Inspired Design: A Beautiful (and Functional) Utility Room

Photography by Beth Davis

Having recently taken a tour of Seb and Brogan Cox’s handsome, handmade kitchen in the coastal town of Margate, we were naturally keen to see how they’ve transformed the adjoining utility room, which Brogan has cannily rebranded the “beautility room.”

[{"selector":"#anim-ae599bae-d374-4912-a336-bca9924f6240","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2bdf88aa-9df7-4658-adf7-721ff9bc70fa [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The green door (painted Citrine by Little Green) is a new addition. Previously, the outdoor “privy” was only accessible via the garden. Now, it has two entranceways.

[{"selector":"#anim-25e22814-fa11-49fe-8ec0-b84f3d452508","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28645eb0-fc33-4bc5-a95f-f5d7f7722503 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.793314887138404%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

The entrance to the utility, via the kitchen.

[{"selector":"#anim-0581b923-e76c-4613-b2c4-bd8b3acf264f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00c1a2fc-b6fe-40c1-a3fb-3930ee152ccd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

A woven closet hides the washer, dryer, and freestanding fridge.

[{"selector":"#anim-acc156be-13e4-4030-a1a2-72ee46064298","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-077f3a59-8b06-4afe-84e0-26d0d2151fe7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.793314887138404%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

The woven panels are lightweight, which makes them perfect for sliding doors.

[{"selector":"#anim-f55d1a60-8d39-49ff-975e-c10eb384743c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3aef5f7a-4a36-4c6b-91df-66837df144b3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.793314887138404%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

The frame and adjacent cabinets were constructed from tiger oak—a descriptive term for oak that has been infected with beefsteak fungus, which produces this distinctive graining.

[{"selector":"#anim-4727a0ae-0bab-4387-9d61-94fc67564bf5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fff80d73-910f-41d4-b253-c428964a9aa5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-15.532316290055693%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]