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Appliances Design Designers Expert Tips Laundry RENO ADDICT

How to design your laundry with interior designer Anna-Carin McNamara

More often than not, laundries are grouped into the ‘functional’ rather than ‘aesthetic’ category – languishing neglected when it comes to design elements. But when you think about it, the laundry is a space we need to use weekly, maybe even daily, so why not make the experience more enjoyable?

Anna-Carin McNamara

Sydney-based Swedish interior designer Anna-Carin McNamara has partnered with Electrolux to share her top laundry design tips – with any budget or size in mind.

Create a vision
My first and perhaps most vital step to designing the laundry is to have a clear vision, measure up and then have it drawn up accurately. Don’t be afraid to try as many variations as you can think of on paper! This accuracy will be critical when it comes to functional layouts and ventilation.

Choose your washing machine wisely
The quintessential addition to every laundry is the washing machine. When choosing your star appliance, consider household size and habits. When I chose my washing machine, I knew I wanted to optimise efficiency considering I have three grown kids who live at home and do their own washing on allocated days. I use the Electrolux 7.5kg/4.5kg Washer Dryer Combo as it ticks all the boxes.

Plan every square millimetre
When planning a laundry you have to be realistic and maximise every millimetre. I describe my newly renovated laundry as tiny, functional and bright. The washing machine is just under 600mm which in a tiny space is super important. To further optimise space you can also add mirrors.

Follow the rules for functionality
There are five design rules I recommend following when designing your laundry – consider bench space for washing baskets, shelves for washing products, a swivel tap so that a soaking bucket can be used and a hanging rack to dry shirts. If your space allows it, I also advise elevating your washing machine and dryer for easy load and unload.

Experiment with the design
After considering functionality, it’s important to also consider how aesthetics play a role in elevating the laundry from the plain, simple room it was once known as. Add something beautiful – a plant, a wall light, an artwork, that gives the space some personality. Although it can quickly become overwhelming so stick to three – one for the floor, one for the walls and one for the joinery.

Itemise your budget
I recommend a minimum of $8,000 for a laundry redesign, while a bigger budget of $25,000 will allow for higher quality materials and fixtures, with more custom joinery. My personal laundry redesign took six weeks with a budget of $15,000. Keep in mind the costliest aspect is always the labour. Even though materials in terms of design may cost a bit more, I always tend to choose ones that I find beautiful because you actually don’t need that much.

For further information

My new navy and gold laundry revealed: before and after

Our kitchen was the very first room we renovated in this house, almost four years ago. It was a case of “I’m not buying the house unless we can afford…

Budget renos: Amazing bathroom and laundry updates for $700 each

With the cost of renovating wet rooms ranging anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000, it’s little wonder that people often delay the process or avoid it altogether. And while some people…

Small space design solution: A laundry under the stairs!

Part of a wider Sydney family home renovation, that involved both layout and material changes, this clever laundry relocation piqued our interest recently because it’s not something we’ve seen before.…
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Smart Home

Review: LG TWINwash and my ever-growing laundry pile!

In collaboration with LG.

With a new baby and a grubby three-year-old, it’s fair to say I’ve never had so much laundry. And when I say I, I should really be honest in that my husband does most of the laundry in our house. I know! He’s a keeper!

I’m sure we’re not the only parents who feel like we can never keep on top of the washing. And when baby’s clothes, and hubby’s shirts, for example, need a different detergent/wash cycle, it means you can’t, sadly, just fling it all in together (you may be starting to see why I don’t do the laundry). Only you can with the LG TWINwash, which has a second, separate 2kg MiniWasher, so you can do a smaller wash at the same time as the big (9kg) wash. This is currently getting a workout with the baby’s onesies, which need sensitive detergent. The timing of this new washing machine could not have been better!

The obvious ability to do two washes at the same time (or separately, say, if you only needed to do a small shirt wash) aside, this is a high end laundry machine full of awesome features. It also looks pretty sleek (which, rightly or wrongly, will always be important to me) and it’s compact enough to fit in our teeny tiny laundry behind the sliding barn door in our kitchen. You’d expect this to be a much wider or deeper appliance but it isn’t (60cm wide by 70cm deep by 120cm high).

So what else do I want from a washing machine in an ideal world?

