In our first house we had one level, and W/D near the garage entry. Next and current house is 2-story with laundry room on 2nd floor, and I love it. But, it just depends on how you live and how you actually "do" your laundry. For us, by that time, our girls were school-aged. So I was not tending a baby and folding lots of little baby things. The upstairs is just great since the laundry is in the middle of the hall, with baths and BR's on either end, so all linens and clothes just go there. You can dash and get something from the dryer to put on, or a warm towel. I don't think it's as simple as "where you spend your time" with the exception of watching small children, but maybe more about how you attack the clean clothes, and whether you have bedrooms on 2 floors or all upstairs. Or maybe as pointed out, if you do 10 loads of laundry in one day, you then are having a real laundry project, like a cooking project, and tending it most of the day. So those habits and preferences will affect what works best. I spread my laundry loads throughout the week, and so tending 1 or 2 loads in a given evening overlaps with other trips up or down stairs to do other things. With the upstairs laundry, I bring a hamper to my room and fold clothes and towels and put them directly in the closets/drawers. I may use the bed to make piles of folded stuff. I listen to radio or talk with my husband or just, you know, think deep thoughts. (Girls (esp in past years) take hampers to room and who knows what they do then? Not my problem). There is room in the laundry to fold there, so I might do some towels there, but otherwise I don't, since I would then have to just stack stuff in hamper and bring back and dig out again. So, I prefer my current system to an off-the kitchen system in which I'd haul stuff upstairs or fold stuff on the sofa. I don't have a mudroom and wish I did. I think that definitely influences laundry gameplans, since then you have other advantages of the mudroom and how your organize the flow of clothes and stuff. If one or more family members have to deal with dirty work clothes/uniforms, or maybe just active kids and sports stuff, that can be an advantage if you are organizing the clothes and shoes off upon entry. I guess you have to put on a robe or something to come trouping through the living room after stripping? But for those who have less frequent "toxic" clothes, you could just have a drop-off hamper at the entry point. I think it's less universal than kitchen design, which while still very personal, has the somewhat universal issues of work triangles and door-openings and things for the basic layout, and then moves on to more preference-based issues for how and where you eat, do homework, watch TV.

This thread brought me out of lurkdom, lol! I've starched and ironed my topsheet (most of it) and pillow cases for years. I iron while watching t.v. and, for me, is worth the time and effort. There's nothing, absolutely nothing, better than climbing into a bed w/a great mattress, wonderful bedding, good quality starched and ironed sheets. For me this began while living overseas. A friend of mine hated that her DH traveled so much. She'd keep a set of starched and ironed sheets, done at the dry cleaners, on hand and put them on the bed the day her DH would leave. She said she'd pamper herself w/the sheets, a good book, candles, etc. to make that first evening a little easier. The idea of the starched and ironed sheets really struck a chord w/me and I've been doing it ever since. Complete luxury for very little time (no, it really doesn't take long) or $$$!

We are putting on an addition about 1500 sq ft. Dream? Well, not to anyone but us. We are a family of 5, soon to be 6 - my dad will be moving in part time - and we live in a less than 1500 sq ft 3 bed/2 bath home, no basement, with bedrooms the size of some of your closets. I do "dream" about or lose sleep over thinking about the house. Here's what we're doing... adding a 2nd story to our home which will include a master bedroom, bath and walk-in closet, 2 bedrooms for the kids (boys will share), playroom and kids bathroom current bedrooms on 1st floor will become... office/guest room off of foyer workout room dad's bedroom/den - he sleeps in a recliner since he broke his hip back in 93 so it's a multi purpose room for him - man has nine lives losing our garage and turning it into a rec/entertainment/family room - since we don't have a basement. It's filled with mostly workout equipment which will go in the new workout room. I'm thinking about making it a step down. adding a mudroom, extra closets and a 1/2 bath off the back of the house. So happy not to have kids slip sliding through the house after coming out of the pool, or trapsing dirt all through the house to get to the bathroom. adding a new small kitchen 15 x 15 with a big pantry We have waited a looooong time to do this. Did basically nothing to the house since we bought it. Just outside. I can't wait for my kids to have their own space to get rowdy inside the house when it's too cold to go outside, and for me to actually be able to turn around in a room with a laundry basket without bumping into something. It's enough to make me nuts!! Our addition is planned to start in March/April, and I can't wait!!!!!

We seniors do very well in Australia. We are regarded as pioneers in helping build the country and are reaping the benefits! Lots of perks and I get a booklet that tells me where I can get discounts at shops etc. I always ask if I can get a senior discount in any case as not all are listed. I find the free travel on buses, trains and ferries in the non-peak periods and all day at weekends and Public Holidays so handy for getting about and we get an annual free return travel voucher to anywhere in my State. I also get an annual cash handout from the State Government paid into my bank account along with the Federal Government age pension as well as reduced rates on the telephone and electrical bills. Almost worth being old!