Laundry Room Progress

When we began the basement renovation/remodel, we talked for hours about a new layout down there that would be the most user friendly and much more aesthetically pleasing than the previous layout.  The laundry area was one of the areas that has been switched all around.

Previously you had to enter the basement bathroom and then enter the little laundry area. It was small and claustrophobic, and although we freshened it up with some white paint and fabric, it was still small and claustrophobic. It's only redeeming quality was that it had a window, so there was still a little natural light. Here's what it looked like up until two weeks ago.



Then, as we spent yet another weekend on the basement, we ripped everything out of that corner and took everything back to the cinder block walls. This is the part where it gets scary, as things always do when you have it all ripped apart, and haven't begun rebuilding yet. Apparently the previous owners thought that aluminum foil was a great insulator, because they lined the walls with it before putting up paneling. The centipedes apparently really enjoyed the foil, as we found what seemed to be their main nest behind the foil. AHHHH! Luckily I have a wonderful husband and a really nice brother who dealt with all of that for me.  And I am happy to report that many centipedes were harmed in the re-making of this laundry area.  Here's how the new laundry corner looked after we had taken it back to basics.







Yep, it was pretty scary looking while it was all nekked. Much like many of us, I am afraid. ;-) I knew that I wanted the new little laundry area to be a fun splash of color, so I painted the cinder block turquoise. Fun! Before painting I used a wire brush to clear off any flaking paint, and then cleaned up everything with the shop vac. My BFF Kilz created a good surface for the paint to stick to, and I went ahead and did two coats to really seal the walls. Then I went to town with my turquoise, and did two coats with that as well.



So now the washer and dryer are on the opposing wall (same corner) of the wall they used to be on, and the laundry sink is in the middle of the two, instead of being stuck in a corner, backwards. (!?!) It's actually usable now, which I am finding to be quite the novel concept. :-)



Above the washer and dryer there used to be a single pane window that got no light because it was underneath our back deck. We replaced it with a plywood panel that allows the dryer and the bathroom fan to vent through it. Eventually I will paint the panel too, so that it blends in a little more.



I'm looking for just the right light fixture to go in this little area, and I've got grand plans for storage and making the whole area a little prettier, as well as some collapsible doors to close off the whole area when not in use.  I'll keep updating you as we make progress.  Which brings me to my next question: which accent color(s) should I use with the turquoise?

Orange?

Red?

Light Green?

Watermelon?

Yellow?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on what accent to use. I'm looking forward to your comments!

Linked to Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch

Make It For Monday @ Cottage Instincts

Make Your Monday @ Twice Remembered

DIY Day @ A Soft Place To Land

Get Your Craft On @ Today's Creative Blog

Talented Tuesdays @ My Frugal Family

Trash to Treasure Tuesday @ reinvented

Thrifty Thursday @ Tales from Bloggeritaville

Transformation Thursday @ Shabby Chic Cottage

Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple

Finished For Friday @ Lit and Laundry

Share Your Story @ Remodelaholic

Show and Tell Friday @ Romantic Home

Dressed Up Dining Room, Part Deux

Back in May I showed you what half of our dining room looks like. I'm back to show you another wall that has been finished. The remaining wall looks ok, but I am still not happy with this room. I'll be coming up with an inspiration board in the next few weeks for this room, as it is driving me crazy. I need change. Change is good!

Anyways, on the wall opposite the large window there used to be an odd cabinet above the pass through, and shelves on either side of the cabinet. Below the cabinet there was wood paneling (shocker!) and then below the paneling there was a weird burlap wallpaper stuff. (Like in the entryway) It was hideous, and it felt like the room was closing in on you because of the overhanging cabinet.

Here's the before. Shudder.

We're obviously working on other projects right now (Project Curb Appeal, and the basement) but I couldn't stand looking at this wall any longer. So one morning I grabbed a crowbar and a hammer and went to town on that wall. Doing it by myself was definitely harder and more time consuming than if Lover had been around for me to borrow his muscles, but I am proud of the fact that I did this all myself. Once all the hideousness was off I spent three days spackling holes and sanding, and then brought out the paint.

Here are the before and afters:

There is still a built in desk in this room that needs to be removed, and I am on an eternal search for a corner china cabinet. I know what I want, it looks like this:

but I can't find it anywhere. Any ideas?

Linked to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Dressed Up Dining Room, Part Deux

Back in May I showed you what half of our dining room looks like. I'm back to show you another wall that has been finished. The remaining wall looks ok, but I am still not happy with this room. I'll be coming up with an inspiration board in the next few weeks for this room, as it is driving me crazy. I need change. Change is good!

Anyways, on the wall opposite the large window there used to be an odd cabinet above the pass through, and shelves on either side of the cabinet. Below the cabinet there was wood paneling (shocker!) and then below the paneling there was a weird burlap wallpaper stuff. (Like in the entryway) It was hideous, and it felt like the room was closing in on you because of the overhanging cabinet.

Here's the before. Shudder.

We're obviously working on other projects right now (Project Curb Appeal, and the basement) but I couldn't stand looking at this wall any longer. So one morning I grabbed a crowbar and a hammer and went to town on that wall. Doing it by myself was definitely harder and more time consuming than if Lover had been around for me to borrow his muscles, but I am proud of the fact that I did this all myself. Once all the hideousness was off I spent three days spackling holes and sanding, and then brought out the paint.

Here are the before and afters:

There is still a built in desk in this room that needs to be removed, and I am on an eternal search for a corner china cabinet. I know what I want, it looks like this:

but I can't find it anywhere. Any ideas?

Linked to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Making Some Room

I've mentioned a few times that we've started demolition in the basement. We're kind of overwhelmed by the amount of garbage that this demo is generating. There isn't really anything that can be done about it, but it is slowing the process down as we're making garbage faster than we can get rid of it each week.

However, we are making progress, and here is some proof. Last weekend we worked on the stairwell, as someone had decided to actually narrow the stairwell by about a foot and a half. The stairwells to the upstairs and the attic are about four feet wide, and the basement stairs had been narrowed to about 2 1/2 feet. They also lowered the ceiling at the base of the stairs. Although Lover and I are both on the short side, we do frequently have people over that are a bit taller. We thought they would appreciate being able to stand up straight at the bottom of the stairs.

Here's what the stairs looked like before:

And here's a "during" picture:

It really feels a lot more open already. I'm looking forward to having this project done!

Linked to Do It Yourself Thursday and Transformation Thursday

Making Some Room

I've mentioned a few times that we've started demolition in the basement. We're kind of overwhelmed by the amount of garbage that this demo is generating. There isn't really anything that can be done about it, but it is slowing the process down as we're making garbage faster than we can get rid of it each week.

However, we are making progress, and here is some proof. Last weekend we worked on the stairwell, as someone had decided to actually narrow the stairwell by about a foot and a half. The stairwells to the upstairs and the attic are about four feet wide, and the basement stairs had been narrowed to about 2 1/2 feet. They also lowered the ceiling at the base of the stairs. Although Lover and I are both on the short side, we do frequently have people over that are a bit taller. We thought they would appreciate being able to stand up straight at the bottom of the stairs.

Here's what the stairs looked like before:

And here's a "during" picture:

It really feels a lot more open already. I'm looking forward to having this project done!

Linked to Do It Yourself Thursday and Transformation Thursday