What depth countertop to go over compact laundry machines?
J C
5 years ago
Hello, I'm doing a little laundry room makeover. Planning to use IKEA Sektion cabinets (loved them for my kitchen) on either side of side-by-side Blomberg 24"-wide compact machines, along with a utility sink at one end. I'd like to do a simple laminate countertop over the whole thing, but am wondering if IKEA's stock depth of 24" is going to be too shallow over the machines to be a comfortable folding station. Anyone have any thoughts or advice? If you have a countertop over compact/European-style machines, how deep is it, and how far do your machines stick out (if any)? Is laminate ok for a laundry room with a drop-in utility sink?
Here's my IKEA drawing. I'm also planning to do a small cutout at the back of the countertop so I can run my hoses up and have the water hookups above the cabinet, and be able to install a Filtrol 160 to help decrease my house's contribution to microplastic fiber pollution.
Thanks for any input you've got!
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What are the most reliable counter-depth fridges these days?
Comments (18)I have a Jenn-Air french door, counter depth. It's about 4-5 years old. I can't remember the height (68 or so inches I'm guessing) but it's almost the largest they made at the time other than the sub-zero size. I wish I had held out for another brand, but I wanted the model with the ice and filtered water dispenser in the door as I am a total water drinker, as in all.the.time, so it's an important feature for me. At the time, KA and JA were about the only brands with this feature. Now there are several. My old refrig died and this one was in stock; I would have had to wait almost 2 weeks for the KA. I should have stuck it out. This thing has cold spots leading to ice chunks in the milk. Several times a year I have soggy, frozen lettuce in the crisper. Those may have been due to an inadvertent movement of the crisper setting but I don't think so. I think the dang refrigerator just ices up and thaws at random. Sometimes we have to take the ice maker out and shake it to get the ice to dispense. It's a wimpy size ice maker too, so I'm glad I don't rely on it for large amounts of ice....See MoreDepth of countertop over washer & dryer?
Comments (2)Another poster had an issue where her washer had a top loading detergent tray (it slid out a little so you could put the detergent, bleach, and fabric softener in the 3 little cups in the tray). That wasn't accounted for in her cabinet and it created a problem when she actually wanted to USE the machine. Personally, I would skip the counter on top and go for the pedestal base. Washers and dryers are bulky, if I need to put on a new hose for the washer or want to thoroughly clean the hose from the dryer, I need to get back there. Having a counter on top makes that harder, and when I fold laundry I watch TV (watching laundry isn't as much fun). I think that laundry rooms look nicer with a counter on shorter units, but when it comes to function it's harder. My laundry is in the basement, though, so I can go with function instead of form. But in any case, the depth of a counter needs to take into account your washer and dryer access points....See MoreInexpensive 30" counter for laundry . . .
Comments (9)No answer here, but I'll join your thread for ideas if I may. My laundry will be installed in my kitchen (reno starting in July) and that's one of the last, unanswered questions. We thought we'd be able to have them under a full run of counter at regular height/depth, but because our walls are masonry and the water/drain/electrical etc. is all surface mounted. Therefore, they'll be at 30" deep. My big fear is that, in my old house, I want quick and easy access to the drain area. So was initially thinking of something light (laminate?) that would lift off. But at 54x30, that still would be unwieldy. My current thought is that, whatever I do, have it go back to the back of the appliances, then have smaller 'panels' that can be lifted out individually above each of the appliances. I was thinking of having a cabinet maker make something to match my cabinets (natural cherry) or going with butcher block. I still may do one of those. But my granite fabricator reminded me that I'll have lots of granite left over, so I'd just be paying for fabrication if I had him make that. So we'll see where we're at after templating....See MoreReasons to use a 30” counter depth fridge over a 36”
Comments (25)I have a beach home with a 33 inch refrigerator. It is not counter depth. We built the house in 2011 and we are on a second one. The ocean environment is not kind. Ours is a second home that we rent so a different dynamic since you didn't mention renting. But rust was not the renter's fault - at least not entirely. It doesn't help to leave windows open in the summer which I am sure some renters do - or at least the shoulder seasons. So the 33 is a bit of a pain since the variety of replacements is less. Supply effects price. But no way would I be putting a counter depth one in - the replacement cost is too high especially if you are not using it everyday. This is what I see - 20 days a year, replace every 5 if you are lucky. So you only get 100 days of life from a fridge. So buy the $1000 model not the $3000 model. I have Subzero columns in our primary house - it is really hard to spend more on a fridge. Then there are the hurricanes. There is a reason why most beach houses are not all that fancy ..... Our house is 2100 sqft, 5 bedrooms. It will be full Memorial Day. With multiple kids per bedroom. We don't do bottled drinks much but our guest do. But every brings coolers anyway. But a 33 standard is bigger than a 30 counter - and we run out of room. FIshmarket + sports drinks + everyone bringing eggs - so there are 3 dozen in the fridge........See More
J C
5 years agoJ C
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoHere's my (almost) finished laundry area with cheap-but-adequate quartz countertop, Ikea cabinets, Blomberg compact machines, and a Filtrol 160 system hooked up to the washer and drain. I'm very happy with it — it's very functional and looks nice without being too fancy or trying to hide hoses or pretend it's not a place for doing laundry! Thanks to you who weighed in and helped me make my decisions!
enduring
5 years agoenduring
5 years ago
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