Mums, What’s on Your Ultimate Design Wish List?
When it comes to listing features mums most want at home, stowaway storage, purpose-built walk-ins and private areas are tops
Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and although I am not expecting these life-changing additions, I can dream, can’t I? Good news is that studies show that women make or influence the greater share of a household’s purchasing decisions, including cars and electronics, so choosing home improvements that cater to what women want can be crucial elements in a design plan. If you are a mother embarking on a new build, extension or renovation, we’d love to hear what is on your wish list. In the meantime, you might like to cherrypick from the list of ideas below to form part of your discussion with architects or builders when at the planning stage.
2. A walk-in pantry
As a mum – and the proud owner of a walk-in pantry – I am happy to say that the biggest advantage of including one in your kitchen redesign is that they are easy to hide in and eat chocolate in without the kids noticing. The real benefit of a walk-in pantry, however, is having all one’s groceries on show, behind a closed door. Floor-to-ceiling open shelving provides plenty of space for dry and canned foods, bread bins, kitchen canisters, crockery, lunch boxes and tableware. A walk-in pantry can also conceal a bank of outlets to plug in mobile phones, laptops and small appliances.
How to plan the perfect pantry
As a mum – and the proud owner of a walk-in pantry – I am happy to say that the biggest advantage of including one in your kitchen redesign is that they are easy to hide in and eat chocolate in without the kids noticing. The real benefit of a walk-in pantry, however, is having all one’s groceries on show, behind a closed door. Floor-to-ceiling open shelving provides plenty of space for dry and canned foods, bread bins, kitchen canisters, crockery, lunch boxes and tableware. A walk-in pantry can also conceal a bank of outlets to plug in mobile phones, laptops and small appliances.
How to plan the perfect pantry
3. A make-up station
Providing a well-lit and comfortable spot to do make-up is a design feature that can be added after a home is finished. If like me, you didn’t think to include one in your original plans, simply choose a small, free space in a bedroom and set up a standalone dressing table or a small desk and mirror bought for the specific purpose of applying make-up and final accessories to an outfit.
Providing a well-lit and comfortable spot to do make-up is a design feature that can be added after a home is finished. If like me, you didn’t think to include one in your original plans, simply choose a small, free space in a bedroom and set up a standalone dressing table or a small desk and mirror bought for the specific purpose of applying make-up and final accessories to an outfit.
Here’s an example of a small in-built make-up station. Take note of its position in relation to natural light. As there needs to be ample light for applying make-up, a dressing table in the bedroom ought to be near a window. However, a mirror may cause some odd refractions of light, so be wary of its position in relation to the bed; a bounce of light at dawn could be a bother when trying to sleep in. If this happens, a curtain can be drawn across the area at night.
4. School bag storage
Nothing makes me more exasperated than when my darlings return home from school and dump their bags on the run. Walking around these great blocks of books while trying to get tasks done, especially in the kitchen, or tripping over them in the entryway when returning home from work is particularly annoying. This can be avoided when a designated spot for bags, that’s actually near where children would normally drop them as they come inside, is incorporated into joinery plans. A big shelf space that’s low down in a hallway cupboard, preferably near the entry or back door or even the kitchen (as this is often the first place children will go to) is perfect.
Nothing makes me more exasperated than when my darlings return home from school and dump their bags on the run. Walking around these great blocks of books while trying to get tasks done, especially in the kitchen, or tripping over them in the entryway when returning home from work is particularly annoying. This can be avoided when a designated spot for bags, that’s actually near where children would normally drop them as they come inside, is incorporated into joinery plans. A big shelf space that’s low down in a hallway cupboard, preferably near the entry or back door or even the kitchen (as this is often the first place children will go to) is perfect.
Bags, books and school gear can be hidden out of sight, but remain easily accessible if positioned in the hallway near the front or back door.
5. A benchtop herb garden
Busy mums who cook like to have everything at hand. A novel idea is to fit a stainless steel purpose-built trough into a kitchen island benchtop. This industrial-chic styled kitchen has been designed by interior design firm Blakes London, which specialises in bespoke cabinetry.
Busy mums who cook like to have everything at hand. A novel idea is to fit a stainless steel purpose-built trough into a kitchen island benchtop. This industrial-chic styled kitchen has been designed by interior design firm Blakes London, which specialises in bespoke cabinetry.
Fill an integrated metal box with favourite potted herbs, bottles of olive oil and other cooking condiments and sauces, even wine, for quick and easy use in cooking.