Due to those aforementioned little boys, I need magical stain removal powers (hello poo explosions, grass stains and spaghetti bolognese)! This machine has TrueSteam® technology, with a natural ability to fluff up fabric fibres. This allows for the steam particles to clean on a microscopic level. Instead of saturating the stain with one drop of water, 1,600 individual steam particles penetrate the stain for a superior clean. I’ve not yet had to re-wash something because a food stain hasn’t come out, and this was a regular occurrence with our old washer.

Another previous bugbear with laundry was how long it can take. Three hours plus? Seriously?! With the LG Twinwash, TurboClean™ minimises the number of rinse cycles required, so the overall washing time can be reduced. There’s even a super speedy 14-minute Quick cycle.

And of course the fact you can do two different loads at the same time drastically cuts down on laundry time!

It’s also quiet, due to the inverter direct drive motor. Although during this sleep-deprived newborn phase pretty much nothing could wake me other than the hungry baby, I’m usually a light sleeper and we do most of our laundry at night to take advantage of off peak energy prices.

I’d definitely like it to cost less to run (and in turn be kinder to the environment due to smaller energy and water consumption). It ticks the box there too with a 4-star energy rating and a 4.5-star WELS water rating. Impressive! And it’s also going to save my back, I swear, because the main washer is higher up and hence you don’t have to bend down for regular washes. It’s the little things!

It gets cleverer too, because you can even control and monitor the machine from your phone. I’ll admit we haven’t tried the Smart THINQ technology via WiFi yet (because newborn land!) but Damian, who loves all things tech, can’t wait to give it a go. You can even download new wash cycles. Which kind of blows my mind. I’ll leave that to the husband. That and the laundry…

To find out more.

Disclosure: This post was a collaboration with LG. I was gifted the washing machine in exchange for an honest review.

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Appliances Smart Home

Samsung study reveals changing face of Australian home

The results are in! Samsung have done some hefty research into the lifestyles of Aussie households to discover what trends really affect our lives and how we use technology to improve them.

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Out of the thousand that participated in the study, more than half (62%) identified saving money on bills as the most important benefit of a digitally connected home, followed by energy savings (45%) and convenience (43%).

Samsung also found that the average household throws away more than $1,000 worth of food each year, with NSW wasting about $1,475, almost double that of QLD! I know my household is a definite culprit. Also, as we’re coming up to the festive season, we spend two and a half times our average monthly food bill on Christmas entertaining (that’s a lot of honey glazed ham and prawns).

When it comes to entertainment, 55% prefer entertaining at home because it’s a good money saver, and 45% say it’s more sociable, not to mention flexible.

In terms of cleaning, 12 hours per week is spent on housework, and 33% believe technology will make their household chores easier in the future.

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Utilising these results, Samsung have released their Australians@HOME range to help households with everyday chores through Wi-Fi enabled home devices that can be personalised to specific needs. Products include the POWERbot VR9200 with vision mapping ($1,799), Ultra Large Capacity Washing Machine with auto detergent dispenser ($3,999), Chef Collection fridge with built-in tray for marinating meat ($7,999), and Chef Collection Vapour Oven with a full touch LCD screen ($2,999).

For more information.

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Appliances RENO ADDICT

Your guide to the latest laundry trends

With contestants on The Block teasing us with stylish yet functional laundries, it’s not surprising to learn that kitchens aren’t the only rooms enjoying a few tasteful remakes. The Good Guys Kitchens designer, Julie Hanover, shares the latest trends making waves in laundries.

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Custom built cabinetry It is becoming increasingly popular to renovate laundries in conjunction with kitchens, and built-in cabinetry is at the top of the trend to maximise space. Using your kitchen company to also design your laundry means you’ll enjoy complementing joinery, as well as saving time and money.

Concealed storage Tall utility cupboards for ironing boards and built-in solutions like baskets and hampers mean you can enjoy a stylish and clutter-free laundry.

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Fisher & Paykel 8.5kg Front Load Washer

Benchtops Gone are the days of the freestanding steel tub. Sleek Silestone benchtops dominate with their seamless built-in sinks, providing plenty of space for sorting and folding. Laminate benchtops will also do the trick (and be softer on your wallet).

Details It’s the little things that count, right? Although you don’t generally show off your laundry, you might have a reason to with the abundance of feature tiles and smooth, shiny handles on offer. Decorative and under cabinet lighting would help show off those stylish features as well as provide some much needed lighting to a generally dim room.

Appliances The main reason for the existence of your laundry is, of course, to house your washing machine and dryer. These come in many different shapes and sizes, and feature plenty of different functions, so it’s important to find the ones that best suit the needs of your household.

