Household appliances: some of us love them, some of us hate them, but we all have to have them in one form or another. After all, most of take being able to wash clothes, cook meals and watch TV in the comfort of our own homes for granted. But appliances are not the prettiest of things and they can be a bit of an eyesore within a carefully considered room scheme.
You might argue that we just have to accept they are part of our lives and get on with it, unsightly or not. While we do not completely disagree, we think there is a world in which style and practicality can happily co-exist – such is the joy of good interior design. Such solutions prove even more invaluable when you home is on the smaller side, as it allows rooms to be multi-functional and transition between work, relaxation and entertaining with ease.
We have searched out three of the best ways to disguise common household appliances in a relatively simple yet highly effective way.
Washing machines and dryers are particularly tricky. They’re bulky, noisy and, however up-to-date or innovative the model, they never look good. If your washing machine is in the kitchen (the most common location in Britain), you can opt for an integrated one that is hidden by a cabinet door within the run of units. However, this can make the machine a little tricky to access and prevents proper ventilation between uses. In a laundry room, you probably won’t want to box in your machine, but then everything can start to look a little clinical.
A curtain is the answer and all you need is a rail (or even a cheap plastic rod) and some fabric. We love this example in Lucy Williams’ house in London. A little nook on the landing upstairs was turned into a haven of organised calm, where linen curtains on a smart brass pole allow the washer and dryer to be tucked away when not in use. Extra points for the thin cupboard to the side that houses the ironing board. Printed fabrics can also work well: try a classic gingham, ticking or subtle floral (head to our round-up of good-looking utility rooms for inspiration).
We are certainly not anti-TV at House & Garden. Quite the opposite: what troubles us most is turning the TV off and being left with a large gaping black hole in a prominent position in our living room. This is particularly irritating when trying to entertain or relax screen-free. The most appealing solution we have seen is to conceal it within a cabinet fronted by appealing artwork of some kind, thereby turning an eyesore into an eye-catching focal point.
Having admired the bespoke example created by Beata Heuman for this London house, designer Catherine Olley of Dauphine Interiors decided to create a DIY version for her home in Dulwich. She used red Ikea frames – affixed to a larger wooden frame – and filled them with scraps of Andrew Martin’s ‘Penny Post’ wallpaper. A genius budget-friendly creation.
Avoid cluttered kitchen surfaces by investing in a gadget ‘garage’. Yes, you read that correctly. This is somewhere to ‘park’ your smaller appliances like toasters, kettles and coffee machines on a permanent basis. From the outside, they look much like a large pantry unit but, inside, they feature integrated power points and enough space for appliances to be operated in situ. They can be full or half-height, so can work well in kitchens of all sizes. The custom-made unit pictured above in Sarah Corbett-Winder’s former home in London is a triumph of style and practicality, featuring bi-fold doors for easy access and an elegant pediment. A countertop design like this ensures a hardy surface for the appliances and allows for extra storage underneath.
A word of warning: there are certain safety and material requirements to be considered when housing electric appliances within a unit so, in this instance, we would strongly recommend specialist advice. The good news is that most of the leading kitchen companies will be able to help you with this.
