Utility room, Goudhurst, Kent

Now, I don't think we've ever come across a more compact utility room than this one, set within a charming cottage in Goudhurst, near Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. It started life as a purely utilitarian boiler room – essentially wasted space – and the brief was to turn it into something genuinely usable.

It was an ultra-challenging project. Somehow we had to fit in a tall unit, wall units and a freestanding washing machine, all while housing the necessary hot, cold and heating pipework. What isn't obvious from the pictures is the angled back wall, which gave us some real headaches.

We used Ewe furniture throughout, adapting every unit to suit the awkward dimensions. After some serious head-scratching, we first fitted the tall unit, washing machine and worktop, then over the next few days added the wall units, back panels and lighting. Every unit had to be carefully modified to fit and yet still be accessible for future servicing.

Both the customer and ourselves were amazed at the transformation. What was once dead, wasted space is now a fully functional utility room that earns its keep – proof that even the most unpromising corner of a home can be made to work hard with the right planning.

Gallery