Laundry Room REVEAL

WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!

Can you tell I am super excited to reveal the transformed laundry room? heehee!

Well it was sure a challenge to figure out how to make a big impact in a small space, but I do believe that I'm in love with the result: color, function, whimsy, and bright. Seriously, it was like a cave in that little windowless room. But with just a few tweaks and some great DIY projects later, we have a space that is relaxing to be in. Now if only the laundry would wash itself... :) 

Ok, ready? here we go!

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

What a change!

 

 

My most treasured piece:

 

A thank you note from my hubby from 7 years ago. I was a new bride learning the ropes of housekeeping. He wrote me this note after a particularly long day of cleaning and washing clothes late into the night. I woke up the next morning, exhausted and found this note on the laundry machine. It has hung inside the cabinet door ever since, a reminder of why I do the things I do in this home: to make an inviting nest for the ones I love. 

 

It's all in the details!

It's the little things that make all the difference.

Hope you enjoyed the tour!

There will be a few more posts later on with short tutorials showing how to make some of these projects. In the meantime, if you would like to catch up on the past projects for the laundry room just click on the titles below:

Lamp and decor ball

Laundry Tip Board

Fabric Art

Ironing Board cover

Thrift Store Chandelier Transformation

All photos taken by yours truly.

Will be linking up to parties with these great blogs:

Tater Tots and Jello

Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Simpsonized Crafts

The Girl Creative

Life as Lori

Crystals Craft Spot

The Shabby Chic Cottage

Laundry Room Projects

Last day before the reveal of the laundry room. Yes, I am squealing with delight. Tonight the whole this gets put together and I am so excited to show you. Before the reveal, I wanted to show you a couple more simple projects made for that space. As all the other projects in the laundry room they were simple, easy on the pocketbook, and took no time at all to make.

This cute little lamp was a Fancy Store purchase - base, shade and all. Can you believe it? And there was not a single scratch on it. Yes, I happy danced right there in the store :)

When I spotted it, I just knew that it would be perfect in the laundry room. It serves as little ambiance in that passing spot between the garage and main house... not to mention that it reminds me to put the clothes in the dryer when I turn it off at night.

As much as I like feathered/fur trim, this one was looking a bit sad. There were fluffies missing and it was just too dark for the space.

That's when I remembered this delicious pink fabric from my stash. And wouldn't you know, there was just enough to recover the lamp shade!

After removing the fluffies, I traced the shade by rolling it across the fabric while marking it lightly with a pencil. Also, I made sure to leave at least a 1/2 inch allowance on the top and about 1 inch on the bottom. That way the "seams" would be nice and clean.

Once cut, I hot glued the fabric along the top leaving a 1/2 inch of excess fabric.

Why do I always have paint on my hands?

Note to self: wash hands before taking pictures :)

That then I carefully wrapped the excess over and glued it down on the inside, making sure to glue only on the white, thicker portion - not the black shade itself.

Then I met the seams on the side {up and down} and folded over the side that would be visible.

That way it made a clean seam. A dab of glue sealed it to the opposing fabric. Again, I avoided gluing directly to the shade.

With the excess fabric on the bottom, I folded it over once till it met the base of the shade...

... and then folded it over again to create a clean seam and glued it down.

So simple, but what a change!

Now I need to decide if I should keep the base black or go with a chocolate brown. Thoughts?

On to craft number 2.

I really wanted to use this tissue paper to make a small decor ball for the laundry room shelf. But I knew that it needed to be smaller since the tissue paper I had in this color was limited. After searching the house I came up with this:

Now you have proof that I will make a decor ball out of anything! haha!!! These are just perfect for mini decor balls.

After cutting the paper into 3/4 inch strips, I placed a line of hot glue down one side...

... and then quickly rolled it up to make a little flower puff.

Then a dab of hot glue attached it to the ball.

Several more, and voila! Instant pretty.

Who would have ever thought that this was originally a fast food prize? Love it!

What items have you repurposed for the sake of home decor?

All photos taken by yours truly and Mr. too Blessed to Stress.

Laundry Tips Board

Can I even tell you how excited I am to show you the Laundry room reveal in two days? It is coming together so nicely. Who would have ever thought that such a tiny space could be so bright and cheery? Major Happy dancing going on right now :)

This is another project that has found it's way into the laundry room remodel and I have to tell you I am THRILLED with the result. It was so simple but totally makes my day every time I walk in there... which is often. This family of 2 + pup goes through a lot of laundry! Are we just more piggy than others? huh, must be :)

I found this chalkboard in the bins at the Fancy Store {aka Goodwill Outlet} and I may or may not have let out a little squeal when I found it and madly ran across the store to snatch it up. I love the big chalkboard and chunky frame! What I was not loving was the scratched paint and these weird staple things that were sticking out of the bottom. Maybe it used to have a little shelf or something? I merrily pranced walked calmly through the store with my purchase, not fully knowing where it would end up.

Anyhow, once home I realized that it was just perfect for the laundry room - ironic since it was originally for a laundry room and painted lavender, the old color of my laundry room.

First things first, I set up an uber professional painting station... in the living room... on a card table covered in newspaper... so that I could watch HGTV. Classy, I know :)

I found these oops paint samples in the garage paint cupboard and decide on a creamy white {left side}. Sorry but I have no idea what color the sample was, there is no tag on it.

The seams needed some help, which gave me a perfect excuse to try out this cool stuff:

It is spackling that goes on pink and dries white. That way you know when it is ready to sand. How awesome is that? Totally what this haphazard crafter needs!

I the meantime, I set out to remove the big ole staples which turned out to be big ole nails!

Hello, no wonder they hurt so much when I accidentally smooshed my hand into them.

Once all nasty nails were removed, puttied and dried I used a sanding block and a toothpick to get all the excess off and gave it 3 coats of yummy, creamy white.

While it dried, I headed over to one of my favorite craft stores, Ben Franklin, and had the words "Laundry Tip" printed out in a favorite font, Coventry Gardens. It's kinda hard to tell, but the letters are a deep chocolate brown.

Once everything was dry, it was time to apply the vinyl, have studdly hubby hang it up and stand back to admire.

I love it! The "tip" was written in Chalk Ink Markers which I absolutely am in love with. Want to get me something for my birthday this month? Colored Chalk Ink Markers are on my wish list. {Hubby, are you reading this?}

How have you been using chalk boards lately?

Joining a Laundry Room themed party over here:

 And a "Wrap Up" Over here :) 

All photos taken by yours truly.