March 11, 2009

Airing My (Not So) Dirty Laundry

It's finally done, except for tags for the baskets and a box to hold my dryer sheets. The project was larger than I thought it would be & Sweet Hubby was a saint about the whole thing. I loved working with him & I couldn't believe how patient he was and how wonderful his workmanship was. No swears and only 2 or 3 "Aww, come on"'s. My sweet man saved the day more than once and his reward was a new super-duper powerful cordless drill with a back up battery. That and a very happy wife that now enjoys doing laundry. There's method to my madness though. I will buy him whatever tools he wants as long as he keeps doing projects around the house for me. Oh and did I mention that he is the best husband ever? Hands down.

There is zero natural light in this room so these pictures are the best I can manage. The round silver thing on the wall in the 1st picture is a retractable clothes line for Maddie who, for some unknown reason, refuses to dry several of her shirts, preferring instead to hang them over the backs of my kitchen chairs. Lovely. Love all of my storage, pretty and functional at the same time.

This is the view as you walk in from the house, facing the door that leads into the garage.

I originally thought about skirting the washer and dryer but the way they slightly jut out from under the bench made me change my mind.

This is the cubby area on the right. The bench/shoe storage is below this mirror and is perfect for us as you are forced to keep no more than 3 pairs of shoes in your space.

There are 2 hooks on each wall on either side of the back wall and I think 5 hooks on the mirror. Everyone has their own basket and the storage is working out perfectly. None of us can believe how big this room seems now. That is surely not something we would have said before. In reality it isn't large, but it lives large.

The color, for those of you who will wonder, is Martha Stewart Araucana Blue from Lowes. Since I already have a reputation for loving her paint colors, I'm sure it won't surprise you. In my opinion, it is the perfect shade of pale aqua that you can find and y'all know how obsessive I can get about paint. I have already painted the girls' bathroom this color in anticipation of our next project.

We learned a lot doing this project. Plywood makes a terrible surface if you want something that looks pretty. No wall is ever level. Measure twice or maybe 10 times. Don't play Wii Fit boxing for the first time the day before you have to paint the laundry room. I hope all of these tips help you in some small way.

61 comments:

  1. Your laundry room looks GREAT! Sounds like the project went really well and your husband was a sweetie, for sure! I just love when I can newly organize with shelves and hangers and baskets that WORK!

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  2. Oh heavens. Now I want to redo mine. We have to walk through it to get to the garage as well, so I consider it my 2nd foyer. This is so refreshing -- well done!

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  3. It looks FANTASTIC!
    My hubby says 'COME ON NOW' too!
    Wendy

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  4. hahaha wii fit boxing. i can relate. my arms feel like they're made of rubber from an insane workout i did yesterday..thank god i don't have to paint anything. but god help my if my 4 year old wants to be picked up! great great GREAT job on the laundry room. i have an obession with laundry rooms (pretty ones) and i am on my way to revamping mine (although mine is really just a closet). thanks for the inspiration!

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  5. That's a fabulous laundry room! Love the colour - I think it's perfect. I agree, I never complain when husband buys more tools or hardware supplies, because that can only help us, right! Us, meaning the women with a million fabulous projects and ideas in mind for our homes :)

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  6. it looks like it came straight from a country living magazine! it's perfect.
    chasity

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  7. Beautiful, beautiful job. Compliments to both you and your hubby. My rooms would be so much cuter if I had a handyman hubby.

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  8. Bravo it turned out just beautiful I am so thrilled for you!!
    LuLu

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  9. Oh I am really jealous. Really. This looks so good! I love all the glass storage bins holding clothes pins and light bulbs - so cool.

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  10. LOL on the Wii workout. BTDT! The laundry room looks wonderful! And I think you have a perfect arrangement over there....more tools for more work. We have a similar one over here. Great job on the room, enjoy it.
    ~Michelle

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  11. What a great job, and I love where you put your light bulbs.

    All the best,
    Kathy :)

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  12. Haha I appreciate the last few tips there. But WOW, seriously, the room looks so great! That looks like it was a fun project. I am just wondering if the mirror is simply for aesthetic purposes? And if it serves any other function besides the hooks on it? It looks cool! That is why I am wondering, I couldn't think of why it was there until you mentioned the hooks lol. The hooks are a great idea by the way! I never would have thought of that.

