Thursday, April 12, 2012

A Brighter Place to do a Dark Job


 Alright, so it's not that dark of a job but at least now it is a bit brighter.  I painted my entry/laundry room over our break and it looks so much cleaner and fresher. Last year sometime in one of my painting fits I painted that room a muddy gray/brown color.  It just felt so dark in there and just dirty.  
This is what it originally looked like about two years ago:



A bit crowded, the dogs stayed in here as well and it just wasn't working for me.
Here is what it looked like after the painting fit with the muddy color.


Now it was just dark and small and still no room.


  So we built a little locker to put our shoes, hats, mittens, etc.
That seemed to work well but every time we opened the door we would get hooked on the chicken wire and or the kids would get scratched.


So I had enough and last Friday we went and picked up some white paint and went to town.

Here is what it looks like now.


I took off the chicken wire from the locker and we replaced it with beadboard. 
No more poking and scratching and I just love the look of it, much cleaner lines for me.


Picked up a few baskets from Meijer and TJ Maxx to give it that natural coastal feel,



and shopped around the house for some other treasures to add like my whale and some beach grass and rug.
(not sure why there is a phone plug in the laundry room, for the life of me I can't imagine why they put it there)




We also got a new washer, I was done cleaning up floods and having my clothes smell  nasty.  The salesman said that the biggest complaint of the front load washers is the smell but he couldn't tell us why the dumb thing flooded all the time, he thought perhaps we had a lemon......no kidding!
I love my new top loader and now with a bright clean room and a new machine, washing is actually tolerable. :)
There are still a few details that I would like to do like a new light and I have to paint the ceiling which probably would have been smart to do first, but I don't think that way.  I can see by the last picture that I need an outlet cover too.  
Details, details. :)
I love how how it turned out and even though there is less room with the washer and dryer having to be side by side now, it still feels bigger to me.
I heart white paint.

Photobucket


42 comments:

Calypso In The Country said...

Michelle,
The room looks so fresh and open! You did an amazing job. I hate my front loader too. If I forget to leave that stupid door open for one day, the whole room smells. If it breaks, i will probably go back to the top loader too! I have also been toying with the idea of repainting my laundry room in a lighter color too! After seeing yours, I think I may do it...after the 3,000 other things I need to do! Have a great day!
-Shelley

Val said...

Light and bright.....so gorgeous.

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Hi Michelle- love your new laundry room. Looks great. We bought a new washer on Black Friday-- ours is a Maytag. Top loader. I.LOVE.IT.

I think it does a WAY better job than my front loader did. Does yours have an agitator inside? Mine has a small little 'plate' inside, no agitator.

enjoy.

Pat

Brandi said...

Oh Michelle, it's gorgeous. I agree the white paint makes the room look so much bigger. I love all of your coastal touches. Beautiful job, my friend!!

PS. I received my book in the mail yesterday. Thank you so much!!!

Alexis said...

This is such a pretty redo of your laundry room! I agree, it looks more open even though you have the washer and dryer side by side. It's amazing what some paint can do to make things feel better!

Kristin @ Yellow Bliss Road said...

Ok, wow. Seriously, wow! It looks so bright and fresh! I love that you used beadboard on the cabinet - I've always considered doing the chicken wire a few of my cabinets but worried about the scratches. LOVE the idea you used!!

michele said...

me too! it works miracles, doesn't it? the space looks inviting, clean and pure!

bravo, sista.

michele

Sarah @ Cozy.Cottage.Cute. said...

I really like how the washer and dryer are side by side now. It seems to make the room look bigger!

I also love those baskets on the wall. I've been thinking about adding some to our dining room wall but haven't found the right ones yet.

Great job, girl!

tinajo said...

It´s great and airy - good place to work. :-)

Saby said...

Wow that was HUGE transformation! I love the results and the beadboard on the locker. I have to say I absolutely loving that Michigan sign too! Must be something about spring - we are talking about tackling the laundry room next :).

Cassie Bustamante said...

amazing what some nice white paint will do! it is so pretty!

Comeca Jones said...

Its gorgeous but I soooo loved the chicken wire locker.

Anonymous said...

Looks wonderful Bead board can solve many design dilemmas in the home. :-))

NanaDiana said...

It looks so much better. Although I loved the looks of the chicken wire I like the practicality of the beadboard...plus it kind of hides any mess the kids leave!

That is my next job here, too, doing something with my laundry room...wait...2nd project. First up is redoing hubby's office cuz the mess in there drives me crazy everytime I have to walk by it! UGH- xo Diana

Polly said...

looks great, so bright and airy! love all your accessories, and that beadboard door idea was brilliant! we have a phone in our laundry room too!

SLR said...

it looks fantastic! so light and fresh and CLEAN! love the baskets on the walls too and the bead board on the cabinet. i paint backwards too, ceiling last, because i am a moron like that ;)
i have a top loading washer and will never get a front load one after all the smelly/moldy things i hear about them...your new one looks great!

