When we arrived at the house in Ourense, the washing machine was installed in the garage, completely exposed. It worked, yes, but visually it was intrusive and clashed with the idea of order and aesthetic coherence that we wanted for the house from the very beginning.
The definitive solution had been clear for some time: when the ruin annex to the house was renovated, where two suites are planned for the future, the idea was to reserve a specific space there for a closed laundry room, integrated from the architectural project itself. The problem was the same as always: timing.
In February 2026, the lack of availability of construction companies made it clear that this major renovation was not going to materialize either in the short or medium term. In fact, even then it seemed unrealistic to think that during that same year someone could even come to the house to prepare a quote.
An intermediate solution, but a well-thought-out one
Faced with this scenario, we opted for a practical decision: solving the problem now without giving up a carefully considered solution or compromising future projects. Taking advantage of the fact that we already had the carpenter who had done the kitchen, a person of absolute trust with a more than proven level of execution, we commissioned him to design and build a custom-made cabinet to create a laundry and drying station in the garage.
The premise was clear: to integrate the washing machine and dryer into a single closed cabinet, one that would visually organize the space and dialogue with the overall aesthetic of the house. In addition, the design had to take into account an important day-to-day detail: the cabinet would have legs, allowing the robot vacuum cleaner to pass underneath easily and keep the garage floor clean.
Budget, materials, and realistic decisions
The final budget was 970 euros. It is a high figure when looked at in isolation, but inevitable when dealing with a completely custom-made piece of furniture. There are no similar solutions on the market: either you accept a standard cabinet that does not fit, or you design one from scratch.
Initially, the idea was to use the same matte black material as the kitchen, but that option doubled the cost of the cabinet. In the end, a more affordable material was chosen, while maintaining the dark finish that fits with the color palette of the house in Ourense, where black, dark brown, and green tones predominate.
In our case, price was never the main point of friction. Manuel had in fact been the most competitive quote during the kitchen renovation, and his work had been impeccable. When someone delivers, works well, and does not generate problems, they automatically become someone you want to keep working with.
An installation without setbacks
During one of our trips, the carpenter kept the house keys and carried out the installation of the garage cabinet without any issues. Another job completed without incidents, without stress, and without improvisation.
In that sense, our experience with the house in Ourense has so far been exceptional. Very different from what we experienced with the house in Porto, where every intervention seemed to come with additional complications. Here, on the other hand, small renovations have been completed in an orderly way and without unnecessary drama.
The cabinet was manufactured in January and finally paid for in February, without rush or pressure. Taking advantage of that visit, some details related to the dryer were adjusted, and there was even talk of a future project: the possible installation of a staircase in the garage.
A small renovation that improves everyday life
With this intervention, the garage now has a proper laundry and drying station, perfectly integrated and functional. Regardless of whether the renovation of the ruin is ever carried out, this solution is already resolved.
It is not a major construction project nor a striking renovation, but it is one of those decisions that very clearly improve the everyday experience of the house. Sometimes, waiting for the perfect renovation means living for years with solutions that never fully convince us.
In this case, opting for a small renovation in the garage was a way to move forward, close a pending issue, and continue building the house with coherence, step by step, without giving up either order or aesthetics.
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