Samsung 8kg Heat Pump Dryer
Samsung 8kg Heat Pump Dryer

Washing machines To front load or to top load? That is the question. To save space, front loaders can be stacked on top of one another. A stacking kit can help save space not only by stacking your washer and dryer, but also by incorporating a handy pull-out shelf to hold your laundry items. With modern technology comes a hoard of available features, from steam eco washes to live Twitter streams (ok, I may have made that one up). Don’t get too carried away with all the extra features – focus on the functions that will best suit your lifestyle, such as size and water efficiency.

Dryers Dryers are expensive to run, so keep an eye on those little energy star ratings stickers when buying. The capacity of your dryer is determined by how much you want to fit in each load, with a larger drum size suiting larger households. Obviously, you don’t want anything that impedes on the functionality of the rest of your laundry, so keep in mind the space you have set aside for your dryer. If you’re not much of an ironer like me, a smaller but faster dryer will result in fewer creases (as well as a smaller energy bill).

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Appliances

How to choose a washing and drying machine

Washing and drying your laundry has long been a tedious chore, but picking the right washer and dryer to suit your needs can end up saving you a lot of time and money. This means you can worry less about the dirty clothes and worry more about what new clothes you can buy and throw in next time! Below, The Good Guys appliance experts offers tips to consider when purchasing your next laundry appliance.

Copyright Eliot Cohen - Zeitgeist Photographyemail: eliot@zeitgeist.com.au
Photo credit: Zeitgeist Photography

  • Before purchasing, understand what you want out of your washer or dryer. Differences in capacity, energy and water efficiency, preferred programs and cycles are important considerations for your purchase. Thinking long-term about how you plan to use your appliances will also ensure you get the most out of what you spend.
  • Size is the most important factor to consider when purchasing a washing machine. A capacity of 6kg-to-7kg will be enough for a typical family of four but smaller families should opt for more compact models. Do not be tempted by cheaper alternatives; if you are using your appliance twice as much as you expect, it will actually cost you more in the long run.
  • Look out for Energy Star Rating and Australia’s Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) labels to give you an idea of how energy-efficient and water efficient your appliance is. The higher the number of stars, the more environmentally friendly.
  • In terms of the debate between front-load and top-load washers, a front-loader’s greatest claimed advantage is generally improved water and energy efficiency. Top-loaders require enough water to cover all the clothes in its drum. Front loaders require less amounts of water because water sits horizontally in the machine. This means as the drum turns, gravity will consistently submerge your clothes back in the water.

Copyright Eliot Cohen - Zeitgeist Photographyemail: eliot@zeitgeist.com.au
Photo credit: Zeitgeist Photography

  • Typically, front-loaders can be more expensive than traditional top-loaders as they present higher spinning mechanisms. The higher the spin, the less water is left in your laundry, which means shorter drying time and energy saved.
  • Only run your appliances with a full load and use cold water in your washing machine whenever possible. In a warm wash, 80 per cent of the energy is associated with heating the water, so cold washing will use less than one-quarter of the energy.
  • As much as front-loaders provide you the opportunity to be stacked on a companion dryer, families with limited space in their laundry should consider a washer-dryer combo. However, this means you can’t wash and dry loads of washing at the same time.
  • Heat Pump dryers, whilst more expensive, have a six star energy efficiency whereas most other dryers are between one and two stars. If you are a regular dryer user, Heat Pump dryers in the long run are a better option and will save you money over time investing in a more efficient unit.
  • Understanding the space you can utilise will restrict the type of dryer you can purchase and whether you need to wall mount the dryer or not – not every model can be mounted. As a result, you might need to opt for a vented (which require plumbing and installation) or condenser dryer. Also, capacity should be a key consideration as the more space around your clothes, the quicker they will dry.

Visit The Good Guys’ website for more information.

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Appliances

LG’s SmartWasher washing machine: a top loader that thinks it’s a front loader

The big debate: a top loader versus a front loader. Both have their pros and cons. A top loader is super convenient but not so sensitive to your clothes (thanks to its agitator), and a front loader? Well it’s the complete opposite. So which to choose?image13Well LG have come up with a pretty great solution. With their new SmartWasher washing machine range offering the convenience of a top loader, with the features usually associated with a front loader.

