In the original layouts for the upstairs, I thought a laundry room was pushing our limits. On the other hand, I didn’t want a washer and dryer in the bathroom, either. That just would have looked, well, utilitarian. Besides, keeping them separate would avert crowding when competing uses erupted.
So what would be wrong with keeping them downstairs?
That’s when the fact that we would have to carry our laundry up and down stairs was pointed out to me. They’re the bulk of our wash load.
OK, I relented and was willing to go see where the new plan would lead.
I had to admit that no longer having it in my bedroom and studio was going to come as a relief.
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What I’m seeing now is how much this “luxury” really enhances our daily living, starting with the sheets and blankets storage.
I’ve long been a fan of having elbow space as part of my work area. For perspective, I recommend Richard Swenen’s 1992 bestseller, Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives.
The laundry room – and the slightly wider than normal hallway between it and the stairwell – reflect that thinking.
The laundry tub also fits into that idea of margin, with its deep bowl facilitating household and painting projects cleanup more easily than a bathtub does.
Add to that the ease of ironing.
There’s even thought of running a clothesline out from the window.
Frankly, I’m not so sure about that, though I’m willing to be convinced otherwise.
Jnana's Red Barn 