Yeah, it's laundry in the basement. But...

11 years ago

...I'm trying to make it the nicest basement laundry that I can, given my constraints.

We are currently finishing our basement to add a rec room and a bathroom. As part of that, we've moved the laundry location. It used to be right in the middle of the back wall, not in any defined space. It's now located in a wide hallway that leads from the main basement to the part of the basement that's under the house's addition.

We're in the homestretch and I'm getting pretty excited. The new washer and dryer got installed last week, and our contractor just installed my folding counter, lights and shelves. Here's our starting point with the washer and dryer in their original location (future rec room):

After some reworking of the ducts, the machines were moved to this space...before (the window on the right is in the soon-to-be-completed bathroom, in the shower):

after:

I'm (im)patiently waiting for the plumber to come and install my cool vintage utility sink which will have a wall mounted faucet and a shelf above for soap, bleach, etc.:

Across the hall from the machines used to look like this:

But now it looks like this:

Here's a long shot. The bathroom is the doorway on the left and the furnace area is the doorway on the right. Straight ahead is the part of the basement that is under our kitchen addition.

I still have a few details to work out and will be asking for help with a few of them. I hope I didn't bore you all with my space. I'm just excited and wanted to share!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (30)

graywings123
11 years ago
I'm envious!
sis2two
11 years ago
What a great transformation! I love that built in table that will be so nice for folding clothes. Great light fixtures! Can't wait to see it when it's finished. Thanks for sharing.
Related Discussions
Basement Laundry
Q
Comments (28)
Our laundry room was in the basement, and we also had a chute. I loved the laundry chute as I could make clothes disappear, although I HATED the pile of clothes it turned into in the basement. With this arrangement, I found: 1) I hated going into the basement to sort the clothes; 2) Hated going there for starting a load; 3) Hated going there to switch the load from the wash to the dryer; 4) Hated bringing up the clothes to fold them (because I sure wasn't going to fold them in the basement, which was very far away from the bedrooms; 5) Hated going back down there to do it all over again in 40 minutes. Because of my W/D being in the basement, I HATED laundry like I've never hated it before. Really, think about this. When you go to sell your house, it will be to your advantage to have a main floor laundry, assuming your bedrooms are on the same floor. Here's something else...most people think they want a big laundry room. I can tell you I had one, and it was a mess, always needing cleaning. I have NEVER needed a laundry sink, since if I'm soaking clothing, I do it in the washer. Soak, spin, rinse, spin. See how easy that was? Look at my Luna Laundry System. Not only will your clothes be sorted before you even do the laundry, it will be convenient! This was one of the best remodeling we've done to simplify our lives. Here is a link that might be useful: Luna Laundry System
...See More
I did it! Dungeoness utility/laundry to whimisical Pics
Q
Comments (24)
Thanks for all the compliments Yes les it is 'thank you' now that it's done -during the process - I did think of you - more like I couldn't wait til you saw the results - so thank you Oceanna - I think I will give the mod podge a shot good idea thanks -Skirt - hmmm that is a good idea - Let me dig through my fabrics or find some inspirational one string of lights took 2 tries - 1st one was an ORB finish - got them all up - and then they didn't work (after I tested them prior to hanging) - decided a different finish would look better - anele - er where is your dungeon? I do enjoy the space soooo much more - thanks all
...See More
Build a wall to close off basement from house?
Q
Comments (23)
That makes sense the water is going to the sewer drain and not a sewer line! I'm surprised the concrete is the expensive part--- maybe you're in a difficult location where it would be hard to get the concrete there? In our case the expensive part is the sheer overwhelming physical labor of it all. The contractor came back today and I had done some digging above the old coal on the outside as well as inside it (in the basement) and had an unpleasant surprise (are there any pleasant surprises with this house?). Apparently, like everything else with this house, they cob-jobbed the coal chute closed by throwing bricks into it and pouring a thin slab on top. I don't know what caused the avalanche of dirt (and insulation) on the bottom inside the basement, but I do know that there is no concrete floor under it like there is in the rest of the basement! We assumed