I don’t know what number of instances I’ve stated this by means of the years, but it surely stays simply as true at present because it’s ever been. Generally I get so dug in on an concept, and whereas my remark part can usually really feel like I’m consuming from a hearth hydrant with the entire variety of concepts being shared with me (which I like, however may really feel a bit overwhelming at instances 😀 ), generally it’s one single remark that will get my consideration and actually will get me considering in a brand new path.
And that’s precisely what occurred when Phoebe made a suggestion concerning the closet and laundry space mixture room that I’ll be constructing within the present visitor bed room. She instructed that I divide the room into two separate areas in order that I can have a separate closet and a separate laundry space.
That’s an concept I had already thought-about, however I had dominated it out as a result of in my thoughts, one room (presumably the laundry room) could be accessible by way of the present door into the room from the hallway, and the opposite space (presumably the closet) would require a brand new door from our soon-to-be bed room into that sectioned off space. I shared this concept some time again, and it appeared like this…
I had thought-about that choice very significantly, and had even talked to Matt about it, however for some purpose he’s adamant about not constructing a wall in that room, and particularly about not placing a doorway from the bed room into that room. I don’t know why he’s so adamant about that, however he’s. And since he makes so few requests with regards to this home, I listen when he really is adamant about one thing, even when I don’t perceive his reasoning. 😀 And since then, I’ve gotten fairly enthusiastic about having a comfortable little studying space the place the door into the closet would have to be, anyway. With that concept in thoughts, I had moved previous the two-room choice and have actually develop into hooked up to the studying space concept, so I don’t wish to give that up now.
All that to say that when this concept was offered, I didn’t actually think about it. I wrote it off instantly, and defined why I couldn’t and wouldn’t do it. Phoebe defined that’s not what she envisioned, and she or he despatched an electronic mail to clarify her concept extra intimately. She wasn’t suggesting closing the 2 areas off to one another utterly, and she or he wasn’t suggesting placing a door from the bed room into the brand new closet area (which, for some purpose, is the half that Matt actually objects to). And he or she despatched me this drawing…
I used to be intrigued. Her design nonetheless confirmed a wall diving the 2 areas, and I knew that Matt wasn’t thrilled with that concept. However I assumed that perhaps because it didn’t require a doorway from the bed room into the sectioned off a part of the room (the half labeled Laundry Room), he could be on board. So I began enjoying round with the association.
What I noticed in a short time is that this plan wouldn’t even require me to construct a wall in any respect. I might actually simply use the wardrobes, positioned in two “U” preparations and secured to the ground and ceiling, to part off the room into two areas.
At first, I used to be having a very laborious time getting every part to suit as a result of I used to be nonetheless set on utilizing the 23-inch-deep IKEA wardrobes for each areas. Wrapping such deep wardrobes round corners causes an entire lot of wasted area, so with 4 wasted corners, I wasn’t really gaining any space for storing by having extra wall area accessible. Something I’d acquire with extra wall area I’d lose with corners.
So I headed to Pinterest and Houzz (my two go-to sources once I want fast inspiration) to seek for closet inspiration, and I noticed that the majority closets don’t use 23-inch-deep frames. Most closet system are solely about 14-16 inches deep. The one purpose you’d want 23-inch-deep wardrobes is if you wish to put doorways on them and have every part closed inside. However in case you’re not utilizing doorways, there’s actually no want for such deep frames.
Right here’s what I’m speaking about. That is a picture from Home Depot’s custom closet systems page. You’ll be able to see that the hanging garments stick out previous the frames of the cabinets and drawers. These frames are solely about 14 inches deep.
And there’s no want for them to be deeper since there aren’t any doorways on the frames, and no want for the hanging garments to be utterly contained inside these frames. And having shallower cabinets simply makes extra sense to me. I used to be having a lot hassle picturing storing my sneakers or folded sweaters or purses on 23-inch-deep cabinets. It appeared like a variety of wasted area. And the excellent news is that whenever you scale back the depth from 23 inches to 14 inches, the corners develop into usable. You’ll be able to construct usable nook cabinets into 14-inch-deep frames with out taking over an enormous quantity of area contained in the room, so no space for storing is misplaced.