    All the best,
    Allison

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  13. super duper cute.
    it makes me want to do laundry.
    HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I'm funny!

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  14. I love your post title!! It made me want to come over and snoop!! LOL!

    Better yet is your laundry room. Wow!! Love. it.

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  15. AWESOME!!! Jim, you did a wonderful job! Way to go. Maybe you can convince Matt that re-doing a laundry room will make ones wife "want" to do laundry, and I'll be able to spruce up my boring little area too. I absolutely love it. Are you sure you didn't copy and paste those photos from Cottage Living or another great idea mag? It looks too perfect. As always, you've inspired me! Maybe I'll print out your photos and tape them to my L.R. wall so I can dream about the "if only's" while I do my endless loads of laundry. I love that you actually put feet to your ideas. My just seem to sit around and do nothing. I can't get past the planning stage. I'll just have live out my magnificent decorating ideas through you.

    Allyson

    P.S. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the jars you have and what you have in them. It's all very Lovely!!!!

    Laughing about the Wii Boxing. Glad to know someone elses arms have trouble the day after too! I call it finding new muscles.

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  16. Absolutely charming!

    Lisa
    Knitty, Vintage and Rosy

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  17. Wow Jen! It looks amazing! I love that shade of aqua. Great job and kudos to that husband of yours!

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  18. LOVE the laundry room. LOVE everything about it. Thanks for sharing your pictures, they're very inspiring!

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  19. Hi Jen :)

    LOVE what you did in there! Our laundry is in the basement and probably hasn't been touched since 1950, so that's an upcoming project and you just inspired me BIG time. Thank you :)

    Oh and thank you for the sweet compliment!

    rue

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  20. I LOVE the glass canisters! Where did you find them? Very clever, especially like the light bulb storage..

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  21. I love the room! The glass jars are perfect - especially with light bulbs in it! I mean it is gorgeous. I want to spiff up my laundry area now!! :-)

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  22. Love everything that you have done in the laundry room...love all the jars and baskets (you can never have too many of either). I have been thinking about adding a skirt to the front of my W/D but they also stick out a little further than I was expecting. I found a bracket that projects far enough but I am still not sure it will look right...it might be a trial and error project!

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  23. what did you use for your counter?inquiring minds you know..Im in the middle of this fitful adventure myself, just dragged home the frontloaders today, infact! I really love that color blue, and actually was thinking of doing an aqua, but Im not sure!! imagine~
    how ARE you, girlfriend??
    xxxooo
    Lisa
    CoastalNest

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  24. Great laundry room re-do! I think I too wouldn't mind doing laundry if I had a room like that!
    Cheers to the sweet and talented hubby too!!

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  25. Ohhh I am so jealous. Jen it is magazine perfect. I can't wait to finish the family room with our sweet hubbies. Beautiful...just beautiful!

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  26. Wonderful laundry room! Mine has been a work in progress for awhile now. I need to get my hubby working some of his tools to get the job done. Great job!

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  27. well since we're neighborwannabe'snall
    i might just swing by & do my laundry in there & grab a cookie for brinkley
    :)
    LOVE what you've done!!!!
    xo

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  28. How cute! Love everything ya'll did! I have been slowly working on my laudry room to make it more appealing to be in, but it's not even close to being that nice.
    Great job!

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  29. Your laundry room looks absolutely fabulous Jen - great job!!

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  30. WOW! It looks great. . .Thanks for sharing your before, progress, and finished pictures and tips.

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  31. I love love love it!! You did an amazing job.

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  32. It looks fantastic. I really like the colour - that's what I want for my loungeroom and kitchen. I like the cream too - what colour is that called?

    I've stored these photos away for inspiration for when I finally get a laundry. At the moment it's under a covered area out the back of the house.

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  33. So fabulous!! And high five to you for even succeeding at Wii Fit Boxing. That's hard!! your laundry room is beautiful.

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  34. I think that the fact that Maddie does laundry, that is fantastic. I love your laundry remodel, it is beautiful, peaceful, inspiring. On of my favorite touches, the lightbulb jar!! Very neat.

