I Might Even Do Some Laundry

At The Point
33 Comments

I just realized I never showed y’all my secret project from a few weeks ago when James was out of town.  So sorry….things move along at a swift speed here at the Point!

Our old farmhouse was built without a laundry room.  A previous owner plumbed the little sunroom in the back and stuck a washer and dryer out there.  When we moved in we added a wall and shelves for a pantry.  This tiny room holds not only the washer, dryer and all of our food but also the water softener and hot water heater.  All of it just sitting there….functioning great but not looking so good.  It drove me crazy….it never felt clean.

This is the way the room looked before (after I cleaned it):

 

And here it is today:

We have these piles of lumber, all worn and warped and mostly useless.

 

I found the straightest pieces (which were FAR from straight) and made three frames to use as support for the long shelf.

Oh!  The story of the shelf is so sweet.  There was nothing in the junk wood pile that I could use for the top, but I didn’t want to spend any money.  I decided to check the Habitat Restore, but they were closed.  Just as I was driving off I noticed a pile by their curb with a sign that read, “Free Stuff.”  There, in the pile, were three plain, hollow core pocket doors.  Their size was perfect for my shelf!  Sing it with me,  ♫ “FREE!!” ♫

Planning how to put this together was slightly complicated.  Part of the shelf would go across the top of the water softener, so I had to make it removable for adding salt.  So the shelf is in two parts. I used two of the doors for the shelf.  They each had to be cut down.

The problem with hollow doors when you cut them down….

So I cut a piece of wood to fit inside.  I needed this to screw the door to the support below.

It took a lot of cypherin’, but we made it work.

Then we got busy with burlap.

First we hot glued it, then we stapled it.  Double strength.

I used old feedsacks and leftover burlap from the shop, and hung it from the shelf to cover the softener and the ceiling to cover the hot water heater.

It was looking OK, but I decided it was time to spend a little money and buy some trim.  It needed something to keep it from looking like I had screwed a free door to a bunch of twisted 2×4’s.

FYI: The little convection oven is what we use in the summer for lunches so the kitchen doesn’t get heated.

The spot between the back door and the window drove me CRAZY.  It’s a risk to get rid of storage, but I decided to do it.

Each thing we removed from these shelves we’d say, “Why were we keeping this?” or “What does this belong to?”  It was mostly junk and the good stuff was pretty easy to find another place for.

Once the shelves were down I hung a dress form that belonged to my grandmother.  LOVE IT!

And now I have a lovely, CLEAN, utility room.

 

Sure I’d love to have custom built cabinets, but this, my friends, cost less than $20.  Everything is tucked away and best of all….I like going in there.  It’s bright, cozy and clean.

It makes me happy.

 

Lining to:

Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Lindsay at Southern Lovely for Show & Share
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays

Kaitlin at Not So Simple Housewife for {Re}Create into Something New
Judy at DIY by Design for Sizzle into Summer
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Jill at French Cupboard for Voilà! French Inspiration on Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Fridays
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

Jen at Tater Tots and Jello for Weekend Wrap Up Party
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special

33 Comments

  5. As someone who can barely handle a pair of scissors and a roll of scotch tape without several crises arising, I remain in awe of your handy woman skills. (Or is that skillz?)

    I wouldn’t be surprised if God doesn’t have you remodeling rooms of heaven once you get there.

    So nice to see someone adding loveliness to all the corners of their house.

    Becky

  6. Hi Lisa! I have been wanting to add a shelf to the top of my washer and dryer and it never crossed my mind to use a door. Your new shelf and burlap curtain look wonderful. Thanks for the inspiration.
    🙂 Sherry

  11. To the Management:

    Thank you for updating PenPoint Laundr-eez– now the best laundromat in K’ville, Texas. I had always wanted to stop here to do my warsh, but with that water heater over there and that shelf filled with stuff you done never used, well, I just passed ye right on by. I promise I’ll never pass ye right on by again.

    Signed,
    Lorna the laundromat queen

  16. I love your blog!!!! Your laundry room looks great. You made me want to go out and build something from my piles of wood scraps in my garage. I wanted to be able to follow your blog through blogger, but I don’t see anywhere to do so. I also homeschool my 4 kiddos. 🙂 Hope you can visit me sometime soon.

  18. I’m so impressed that you use power tools…the blender and vacuum are about as complicated as I get 🙂

  19. Hi Lisa! I am just popping back by to let you know that I will be featuring this post on this week’s TTF party! I hope to see you there again this week! The post will be live Thursday evening. Stop by and grab your “I was featured” button! Have a wonderful day!

  20. Your new utility room turned out fabulous. We girls need to have a decorated space even if it’s for doing the laundry!! thanks for sharing the inspiration and linking up to VIF, xo Debra

  25. I may just hop on over & do laundry at your place now. 🙂 I LOVE this idea! What a big difference that makes. Makes wanting to do the chores around your house a lot easier! Thank you very much for sharing this @ Show & Share!

  28. Wow! Love your laundry room and you are one amazing Lady! I would never would have even thought of doing the carpentry myself! My so-called laundry room needs some pizazz! You have inspired me to do something about it!

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  30. How did I miss this?
    I love it!
    It’s clean, organized, and purty!
    Heck, I might even come do your laundry!
    Been thinking about you. Miss you!!
    It’s been kinda busy around here with our new daughter from Korea.
    Busy, but a good kind of busy!
    HUGS to you, and WASH on!
    ~me

  31. So stinkin’ cute – I have 6 boys and 1 girl (who is as rough and tumble as they come – but always with a bow in her hair) – and I feel your laundry pain!!! So coveting your new laundry hamper!!! Must get a bigger laundry room so I can get one. Must.

    Off to do some grammar with one of littles…

    Blessings!

  32. That’s an awesome project! Another use if you’re not looking for just storage.. is to use the door (or any flat board – I found one hangin’ out in my garage!) and use it for a folding table. I painted the board white and printed pics of my 2 crazy dogs on regular paper and did a fun mod podge (something to look at while folding). All I did was lay the board on top of the washer & dryer and I LOVE it! Easier than constanting clearing off the dining room table.

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