Laundries that are relegated to the garage sometimes miss out on receiving the same stylish treatment as the house. This one proves you can still have a chic, all-white laundry in this normally messy space.
Meet + greet
Nick Bosanac, 38 (builder and co-owner of Nick Bosanac Builders, and comedian), Kylie Bosanac, 37 (co-owner and office manager), Hannah, 12, Nicholas and Hazen, both 10, plus fur babies Puss-puss, Bubbles and Squeaks.
Why have you installed a new laundry? Kylie: It is part of our newly built home.
What was your brief? We wanted it to have a ‘modern country’ theme and also reflect our kitchen design. We both love the look of American interiors, so there are hints of that, too. Most new urban homes have laundries in the garage – as ours does – but they can look like a bit of an afterthought. We didn’t want that. So the laundry was designed to be a functional, neat and tidy space amid the hectic life of our family and business (our office will also be in the garage area for the next few years). This is why we have a hidden washer and dryer, sink cover, a laundry-basket storage drawer (under the sink) and plenty of cupboard and shelf space. We love it!
Who came up with the design? Between our cabinetmaker and me, we got it sorted. We had a very defined space to work in, so it was just a matter of fitting the pieces in with the look we wanted. We’d already decided that we wanted under bench appliances, so pocket doors in front were a natural choice. Everything else ties into the kitchen design.
How long did it take to install? It was probably one of the fastest parts of the build. The cabinetry was ready within six weeks (to fit in with our construction programme) and installed in half a day. The countertop was the hardest part; the single slab had to be trimmed and adjusted on-site three times to get it to slide in perfectly past the panelled dado. It took four men to do it! They were amazing.
Where did you seek out inspiration? Pottery Barn (our favourite homeware store in the States) and Pinterest. LOTS of Pinterest, long into the night. I have boards for everything!
How did you decide on your colour palette and finishes? We wanted it to be light, feel spacious and look timeless, so we chose shades of white. The accessories add the splashes of colour. The timber cornice and using HardieGroove as the splashback instead of tiles add to that country feel we were going for. The whole garage and other parts of our home have the same lining to half-height, with a decorative dado rail, so it ties in nicely!
Any tips for a good laundry layout? I’m big on surface area. So in a fairly small laundry like ours, we gained space back by using underbench appliances and adding a cover to our generously sized sink. That way, we can use the whole length of the space as a work area for all the crazy things laundries end up being used for – clothes, pets, kids’ crafts etc.
What flooring did you choose? Garage carpet. It’s easy-care and it doesn’t matter if it gets a little wet.
What material is the benchtop? We went for Prime Stone, an engineered stone. We love the way it looks and feels. It’s a fairly affordable stone option while still being classy. It’s stain-resistant too, which is comforting when you go for a light-coloured benchtop.
Any advice when it comes to working with tradies? Top of my list is working with someone you’re comfortable with. Get the personal fit right – someone who gets you and your vision – then look at their workmanship, price etc. If this all stacks up, then go for it. We’ve worked with Andy from B&E German Kitchens in Pukekohe for the past five years. We recommend him to our clients for their cabinetry, so it was fitting that we would use him for our own home. Swift Fix Plumbing and Electrical Solutions were the two other trades we used in this part of our home. Again, they are the same guys we use on the job sites, so it was awesome to have them involved in our home-build, too.
Honesty Box
Is there anything you’d do differently? I’d have got Andy to make me a little stepping stool so I could reach the higher shelves! (It’s on my request list.)
Best buy? The dryer. Previously I didn’t have a washing machine and dryer that matched, but now I do! It’s strange, I know, but I love doing the laundry. So having great appliances adds to that love.
Budget
Splurges? The Dorf Inca mixer. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s functional, has a flexible hose sprayer and is soooo pretty.
Fact file
40mm Prime Stone Classic benchtop in Papamoa.
Aoraki EcoGranit 550-10 sink in alpina.
Dorf Inca mixer in gunmetal grey.
18mm MDF cabinetry with two-pot lacquer and timber trim in American white oak.
Carpet is Crazy XL garage carpet.
Walls in Resene ‘Quarter Truffle’; trim and splashback in Resene ‘Alabaster’.
Basket and towels from Adairs.
Other homeware from Kmart.
Words by: Annick Larkin. Photography by: Emma MacDonald.
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