Laundry Room Design - Designing a Functional Laundry Room

Laundry rooms used to be the neglected room in the house. Find a closet or another room large enough for a washer and dryer, and that was all you needed. These days, the laundry room has become an important working area for a busy home, and careful thought and planning will create a multi-functional area that works for washing, drying, and folding as well as numerous other household chores.

Laundry Room Design - Designing a Functional Laundry Room

Laundry Room Design - Designing a Functional Laundry Room

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Laundry Room Design - Designing a Functional Laundry Room

Laundry Room Design - Designing a Functional Laundry Room

Some things to think about when designing your laundry room are:

1) Storage: Make sure you include enough cabinetry - including drawers - to store all of your household Supplies including detergents, cleaning Supplies and pet Supplies.

2) Laundry: With today's' front-load washers, it is important to remember that any cabinets installed above the machines will need plenty of clearance if the washer/dryer are on a pedestal.

3) Folding/Hanging: Give yourself enough countertop space to enable folding of large loads of laundry. This eliminates the need to take the Clothing to another room, losing half of it on the floor as you walk. Include space for hanging racks or a hanging pantry that opens and closes with retractable doors as needed. Built-in drying boards are also extremely useful in small spaces.

4) Pets: The ultimate luxury? Find room for a pet shower - a simple shower base with tile walls and a hand sprayer will create an easy-to-use washing station for dirty pets AND dirty feet!

5) If you have a central vacuum in your home, a handy idea for ease of cleaning is to install a toe-kick (technical term is "Vac Pan")in the baseboard of the cabinetry. You simply "kick" the vacuum valve open and sweep the dust/lint/cat litter into the vacuum.

Make a list of the many functions that your laundry room serves, and try to incorporate space-saving and time-saving tools that will make this room ultra-functional for your family!

Laundry Room Design - Designing a Functional Laundry Room

Appliance Brands - Top Brands in the Competitive World of Appliances

Competition in the manufacturing of appliances has never been as intense as today. With major appliance brands such as Whirlpool, GE, LG, FrigidAire, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, MayTAG, Broan and Bosch it is hard for consumers to make a decision. They all offer exceptional products, with extensive research and innovation, pushing the boundaries of the way we spend our time and effort in the kitchen and laundry room. All of these manufacturers, even though they all make most types of appliances, truly shine in one or two appliance types.

Appliance Brands - Top Brands in the Competitive World of Appliances

Appliance Brands - Top Brands in the Competitive World of Appliances

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Appliance Brands - Top Brands in the Competitive World of Appliances

Appliance Brands - Top Brands in the Competitive World of Appliances

Laundry appliances, which include washing machines and dryers are one of the most popular consumer products. Many manufacturers offer most models with a matching washing machine and dryer combo, which are similar in color and aesthetics. These can also be stacked on top of each other, using a stacking kit, with the dryer on top to maximize the space available in the laundry room. The most popular brands for laundry appliances are Whirlpool, MayTAG, Bosch, GE and FrigidAire. These manufacturers also offer pedestals to raise the appliances 10 to 15 inches.

Refrigerators have become a necessity throughout the world in the past century, which puts them at the top of most bought appliances. Extensive research and developMent has been put in the features of refrigerators, such as ice dispensers and ice free freezers. The aesthetics have also improved from the usual top freezer mount design, with new bottom mount, side by side and the combination between the two, French door models. Frigidaire is probably the lead manufacturer of refrigerators, with LG and KitchenAid making very impressive high end models.

Cooking ranges are a slight exception with almost every manufacturer making great products, both electric and gas. GE, Frigidaire and KitchenAid make a variety of range appliance designs with prices ranging from very affordable to high end products. Whirlpool, LG, Maytag and Jenn-Air make excellent, durable and high performance ranges, that tend to be a little more expensive than the previously Mentioned brands. The functionality, features and aesthetics of ranges have improved very much in the last decade, with designs looking like kitchen works of art. However in terms energy efficiency there is more work to be done, but overall the eclectic range is more efficient than the gas.

In modern kitchens, many consumers are choosing alternate choices over the Cooking range. Cook tops and wall ovens offer more stylish and space saving options. Manufacturers that shine in this departMent are Jenn-Air, Amana and KitchenAid.

Microwaves have revolutionized the way a lot of people heat up their Food, although controversial it is a great time saver. Modern designs are also offered as built in and over the range microwaves. The competition is being led by GE, Amana and Bosch, although most manufacturers offer excellent microwave appliances.

Last by not least, range hoods keep the home smell free and should exist in every kitchen. Broan makes the largest variety of range hoods from affordable to modern hoods, pushing the boundaries with architectural looking designs.

Appliance Brands - Top Brands in the Competitive World of Appliances

How To Sew Lined Shoe Bags For Golf, Tennis, Bowling, Gym, Dance or any Other Drawstring Bag

Sewing shoe bags for the guys or gals in your life is a great gift idea. No matter what sport or hobby they enjoy or where they travel ... far away or to the gym, shoe bags or drawstring bags come in handy.

