washer/dryer closet + pullout pantry design--any thoughts?
I'm designing my W/D closet and would love your input to help me optimize this space.
The dimensions are approx 72" wide by 38.5" deep. (the cabinet guy measured 74.5 wide, maybe because the baseboard trim can be removed).
My goals:
a) stacking W/D; Hookups for the W/D will likely be on the left wall, in a recessed niche.
b) pull-out pantry
c) place to stash broom and tall step ladder (and other things), if possible
d) optimize for storage and usability
e) cabinet faces look pleasant (balanced?). I'll see this when working at the island.
Here's the cabinet guy's initial quick and dirty first-pass:
Some thoughts on this design:
a) I'd like the pantry doors to be even with the W/D. The deepest normal pullout is 30" deep, so one thought it to create a chase behind it and use for HVAC duct.
b) he shows a 175 degree opening on the W/D cabinet. Can this still work if the pantry cabinet door is flush? Is this needed, esp. if there is extra room around the W/D?
c) do I need a 42" wide pantry? Can pull-out drawers support the weight of all that stuff?
d) any way to fit in the broom/stepladder?
I've considered a few ideas:
1) pair of 36" openings, each with a pair of 18" doors. Pantry on right. W/D on left, and stash broom etc in the extra space next to W/D and below hookups. Assume W/D width about 28-29".
2) 2' wide pantry. 14"' wide pull out for broom, step-ladder etc. Approx 34" wide (pair of doors) for W/D. Will this look like a jumble of cabinet faces?
3) 2' wide pantry; 4' wide cabinet for W/D and brooms etc. The 4' wide cabinet would have a pair of 2' wide doors, so there would be some symmetry, three 2' wide doors. But when you open the W/D door, the appliances will take up more than half the space. Does this matter in terms of looks? Maybe not.
4) forget about cabinets and build as closet with doors. (seems more $ and may be less space efficient).
Are any of these good ideas or moving in the right direction?
I'd have a dream of using those pivot and slide in doors, but they take a lot of space. If I had a pair of them, the hookups would have to move (cabinet above the W/D?). The cabinet guy says they need 4" per door (they add a 3/4 partition), so that's 8" for a pair. ;( There's a hardware company that sells those systems and they take about 2.5" inches, including a 1.25" door, so only 5" for the pair. Here's one example using real doors, but cabinets can have them too.
What do you think? I'd love your thoughts. Thanks so much for considering this.
Comments (7)
girl_wonder
5 years agoIt's inside my kitchen. I need the pantry for storage since there's not a ton (the lower right is the eat-in nook).
Good point about how to handle the logistics of laundry. I line dry most of my clothes, so I guess I imagined taking wet clothes out and hanging up to line dry (or using the island to pile up socks). It that horrible? I don't have kids or pets so I should be able to wipe the island clean before and after. Thoughts? I could try to be creative, maybe have a counter that flips out from the pantry or ? Thanks for your help!
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5 years agogirl_wonder
5 years agoThis nook is 12-14 inches wider than my current W/D closet, so in theory I could put them side-by-side and put a tall 11" or 14" pullout next to it for pantry storage. But I almost never use the dryer and I'm short, so I hate to give prime real estate to the dryer. You raise good points and I googled it looks like a lot of times when W/D are stacked, there's not an obvious place for the activities like folding. Even if there is space next to the W/D sometimes it's used for storing towels, etc.
FWIW, this answers my one question, "how bad would it look if the cabinet doors weren't symmetrical?" Not that bad, right?
girl_wonder
5 years ago
herbflavor