Thread Number: 56205
Vintage laundry room ideas ...
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Post# 785536   9/24/2014 at 19:01 (3,473 days old) by bradross (New Westminster, BC., Canada)        

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It is my dream one day - when I have the space - to create a vintage-looking laundry room. My dream consists of a large, bright, cheerful room with a window, where one can do the laundry and ironing and not feel shut away!

I'm starting this thread with what I think is a cool photo of laundry sinks made out of a set of antique laundry tubs with stand.

Please add your ideas to what products and props would contribute to your idea of a vintage-looking laundry room.





Post# 785544 , Reply# 1   9/24/2014 at 20:05 (3,473 days old) by pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada)        

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a nice idea for your vintage laundry room maybe a vintage wringer washer kenmore whirlpool maytag ect you could have a washer of each era from the old fashion washtub to wringer washer to an automatic lol

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Post# 785609 , Reply# 2   9/25/2014 at 07:11 (3,472 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

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well, Brad already has the vintage wringers for the areas......

but that double sink has to be one of the best ideas lately....I have a single one outside under a faucet for washing your hands while outside, but never thought to use it inside....I may have to start searching for a double....


Post# 785630 , Reply# 3   9/25/2014 at 10:44 (3,472 days old) by brib68 (Central Connecticut)        

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As long as you aren't going for *authentic* vintage--that would be quite at odds with bright, cheery and not shut away! Not trying to be Negative Nellie here--honest. Just, when I think of where vintage machines would have been placed when they were new, well...I think of dingy basements, unheated service porches and so on.

I like the picture you posted, Brad--but the hydrangeas might not be compatible with a Suds Miser :) I think it would be neat to find some nice old kitchen cabinets--like a Youngstown Kitchen or similar--maybe with a built-in sink, and you could still have a deep laundry sink as well (or the galvanized tub set up like in your picture). Maybe a cheery yellow for the cabinets? Or something else depending on what color appliances you'd be coordinating with.

A nice broad-surface ironing board would be a nice luxury, too, even if it isn't to authentically vintage. (Last time I was at the outlet mall, the T-Fal/Rowenta outlet had excellent prices on the Rowenta board.)

Good luck with your dream--I'm sure you'll make something that I'll be wicked jealous of!


Post# 785832 , Reply# 4   9/26/2014 at 17:48 (3,471 days old) by bradross (New Westminster, BC., Canada)        
Indeed, I have the wringer washers...

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just need a larger space for all three of them, plus a set of double rinse tubs!

Here's a good artist's impression of what I have in mind when I say a bright, sunlit room ...


Post# 785864 , Reply# 5   9/26/2014 at 23:49 (3,471 days old) by mom11 (Dundee, MI)        
Ahhhh....

Love those lovely old illustrations. Reminds me of the "Dick and Jane" type readers we learned to read from. And that is exactly what I want my laundry room to look like, too. But I do have the problem of the dreary, windowless, gray cinder blocked damp basement with a really low ceiling.

I love that 1st pic with the double tubs. It looks like that wall is white painted cinderblock. This gives me hope.

And I, too, am on the look-out for the double wash tubs. Currently, our house has NO laundry wash tub. Who ever heard of that? We'll get it fixed up eventually.


Post# 786590 , Reply# 6   9/30/2014 at 21:29 (3,467 days old) by FEster (Lafayette La USA)        
dreary windowless.......

Put in a fugazi window. Mount an old window a few inches off the wall, spray fog the glass, back light it, and add a tie back and a sheer. Instant sunny day cheer. It could change the whole vibe of the room and you can build it cheap out of discards and scraps. Kind of like having a luau in Kansas. Not authentic but still cool.

Post# 786705 , Reply# 7   10/1/2014 at 13:27 (3,466 days old) by mom11 (Dundee, MI)        
Great idea!

FEster, that is a great idea about the fake window. That may actually work. What kind of light would you put behind it? Like a florescent light strip? Any light down there would be an improvement. Especially when we're in the midst of our long Michigan winters.


