🖼️
The project:
Like anyone living in apartment it is a constant battle in finding space to put things. My apartment had a small Euro laundry where speared space was wasted. Any flat pack or storage idea we looked at was too big to fit or too small to be useful. Which meant we decided to DIY and build our own to optimise space and make it a more functional room, that could be used as both laundry and butler's pantry for kitchen appliances that are too too bulky to sit on valuable bench space, but too difficult to keep moving around.
- Materials:
- Melamine carcass https://www.bunnings.com.au/custompine-carcass-ds-16mm-2400-x-1200mm-mr-particleboard-white-matt_p0097412
- Framing timber or primed moulding https://www.bunnings.com.au/92-x-18mm-5-4m-moulding-white-pine-fj-primed-pr4_p0020751
- Benchtop https://www.bunnings.com.au/practa-2000-x-600-x-28mm-eureka-oak-laminate-benchtop_p0866677
- Shelf brackets https://www.bunnings.com.au/carinya-240-x-185mm-black-hanging-lipped-angle-bracket-240-x-185mm_p0212176
- Shelves https://www.bunnings.com.au/flexi-storage-home-solutions-1200-x-16-x-400mm-oak-shelf_p0025660
- Assorted screws
- Tiles
- Tile glue
- Grout
- Silicone caulking
- White paint
- Cable cover https://www.bunnings.com.au/taskmaster-60mm-white-cable-duct_p0290502
- Tools:
- Ryobi Drill plus attachments https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-18v-one-drill-driver-starter-kit-r18dd22_p0715241
- Hole saw drill attachment
- Jigsaw
- General tools - hammer, screwdriver, spirit level
- Step 1:
Measure and plan design so that everything fits and to optimise space. Find and mark studs in the wall.
- Step 2:
Cut melamine boards and support frame to required length with jigsaw. A tip to prevent the top splintering is to use some painters tap over where it will be cut. Doesn't completely stop it but helps. Once everything is put together I use white paint to fill in any chips that had come off.
Use hole saw to cut two holes in side of cupboard to allow for washing machine power cord through and one hole in side of frame that will go on other side of washing machine to allow space for water inlet/outlet.
- Step 3:
Screw support frame to wall using studs for strength. Attach 1 support frame to frame attached to wall using L joiner. Screw cupboard side one side and washing machine frame side of already installed sink cupboard.
- Step 4:
Cut the praca bench to appropriate size one for bench space and one to cover sink. Attach bench top to both support frames and side using L attachments. With second piece, cut space to fit tap so that it fits flush against back and side of wall.
- Step 5:
Screw timber frames to other wall to help hold the roof of the cupboard and shelf. Attach roof using screws through the top and shelf using L joiner.
- Step 6:
Screw shelf brackets into studs.
Cut Flexi storage shelves to appropriate length using jigsaw and screw onto brackets.
Use white paint to paint any raw edges and to apply thick layer exposed edge of benchtop incase of any water splash.
Use cable cover over visible hole on side of cupboard.
- Step 7:
Remove old tiles.
Tile new splashback utilising Bunnings DIY help https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/diy-skills/tiling/how-to-tile-a-splashback
- Step 8:
Admire your complete and more functional laundry/butlers pantry
