b'People on rural properties often treat the laundry as a mud room, says Celia. The larger space is the room they come into first from the garden. So there must be space for storing coats, hats and boots. They may want their keys placed on the wall. Often the dog sleeps and eats there so there must be room for the basket and bowls. If youre planning a new home, position the laundry near the washing line outside in a hidden utility area. You may also have to include storage for things like your central vacuum system, with its bulky vacuum hose, a second fridge/freezer and somewhere for clothes to land from the laundry chute above, if there are bedrooms upstairs.What you put into the laundry depends on its location in the home. If its in the garage, you probably wont want it to include an ironing station. But if its near the kitchen, its a different story, says Celia. Is there adequate storage elsewhere in the house? It helps to write a detailed list of everything to go in there. There are many great storage ideas to choose from. Pull-out baskets on shelves, bulk bins for soap powders or canvas bags for sorting laundry hanging from hooks are all good ideas.In a smaller space, keep cabinets open as tall cabinets tend to close the space in, says Robyn. Some people prefer a cluttered, open look while others like everything neat behindAbove and belowAdjoining a second closed doors. Doors that open out tend to get in the way when youre standing there folding,small bathroom in a brick villa, this laundry not only fulfils the task of so sliding doors are a great option in small areas.clothes washing and drying but is alsoa spill-over storage space for the Some people prefer a freestanding ironing board that can hang up against the wall. Otherwise,bathroomas well as a sleeping spot there are boards that pull out on a rack from a drawer or fold down from the wall. for the owners standard poodle. In return, the bathroom basin does double For many, the laundry is just a functional space, whereas others opt for a laundry that looksduty as a laundry tub. The cabinetry is painted Resene Mischka and the wallsjust as beautiful as their kitchen. Celia has found laundries are becoming a lot more elegant.are Resene Seashell. The floorboardsOnce, people requested the cheapest materials possible. Now theyre using Corian andare painted in Resene Black, then granite as theyre working in them all the time. They want them to be nice, not dingy and dark.polyurethaned for extra protection,and are complemented by a blackFormica bench.Do your research when choosing appliances to find out exactly which ones best suit your needs and budget. If space is tight, both Robyn and Celia recommend an under-bench front loading washer and drier to maximise bench space above. This leaves room for a hanging rackhandy for drying smalls and shirtsand cabinets above. Which appliances?One of the main decisions youll make when planning your laundry is whether to choose a top or front loading washing machine. Top loaders are cheaper and they come in bigger sizes, says Sandra McGowan at Kouzina Appliances in Auckland, but front loaders give a better washing quality, plus energy efficiencies, using less water and detergent. They rinse better, scooping and ladling the water so you dont get detergent smears.She says some people prefer top loaders because the wash cycles tend to be shorter. Some front loaders take up to two hours to wash. However, if you set the wash temperature to 40 degrees or less, it normally takes around 40 to 45 minutes, about the same as a top loader. ReseneThe other advantage of using a front loader is the appliance sits under the bench giving moreBlackuseable bench space and looking neater. If you dont like to bend down to take your clothesReseneMischkain and out of the wash you can raise the front loader onto a substantial plinth. ReseneSeashellMost driers these days are condensers with sensors which detect the amount of moisture in clothing and dry it accordingly. Because they dont require ducting they can be placed 97'