GALLEY LAUNDRY ROOM DESIGN - FLOOR PLANS AND ELEVATIONS

In today’s custom homes, not only have we added more specialized rooms to floor plan design but spaces that were once considered to only be for utilitarian purposes like laundry rooms, closets, pantries, etc. have now joined the ranks of being showpieces that are artfully designed while being loaded with functionality.

LAUNDRY ROOM DESIGN - CITRUS POINT PROJECT
To help emphasis this point, for this week’s post I’m sharing about the laundry room design at the Citrus Point Project, a new build in Arizona that is currently in construction.

FLOOR PLANS, PROGRAMMING AND DESIGN CHALLENGES
We’ll start by reviewing the undeveloped floor plan for the space, combined with programming notes and a list describing things about the space that made it challenging to design. And lastly we’ll review the final design drawings to highlight the beautiful fusion of form and function.


LAUNDRY FLOOR PLAN, PROGRAMMING AND DESIGN CHALLENGES

I’m guessing that when you review the undeveloped floor plan, the program notes and the list of design challenges that are shown below that you just might be thinking: How can all of those things fit in the space that’s been allotted, all while addressing the list of design challenges? *Keep on scrolling to see how it was done.

WHAT IS PROGRAMMING

Programming for interior architecture refers to the evaluation, collection and compilation of information in establishing the parameters and requirements for the design of the spaces. In more simple terms programming, in part, is the clients wish list for their spaces.


LAUNDRY ROOM PROGRAM

  • Top load washer and dryer

  • Shelf above washer and dryer

  • Sink

  • Drying rack

  • Hamper for wet towels, etc.

  • Mail drop-off

  • Charging station

  • Gift wrapping station

  • Provide plenty of counter space

  • Provide plenty of storage space

LAUNDRY ROOM DESIGN CHALLENGES

  • Top load washer and dryer

  • Limited amount of square footage

  • Lacks clear wall space for the garage door to swing against

  • Parallel walls with different lengths makes it more challenging to create balance

  • Create equal spacing on each side of the window

  • Street facing laundry room window

ADDRESSING THE DESIGN CHALLENGES

TOP LOAD WASHER AND DRYER
Did it surprise you when I included top load washer and dryer as being design challenges for the space? Because of needing to easily access the top of the washer and dryer for front loads, they take away the ability to have counter and storage space above them, overall significantly reducing counter and storage space.

Additionally, the vertical clearance needed for the lids creates an empty, unbalanced look between the washer and dryer and the cabinets above, making it difficult from a design approach to make them look good. But with mad problem-solving skills, I was able to solve each of the challenges. *Keep on scrolling to see how I did it.


BACK STORY
Full disclosure here. Early on in developing the floor plans, the client said all along that she wasn’t sure if she wanted front loads or top loads. Each time it came up, I was thinking please, please go with front loads, they will make it so much easier for me to fit in all the programming by allowing me to incorporate counter and storage space above them. And besides, from an aesthetic point of view, front loads are a million times more attractive to work with than top loads.

But it wasn’t meant to be. When the final decision was made and front loads won out, I set to work formulating ideas of how I could make them more attractive, without loosing functionality. To see how I did just that, keep on scrolling. I’m truly delighted how the space turned out. It just might be one of my favorite features that I designed for the Citrus Point Project - though truthfully there are so many others that also feel like favorites!

LIMITED AMOUNT OF SPACE
I’m sure this point was no surprise to you when you saw the floor plan. Given the shape and size…the window location and its distance from the floor…plus the entrance into the space from the garage…and the circulation and doorway leading into the scullery, the only workable layout for the laundry room was a galley, or two-wall layout. With careful planning though I’m happy to say that I was able to meet all the programming requirements, and then some.

LACKS CLEAR WALL SPACE FOR GARAGE DOOR TO SWING AGAINST
If you’ve every done a Floor Plan Review with me, you’ll know how I feel about making sure that there is clear space to allow for proper door swings. And by clear space, I mean an uninterrupted section of wall where the door can rest against at an approximate 90 degrees. That way the door doesn’t interfere with anything. All that to say, when you review the design drawings below, you’ll see that I had to make an exception to the rule. Though not ideal, it was the only way to make the space work, in this project where every inch has been accounted for.

PARALLEL WALLS WITH DIFFERENT LENTHS
Like the top load washer and dryer situation described above, the space would have been easier to design if the walls had equal lengths, uninterrupted by the jog shown on the garage door wall. Even so, with careful planning and creativity what seems like an imperfection at first, if played right can turn out to be a design feature.

CREATING EQUAL SPACING ON EACH SIDE OF THE WINDOW
Custom home design is complex. It is steeped with layers and layers of nuanced and subtle details that are intertwined and can easily be overlooked if there isn’t clear focus and intention in the design process. Equal spacing around windows is one of those types of details, though less nuanced than most, if overlooked will cheapen the end result and read as an oversight in the built space.

