Luxe Laundry Rooms

RE.com Tips & Tools — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:17:00 GMT

Pamper yourself with your own luxe laundry room.

Gone are the days of trekking down to the dark, dank basement with your overloaded laundry basket. Today, luxe laundry rooms liven up the drudgery of washing clothes. What better way to improve this monotonous chore than to add some luxury to your home’s laundry room?

What exactly is a luxe laundry room?
A luxe laundry room brings a little lavishness to the arduous job of doing the laundry. Imagine energy-efficient as well as attractive appliances. Cabinetry to hide the detergent. Islands on which to fold laundry. Even ergonomically correct ironing boards. With features like these it’s easy to see why more and more homeowner’s are demanding upscale laundry rooms for their homes.

Take the humble washing machine, for example. Today’s washing machines are not only front-loading, but are much gentler on clothes because they do not have an agitator. Many new machines are energy-efficient, thus saving you money on your utility bill. Clothes come out of the washer practically dry. And oh, the color choices … stainless steel, blue, even red. Forget about the old white clunker that shook your house like an earthquake when you washed a load of jeans. Today’s high-end washing machines take laundry to a whole new level.

How to create one of your own.
Creating your own luxe laundry room can be as expensive as you want it to be. You can make this a do-it-yourself project, or hire an interior designer to make some dramatic changes.

Whether a DIY project or a professional job, there are still some basics to creating a luxe laundry room. First, start with the appliances and build around them. Go to the local home improvement store and peruse the washer/dryer section. Find the washer and dryer with the features you need to clean your clothes, but also the look you want. Choose great cabinetry that can do everything from hiding the detergent and fabric softener to even concealing clothes that need to air dry.

Next, have some fun. Paint the walls an eye-catching color. Choose flooring that is unique – an unusual tile selection, for example. And, don’t forget the lighting. Instead of the standard fluorescent lighting, find some fun fixtures to add pizzazz to your laundry room.

Something else to consider with a luxe laundry room is location. Most laundry rooms today are near the master bedroom, close to the kitchen, or double as a mudroom. An attractive laundry room blends in with the house, especially in those high-traffic areas. If money is no object, consider changing the location of your laundry room or even adding an additional laundry station. (One on the first floor and one on the second, perhaps?) A change like this may be expensive but it can certainly make doing the laundry luxurious.

The laundry room: What to consider when buying a home

RE.com Tips & Tools — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:36:00 GMT

Use our tips to make sure the washer and dryer in the house you’re thinking of buying are in good repair.

You’re in negotiations to buy an older home and the seller offers to throw in the washer and dryer to persuade you to notch up your offer. Before you jump at the deal, ask the owner about the appliances and carefully inspect them.

You can also ask your home inspector to evaluate the appliances’ age and serviceability, but first find out what appliances your state requires the inspector to check and whether he or she must gauge their efficiency or estimate their life span. Your best bet is to take it upon yourself to be thorough and know what you’re getting.

Your real estate agent can ask the seller for the purchase, warranty and repair receipts. This will tell you the age and reliability of the appliances. Older appliances typically demand more energy so assume the higher the energy bills, the older the appliance.

When taking stock of the appliances, the laundry room is particularly important because problems with washers and dryers are costly to repair. Most laundry appliances will last about 12 to 14 years. To test them, turn them on and note whether all the cycles work; whether there’s adequate water pressure as the washer fills and whether the dryer gets warm; and whether there are any leaks or squeaks – signs of worn belts. If the dryer vent is vinyl, it will have to be replaced as vinyl ducts are flammable and are now in violation of safety codes. Next, check the washer hose for cracks, corrosion or blisters, which are signs the inner hose lining has deteriorated and could rupture. Positive features to look for include delicate or hand-wash settings, larger load capacities, low noise level while running and conservation functions, as these indicate newer models.

If you have children, an older washer or dryer could pose another danger. The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that small children can climb in, become trapped and possibly suffocate. The CPSC has guidelines for childproofing your working appliances and those you are discarding.

Even if the appliances work perfectly, replacing them when you can afford to do so will likely save money on your energy bills. In 2003, Americans saved $9 billion by installing ENERGY STAR®-rated appliances, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Tips & Tools : laundry room

Luxe Laundry Rooms

Pamper yourself with your own luxe laundry room.

The laundry room: What to consider when buying a home

Use our tips to make sure the washer and dryer in the house you’re thinking of buying are in good repair.