it was concrete and that the dirt avalanche could just be shoveled out. Course not. We had a lot of rain a few days ago and as I shoveled up some dirt inside the basement, expecting to see a concrete floor, instead it was just more dirt and a growing pool of water. The contractor thinks there is water coming up from the ground as well as through the wall. So that changed our plan a bit since they're going to have to excavate down outside the house to the basement floor level, pour a footer, build a cinderblock wall to properly seal off the stupid coal chute, and then do some waterproofing inside (clean out dirt, install drain in floor into sump pump which is fortunately only about a foot away, pour clean gravel on top, cover with encapsulating material). On the exterior he thinks it should just be graded away with dirt and with a hardscape/mulch/rocks/something, no plantings. The total is now up to $8500. I'm a little shocked that it's that inexpensive, for all the work they'd be doing (pouring a footer sounds like it would be exorbitantly expensive, right?). He also isn't going to be doing the concrete on the other side of the deck (under the kitchen window) since he thinks the water on that side is also coming up from the ground (sheesh) and it wouldn't do much good. So they're just going to grade the ground there with dirt. I asked him about a door at the bottom of the stairs and he said he could put up some of that encapsulating material and have it hang down over the opening, which would be better than nothing since an actual door isn't feasible. It sounds like you did more than your due diligence with getting bids and planning, so I really hope it works out for you! It's got to help somewhat, at least, if not get rid of the water 100%. If your water table is high (like it is here, apparently) then the french drains won't be 100%, but you'd probably know that by now. My husband is still digesting all this information, but if all goes well we'll be having it done early September probably. Good luck with everything!!
...See More
Opinions on moving laundry room TO the basement
Q
Comments (23)
sjhockeyfan, sorry, just got back to this post. Well, when I had mine in a basement, there was a floor drain right next. When my son got locked out, and came in the basement window, he accidently knocked the drain hose loose. I didnt notice, and started a load of laundry. I went back down when it was finished, and saw what had happened. Very minor cleanup, that took about 3 or 4 minutes, because, all the water had run down the floor drain. Forward, several years, and we moved to Kentucky, not many basements here, so had a main floor laundry. I started a load of clothes, and was unpacking boxes, and getting settled, when a grandchild came down the hall and wanted to know why everything was wet. I went running, and the drain hose hadnt been fastened correctly apparently by the installers. End result, in house for 1 wk, had to replace laundry room vinyl, where water ran under it, had to replace, hall carpet and padding, and that led to replacement of dining room, which had the same carpet. Fast forward a few years, and I started laundry, and went outside to do some gardening, and came in to flooding all the way to the kitchen. The valve on back of the machine had failed to close, and water kept on running. We were able to save the kitchen floor, but, dining room, and hallway, and one bathroom, needed several weeks of work, to get them done again. In 2009, we sold that house, and bought another. We looked really hard for one with a basement, but, couldnt find anything, so I still have a main floor laundry. Hubby has since passed away, and I have kind of thought about the idea of moving back north, and if I should decide to do that in the future, you can bet, there will be a basement laundry. :-)
...See More
anitamo
11 years ago
Loving it so far.
DLM2000-GW
11 years ago
I think you have your terminology wrong. What you had BEFORE was a laundry in the basement. What you have NOW is a laundry in the lower level!!! Great transformation.
cooperbailey
11 years ago
Agreed- you now have a beautiful laundry room. And I am envious of that vintage sink! I look forward to more photos.
Vertise
11 years ago
That's an amazing transformation! I would love to have a space like that.

Paint color please ;)
User
11 years ago
I would come do laundry there anytime !! I can hardly wait to see all the decorative touches you add...I can see some cute art prints framed on the walls of "washer women" or clothes blowing on a line..I dunno something whimsical . It is a WONDERFUL space. c

Here is a link that might be useful: washer women art
annkh_nd
11 years ago
Gorgeous! Proof that functional space can also be beautiful.
teacats
11 years ago
Excellent transformation!! Brillant use of the space -- and adding very functional things like a laundry and utility sink, a bathroom and a work table!!