WINDOW LOCATION ON THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE
In the design of a custom home, it’s always important to consider the views that are seen through windows and doors from the exterior but it’s even more important for those windows that are on the front of the house. With that in mind, plus the need to rely on the laundry window to provide as much natural light as possible to the laundry room and the adjoining scullery, I wanted to make sure that the views were clean (even when laundry is in progress) and that there were no obstructions that would interfere with light flow.

LAUNDRY ROOM DESIGN - FINAL DESIGN DRAWINGS

Now for the good part! Let’s take a look at the final design drawings for the laundry room. In reviewing notice how I was able to address each of the design challenges that I described above AND how I created a beautiful fusion of form and function.

LAUNDRY ROOM FLOOR PLANS - BEFORE AND AFTER
For comparison purposes, we’ll start with the undeveloped and developed floor plans side by side. While you review pay close attention to see all the problem-solving nuanced details that were included within the design.

LAUNDRY ROOM FLOOR PLANS AND ELEVATIONS

Now to see how the laundry room is going to look. Below I’ve included the laundry room floor plan and the accompanying elevations. Notice how the space will be packed full of function and style.

LAUNDRY ROOM DESIGN - PERSPECTIVE VIEWS
Below I’ve shared perspective plans and perspective views of the washer and dryer wall, as well as the sink wall to show how the space will look three dimensionally. In these views its easier to see all the design features that were included to visually enhance the space and to increase function.

THE TAKE AWAY

PROJECT TIMELINE
By way of providing insight as to how custom homes develop and progress, starting with the floor plan design to the completion of construction, here’s a quick overview of the timeline for this project.

  • The architects started their scope of the work early fall of 2021.

  • I jumped in a few months later in November 2021, once the architects had established the programming, position of the home on the lot, the architectural footprint and preliminary floor plans. From there I started perfecting and refining the plans. but even at this point there was still a lot of shuffling going on with layout and where to locate rooms. This fluctuation in large part was due to the shape and size of the lot.

  • By mid winter of 2022 we had the floor plan layouts finalized.

  • While engineering and the landscape designer were doing their part, as well as the architects, I continued from early spring to mid fall 2022 to polish and refine the plans and to design all the interior elevations, while sourcing and selecting lighting and plumbing fixtures and the majority of the finish selections.

  • Late December 2022 the final plan sets (including ID) were complied and sent to the builder to acquire building permits and for bidding.

  • Together, the clients, with the rest of their design and build team celebrated with an official ground breaking in mid January 2023.

  • By early February 2023, the site work was well underway on the lot.

  • Since that time, we’ve continued working with the clients to complete and finalize finish selections, and record them in spreadsheets.

  • Though the builder and the subs have, and will continue to have updated digital copies of the interior selection information, in the next few weeks we will prepare hardcopies of the information that will include selection notes, schematics, plans and elevations that will be organized in a binder and serve as reference material on the job site during construction.

  • The project is estimated to be completed in spring of 2024. In summary, it took 1.5 years from the onset of the project to ground breaking, and it’s estimated to take 1.5 years for construction.

TF DESIGN

GOOD FIT?
Due to my comprehensive approach to design I invest a lot of time, energy, and even a lot of love into each of my projects. If you are hoping to work together, and think that TF Design would be a good fit for your new build project or whole house remodel (full service only - starting with the floor plan phase and working all the way through to the completion of construction), reach out via the contact page on my website, and answer all the questions as thoroughly as you can. Once received, I’ll review and get back with you.


FLOOR PLAN REVIEW

Don’t need full service design but you have a new custom home project in the works where you are feeling unsure about the floor plan? You can get expert spatial guidance and direction with your your floor plan through the  Floor Plan Review and Consultation. I’ll redline your floor plans and then provide potential solutions. This service is intended for those needing an extra layer of expertise with their floor plans before they are finalized.




“I would strongly recommend the Floor Plan review process for anyone who is about to embark on a renovation or new build. My husband and I were blown away by the detail and the number of items we were able to cover in only a short time. Tami provided thoughtful and insightful solutions to the pain points we had identified with our floor plans, but also, and perhaps more importantly, highlighted areas and issues we had not even considered, again providing adjustments that will no doubt improve the functionality and design of the house. It is clear her ideas will have saved us untold stress and money as we move forward in our project. This process will without a doubt take your plans from good to great.” - Katie, Ontario, Canada



DESIGN CONSULTATIONS

Don’t need a floor plan review exactly, but you’re feeling stuck in uncertainty and are looking for guidance with design questions specific to your project but don’t know where to go? I’m here for you.

With more than 22 years experience as a custom home designer, I can help guide you through the design dilemmas that you are facing through my new 60 minute virtual design consultations. During our time together I will answer your questions, provide solutions, all while explaining the reasoning behind them. That way you have a better understanding of the why’s and why-nots of good design and can move forward with confidence. 




LET’S WORK TOGETHER

Let’s work together to make your home the best it can be.

Cheers!

Tami

Design Tips, Floor Plans, Inspiration, New Buildtami faulknerCitrus Point Project, laundry room, galley laundry room, top load washer and dryerComment