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The LG SmartWasher uses a combination of six motions, based on hand-washing movements to provide an outstanding wash, whilst caring for your clothes. The drum moves in a range of unique customised motions so the washing cycle is not just dictated by speed and temperature, but the actual movements of the drum. Better yet, the unique combinations of motions for each different type of cycle cover most laundry needs – from woollen winter items to sportswear and delicate fabrics.

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LG also have the only range of top loaders in Australia that feature on-board heaters, offering 60°C Allergen and 40°C Stain Care courses to help remove common household allergens and stubborn stains. But my favourite part of the washing machine is that there’s no agitator in sight, meaning you no longer have to spend ages unknotting wet laundry!

Other great features include: wide-view glass soft-closing lid, touch LED display and a 10-year direct drive motor warranty.

For more information.

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Appliances

Common laundry mistakes with wool & how to easily avoid them

Gone are the days when washing and caring for your wool garments was a challenging and time-consuming process. AEG can help you avoid wool care disasters with some expert advice and a few simple instructions. You’ll never have to spend days hand washing your woollies again! 

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Washing

  1. Look out for the Woolmark Apparel Care logo on washing machines and tumble dryers to know your wool will be properly cared for.
  2. Remove lipstick, make-up or shoe polish by gently rubbing with a lint-free cloth soaked in turpentine, spot cleaning spray or fluid, and rinse with mild soapy water.
  3. Always turn your garments inside out for laundering to prolong the ‘as new’ surface appearance of the garment.
  4. Use your washing machine on the wool setting if it has one, to help reduce shrinkage by gradually reducing the temperature before the rinse phase.
  5. Use a special programme, such as the AEG steam programme, to refresh your clothes, including those labelled dry clean only to remove odours and reduce creasing.

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Care

  1. Rest wool garments for 24 hours before wearing again. This gives the natural resilience and spring in the wool fibre time to recover and return to its original shape.
  2. Wool garments can be refreshed after unpacking or wearing by hanging them in a steamy bathroom. Moisture from the steam will remove wrinkles.
  3. To remove cigarette or food odours, lay wool garments flat on a bed or towel for an hour. Woven garments may be hung in fresh air or on a suitable hanger.

From wear to care and fleece to fashion, AEG, The Woolmark Company and Camilla and Marc have partnered to create a Wool Wear and Care Guide to share their insider tips and tricks of the trade. You can download it here.

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Appliances Expert Tips

8 ways to save energy and money in the laundry

Laundry appliances can add up to roughly 10% of an average Australian household’s energy bill. But you can save energy — and in turn money — by following these 8 expert tips from The Good Guys.

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Samsung 10kg Washer, 8kg Dryer

  1. When buying washing machines, look out for the Energy Star Rating label. This will give you an idea of how energy efficient your chosen appliance is.
  2. Based on the Energy Star Rating label system, each machine is given a score out of 10, while the actual consumption figure – usually measured in kilowatt-hours per year – should give you an idea of how much power the product uses.
  3. When it comes to water efficiency, Australia’s Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) is used to rate how much water a washing machine gets through in one cycle. Models are graded between zero and six stars for efficiency, the higher the number of stars, the more environmentally friendly the product is.
  4. Size is an important factor to consider when purchasing a washing machine. An average washing machine will have a capacity of around 6 to 7kg which should be enough for a typical family of four.
  5. Opt for a smaller model if there are fewer people in your household – but remember that washing machines last a number of years, so you may want to plan ahead if you expect your family to get bigger.
  6. Don’t get sucked in by the price of a smaller model. If you’re using it twice as much, it’s false economy and it will actually cost you more in the long run.
  7. Use cold water in your washing machine whenever possible and only use your washing machine when it has a full load.
  8. Old washing machines tend to be less energy and water efficient so you may want to consider upgrading your machine in order to be more energy efficient.

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LG 8kg Front Load Washer

– For more information on The Good Guys products and expert advice visit their website here. 

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Appliances

The washing machine for asthmatics and allergy sufferers

This country has some of the highest allergy rates in the world and Asko’s latest washing machine, approved by the National Asthma Council Australia (and the Swedish Asthma Foundation) might help if you or your family are sufferers.

ASKO W6888Allergy Washing Machine - door open

The W6888 Allergy Washing Machine incorporates a number of specific technologies designed to assist people suffering from asthma and allergy. With a large 7kg capacity, it can handle the demands of a growing family, while giving you the peace of mind that you’re helping to protect your health.

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