Very well done indeed! :)

Please post more photos as your project progresses -- always fun to see the changes! Thanks for posting! :)
Fun2BHere
11 years ago
I love it! I'm so envious of that long folding counter. Beautiful transformation.
arlosmom
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks all. According to my contractor, the plumber is supposed to come this afternoon to install the sink, but I've heard that before...a few times so far. Hopefully I'll have sink pictures by tonight. Fingers crossed.

Snookums, the paint is BM Manchester Tan, my default neutral, with trim in BM Soft Chamois, my default trim color. They look a lot different in the basement though with very little natural light.

Trailrunner, I absolutely love the art in your link. I'm trying to stay away from "cute" decorations, but those washer women are REAL art. Love it. Hmmm...where to obtain prints?

I'm going to try to decorate mostly with things I already have, with only a few purchased additions. So far, I have a vintage green retractable clothesline that I plan to use. I also have an old clothespin bag in pillow ticking that I've had/used for a while. I need to root around in the attic where I know I have mason jars of buttons, a couple of baskets and some ironstone that doesn't have other homes.

Thanks for sharing my excitement!
mustangs81
11 years ago
Basement...Not fair! LOL You must be having so much fun with this amazing transformation.

I loved decorating my laundry room, I found this on art.com. I'm sure a lot of the ones on TR's link can be found there too.
arlosmom
Original Author
11 years ago
mustangs, your laundry is so inviting. I spent some time yesterday at art.com and liked a lot of the options they had. I'm mulling. I don't want to start moving nice things into the space quite yet though since there is still so much messy work to be done in all the surrounding areas of the basement.

So the plumber did end up coming yesterday. He was here all afternoon and when he left at dinnertime, I had this!:

Yea! I've got my ironing board tucked into the space to the left. It really needs a facelift. I'm going today to look at fabric for a new ironing board cover and a can of white spray paint to cover those ugly avacado green legs.
Bethpen
11 years ago
Arlos Mom, what a great transformation! I'm very jealous of your space. The sink is adorable!

Beth P.
cooperbailey
11 years ago
Love love that sink! keep the photos coming as you accessorize!
User
11 years ago
OHOHOH...stop....look at link below before you buy a cover !! Etsy is your friend for the real deal !!

Here is a link that might be useful: vintage ironing board cover
Vertise
11 years ago
Manchester Tan! Thanks. Looks so creamy and sunny.

Love those pretty covers!

Great touch with the sink!

This post was edited by snookums2 on Fri, Apr 12, 13 at 10:40
Annie Deighnaugh
11 years ago
Excellent! Almost makes you want to do laundry!
dedtired
11 years ago
How lovely! I'd stop avoiding the laundry of I had a space like that. My washer and dryer are in a basement that is a lot like you old spcae, but smaller. I hate going down there. Nice work!
arlosmom
Original Author
11 years ago
I always actually liked doing laundry, even before my new laundry area. Now I keep peering into the hamper to see if I have a full load of anything to wash. I'm really lucky that the only chore I dread is cleaning. And now I have help with that, so life is excellent.

Trailrunner, I spend some time looking on etsy today and found some ironing board cover possibilities that I liked, but didn't find one that screamed "pick me!!". I actually found and ordered one on the Pottery Barn website that I really like. It's pretty neutral, but it has to play nice with my clothespin bag which hangs next to the ironing board. I'll show you when it gets here.

Tomorrow DH will help me hang the shelf above the sink. I bought a glass container for my liquid laundry soap at the Container Store. In the attic I scrounged a basket for a hamper and another to hold hangers for the shelf under the folding counter. I'll take a couple of pictures tomorrow when I have that part pulled together. Baby steps.
User
11 years ago
As a "laundry closet" owner, I really envy you that true room. I know you'll have even more enjoyment doing laundry than before. But, if you ever need help, perhaps "washer men" art will be persuasive...

