COTY Award Basement Remodel

During a recent basement remodel, the normal laundry schedule for a family of five was sometimes interrupted by the project. With the washing machine in limbo, laundry would pile up and sorting was difficult. I started thinking about a way to help my homeowners keep up with their laundry when the project was done, and streamline the task of sorting/storing clothing that found its way to the basement. An obvious sorting and staging solution was to build a long, narrow table accommodating both functions. One end of the table would catch laundry as it dropped down the chute. The other part of the table was divided three ways into built-in sorting compartments for dark, medium and white clothing. Made primarily of MDF, the 36” high table measures 84” x 24”. For ventilation, I used standard pegboard to divide the compartments. For the MDF top and bin surfaces, I applied two coats of Waterlox , then painted the legs and perimeter trim. Flat panels on each bin match other trim and cabinet details throughout the basement. On any given day, this Laundry table is used more than any other component of the remodel. Photos by Greg Schmidt.