Hi all, first time posting here. Looking for some help on what to do with our Laundry space, we are planning to sell soon and need to freshen it up for sale, with the following as guidelines for our potential project:
See attached pics as reference for the current state of the Laundry. And I have also included a reference picture for an idea of what we would ideally like, something like this, however our sink will be as per original laundry, near the window. Any advice would be really appreciated as we’re new to this. We are fairly handy and want to do this project ourselves where possible apart from if any plumbing service is required to change taps etc.
Thanks in advance :)
Hi @StevieFlowers,
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.
Allow me to start by tagging some of our helpful members into the conversation as I am sure they will be able to help with ideas @Nailbag, @Herrenovacation, @prettyliving and @Dave-1.
You might also like to check out our Top 10 most popular laundry renovation projects for some examples of their process, as well as ideas and inspiration.
The first thing I'd recommend is to take some fairly accurate measurements and sketch yourself a very basic design. This will help you determine cabinet sizes, benchtop lengths and sink placement as well as give you some ideas about what will work with the current plumbing setup. You can then use a tool such as the https://planner.kaboodle.com.au/ to play around with a design using the dimensions of your space.
In planning for the false wall, which is certainly achievable, I'd assess how far the furthest pipe projects from the wall and then plan for a shallow timber frame just deep enough to conceal everything. This could be lined with moisture-resistant product such as https://www.bunnings.com.au/james-hardie-2700-x-1200-x-7-5mm-3-24m-hardie-groove-lining_p0712677 to create your panelled splashback.
For access, I'd suggest using premade access panels, which are installed into the wall and allow easy access to services when necessary. Having fully removable wall panels is not really practical, so this is a very simple way around this.
You should also note that installing new taps and a mixer is plumbing work which would require the assistance of a suitably licenced plumber. With this in mind, it is likely worth getting your plumber in relatively early, such as in the planning stage, to have a look at what you are doing and offer recommendations about how best to achieve it. The plumbing lines are the main obstacles to work around, so having the insight from a professional early on is certainly going to be worthwhile.
At this stage, I'd focus on getting your measurements together and putting together a rough design. Don't worry about making it perfect, even a simple hand sketch with dimensions will give everyone a much better understanding of the space and what you're trying to achieve.
Once you've got some plans together, feel free to post them along with any updated photos. We'd be more than happy to have a look; offer suggestions and help you refine the design before you progress further towards purchasing materials and cabinetry and the eventual install.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the project develops.
Jacob
Good Afternoon @StevieFlowers
Woooooo thats a few steps, doable I think to a fair degree.
For the timber bench that spans the washing machine dryer to the sink, you could use the bench tops that Bunnings have for the actually bench top, plus the legs, with say the left hand leg having a return on it to give it strength so it doesn't wobble. Think of a top down L shape on the left for the leg, so 600mm bench width and then at the rear another 600mm piece. That way you can get away with a single vertical piece for the legs next to the sink. I would add little feet or chocks to the base in case water gets on the floor.
With the false wall idea, I think you would loose too much visual space but as an alternative, how about a boxed shelf, It could even be open at the base to allow the pipes/power to hang but covers the taps and power point on the wall?
If you go the boxed shelf then you could use horizontal kaboodle shelves with doors that open upwards. Plus maybe an air dryer above the sink to hang towels ect on. I have a bench fan pointed at my air dryer that I turn on overnight. It drys the clothes nicely and costs a pittance compared to a heated dryer.
I generally think that what you will make on the revamp verse how much time/effort and dollars is pretty hard to judge. I tend to think less is more in your pocket.
Dave
Hi @StevieFlowers
So things will have to be a bit different to the desired picture as, for example, the wall cupboards couldn't go to the right because of the window and moving the sink drain pipe would be major works. So staying as close to the desired solution as possible, leave the floor mounted dryer and washing machine where they are just move them to the left to make space for the sink you want. You could then run a continuous benchtop along the whole width of the room and fit the sink under that in roughly the same position as the current one. As you will have a plumber in to do the sink, have washer taps fitted in the cupboard below the sink and a waste trap with a spigot on it for you to connect the washing machine waste to. This will do away with the need for the two taps on the wall and so you can have those removed and capped off. If you then get a sparkie to put power points either in or on the side of the cupboard under the trough (he can probably get the cable down the cavity next to the window) and then the current outlets can be disconnected and blanked off. The wall cupboards can go over the washer and dryer and you can fit a shelf if required over the sink.
I think this would be the minimum disturbance, least loss of space and cheapest way to achieve the type of finish like that shown in your example.
Edited to add that you could also discuss with the plumber a less visible way of dealing with the aircon drain.
By not relocating the wall plumbing to below bench height, you're really limiting the design possibilities and useable space. Since you're both very handy, then my advice would be to remove everything and take the back wall off. That way both the plumber and electrician can relocate the services to suit the new Kaboodle layout as per @JacobZ recommendation. Then replace the wall and install the new cabinetry, benchtop and splashback. Services can then be fitted off. This process will allow you to maximise the space and its functionality.
Nailbag
