Utility
8. African basket. This hamper is a lovely design accent in the laundry room. You’ll need a little bit of extra room in your laundry room for it. I have a very tight laundry room, and I place a similar hamper next to the dryer. The door doesn’t open quite all the way without hitting it, but it certainly opens wide enough for functionality. And you don’t have to use an African basket — choose whatever fits your style, be it an antique wicker hamper or a streamlined rattan hamper. Heck, I’ve even seen a darling elephant-shaped hamper here on Houzz.
Be savvy with space. In addition to incorporating all of their clients’ aesthetic requirements, designers are experts at creating hardworking homes that function efficiently. Take the time to eke out every last inch of useful space now and you’ll save yourself from costly redesigns. This adorable desk is hidden in a kitchen cabinet but still manages to have a prime indoor-outdoor position that any office worker would envy.Tell us: Which design tricks have you employed in your home? Share your tips in the Comments. MoreA Designer’s 8 Go-to Decor PiecesGet more design ideas in the Decorating Guides
Apostolou used 270-degree hinges on the laundry closet to allow the doors to fold in half and then back, so they don’t get in the way. Rather than relocate the bathroom closer to the master bedroom (which does not have an en suite bath), the couple chose to keep it at the back of the second story. Why? Because a building code in Toronto allows homeowners to have up to 100 percent glazing on the non-street-facing portion of their home. Taking advantage of the ability to employ enormous windows resulted in a bright space that seems far bigger than its square footage. Washer and dryer: Electrolux
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