How To Sew Lined Shoe Bags For Golf, Tennis, Bowling, Gym, Dance or any Other Drawstring Bag

How To Sew Lined Shoe Bags For Golf, Tennis, Bowling, Gym, Dance or any Other Drawstring Bag

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How To Sew Lined Shoe Bags For Golf, Tennis, Bowling, Gym, Dance or any Other Drawstring Bag

How To Sew Lined Shoe Bags For Golf, Tennis, Bowling, Gym, Dance or any Other Drawstring Bag

The how to sew sewing instructions are for a lined drawstring shoe bag.

You are the designer. You can decide the purpose, fabric, design and size of your drawstring bag. Here are some suggestions.

Fabrics

Use whatever fabric suits your fancy. About 1/2 yard of fabric makes one shoe bag.

Sturdier fabrics like denim, canvas, slipcover fabric, fake suede, corduroy, etc. work well for sturdier shoes.

Fine fabrics like velour, velvet, cottons, flannels, etc. are good for Dressier shoes.

Think about satin or silk for lingerie bags orjewelry bags. Or use mesh or terry for the beach or laundry bags.

Lining is optional. But, if you line the bags, choose a compatible lining fabric that won't tear easily especially for the sturdier shoes. Sometimes the same fabric is the best lining. The instructions here are for a lined drawstring bag.

You may want to use washable fabrics so you can launder the bags later.

All Preshrink fabrics before cutting.

Drawstrings

Use a pAir of 36 inch long decorative shoe laces or leather laces for each bag or heavy cord or sew your own fabric or fake suede drawstrings. Ribbon also works.

Sizes

Sew a bag test to see if the diMensions are right for you.

Cut one bag with the following suggested diMensions. Place the shoe inside andcheck to see if it fits well. Add or subtract from the length or width to adjust for whatever shoe or item that you have.

Suggested Sizes

For 2 golf shoe bags, cut 4 pieces of fabric 20 inches long and 11 inches wide. Cut 4 pieces of lining 19 inches long and 10-1/2 inches wide.

Note: Cut an extra drawstring bag for a golf ball bag.

Two bowling shoes will fit into one shoe bag. Cut 2 pieces of fabric 20 inches long and 11 inches wide. Cut 2 lining 19 inches long and 10-1/2 inches wide.

One bag may also hold 2 tennis shoes or 2 ladies Dress shoes.

Gym shoes vary in size. For extra large or small shoes, measure around the shoe and adjust the size of the fabric plus seam allowances to accommodate the size of the shoe.

How To Sew SewingTechnique

Decorate the Shoe Bag

Make the drawstring bag unique with a special design or emblem. Think about monogramming the bags or adding a sports motif or applique embroidery design prior to stitching. Place the design about 3 inches from the bottom in the center of one of the 20 x 11 pieces.

After you trim the bag, place bag 2 pieces right sides together.

Measure and make a mark 5 inches down from the top of the bag on both sides.

Stitch 1/2 inch seam around bag starting and stopping at this 5 inch mark. Do not back stitch. For the first and last inch, use short stitches.

Repeat stitching as above for the lining.

Press all seams open on both bag and the lining.

Press under 1/2 inch on the 5 inch bag side unstitched edges. Fuse orstitch to hold.

Do the same for the lining.

Turn the bag right side out.

Turn the lining right side out.

Machine stitch 1/2 "at the bottom of the lining as if you were making a French seam. This creates a strong edge.

Turn the lining wrong side out.

Slip the lining down into the bag so that the top edge of the lining is 1/2 inch below the top edge of the bag.

Fold the top edge of the front of the bag down 1/2 inch over the lining.

Press this fold to make a crease.

Now, bring the top folded pressed edge of the bag down to meet the side edges at the bottom of the opening.

Pin to hold and stitch close to this fold edge.

To make the casing, stitch 1 "above the previous stitching.

Repeat for the back side ofthe bag.

Insert Drawstrings

Use a safety pin or bodkin to help slide the drawstrings through the casings.

Slide one drawstring through the casing of the bag back and front having ends on the same side of the bag.

Insert the other drawstring starting at the other side of the bag, sliding through the casing of the bag back and front having ends on that side of the bag.

Tie the ends of the drawstrings together.

That completes the lined drawstring shoe bag.

Note: If the shoe bag is wide enough for two shoes, you may want to stitch up the center of the bag from the bottom up to (but do not include) the casing through all the layers to create separate compartMents for each shoe to help keep them
from scuffing.

Pins before stitching and test tosee if there is enough room
for the shoes. If not, you may want to increase the width
of your shoe bag.

Sew bags any size for anything. Everybody needs a bag for
"something. Kids love treasure bags. Make big bags and little bags. Drawstring bags to Give to family and friends for Fathers ' Day, birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, etc. Enjoy sewing bags!

It just makes sense!

How To Sew Lined Shoe Bags For Golf, Tennis, Bowling, Gym, Dance or any Other Drawstring Bag