So with all of this newfound inspiration, I began again at sq. one with the room. I began off making an attempt to make IKEA’s 14-inch-deep wardrobes work, however since they solely are available three widths, the dimensions limitations turned an issue. Plus, the primary measurement I would wish to make this new design work (the 14″ deep x 29.5″ vast) is the one measurement they’ve been out of inventory on for a number of months now, and there’s no indication once they’ll get extra in. I can’t base my entire design round one thing which will or will not be accessible once I’m prepared to start out the room. And so they didn’t actually match completely anyway. It was extra of a “it’s the closest to what I want so I can most likely make it work” kind of scenario.
So in the long run, I simply determined that the way in which for me to squeeze each inch of usable space for storing out of this room is for me to construct it myself from scratch. With that in thoughts, I designed, and tweaked, and moved issues round, and tweaked some extra, till I got here up with what I believe is the proper plan primarily based on Phoebe’s unique concept. This offers me fairly a bit extra closet space for storing than my unique concept, and it separates the laundry space from the closet space. And the most effective factor of all is that going from 23-inch-deep frames to 14-inch-deep frames permits room for a small island in the midst of the closet space, which not solely offers me extra drawer area, but in addition offers me a countertop to fold garments as quickly as I get them out of the dryer. So right here’s the brand new plan…
I’m so enthusiastic about this new plan. I lie awake at evening and dream about it. I can’t wait to get began! You’ll be able to evaluate that to the outdated plan under. I used to be capable of do the outdated plan on the IKEA planners, which supplies a 3D view of the plan. I wasn’t capable of do the brand new plan on the 3D IKEA planner as a result of it received’t mean you can put Pax wardrobes anyplace apart from lined up on a wall. Anyway, right here’s the outdated plan, which solely utilized the 2 lengthy partitions of the room. This was the laundry room aspect:
And this was the closet aspect:
The brand new plan does require a stacked washer and dryer, however I’m okay with that. I imply, I’m solely 5 toes tall, which implies that I’m used to issues in life being slightly bit inconvenient for me. Once I had my outdated washer and dryer (earlier than I purchased my present ones), I had to make use of a step stool to get issues out of the washer. Fixed slight inconveniences are only a lifestyle whenever you’re solely 5 toes tall, so I’m used to it. So if I’ve to make use of a step stool to get issues out of my dryer, it received’t be any worse than my outdated washer.
Facet observe: As I used to be ending up scripting this publish, the driveway guys confirmed up!!! They weren’t scheduled to be right here till Monday, however they completed up their final venture early, and got here proper over to get began. WOOHOOOO!!!! They’re going to start out behind the driveway (again part of driveway behind my workshop, and the ramp to the workshop) at present, after which work their solution to the entrance of the property. So by the top of the day at present, I could have a ramp, however the bulk of the progress will nonetheless occur subsequent week. However a minimum of there’s progress, and EARLIER than scheduled! How usually does THAT occur?! 😀
UPDATE: The washer and dryer within the new association are on an exterior wall. That’s the a part of the room that juts out previous the entrance wall of the lounge and the entrance wall of the master suite. There was initially a window there, however we had it closed up.
ANOTHER UPDATE:
Okay, okay! I hear y’all! 😀 I promise, I do hear. I did one other flooring plan displaying side-by-side washer and dryer with higher cupboards as a substitute of stacking the washer and dryer. This may additionally embody a countertop over the washer and dryer, which I didn’t present within the drawing.
I’m additionally loving the concepts of a door between the 2 areas like I did my music room doorways (i.e., pocket doorways that aren’t actually pocket doorways), and the thought of the island on locking casters in case I have to get the washer and dryer out. All nice concepts!
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I rework and adorn the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do the vast majority of the work on the home on my own. You can learn more about me here.
Trending Merchandise
