My beautiful laundrette
For many, it is the most boring room of the house – the place where sleeves are rolled up, chores are done, washing machines judder and clothes pegs litter the floor. But if you’re lucky enough to have one, your home’s utility room needn’t be a dreary afterthought. Indeed, ensure that the next time you use it, you do so with a smile, rather than a groan.
1. Extending clothes dryer, £125, by Cox & Cox 2. Wash-up tidy, £16, by Garden Trading 2. Steam-glide steam mop, £94.99, by Oreck 3. Traditional airer, £52.99, by Lakeland
For designers and high street shops have finally woken up to the fact that this most functional of rooms can be beautiful too, with vintage and retro accessories currently taking centre stage.
4. Enamel bin, £50, by The White Company 5. LG F1495BDS TrueSteam washing machine, 12kg load, £1,179, by John Lewis 6. Set of patterned turquoise dish cloths, £8.50, by Not On The High Street
The White Company, for example, has an attractive and affordable line of metallic bins, tins and jugs, while endlessly reliable John Lewis o ers a beautifully simple selection of wooden furniture that will add charm to the washing machine, the ironing board and the tumble dryer. And while you’re at it, why not consider upgrading your appliances, too? It will certainly remove some of the rigmarole from the washing, the ironing and the cleaning.
7. Ironing board, £70; compost bucket, £18; herb tea towels x 3, £13; laundry storage container, £24; string dispenser, £7.50; Roberts Revial RD60 DAB digital radio, £159.95; 3-tier iron storage rack, £65; laundry bag, £12; peg bag, £10; storage basket, £20; housekeeper’s storage container, £26; doorstop, £15; steps, £110; all by John Lewis
LG’s catchily-named F1495BDS washing machine, for example, topped a recent Which? test, has a 12kg drum and o ers a 20-minute steam refresh cycle, while the Rowenta DG8860 Pro Perfect steam generator iron provides more steam than an average sauna and will leave cottons looking crisper than ever.
8. Ironing board cover, £10; housekeeper’s box, £12; peg bag, £10; washing powder box, £18; all from the Ben de Lisi range at Debenhams; Tefal GV7450 Pro Express steam iron, £200, also by Debenhams 9. Rowenta DG8860 Pro Perfect steam generator iron, £229.95, by Amazon 10. Laundry basket, £39, by Not On The High Street
Household chores are a fact of life, – but we can all make them that little bit more appealing.
11. Storage unit, £255, by Cox & Cox 12. Enamel bucket, £25; enamel jug, £15; enamel trug, £28; fresh thyme candle, £26; enamel container, £35; enamelware herb pots (come with a tray), £25; all by The White Company
Cox & Cox 0844-858 0734, www.coxandcox.co.uk
Debenhams 0844-800 8877, www.debenhams.com
Garden Trading 0845-608 4448, www.gardentrading.co.uk
John Lewis 0845-604 9049, www.johnlewis.com
Lakeland 015394-88100, www.lakeland.co.uk
Not On The High Street www.notonthehighstreet.com
Oreck 0800-684684, www.oreck.co.uk
The White Company 0844-736 4222, www.thewhitecompany.com
1. Extending clothes dryer, £125, by Cox & Cox 2. Wash-up tidy, £16, by Garden Trading 2. Steam-glide steam mop, £94.99, by Oreck 3. Traditional airer, £52.99, by LakelandFor designers and high street shops have finally woken up to the fact that this most functional of rooms can be beautiful too, with vintage and retro accessories currently taking centre stage.
4. Enamel bin, £50, by The White Company 5. LG F1495BDS TrueSteam washing machine, 12kg load, £1,179, by John Lewis 6. Set of patterned turquoise dish cloths, £8.50, by Not On The High StreetThe White Company, for example, has an attractive and affordable line of metallic bins, tins and jugs, while endlessly reliable John Lewis o ers a beautifully simple selection of wooden furniture that will add charm to the washing machine, the ironing board and the tumble dryer. And while you’re at it, why not consider upgrading your appliances, too? It will certainly remove some of the rigmarole from the washing, the ironing and the cleaning.
7. Ironing board, £70; compost bucket, £18; herb tea towels x 3, £13; laundry storage container, £24; string dispenser, £7.50; Roberts Revial RD60 DAB digital radio, £159.95; 3-tier iron storage rack, £65; laundry bag, £12; peg bag, £10; storage basket, £20; housekeeper’s storage container, £26; doorstop, £15; steps, £110; all by John LewisLG’s catchily-named F1495BDS washing machine, for example, topped a recent Which? test, has a 12kg drum and o ers a 20-minute steam refresh cycle, while the Rowenta DG8860 Pro Perfect steam generator iron provides more steam than an average sauna and will leave cottons looking crisper than ever.
8. Ironing board cover, £10; housekeeper’s box, £12; peg bag, £10; washing powder box, £18; all from the Ben de Lisi range at Debenhams; Tefal GV7450 Pro Express steam iron, £200, also by Debenhams 9. Rowenta DG8860 Pro Perfect steam generator iron, £229.95, by Amazon 10. Laundry basket, £39, by Not On The High StreetHousehold chores are a fact of life, – but we can all make them that little bit more appealing.
11. Storage unit, £255, by Cox & Cox 12. Enamel bucket, £25; enamel jug, £15; enamel trug, £28; fresh thyme candle, £26; enamel container, £35; enamelware herb pots (come with a tray), £25; all by The White Company
ADDRESS BOOK
Amazon www.amazon.co.ukCox & Cox 0844-858 0734, www.coxandcox.co.uk
Debenhams 0844-800 8877, www.debenhams.com
Garden Trading 0845-608 4448, www.gardentrading.co.uk
John Lewis 0845-604 9049, www.johnlewis.com
Lakeland 015394-88100, www.lakeland.co.uk
Not On The High Street www.notonthehighstreet.com
Oreck 0800-684684, www.oreck.co.uk
The White Company 0844-736 4222, www.thewhitecompany.com