6. A walk-in robe with the lot
Contemporary master bedroom layouts frequently include a walk-in wardrobe but many of the design features that women want are not necessarily included in a basic plan. Request shelving for shoes, a mirror and benchtop for jewellery, flat-lay pull-out drawers for fashion accessories, and a hanging space for evening gowns or long dresses.
How to design a stylish walk-in robe
Contemporary master bedroom layouts frequently include a walk-in wardrobe but many of the design features that women want are not necessarily included in a basic plan. Request shelving for shoes, a mirror and benchtop for jewellery, flat-lay pull-out drawers for fashion accessories, and a hanging space for evening gowns or long dresses.
How to design a stylish walk-in robe
7. A kiddy corner
Young children naturally want to be close to the action, i.e. their parents, and so often set up their train sets and doll houses in the most inconvenient of places. If a small but well-equipped area dedicated to kids can be incorporated into the original decorating scheme, such as a corner or an alcove of an open living space, children will happily play there.
The area can be adapted as children grow up, so including purpose-built storage units, blackboard walls, even a small cubby-cum-sleepout for afternoon naps can be a great investment for the smooth running of home.
How to keep kids’ mess under control
Young children naturally want to be close to the action, i.e. their parents, and so often set up their train sets and doll houses in the most inconvenient of places. If a small but well-equipped area dedicated to kids can be incorporated into the original decorating scheme, such as a corner or an alcove of an open living space, children will happily play there.
The area can be adapted as children grow up, so including purpose-built storage units, blackboard walls, even a small cubby-cum-sleepout for afternoon naps can be a great investment for the smooth running of home.
How to keep kids’ mess under control
8. A separate laundry
Now I know that all mums don’t love cleaning – and that there are plenty of dads who do the bulk share – but a separate laundry is definitely on my wish list. It’s not just me. My friend wanted a separate laundry so much that she had a small bedroom in her home converted into one! A separate room, even if small, however, must have a door. Closing the room off from the rest of the house means that no matter how much mess or chemical odour the laundry contains, it will neither be seen or detected.
Now I know that all mums don’t love cleaning – and that there are plenty of dads who do the bulk share – but a separate laundry is definitely on my wish list. It’s not just me. My friend wanted a separate laundry so much that she had a small bedroom in her home converted into one! A separate room, even if small, however, must have a door. Closing the room off from the rest of the house means that no matter how much mess or chemical odour the laundry contains, it will neither be seen or detected.
When designing a laundry layout and its cabinetry, adding functional extras such as a flip-out ironing board and drying racks will inspire mums (and dads) to whistle while they work.
9. A craft room
The home office is now almost mandatory in many newly built homes these days but a current trend is for a separate room to be designated as a studio for a hobby or craft pursuit. If designing the room from scratch, include a purpose-built island bench with plenty of storage space beneath the benchtop.
The home office is now almost mandatory in many newly built homes these days but a current trend is for a separate room to be designated as a studio for a hobby or craft pursuit. If designing the room from scratch, include a purpose-built island bench with plenty of storage space beneath the benchtop.
Don’t let a bedroom vacated by an adult child turn into a junk room. Take advantage of the opportunity to repurpose it into a mum’s den, a home office or the craft room of your dreams.
Get creative with a craft nook
Get creative with a craft nook
10. A reading nook
Whether reading or watching a movie online, finding a quiet place away from the rest of the family that is not the bedroom is not always easy for time-poor mums. A small nook that has been custom-designed in a home’s original blueprint can serve this purpose well.
20 novel reading spots
Whether reading or watching a movie online, finding a quiet place away from the rest of the family that is not the bedroom is not always easy for time-poor mums. A small nook that has been custom-designed in a home’s original blueprint can serve this purpose well.
20 novel reading spots
An outdoor reading nook in the corner of the garden can also be incorporated into an original landscape plan. Add large weather-resistant cushions so the nook can double as a sunbed by day or as snuggle spot on a balmy night.
YOUR TURN
Houzz mums, share with us a few of the design features you would add to this wish list in the Comments.
YOUR TURN
Houzz mums, share with us a few of the design features you would add to this wish list in the Comments.
Many of my friends with children say they love a spa treatment, but find that juggling home life with work and outside commitments gives them little time to devote to relaxation. What a reward it must be then for mothers to incorporate a sunken bath into the planning stage of a new bathroom so they can enjoy a spa every day of the week. This one is raised up just above the level of the outdoor pool so that when the large floor-to-ceiling window is swung open, the two pools appear to merge. Heaven!
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