Small laundry closet
Our in law suite laundry area is a 60”closet which is located near the front entry. I was thinking we could have some type of cabinet with louver doors to cover the washer/dryer and a folding counter. This is the main entry to the suite, do you think it would look out of place and do you have anny suggestions?
Comments (21)
emilyam819
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Used Speed Queen
Comments (15)> Speed Queen top loaders are basically an old Amana design that has been improved by Alliance Laundry Systems who took over production. Actually, more the opposite - the basic design derives from 1970s (or earlier?) Speed Queens back when they were owned by McGraw-Edison. When Raytheon (which already owned Amana) bought out McGraw-Edison's appliance division, Raytheon not only continued production of Speed Queen laundry machines, but also used the acquisition to give their Amana brand laundry machines to sell. Previously, Amana was known for their refrigerators, "deep" freezers, and RadaRange microwaves. Thus, Raytheon-built Amana and SQ laundry machines were nearly idendical. This continued through the late '90s, when Raytheon sold off their appliance units. The consumer side (which besides Amana still included long-gone brands like Caloric, Hardwick, and Modern Maid) went to HVAC/holding company Goodman, which later was bought by Maytag, which in turn was bought by Whirlpool. But Raytheon's commercial appliance business held on for about another year. Raytheon kept the US rights to the Speed Queen brand and continued to sell residential-style washers and dryers, but contractually only to the commercial market for the next 5 years. A year after the residential appliances sale, Raytheon sold the commercial side (SQ) to Alliance Laundry Systems. They still couldn't market Speed Queens to consumers due to a legal agreement with Goodman/Maytag, who was at first selling the same machines under a different name. However, the design of the SQ and Amana machines began to deverge almost as soon as the sale commenced, with SQ retaining the heavy-duty, minimalist designs that commercial cusomers liked, whereas Goodman and later Maytag cheapened them slightly and went to larger cabinets and door openings and more bells and whistles to woo the consumer market. After the 5-year commercial-only clause lapsed in about 2004, Speed Queen could again sell their machines to consumers. By this time, the current Amana lineup bore little resemblance to Speed Queen's offerings. Anyway, if you're buying a used top-load washer there are lots of reliable ones that can be picked up on the cheap (or sometimes free) . Besides those already mentioned, I've found the older GE washers and dryers (up to mid-'90s) to be reliable and easy to find parts for because they didn't change much year to year beyond cosmetics. They can be identified by smaller doors and metal rather than plastic tubs. Whirlpool and Kenmore are usually reliable, if unspectacular performers (beware of really slow spin speeds on older or lower-end models). Maytags that used their own design rather than cheaper ones from companies they later bought out were good. General Motors-era Frigidaires are terrific, but becoming hard to find (up to 1980). Really, most of the older TL washers were solidly built....See MoreRedesign of Laundry Room
Comments (1)Well, I'd still be interested in your thoughts but I talked to the wife and we decided I'm going to build a small thin stick built wall (with sheet rock AND paint) and mount it on hinges dead center of that current laundry room. Then I'll build in two separate louver doors. So all you gotta do is Take the pantry shelfs out and unlock the "door or wall on hinges" and swing it to the right and you have full access to the back of the washer and dryer. I just got to figure out the best way to Light the pantry. A ceiling mounted light for the pantry will provide little light for the bottom shelves (and interfere with operation of wall-on-hinges)......so maybe a 4' single tube light on either side of the door hooked up to the closet light switch would be the way to go.... In addition I need to turn one pull chain ceiling light into two........See MoreAdding a small laundry in master?