Post# 786742 , Reply# 8   10/1/2014 at 18:17 (3,466 days old) by FEster (Lafayette La USA)        
Fake window

You could do florescent strips or LED. The strips could be hidden behind the window frame and a white reflector, an old mirror, or even aluminum foil on the wall could redirect the light so you don't see the bulbs. It should make the room feel less closed in and lifeless.

Post# 786758 , Reply# 9   10/1/2014 at 22:29 (3,466 days old) by washdaddy (Baltimore)        

As far as the light behind the window you could also use something that will give off a "warmer hue" of light as opposed to something as stark as a white light which would make the room feel colder.

Post# 786797 , Reply# 10   10/2/2014 at 01:26 (3,466 days old) by bradross (New Westminster, BC., Canada)        
1947 Hotpoint equipped laundry room...

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Love this artwork!

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Post# 786920 , Reply# 11   10/2/2014 at 19:33 (3,465 days old) by FEster (Lafayette La USA)        
Warm hue

Use a daylight tone bulb for sure.

Post# 786989 , Reply# 12   10/3/2014 at 05:11 (3,464 days old) by Gpevas (Parma Heights Ohio )        
Old fashioned irioning board

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I seen an all wood ironing board on the Williams Sonoma web site. This is a new not vintage wood board but it look like a vintage board. This would be perfect!

Post# 787163 , Reply# 13   10/4/2014 at 02:50 (3,463 days old) by whirlcool (Just North Of Houston, Texas)        
Wash Tubs In Laundry Rooms

When I was growing up in the Chicago area almost everyone had a laundry tub next to the washer & dryer. That was where the drain hose from the washer went. Down here, I have never seen a laundry tub in a laundry room. I've always wanted one, but don't have the room.

Post# 787178 , Reply# 14   10/4/2014 at 07:12 (3,463 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

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Laundry tubs are great, double tubs even better...almost a must have, even if in the garage or an outside location....

I got to see the usefulness of one while helping friends cleanup after a BBQ....said to myself "I have got to get me one of these!"....

a pull out faucet, or one mounted high is an added benefit.....


even as the ones shown in the first pic are a great idea, I have one outside, but I changed the small hose drain by cutting out the center and fitting it with a standard sink drain and strainer....the ideas are endless.....

this is a great thread, lets see more ideas....


Post# 787204 , Reply# 15   10/4/2014 at 11:13 (3,463 days old) by xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania )        

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Here's another great vintage laundry room

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Post# 787218 , Reply# 16   10/4/2014 at 13:57 (3,463 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

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vintage is what its all about, no matter if its old new or old vintage.....some of the simplest things can be turned into a treasure....and functional at that!...

this sink here, which is FREE, can be scrubbed down, or redone, in any way you choose, and would be a great addition for any laundry area.....


CLICK HERE TO GO TO Yogitunes's LINK on Southjersey Craigslist


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Post# 787803 , Reply# 17   10/7/2014 at 10:10 (3,460 days old) by lancethecook (Driffield England)        
I'm not sure about vintage

Perhaps my laundry room is just a load of old stuff but vintage makes it sound nicer.
This is actually my garage which has a door directly from the house.
It has a nice deep sink for rinsing, an original 1940s kitchen unit made from WW2 aircraft ( I kid you not ) which makes great storage for cake tins etc.
An oven for those heavy baking days and a window looking out to the garden.
Obviously no space for a car!
Hope you like it.


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Post# 787851 , Reply# 18   10/7/2014 at 15:42 (3,460 days old) by whirlaway (Hampton Virginia)        
Great Laundry room

#17 you have a great laundry room! So bright and colorful! Luv it!!!!!!

Post# 787985 , Reply# 19   10/8/2014 at 11:42 (3,459 days old) by bradross (New Westminster, BC., Canada)        
Lance - like it? I love it!

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Your laundry room looks very functional and retro! Love your three wringer washers - bet you can have the laundry done in a flash with those working in tandem!

I've never seen English square-tub wringer washers in person. Would love to, one day. With all my trips to England over the years, I've never made it to a junk-yard or store that might have old appliances. And of course, my friends there have front-loaders - and no offense to those who like them - they're just NOT my thing! I've got to be able to get my hands in the soapy water, as with a wringer, twin-tub, or a top-loading automatic.