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  35. Brilliant! I took notes. My own laundry room looks, well, ugly comes to mind. Thanks for the inspiration.
    Lidy

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  36. Your laundry room looks GORGEOUS Jen!!! I absolutely love all that you have done! It is inspiring me. I absolutely LOATHE my laundry room. I think part of the reason is, you have to WALK through the tiny messy room to get in the house from the garage, UGH! Needless to say, I keep the garage door shut alot so people have to go to the front door,lol!

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  37. Love it!! I have a laundry aaa "hallway". It can be closed off but still needs a complete overhall. I have had some ideas and your laundry room has me lusting after the those front loaders. That's probaly not going to happen, as my washer and dryer are still in good working order. Anyway, I love the look and I'm totally inspired! Thanks!

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  38. I *love* your laundry room! I would love to have my hubby put a table shelf above our washer dryer. I guess first we'll need a front loading washer/dryer! LOL! I have more of a closet laundry "room" than a room!

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  39. Wowza that turned out beautiful. Love the color, and oooh the space! :)

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  40. Your laundry room is just beautiful. The blue is just the most soft lovely color.

    Wonderful job.

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  41. This laundry room is simply lovely! Can I ask the dimensions of the room? It seems to be the same size as mine....This gives me some ideas for my own room that is in serious need of redecorating.

    Also, what is the color name of that pale aqua?

    You did a splendid job and I'm sure you'll not have a lick of clothing on the floor or unwashed. No one would want to mess up a room as gorgeous as that! I also love your little basket caddys that look like that were woven in a garter stitch. Those are so textural...my favorite!

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  42. What a fabulous room Jen.
    Love that paint color too :)

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  43. A wonderful work place to do daily laundry!! What a fresh entrance into the home..I love your design choices!!

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  44. Oh yes Jen! This is gorgeous! I would love to know the room dimensions as well and can we see the little shoe bench?

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  45. What a beautiful room!
    Love the beadboard, the shelves, the pretty hooks, storage containers,...ok, ALL of it!
    Great job!

    Kimberly :)

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  46. Ooh- I love the laundry room. I will have to post next week on my own laundry room- which I have been considering painting. I love to decorate small spaces! In my house we always enter through the garage door- into the laundry room, so I think it's important to decorate as it is the first impression of our home. Currently I am in the process of trying to locate the perfect scent reed diffuser to place in my laundry room. Any suggestions??
    xoxo
    SHS

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  47. I love how you stored things in the glass jars. I think that is such a nice touch, and also makes it easier to find things. Great job!

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  48. Wow! I love it! What a great laundry room. You've inspired me to do mine!

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  49. Inspirational post, suddenly the laundry is not such a dismal place, now off to see if i can remember where we hid the pegs do something creative with our space.

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  51. Whose house is that anyway? Just-kidding - it looks great.

    I..ah..well.. I love the little blue house. Perhaps I should rephrase that. I LOVE THAT LITTLE BLUE HOUSE!!!! Where or how can I get one (unless it's like the feather tree). If it IS like the feather tree, I respectfully request that you remove the picture immediately.

    Judy (Mom)

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  52. Ohhh, I would love a laundry room! I dream about having a laundry room...someday!! Now, we have the laundry in the basement of an 1880's farm house.

    Thanks for sharing your wonderful post!!

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  53. I am so inspired by seeing the results of your laundry room. Sadly we have a laundry "closet" but your ideas have given me hope that we could give the area a new look at the very least. Great spring project.

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  54. I love what you did here (looks like out of a magazine); we re-did our laundry room last year but our problem was the dryer vent had to go up and over the machines, so I'm trying to find a way to disguise that. It's so nice having a separate laundry room!

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  55. Love the makeover...love the color! So is it called Pale Aqua?
    It's perfect!
    Robin Rane'
    All Things Heart and Home

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  56. Wow! That is incredible and inspiring. I wish I had a mud room like that! Thank you for all of your fantastic ideas!!

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  57. Looks fantastic and love the lightbulbs. I think you should add a small chandelier for an extra punch. Have a great day.

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