The Utility Room
When I knew one of the spaces in the exhibit would be designated as a utility room I wanted to see how I could create a space that was functional in multiple ways but that would be appealing to spend time in, a spot that would make you smile when you walked in. Often people have back entryways or laundry rooms that are functional but not incredibly stylish, sure it’s a place to hang the dog leash, leave your mud boots or wash and fold but do you really want to be in there? There’s also an opportunity in a utility room to incorporate some ways to take action in helping save the planet rather than just using earth friendly materials in the design.
In addition to the washer and dryer this particular room houses an on-demand water heater, a countertop composter, a dedicated recycling system and a small gardening station. Hard to believe all these items can make it into one small space but it was easier than you’d think.
My design started with the idea that yellow, sunny rooms are happy rooms, they feel clean and bright, so yellow painted walls would achieve that. Then I thought about adding a little fresh color combo spin to the yellow which would be a pale, cool gray would add a chic look so that’s what we used for the stylish Bertch cabinetry.
For the countertops I chose the EnviroGlas product that is made from black tinted car windshield chips mixed with a rich gray resin as the background, it adds a richness that the yellow and pale gray play off of.
The flooring is a light natural cork with gray undertones, it’s adds to the overall light, airy feel of the space.
For an inexpensive and functional storage wall, we covered two walls above the counter with peg board and painted them the same soft gray as the cabinets. Everything hangs on the peg boards from gardening tools, bags and seed packets to items like twine, gloves and the dog leash. I tied twine around the necks of pickle jars I’d saved and hung them on the peg boards to hold smaller items like clothespins. In the same area under the countertop is a recycling center, and instead of using big, unattractive plastic bins for paper, plastic and bottles I chose four seagrass laundry hampers with lids and had casters attached to the bottoms of them for ease and mobility. They look better than plastic but still do exactly what they’re supposed to do!
Kohler has a fantastic looking utility sink with a black underside that’s exposed because it sits in a natural wood stand with a slatted bottom, it’s nice and deep and when it’s combined with a tall-spout faucet it allows the sink to just as easily fill up buckets of flowers as well as wash the dog! The black underside of the sink also ties in the richness of the dark gray countertop.
On another wall I designed a paper-saver note board by using four glazed ceramic tiles and a basket of non-toxic dry erase markers below. Most people don’t know but simple glazed tiles can act as a dry erase board…so the next time you want to leave a note for your family consider writing on the wall of tiles in the bathroom instead of using a piece of paper, it saves trees and kids think it’s really fun!
The washer and dryer are from Bosch and I loved the gray fronts to the units, they worked beautifully with the gray and yellow color scheme in the space. They are front loading units which save so much water and also save wear and tear on your clothes compared to a top loading unit. And in keeping with the scavenger hunt/green information theme in the area above the washer and dryer I wanted to hang a shirt on a hanging drying rack that gave visitors information that if you had the opportunity to let clothes air dry you can save a lot of energy.
What utility room would be complete without a spot to hang hooks to hold everything from coats and scarves to bags and backpacks? One super easy way I learned that people can help the planet is by using canvas grocery bags instead of plastic or paper bags at the grocery store, many supermarkets are already offering reusable grocery bags. We embroidered the tip directly onto the canvas bag and then I showed some natural woven jute bags on either side. Natural jute, linen and organic cotton is made without pesticides and chemicals which pollute the air and water and is a much more eco-friendly option.
In the center of the utility room is a used stainless steel cart that came from a restaurant supply warehouse and on the bottom shelf I stacked old wooden wine crates to store gardening supplies. On the top of the cart we placed potted plants and had green gardening tips printed on plant markers to give more information to the people visiting the exhibit!
The Better Homes and Garden’s/Green Works Living Green Tour is a wonderful project to be a part of and so many people worked so incredibly hard to make it all happen.
I’ve learned so much along the way and I can absolutely say I’ve made lots of changes in my own lifestyle that hopefully will add up; I turn the faucet off when I brush my teeth, I decline to take the receipt when the ATM machine offers me one, I don’t leave the shower on for 2 minutes before I get in it, I don’t put fruits and vegetables in plastic bags in the produce section, I drink tap water at restaurants instead of bottled water, I use reusable bags at the grocery store, I’m buying less stuff and re-purposing more.
Some people say, “What does it really matter? I’m just one person, it’s like a drop in the ocean, and what difference can I really make?” Trust me, even the littlest step makes a really big difference, I believe the small victory leads to the greater victory.
So much of this Living Green approach is new to a lot of us but one day it will be the complete norm to our kids and then eventually, their kids. One of my most amazing discoveries in all of this was getting to meet so many people that are designing and creating gorgeous products for your home that also happen to be green. These people are passionate about saving the planet but also helping you live with great style. They look at an old bathtub and see a cool countertop, they look at cracked windshield and see a magnificent mosaic tile; they are pioneers in planet preservation and we are lucky to have them in our world…and I know they’ve made their client, Planet Earth, incredibly happy!
For lots more information on Living Green go to bhg.com/livinggreen to enter the Green Challenge and register for the chance to win a Green Home Makeover, including $15,000 worth of prizes. |
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