Thanks for posting the pics! This is exactly what I wanted when I started this discussion thread.


Post# 788010 , Reply# 20   10/8/2014 at 13:56 (3,459 days old) by lancethecook (Driffield England)        
Thanks Brad

If ever you make it to East Yorkshire then please come and see me , the kettle is always on.
And you can get your hands on a real English wringer washer!
Cheers
Lance


Post# 788543 , Reply# 21   10/11/2014 at 20:41 (3,456 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
She may be a convicted felon

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But you have to admire Martha Stewart's laundry room at her estate in Maine

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Post# 788575 , Reply# 22   10/12/2014 at 01:46 (3,455 days old) by washdaddy (Baltimore)        

That's an interesting shot of Martha's laundry room for that home. Would be great to have a panoramic shot to see what different machines she has. I see at least one MT top loader but can't see anything else because of the angle the shot was taken. Of course all of her fine white linens are all meticulously folded and set for the shot. Heaven forbid you would see a dirty napkin in the picture. LOL

Post# 788579 , Reply# 23   10/12/2014 at 03:46 (3,455 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Laundry Room At Skylands

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Post# 788585 , Reply# 24   10/12/2014 at 05:46 (3,455 days old) by washdaddy (Baltimore)        
Thank you for posting the link to Martha's blog

After reading her blog one can see why one would need such a grand laundry. Oh and don't forget the flatwork finisher that she just had to have which is installed in a separate sewing room for finishing sheets and table cloth's.

Considering that Madame's estate has 15 guest rooms we can now understand why a staff of 30 would be needed to maintain her palatial residence and require a laundry that is so elaborate.


Post# 788598 , Reply# 25   10/12/2014 at 07:38 (3,455 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
In The Archives Somewhere

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Believe "Super" forum we had a long discussion/thread about MS and her laundry room at Skylands. Thread was started by "Moi" with a link to the same or similar blog as above.

Long story short Martha Stewart purchased the estate complete with much of the original furniture and furnishing. This included many of the older appliances you see in that laundry room and tons of vintage linens. The estate was built by and for one of the Ford boys. Not sure if it was the son or grandson. Anyway if one recalls they sold it on to another family who sold it to MS.

Just off the laundry room/servants pantry area is a vast storage for all those vintage (and one assumes by now modern) linens. There are tablecloths original to the estate rolled and stored on special built-in rollers.

The "antique" equipment includes those drying cabinets (built to order and installed at that time), the American Motex extractor, those wash sinks, the ironer (Simplex) near the window, those heavy cast iron base ironing boards, etc...

There was no way any of her servants were ironing sheets on those small ironers. Well you could but they would have to be folded or run through several times. Either way the results surely wouldn't have been up to MS's standards. So those poor servants probably hand ironed all large flatwork on that big table.



Post# 788696 , Reply# 26   10/12/2014 at 20:32 (3,455 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia )        
Ironing

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the easy way...I would love to have one of those large flatwork ironers. But I need a car, small matter.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO ovrphil's LINK on Saginaw Craigslist


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Post# 788737 , Reply# 27   10/13/2014 at 00:49 (3,455 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
You Need More Than A Car Or Truck

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But one very large gas main for a start. IIRC the smaller versions of these ironers may run off a domestic type supply, but not the one pictured.

You'll also need adequate ventilation such as a very powerful exhaust fan. This both takes away the heat and steam but also fumes/by products of combustion.

In the early days of gas heated ironers they were operated without ventilation, and workers dropped like flies. Those things were fed either natural or "city" (from coal) gas and or in a pinch could run on gasoline or other flammable substances. Can you imagine the vapors?


Post# 788775 , Reply# 28   10/13/2014 at 08:00 (3,454 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia )        
Transportation requirements

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is understood. The other details paints another picture.

This would be an alternative execution machine. " We invite our prisoners to be active, and get a little exercise, ironing. It's good to stay active..there are no other choices except solitary confinement."

Okeeee.



Post# 788793 , Reply# 29   10/13/2014 at 09:33 (3,454 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Love that 1947 Hotpoint Laundry Room

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now we know that washer would have been a Beam machine and the dryer a rebadged Hamilton.

Such cool cabinets on them !



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