Where to put utilities when kitchen is small?

Loopy28

Hi there. My sister has just moved into a new house and we are currently discussing options for washing machine, tumbler etc but are a bit stuck.

She has a small square kitchen-not even room for a small table in there as not much floor space, where as there is a large lounge diner.

The kitchen has space for the washing machine but currently no dishwasher space, nowhere for a tumble dryer either.

There is a small downstairs toilet, the only way to make this a utility room would be to remove the toilet altogether and stack the washing machine and tumble dryer and then have the dishwasher in the kitchen in the washing machine space. (Not sure losing the downstairs toilet is a good idea though)

No garage unfortunately. There is a shed but I imagine a washing machine could get damaged in the winter.

There are three bedrooms, she lives with her hubby-no kids or plans for any. They have considered that they could get plumbing into the box room and make this a utility room as the don't need this room as a bedroom, again not sure if this is an odd thing to do!

Any thoughts/advice? Any other ideas. Thanks in advance.

Hoploz

Yes use the third bedroom, great idea! Plumbing would need sorting, but if it's near the bathroom it should be pretty straightforward.

No need to drag the clothes downstairs to wash then, all upstairs. Ideal

dirty_magic

Is there room to extend eventually? I think losing the downstairs toilet is preferable to converting a bedroom tbh, especially if they want to sell in the future. If there's room to extend, the downstairs toilet could be reinstated at some point.

anna42hmr

Loopy28 wrote: »

Hi there. My sister has just moved into a new house and we are currently discussing options for washing machine, tumbler etc but are a bit stuck.

She has a small square kitchen-not even room for a small table in there as not much floor space, where as there is a large lounge diner.

The kitchen has space for the washing machine but currently no dishwasher space, nowhere for a tumble dryer either.

There is a small downstairs toilet, the only way to make this a utility room would be to remove the toilet altogether and stack the washing machine and tumble dryer and then have the dishwasher in the kitchen in the washing machine space. (Not sure losing the downstairs toilet is a good idea though)

No garage unfortunately. There is a shed but I imagine a washing machine could get damaged in the winter.

There are three bedrooms, she lives with her hubby-no kids or plans for any. They have considered that they could get plumbing into the box room and make this a utility room as the don't need this room as a bedroom, again not sure if this is an odd thing to do!

Any thoughts/advice? Any other ideas. Thanks in advance.

If there are only two of them, is there really need for a dish washer? two peoples washing up would not me huge that way can leave as it is and get a combi washer-dryer for the laundry where the washing machine space is.

Many washer dryers are not as affective as individual ones but if you search online for the reviews (or on which if you subscribe) then you can see which ones are the better ones.

It would be worth trying for at least a while to see how they got on and if down the line they really decide they need that dishwasher etc then consider making changes - see how the house works for them first.

alternatively where is the fridge/freezer as a less permanent change (instead of doing plumbing to a bedroom etc) would be to put a fridge/freezers in bedroom and the dryer and dish washer etc were they were.

Or as you said create a laundry room upstairs, but make sure it is well ventilated to prevent build up of damp and consider the impact if one day the washing machine packs up and leaks over the floor on an upstairs floor as would cause more damage than a leak on a downstairs floor without any rooms under neath

SailorSam

Lots of people live without a dishwasher and tumble drier. Do you really need them.

phill99

No space for a dishwasher? Whatever next? Such a First World Problem.

Maybe use the sink to do the washing up.

Bossypants

This is just me, but in her place I'd but a combo washer-dryer in the kitchen (one machine the size of a normal washing machine) and forget the dishwasher altogether. With only two people you really don't miss it at all.

Loopy28

Haha suggested no dishwasher to my sister and her face had the look of horror!! Having said that my dishwasher broke down a few months back and we have been washing up ever since and hate it.

I said they could also maybe lose a kitchen cupboard in favour of a dishwasher, have the washing machine where it is and just have the tumble dryer upstairs.

arbrighton

Friends have a tumble drier out in their shed

PasturesNew

How much spare cash have they got? Might be time to consider/price up getting the shed replaced with a posh/insulated shed (max £2k inc installation) + water + electrical + drainage. Then it'd be out of the way and she could also lob other stuff in there of a "utility room" nature. e.g. airers, ironing board, iron, piles of washing to be done, assorted buckets/bowls, mops and cleaning materials. And the recycling stuff, things kept "in case" (eg old rags). It's staggering how much space cleaning items/paraphernalia can add up.

welshbookworm

You could put the washer and dryer on top of each other and maybe be able to find space to put a table top dishwasher on one of the worktops. Or get a table top fridge and use the space from that to put the dishwasher in.