I did it! Dungeoness utility/laundry to whimisical Pics

jejvtr

16 years ago

earlier thread on what to do here

It's actually been a 2 yr process (start/stop)

- Basement dry locked - old machines out

- Should I attempt to DIY tile?

Why not - lot's of help & encouragement fr. Tile expert on GW - Bill v

Then a few wks ago with doing so much laundry - I decided this needed to be fun & whimisical - so I painted, did some sewing, crafting

Les suggested more paint ideas -

So paint I did - & the scope became larger & larger - even the 11yo ds asked "aren't you going to paint that wall too?" - OK

A few more touches needed - & I had prob w/the lovely craft paper on the table I used spray adhesive & next day I tried to put latex based Poly which caused wrinkling of the paper so I pulled it up - I do have more - any suggestions there or anywhere appreciated

As you enter utility side of basement (gee I could paint those cubbies too)

Glad I had purchased a mat cutter a while ago - very handy for these cuts

Rug find at Home decorators

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Comments (24)

User
16 years ago
Oh, what fun, fun, FUN! I love the life you've breathed into this space! I'll bet doing laundry is actually a pleasure now! :-)
marys1000
16 years ago
Hey if your going to learn to tile and experiment your basement is a good place to start - and look how well it turned out!
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As you have them, I prefer option 3 ,,, with option 1 coming in a very distant second and I would omit option 2 (that one doesn't work for me at all). I would definitely put in a counter top, regardless of the option. My issue with option 1 (and to a lesser extent 3), is the lack of space between the top of the counter and bottom of the upper cabinet. For me, a little more than 1 ft is not enough space for that area to be functional. I'd shift the cabinets higher (since you have 2 feet of unused space up above). At least, in option 3 you can set a laundry basket in the middle and have it be accessible. But even my smallest laundry basket wouldn't fit in the space between the upper cabinets and the w/d. Even if you don't use laundry baskets, I don't think there is enough space for that area to be functional for say piling a stack of clothes and folding them. Even if you air fold directly out of the dryer and just stack on the counter, 13" or 14" is not a lot of space. I would shift up the upper cabinets (and use a step stool to access them) as this would provide me with more counter area, but that's just me. I have a rod over my W/D too, but I don't use it. Because anything hanging on it would be in the way, as I also prefer to use the space over my W/D to fold. I use a valet bar on the wall opposite the W/D, so anything hanging is out of my way. A suggestion, it might sound silly, but you might want to use tape and cardboard boxes (or whatever) to mock up your proposed plan in your existing space to see if it'll work for you. Good luck!!
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Rachel, My kitchen is/was an identical layout as yours, just flip it over. I love seeing yours and how we can work with our small areas. Also love the colors and keeping with your home's history. The laundry area is open to my kitchen, I suspect they removed the wall you have. They left a half wall where your furnace is and added a wall/door facing the outside door. This left the laundry open to kitchen. The furnace area is a fairly large space/room, but I was able to install the water softener in there and also use it for storing brooms, ironing board, etc. My door to the living room is on the opposite wall as yours so there are cabinets/counter up to this door forming an L shaped kitchen. Ceiling heigth cabinets were built on the kitchen/furnace room wall which took away any eating area. I removed them, big wasted space and now have a dining area there. With all, I still had the same dilemma as you with the water heater. Mine is right in the open and next to the WD. This couldn't be enlcosed with the furnace as it would not have allowed enough walking area between cabinets/counter which were built to the outside door. If these were not new and/or take a lot of work to change, I'd put the wall back up to close off the laundry area....have my days when a laundry in kitchen view isn't my thing. With the WH sitting right next to my washer/dryer, I used one of the ceiling height cabinets taken from kitchen to enclose it (surprising, it fit perfectly). The back is open for circulation, doors can be open for access and it can be moved if needed. The other cabinet fit perfectly beside the opposite side of W/D. Pure luck...still have the storage. I can't tell how much room you have between the washer and furnace. But you could enclose all of this with folding shutter doors...keep the air circulation needed...from wall to wall across the laundry, which would give you a large hidden storage area. They now have full ceiling height shutters/doors availabe at HD and are inexpensive. Since the furnace filter area can't be covered, it looks like there isn't enough room, one of the doors could be added from ceiling/wall down to the filter. At least all the duct work and plumbing would be hidden and you can still get to everything if needed. Hopefully this doesn't sound like rambling....it is pure creative tasks in making our small homes look/feel right.
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jrmom, we have the Distinctions (formerly Mills Pride, they're changing over the name) cabinets in our laundry room and they are pretty impressive for the price, quite sturdy. We have 2 30x30 wall cabs, it was something like $175 for the two. The door selection kind of stunk but we chose the Gatsby white Shaker style as being the most innocuous of the available options. It's not thermofoil, it's sort of a matte sprayed-on finish that's halfway between paint and plastic - kind of strange but for the price I ain't gonna complain. DH, who is TOTALLY unhandy, was able to put the two cabinets together complete with attaching the doors in less than two hours (second one went much faster than the first), and another hour to hang them. I think we're going to stack a couple of 30wx42h wall cabinets for a pantry in the mudroom since none of their pantry cabinets really work for us. Sorry I can't help you on pictures oakleyok, but my mudroom/laundry is still not presentable by a looooooongshot - no paint, ugly utility rug on the floor, no window treatments (haven't figured that part out yet), let's not talk about what PO put up for moldings... And yes, Gallery threads take FOREVER to load - if you are on dialup I wouldn't even try. Usually what I do is pop open another browser window (just click "File" and "New Window") and go do something else while the thread is loading.
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sus I didn't read the above responses - so pardon in advance if this is redundant. If you are definitely going to be there for 7yrs, you decide how you would like your home to be during that time. Do pros/cons of relocating - then move on. If you leave laundry there - think vertical! Yes, look into stacking units make sure you have all the space & clearances necessary to do so - ck and double check, it's not just the dimensions of the machines but the duct work for dryer, hook ups for washer - & enough height in the area I would consider making or purchasing a nice panel drapery there that can easily be pulled aside to do laundry - **Do I see pocket doors? closed up when complete. Also, vertical on shelves storage - creative ways of making that little space more efficient - how often do you iron? do you have another spot to dash the board. I would only have what is absolutely daily use in that area. If you leave the laundry there - I don't think you really have space for mud area - other than putting in some hooks to hang a jacket or 2 - scroll down look at tiny laundry room transformation http://realsouthernliving.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html http://www.remodelaholic.com/2010/08/laundry-room-design-with-craft-room-all.html Link below to images Here is a link that might be useful: laundry areas
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tradewind_64
16 years ago
It looks really good! How nice that you made a cheery spot for yourself. I am LOVIN' turquoise right now, too, so...that color makes me go YUMMMMMM.

