48 THE QUEENS COURIER • AT HOME • NOVEMBER 9, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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Upping your laundry room’s wow factor
Doing the laundry is no longer relegated
to dark, musty basements where no
one cares to go. Th anks to modern technology,
great design and access to innovative
ideas online, laundry rooms have
moved upstairs and come into their own.
In fact, laundry rooms today are right up
there with dream kitchens and dream
bathrooms - and the more style, function
and “wow factor,” the better.
“Laundry rooms are no longer just utilitarian,”
said Anitra Mecadon, TV personality
and award-winning interior designer.
“People want stylish, healthy environments
where they can relax, multitask and
have some fun while doing the laundry.”
Below are four ways Mecadon recommends
to ramp up the wow factor, function
and allure of your laundry room:
High-tech appliances
When looking for washers and dryers
today, there are more features than you
can imagine. You should consider your
needs and desires before starting your
search - and we’re talking about more
than gas or electric, front- or top-loading,
color, budget and space parameters.
Today’s “smart” appliances off er custom
wash cycles, wrinkle removal, steam
cleaning, less noise, delayed start times,
moisture sensors with allergen and sanitize
cycles and more. Th ere’s even a
machine that washes two separate loads
with diff erent setting options at the same
time. And nearly every machine today
is Energy Star-certifi ed for energy effi -
ciency.
Loads of style
Laundry rooms today can be decorated
to complement other rooms in your home
- and Pinterest and Houzz off er loads of
pictures online to spark your creativity.
Laundry rooms can be country French to
modern, whimsical to multifunctional -
and it’s not unusual to see them in bold or
soothing colors, with comfy
chairs, statement lighting,
fl at-screen TVs and docking
stations to play music or
charge tablets and phones.
Th ey also can include windows
to let in natural light.
If you think white and
stainless are your only color
options, think again. Th ey
can be turquoise, burnt
orange, glacial blue, fi re
engine red, kelly green and
even black stainless.
Function galore
Washing and drying are
only part of doing the laundry.
Th ere’s sorting, folding,
hanging and ironing - and each of
those steps needs its own space, supplies
and storage. Baskets for sorting and carrying
laundry can be wicker, plastic or
wood and stored for all to see or out of
sight. Counters for folding can be granite,
marble, quartz, butcher block or laminate,
and many people put them over
their washers and dryers as well as around
the room. Drying racks made of ladders
or upcycled cribs can be creative and
functional. Ironing boards can be standalone,
foldable and stored in cabinets or
retractable and out of sight. Washers and
dryers can be big or small, stacked or all in
one - and even put on pedestals.
High-performance drywall
When laundry was relegated to the basement,
part of the dread of doing laundry
was the thought of being surrounded by
dampness, mold and mildew - sometimes
from washing machine water hose failure
causing mold to grow within the wall cavity.
Because your washer and dryer introduce
water, moisture and heat into the
room, it’s important to use drywall with
extra protection for your laundry room
walls and ceilings - such as moisture-,
mold- and mildew-resistant PURPLE XP
drywall by National Gypsum. PURPLE
XP - which stands for “Xtra Protection”
- products are GREENGUARD Gold
Certifi ed for indoor air quality, while aiding
in the creation of healthier indoor environments.
“I love that prettier and more functional
laundry rooms are becoming places
people want to hang out and do laundry,
but it’s important to think about what’s
behind all that style and function - and
that’s their walls,” said Mecadon. “Walls
and what they’re made of are important
and they’re not all the same.”
For more information, go to www.
AskForPurple.com.
Courtesy BPT
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