed Brass: ABI Interiors
Zellige Forest Green Gloss Tile: Beaumont Tiles
Flute Glass Ceiling Light: Beacon Lighting
Como White Matt Tile + Como Black Matt Tile: National Tiles
Living in the space
The laundry is now one of my favourite rooms in the house. The new double-glazed glass door brings in plenty of natural light, while the rich greens give the room its own personality. It's also a lovely surprise for guests passing through to the garden.
Everything now has its place. The benchtops stay clear for folding laundry or extra preparation space when the kitchen gets busy. Having a separate dryer has also been a game changer through Melbourne winters.
For such a small footprint, it's hard to imagine getting much more out of the space. The only thing I'd change is the barely noticeable chrome detail inside the ceiling light, which I'd like to respray in brass.
It shows how much you can achieve in a small room with careful planning and a willingness to embrace colour.
