When Jessica Lanyon bought her Sydney property, it was only 14 years old but it just wasn’t her dream house. Five years and many reno projects later, it really is! Today, we’re showing you the laundry, which is one of her favourite rooms. And with four young children (including twins), there is no doubt Jessica spends plenty of time in here. Why not make it beautiful, right?
“The design of the old laundry just didn’t utilise the space well. There was one wall with minimal cupboard and bench space, meaning there was no space to store everything I didn’t want on display. There was also no room for folding and sorting laundry,” says Jessica.
To tackle this issue, Jessica decided to maximise the large floor space, adding a generous bank of cabinetry on a previously unused wall. It was a significant undertaking that saw the entire exterior wall removed (including the window and old solid door) and a French door put in its place which has the added bonus of allowing natural light to flood the room.
When it came to choosing which cabinetry system to use, Jessica couldn’t go past IKEA for cost and convenience. “We used their online design system and mapped out exactly how I wanted the room to be used. It was a cost-effective way of doing it and we also kept the plumbing in the same location, so we saved on that too,” says Jessica who paired it with a Smartstone benchtop and splash back, fluted farmhouse sink (from Farmhouse Sinks) and a Phoenix tap from Blue Space. All these selections really elevate the cabinetry and the herringbone matte floor tiles from Tile Cloud are also a feature.
The wall of storage that resulted from the overhaul has been a game changer for Jessica who now has a designated spot for all her high-use items including her Dyson vacuum charger, ironing board, mops, school uniforms and more. “There’s so much going on in there, but to the eye you wouldn’t know it and that’s what I love!”
Jessica’s husband is involved in the building industry which allowed the family to save a significant amount of money on labour while still splurging on some luxe details; the whole reno ended up costing just over $10,000. “We love the laundry so much that we no longer have an internal door on it. We leave it open to allow the natural light to pour in the hallway and it’s great being able to access the wall of cabinetry without having a door in the way. We couldn’t be happier with it all.”
