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Remodeling Organizing the Home Laundry Room

My rookie mistake. thoughts?

2 years ago

So, one of the last things I need to do is put storage back in the laundry room. All we ever had was a big bi-fold closet with a basic coated metal shelf + rail. It was never organized. We tore out the closet and patched the walls & ceiling and decided to find cabinets to replace and improve what we had. I really couldn’t justify the cost of custom cabinets, so I tried finding stock or special order cabinets. I decided I could live without a coat closet in there, but I needed a tall cabinet for long items like brooms and ironing board, etc. All the cabinets I was finding do not have those tall compartments in the tall units.

Except one - it was something at Home Depot online. I ordered two tall pantry units and a base for the sink and a recycling center. Basic white shaker. I assumed I could maybe paint them something fun if I wanted to later. I realized now that they’re sitting in the garage waiting for install that they are thermal foil laminate, not painted. I’m feeling really stupid for not catching that. I guess it’s not a deal breaker that they’re white and have to stay that way, but more generally I’m just wondering if these are too low quality for my LR. I don’t know - do I just keep them and allow that I may replace them in 5 years and call it even, or keep looking? My brain is really in a circular dilemma over this stupid issue. First-world problems, right?

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Comments (5)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
2 years ago
How tall are they and how tall is your ceiling please?
Therese N
Original Author
2 years ago
We have 8ft ceilings and got 90”, why?
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"Nobody buys soil in a bag to put on the garden... Dirt is, after all, just dirt..." I think I'd have to disagree with both of those statements. People often buy bags of topsoil, garden soil, etc., to add to their garden. Also, at least when it comes to winter sowing, for me, dirt is not just dirt. I find the potting mix used is one of the main factors in the success (or lack thereof) of my winter sowing. Lisa, I'm a bit confused by your post. If you are just worried about whether the seeds will germinate, I think if it were me I would just leave the containers and see how they do. If, as I think it might be, your concern is that you would like to re-use the containers, then perhaps you could, as someone suggested, dump those containers in the garden and then re-use them with suitable potting mix. But I don't think those 14 containers are "certainly goners". If containers are your concern, you have some options. Ask co-workers, friends, neighbors, relatives to save some. Post on freecycle asking for some. Go out dressed in black on recycling night, lol. But again, I wouldn't dump those containers just to re-use 14 containers. You might be pleasantly surprised, and you can find 14 new containers fairly easily. Darn, if all else fails, eat a lot of cake (in big clear containers) and drink a lot of milk with it. We've got two more feet of snow coming tomorrow.... sounds like a fun (if fattening) way to pass the storm... :) Dee
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Cavimum
2 years ago
I personally would not worry about it since this is a laundry room. If I was house-shopping, thermofoil cabinets in the laundry room would not be a deal breaker, while it would in the kitchen. JMO
apple_pie_order
2 years ago
Are they still returnable? Try moving a tall one into the laundry room. Open and close the doors several times every day for a week (put clean towels, paper towels or something else lightweight and non-damaging in them). If you dislike them after a week, you will not grow to like them in the future and you can return them, put them to use in the garage, or give them away.
Therese N
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
As an aside, I am really surprised at how lacking the industry is in outfitting laundry/utility rooms, especially since they've been brought out of the basement now for at least three decades! Europe has really nice cabinet systems, but nothing here in the USA. I was looking for 3-4 functions in cabinetry - Wardrobe to replace the coat closet, Pantry storage for all the junk, and a sink base for the new laundry tub, and possibly some kind of pedestals for the W/D. I didn't think I was asking for all that much. There are really only two choices, kitchen cabinets or closet organizers, and they never play nice with each other. Nothing that matches the other. I gave up on the pedestal and wardrobe, but then found that the pantry cabinets are not tall enough inside. Usually the fixed shelf is a 60/40 type of config., and nothing with enough room for long handled brooms, etc. I really cannot afford custom cabinets, and frankly it doesn't make a ton of sense to put that kind of money into a room like that. So, for anyone in the industry who might be reading this - for the love of god, please do something! I cant be the only one who finds this frustrating. I mean look at these. Granted I think modern eurpoean kitchens (IKEA, et al) aren't quite as great as the sturdy wooden kind we're used to, but for laundry/utility rooms, these are brilliant! https://german-kitchens-cardiff.co.uk/utility-rooms-by-schuller/

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