Here is a link that might be useful: Washer Men Art
gsciencechick
11 years ago
It seems funny to get excited over a laundry space, but I can't help myself. LOVE the vintage sink. Everything is fabulous.

Our laundry is in the kitchen (sigh), and I would so love a separate space.
bestyears
11 years ago
TJ Maxx has really cute ironing board covers -cheaper than you can make them....
lascatx
11 years ago
Another one envious of your space. Of course, we don't have basements at all, so it seems like folks who do almost have another house. Especially love the vintage sink.

I got my ironing board covers (2) at Home Goods. Probably the same or similar selection to TJ Maxx and they were the only fabrics I didn't hate at half the price of anything else I found. I didn't think of Etsy or making my own.
mtnrdredux_gw
11 years ago
I didn't open this before because of the title. But, wow, beautiful!
arlosmom
Original Author
11 years ago
Exciting happenings in the laundry room this morning. We hung the other shelf that DH made and added a paper towel holder to the bottom of it. It looks crooked in the picture, but it isn't. I also added an aluminum wastebasket that I bought years ago at the Georgetown flea. I always liked it, but DH doesn't like open wastebaskets, so it's been up in the attic:

What to you think of a few vintage globes for the shelf above the folding area? I've always loved globes and already have two small bank-sized ones. A couple more and I'll have a collection! : )
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
11 years ago
Ha-me, too, mtn!

That is a beautiful space now. I fully understand your wanting to find things to wash! Enjoy!

Oh, that sink is wonderful. Wish I had kept the one from my parents house. There is nothing better than a huge set tub! Lucky you.
gr8daygw
11 years ago
arlosmom ~Your new space is so great! It looks fabulous! Congrats on a great job, I know you must love it! So clean and pretty.

TRAILRUNNER, I just have to tell you thank you so much for posting the washerwomen art. I have been looking for a painting (or poster of a painting) that I saw in a movie on TCM made in 1948 called "Apartment for Peggy" starring Jeanne Crain and William Holden. They were at the laundromat and when the scene started they had the camera trained on a painting of a woman doing laundry by the river and if memory serves with a laundry basket on her head. I have never forgotten it and have looked for those types of paintings for years for my LR. I love old movies and from time to time it comes on TCM but haven't seen it lately. I think I will be able to find something from the art your posted and at an affordable price! Yea! Thank you so much for posting that link. You just never know what you will find on GW. Thanks again.
oldbat2be
11 years ago
Love the space and the renovation. What a great idea. Our laundry is in the basement too, though we've made room for washer/dryer in the pantry for when we get older. It sure will be hard to break the habit of using the basement as our hamper: open door, toss clothes down:)

Are you planning a radio/TV/iPad setup for your viewing pleasure as you fold?
funkyart
11 years ago
I am in the middle of doing laundry in my basement-- and I am going to make your new space my "happy place"! Great job.. and great use of the space!

Yeah, it's laundry in the basement. But...

Comments (30)

graywings123

sis2two

Related Discussions

anitamo

DLM2000-GW

cooperbailey

Vertise

User

annkh_nd

teacats

Fun2BHere

arlosmom
Original Author

mustangs81

arlosmom
Original Author

Bethpen

cooperbailey

User

Vertise

Annie Deighnaugh

dedtired

arlosmom
Original Author

User

gsciencechick

bestyears

lascatx

mtnrdredux_gw

arlosmom
Original Author

cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)

gr8daygw

oldbat2be

funkyart

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Yeah, it's laundry in the basement. But...

Comments (30)

Related Discussions

arlosmomOriginal Author

arlosmomOriginal Author

arlosmomOriginal Author

arlosmomOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

arlosmom
Original Author

arlosmom
Original Author

arlosmom
Original Author

arlosmom
Original Author