With 2020 behind us, and a fresh new year ahead, this is the time to reflect and set intentions that help optimize your health and well being. But what about the health and well being of your whole family? That's at the forefront of everyone's mind. My design firm was responsible for designing the Laundry/Decontamination Room in the Seasonal Living Magazine's Virtual Showhouse which recently made its debut in December 2020. I'm going to share all of the wellness elements that went into this space so that you can incorporate them into your home.
SANITATION IS THE NEW BLACK
The laundry room, as essential as it is for any household, is often overshadowed by other alluring spaces in the home. This laundry room is more than just a utilitarian space, it’s a highly functional wellness room.
SANITATION FOR A HEALTHIER HOME
All of the products selected for the Seasonal Living Magazine's Virtual Showhouse Laundry/Decontamination Room were specified because of their ability to help sanitize items in the home. Since Signature Kitchen Suite / LG was one of our showhouse sponsors, I was able to use state of the art technology in this space.
The most important feature in any laundry room is the washer and dryer. I was able to incorporate LG’s washer-dryer tower. The Allergiene wash cycle uses the power of steam to remove household allergens in fabrics and the TurboSteam technology helps sanitize kids items, bedding and clothing. I also added the LG Styler Steam Closet which not only refreshes clothing but also sanitizes them. I also added the LG PuriCare 360º Air Purifier which is asthma and allergy friendly by removing over 90% of airborne allergens.
HOME HYGIENE AND SANITARY SURFACES
It was important to me that all of the surfaces in the Seasonal Living Magazine's Virtual Showhouse to be wipeable and scrubbable. I used surfaces like glass, metal, vinyl and Dekton. Our showhouse sponsor, Cosentino’s Dekton product can be used on both horizontal and vertical surfaces. I used it on 2 of the walls as well as the countertop, vanity and dog shower station.
The Fabricut Pokhara wallcovering is not only stylish but is a vinyl product that can be scrubbed. I used it on two walls and the ceiling surface.
DOG SHOWER STATION
The shower station is a game changer in a laundry room for dirty doggies, life's little messes as well as for rinsing feet after an afternoon on the beach. I worked with Niermann Weeks to custom create this beautiful wall mounted glass and metal wall shelf.
THE FLOW MATTERS
The flow of the space was also designed with wellness in mind. I researched commercial decontamination spaces and incorporated the same flow into this space. You enter through what’s considered the ‘dirty zone’, your first stop is a handwashing station, then the shower station and the washer and dryer.
I have "Cabinets Of Curiosities", metal storage cabinets by Universal Furniture, a perfect place to store additional clothing to change into then you’re ready to enter into the home and greet the family. For this project, I filled them with gorgeous accessories from Global Views.
HOW MY FAMILY HAS EMBRACED THE LAUNDRY / DECONTAMINATION ROOM CONCEPT
Although I don’t have these exact products in my laundry room (yet), our family completely reoriented the way that we enter our own home which, and not so coincidentally, its through our laundry room! We did this way back in March when the Stay At Home order was first issued and now this is the way that we regularly enter our home so that we can go through the decontamination process before entering the home.
Moving forward into 2021, I will definitely be incorporating this concept into client projects. Most homes have the laundry room either in the garage or right next to the garage which means it acts as an entrance to the home for the family.
WELLNESS AND FLEXIBILITY
This gorgeous showhouse was designed with wellness and flexibility in mind. It is filled with stylish wellness solutions. I invite you to tour it yourself, you won't believe that this home only exists in the virtual world!
Link to Seasonal Living's Special Edition Magazine featuring the designer showhouse >>> https://bit.ly/SLShowhouse
Rachel: As co-principal in Seasonal Living Magazine's Virtual Designer Showhouse, I first want to say *thank you* for saying YES when I invited you to be a part of it. Your design for the laundry and decontamination room is so well thought out and so YOU. You *Racheled* it with your signature drama and flair. Thank you for giving the magazine's readers such a wonderful experience as they walk through it in 3D - via their computers. I loved learning more through this blog post about how you approached the design of it, and the wellness attributes you included. ______ For any of Rachel's friends reading this, please know the Showhouse is free to tour /24/7 -no email required - in the…