Rub-a-Dub-Dub, It's the New Wave Laundry Tub

Okay, so laundry's not your favorite task. Here are three ideas for giving the space where you scrub some visual panache to help make the time spent there fly by more quickly.

Saucy labeling creates efficiency with a bit of fun. Regular washing and dry cleaning are sorted into marked wicker baskets. In case you forget where you are, a sign proclaiming this to be the "Laundry" sits atop a counter raised to perfect height for sorting and folding. Even the matched appliances announce their purpose -- iWash, iDry. Generous amounts of cabinetry hide away all those other items you need but might not have tagged so creatively -- at least, not yet.

Easy care, easy access -- it's all within arm's reach in this warm, wood-tone laundry. A traditional square copper sink adds a touch of elegance and can do triple duty as a place to pre-soak the toughest washing challenges, to hand wash the softest delicates, or to scrub down small, four-footed family members after a walk on the beach. Linoleum flooring in a stone pattern marries good looks with durability and blends with the millwork's natural stained simplicity.

There's a sunny, outdoor feeling to this workspace. Gaily painted pictures of flowers complement baskets of dried sunflowers, a wicker beehive, and two birdhouses -- one a contemporary "chateau condo," the other a whimsical Victorian. From his basket chair on the counter, Kermit the Frog keeps an eye on clothes hung up to damp dry. Backs are safe here too. A raised washer/dryer combination reduces bending and potential back strain to a minimum.

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