Comments (6)What someone else did is not your home. A first floor /ensuite on a concrete slab that WAS a garage is your situation. A stack, side by side, storage, ....all depend on the dimensions and availability , access, expense, venting of the dryer, or a host of other issues. The on site view is what you are getting, and what you need. Along with a designer so as to not make a big mistake : ) you will later regret....See MoreRecommendation for compact front loading washing machine
Comments (18)Cannot speak to longevity as it varies so much it doesn't seem to matter which brand anyone buys. The one thing I will say is: if you are going with a front loader it is dysfunctional to buy one without an internal heater that will give you a true hot wash. I would check the stats on GE and Whirlpool. Bosch, Asko and Elux do have internal heaters. But again, check specs for each machine carefully. Also look for Allergen cycle as this will guarantee a 130F wash. I have owned Miele, Bosch and Asko compact sets. I would stay away from Asko as I don't feel the cost is warranted, the water level is very low and while it was great on very hot washes it was lacking on delicates and the less robust cycles. I need those for exercise clothes with elasticizers and for athleisure garments which are synthetic. I do a lot of "light soil poly" loads. Currently, I have a Bosch 500 set. Very happy with them. I do about 6 loads per week, sometime more. I have the condenser dryer -- also happy with that. They are stacked in a laundry closet. The only caveat is that the door needs to be open while the dryer is running. They are very quiet. Others are happy with Electrolux. Miele is a heavy duty machine and wonderful but there is definitely a premium in terms of cost. One strategy is to go with Miele, pay the price and figure on many years. The other strategy is to go with something like Elux and then if you need to replace in even 8 years the two sets are still less than the single Miele set. I would have gone with Elux but I needed a washer than plugged into the dryer due to the set up I had so Bosch it was. Loved my Miele but, practically speaking, Bosch does the job....See MoreLyndee Lee
4 years agoMrs Pete
4 years agoC P
4 years agoUser
4 years agoC P
4 years agohcbm
4 years agoonobed
4 years agoC P
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thinkdesignlive
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agothinkdesignlive
4 years agothinkdesignlive
4 years agoC P
4 years ago
enduring
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoAlso, make sure you have the area to vent to the outside, unless you use heat pump dryer. The dryer will have specs with the max length of venting that is recommended. You also need to be able to access the ducting for clean out from inside and out side the house. The shutoff valve is a must. It should be turned off after washing is completed for the day or week, to prevent risk of hose breakage.
Your inspiration picture is lovely, but I don't see venting access, which is a must. The shutoff could be inside the upper cabinets. I like the mention of having doors that retract into the side walls so they are not in the way. I like the stacking idea so that you have access to the vent and water shut off at the side. I wouldn't turn the set 90, but keep all shelving and w/d on the same aspect. I think if you had a lovely cabinetry and retracting doors into the sides, it would look good open or closed and still be very functional.
I have a Miele stacked set in my bathroom with lovely cabinetry. I have a set of cabinets above and to the right side. The right side has access to the shut off valve and clean out for the dryer vent. I have a small valet pull out rod installed that retracts into the cabinet when done. I have electrical outlet with the cabinet. I have LED lighting that comes on and off with door open and closed. I had originally considered enclosing everything with louvered doors when I was designing the remodel but went with the set totally exposed. In my situation I am glad I did. In your situation I think solid doors would be ideal. I think someone mentioned have gaps at the doors, at the bottom and/or the top at the counter, could provide enough ventilation. but I believe leaving everything open like @hcbm does with her setup.
I have posted pictures of this setup many times over the years, but I really think it's got its merits.
Laundry area closed up. I leave the door cracked at all times and the detergent drawer cracked or removed:
(click image to open to full view)
My shutoff valve is in the back of the shelving along the perpendicular wall to the right. There is a false backing to the cabinet, at the lower un-lit shelf, but I just leave it out to quickly access. the thick wood area between the upper and lower shelving is a pull out ironing board. My retractable valet rod is installed at the upper side of the upper cabinet that is lit:
(click image to open to full view)
scottie mom
4 years agoC P
4 years agoEnduring, thanks for your input, love you setup. Its compact and lokks really good. I think I’ll go with the two 30” doors and leave them open when I do the laundry. I’m pretty sure a few in inches is fine. Below you will find one of the last draft of our house layout. This gives you a better idea where the laundry closet is located, no issues with location of the vent.
enduring
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago@scottie mom, here is my retractable valet. It might come from Rev-a-shelf. Or Hafele. This hanging option is my "staging area". For more hanging space I have a hallway with a door way into the living space that I have a shower tension rod setup, to hang a lot of items for drying. My house is small and old, so this space saving setup really works for me.
chispa