Kim@Snug Harbor said...

It turned out great - looks brighter and it seems more open too.

Tricia said...

Your laundry room looks great...nice and fresh! I love the bead board on the cabinet too.

Hey, was your old washing machine a Kenmore? It looks almost like the one I just got. Ughh, I hate mine!!! It floods all over the place too, especially when I wash towels. I called about it and they told me I have it on too high of a spin speed, but the thing is, when I put it lower they come out sopping wet.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

YES!!!!!! MUCH BETTER! I think the clean lines do it. And unstacking the washer/dryer adds more room! Michelle, you are a master painter and decorator!!!! Anita

Joyce - Quilted Nest said...

light and bright - yeah for you! Love those baskets too!

Lynda @ Happenstance Home said...

So fresh! Love the baskets and the lockers. I have a front loader and have always left the door open a bit when I'm not using it. So far no smell issues. Your room looks really nice! Great idea with the beadboard too cause you can hide any messes.

Robin Johnson said...

Looks amazing now. I love the baskets you picked out. The beadboard looks pretty too, good idea to switch it out.

Sally@threeblondeboyz said...

Oh it's beautiful! I'm at the first stages of designing mine (in my head) and have just spent six hours doing laundry & ironing in anticipation of visitors vacationing here for two weeks (I just want to enjoy the company with no distractions). Your post has really cheered me up because you have made it so bright and fresh. Lots of inspiration for us, thanks so much for sharing, Sally x

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

Your laundry room looks soooo pretty!!! I am crazy in love with the baskets on the wall! The locker is a great piece! I think it would be cute with some gray numbers on it. Have you seen those Pottery Barn lockers? That's what your piece reminds me of.

Anonymous said...

The transformation is beautiful. it's fresh, organized, very beachy and its giving the whole space a very clean appeal. I am loving this laundry Michelle.

Also, I dont know if I have told this to you before, the track on your blog, that plays the first is amazing. It takes me to green hills, blue seas, drift wood and home. I mean every word of it.

beachcomber said...

gorgeous michelle! yep white paint is the best.
x

Kellie Collis said...

Now, that's how laundry should go! It's a lovely change! Have a beautiful weekend, Kellie xx

Natalie @ NorthShore Days said...

It looks amazing Michelle! Love it - white is so the way to go. Im a little obsessed with it. Take care xx Nat

Deborah said...

Hello sweetheart!
Oh my goodness...the white looks so fresh and beautiful!
The beadboard looks fantastic and I love the whole feel of the room.
The baskets are a beachy touch...it all looks like laundry could be actually enjoyable!!
:)
Oh and I adore that lake Michigan sign...so lovely!
I'm so happy for you love!!

All my heart,
Deborah xoxoxooxoxoxoxox

At The Picket Fence said...

Everything looks absolutely beautiful Michelle! The white really does make a huge difference and the baskets on the wall are genius my friend! :-)
Vanessa

Martina said...

Great job - the room looks so inviting now! I must say though, that the wall color in the first picture looked very nice too ... - but change feels good and i admire you for your energy!

Carolyn@Sweet Chaos Home said...

It looks amazing, Michelle! I would actually find laundry to do, just to be in that space :) Looks fresh and clean and bright. Love the rug. Do you know where you got it?

Rae said...

Very pretty, fresh and clean!
It would make me want to do my laundry :), Happy weekend ,friend!

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

So pretty Michelle!
I think I would want to hang out and do laundry!

Pamela said...

Wow, it turned out great, light and airy. I have a great front load washing machine, I have had it FOREVER, it is one of the original ones from Sears and I fear having to try to replace it (once it goes) as I have heard so many horror stories of the newer ones being a pain like yours.

Vintage Home said...

I think your laundry room looks great! We need to do ours (its country rust still from the late 80's....gasp).
So your job is inspiration to me! Glad to read your comment too about the washer, we are due & I wanted to get a top loader too! Glad to hear your testimonial and now I can feel confident getting the top load!
Wonderful job!

Vintage Home said...

p.s.s was doing some back reading and noticed your driftwood mirror!...AMAZING...very inspiring! Thanks!

rjerdee said...

Makeover upon makeover...you're such a busy little bee. Too bad about losing valuable space with the loss of a stackable unit. However, this arrangement looks terrific...very fresh...I always love a single starfish inserted into a grouping.

Anne said...

Michelle, it looks fantastic! You couldn't have picked a fresher, nicer color for the walls, and I love the basket accents.

Kelle Dame said...

So lovely and fresh! I hope my laundry room looks this clean and bright some day!
Kelle
Xoxo

Desire Empire said...

This looks so crisp and fresh. I love how it turned out
Carolyn

the poor sophisticate said...

I'm in love with your stunning home! So excited to be your newest follower!!
-Molly

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