Our house was built in 1964 and needed A LOT of love
when we bought it 9 years ago.
when we bought it 9 years ago.
The outside of it still needs to be painted,
along and a handful of other projects.
along and a handful of other projects.
We just keep tackling them one project at a time.
This winter we decided it was time to tackle the laundry room.
This is what my laundry room used to look like.
It didn't have a door so I hung a curtain in
an attempt to keep it a little cleaner.
an attempt to keep it a little cleaner.
That, and so my washing machine couldn't stare at me
while I was trying to relax on the patio.
It definitely wasn't ideal, but since remodeling the laundry room
was low on our priority list I patiently waited
until it's number was called. It took 9 years.
was low on our priority list I patiently waited
until it's number was called. It took 9 years.
I had grand visions of glass chandeliers, funky artwork, and tile floors.
Then reality set in.
We quickly learned that because the previous owners had rigged up
this structure our budget would need to be spent on new drywall,
studs (since somehow they constructed a room with them)
this structure our budget would need to be spent on new drywall,
studs (since somehow they constructed a room with them)
and other miscellaneous hardware store items.
see that nasty floor...yuck!
I was ok with that.
After all, walls are important, ya know.
Besides, I still had the opportunity to get a new-to-me laundry room
and so I set about finding bargains to fill it with.
This is what my laundry room looks like now.
I hung a simple towel bar so that I could hang clothes as they
come out of the dryer and we created a folding table from
some wooden brackets and the cheapest white laminate counter ($29)
they had available at IKEA.
some wooden brackets and the cheapest white laminate counter ($29)
they had available at IKEA.
I brought in a jar from my craft room to use as a
pretty place to put the items I find hiding in pockets.
I sewed the table skirt from a curtain panel I was no longer using
and hung it with an old shower curtain tension rod I found in the closet.
The hanging drawer units were re-purposed from another room and
are now used to store rags, cleaner, bbq equip, etc.
are now used to store rags, cleaner, bbq equip, etc.
We covered the gross floor with an outdoor rug that
used to live under the kitchen table.
In place of funky artwork I hung my chalkboard projector screen
with a drawing that Henry and I worked together to create.
used to live under the kitchen table.
In place of funky artwork I hung my chalkboard projector screen
with a drawing that Henry and I worked together to create.
I also
I pulled my dryer sheets out of their cardboard box and placed them
in this thrifted wire basket, along with a jar of fresh flowers.
Now my laundry room smells sparkly clean all the time.
in this thrifted wire basket, along with a jar of fresh flowers.
Now my laundry room smells sparkly clean all the time.
The wall hook is from the bathroom section at IKEA and is
the perfect place to store hangers until they are needed.
The new industrial style light fixture is from IKEA, too.
I found this wire basket at the thrift store and decided to us it
to wrangle the socks until they find their mate.
I reused the shelves that were in the room before,
but now they hold my laundry supplies.
And I love the retro looking radio/mp3 player I found at
Target during their after Christmas sale.
Target during their after Christmas sale.
It makes folding laundry much more enjoyable.
I keep my laundry detergent in a cute bucket
and found a yellow measuring scoop at the dollar store to dispense it.
My Zote bar (a completely amazing stain remover from mexico)
sits on a glass plate from the thrift store.
And now outside my laundry room it looks like this.
See my door!
I decided to creat a nice little spot next to that fancy new door
so I can hang out and enjoy the fact that my laundry room is fresh and new,
even if it doesn't have a glass chandelier or a tile floor.
What I do have is a door and walls,
and really,
what more could a girl ask for.
