Laundry

This laundry went from dark and dusty to industrial chic

Article by Homes to Love

This makeover turned a ramshackle wash room into a streamlined laundry in just over a week

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This laundry went from dark and dusty to industrial chic

Who lives here? Ashwini Singh (personal assistant).
Where is it? Avondale, Auckland.
Lived here for… four years.
How long did the makeover take? Just over a week.
Who was your stylist? Your Home and Garden contributor Emily Somerville-Ryan.

DIY details

Ashwini, why did you decide to enter the Your Home and Garden and Mitre 10 MEGA Room Reno comp?
I didn’t actually have a dedicated laundry space inside my house (the washing machine and laundry tub are located in the garage), but had always wished for a defined laundry area. The space I thought of as my laundry area was very basic and lacked storage.

How did you feel when you found out you had won?
Very happy! The fact that I had won took a while to actually sink in.

Best moment during the process?

Just seeing it all come together. I never imagined the end result would be so amazing.

What was the budget?
$5000

Describe the laundry before…
The concrete block wall with peeling paint looked hideous. I had upcycled the old vanity from the bathroom and used this as my storage area/bench space. Every time I hand-washed an item in the standalone washing tub, water would spill over the sides onto the floor as well as behind the tub, which drove me crazy! I dreamed of a built-in sink and a tiled splashback.

How did you find the reno process with Emily and Mitre 10 MEGA?
It was really fun; Emily was a joy to work with and I was really surprised to find that we could achieve the look I wanted from one store.

Describe the style you opted for and why you chose it…
Industrial, but with a little bit of a vintage vibe as well. I like a space to have some character.

Why would you recommend Mitre 10 MEGA to others looking for laundry solutions?
There’s just so much choice. The fact you can get all the products you need under one roof is such a time saver, and means less stress overall.

What’s your favourite part of the new space?
The benchtop, all the extra storage, the pull-out laundry baskets, the lovely black tap and sink, the splashback –  Everything really!

Q&A with Your Home and Garden stylist Emily

Emily, what were your first impressions of Ashwini’s existing laundry?
Ashwini’s original laundry was really an empty shell which consisted of a ramshackle combination of a washing machine, a sink, and an old set of tired drawers. The garage was littered with garden tools and odds and sods scattered around with not a lot of order or organisation. The walls had peeling paint chipping away and the area was generally dusty and unloved in contrast to the rest of Ashwini’s lovely, orderly home.

How would you describe the look she decided to go for?
Because the laundry is an extension of the garage, we decided to go for an industrial-chic look that would tie into the space. We separated the space by polishing the floor, grinding the concrete wall and painting the walls in Valspar Kitchen & Bathroom Low Sheen, which was colour-matched to the cabinetry.

We organised Ashwini’s garden tools and supplies onto the beautiful cabinets, handsome black muscle shelf and handy tool rack. The whole look was then tied together with black details including the tap, sink, handles, grouting and shelves, complemented with concrete features including the stone-look bench top.

Emily’s laundry styling tips

  • Keep your laundry looking and smelling fresh by incorporating plants in the room and a lovely scented candle.
  • Incorporate simple coordinated canisters for products like laundry powder and pegs but make sure you keep your bench surfaces as clean and clear as you can, so that the laundry functions well when being used.

Get the look

All products from Mitre 10 MEGA.
Cabinetry in Nouveau foil in ‘Havana White’, gloss finish and soft-close; benchtop in Duropal Laminate in ‘Quartz Stone’; Heritage Hardware Eden Black sink (SKU 237596), $289; Greens Tapware Zeon Noir Gooseneck Sink Mixer (SKU 269957), $414.96; splashback tiles: Jeffrey Court Concorde Dawn 76 x 152mm wall tiles (SKU186168), $16.98 for 8; paint: Valspar paint colour matched to  ‘Havana White’ cabinetry; shelf: assorted Muscle Rack shelving in store; Hafele Undersink pull-out caddy (SKU 228642), $199; Hafele 450mm cabinet (includes laundry hamper)(SKU 270730), $624.

Words by: Kristina Rapley. Photography by: Todd Eyre.

To create your dream NZ-made laundry, visit mitre10.co.nz or visit your nearest Mitre 10 MEGA.

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