Joanna
User
16 years ago
By the way - was that "Bill V." one and the same as Bill Vincent? He's a sweetheart. :-)
snookums
16 years ago
Looks great! I love what you did to close off underneath the stairs too (but still leave it accessible for storage, I assume)

The only thing I'd suggest are some BIG rugs by the machines and by the table - I like to walk around my house barefoot and I can only imagine how cold that basement floor can get. Maybe a large runner from where the stairs land to across the table area, to a larger rectangular rug by the machines?

Very fun and whimsical.
teacats
16 years ago
WEll done!!!! Brillant ideas and hard work and well worth the effort for such a fun and useful place!

Jan
les917
16 years ago
Way to go! Fun, cheery, and great style! Love the rug, too.
jejvtr
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks all -
auntj - Yes that is the famous Bill Vincent - what a wonderful help he has been to me over the past 2yrs

Special thanks to you Les - you have some real motivating ideas - which turn into much work! Glad I forged ahead - now just need some final touches
les917
16 years ago
LOL Jejvtr. Don't know if I should say "You're welcome" or "I'm sorry"! :^)
ttodd
16 years ago
I think the colors are wonderful!
oceanna
16 years ago
Wow! It looked like the setting for a horror movie before and now it's bright and cheery. Great job!

Hmmm... just taking a stab at your counter top there. I just decoupaged something... did Mod Podge (though Elmers would have worked no doubt) under the paper, then a couple of layers of it over the paper. Right now I'm spar varnishing (water based) on top of that and it seems to be doing fine. The spar varn is giving it shine. No wrinkling up of the paper. Maybe you can try that? I really do love the look you're doing on your counter -- how fun!

Take a bow, lady!
daisyadair
16 years ago
Really gorgeous! Fun colors and Fun patterns!
amysrq
16 years ago
Fabuloso! I think I'd actually look forward to doing laundry in that space!
sarahmakes6
16 years ago
Looks great! I love the string of under-counter lights. I might try that in my laundry room.
oceanna
16 years ago
Are you going to sew a skirt to go around your table?
anele_gw
16 years ago
Er, when are you coming over to do my dungeon? :)

Thanks for the inspiration!!!!
texashottie
16 years ago
I love the lights too! And a gathered skirt around the table like Oceanna said would be fun---it would add another element of texture. Fantastic facelift! You could have your own show! :)
jejvtr
Original Author
16 years ago
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
brutuses
16 years ago
You did a great job. What a transformation. Anything to make washing and drying clothes fun!!
finz2left
16 years ago
I'm in love!!! Heck, that space would motivate me to fold laundry rather than leave it in baskets ;-)
jejvtr
Original Author
16 years ago
brut - thanks - it has changed how I feel when I head down there now
finz - the trick is to not put clean & dry laundry in a basket - fold as you take it out of the dryer
loribee
16 years ago
So cheerful! Good for you!
mustangs81
16 years ago
Great job! You certainly tackled an imposing challenge and came out on top.
valzone5
16 years ago
What a cheery space - great job!

I did it! Dungeoness utility/laundry to whimisical Pics

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