Monday, July 11, 2011

54 Laundry Land: Part 1

As I have somewhat alluded to in the past, we are in the process of finishing up our entire lower level.  Until the last week, we were sort of putsing on it because we only have about 8 million other obligations and things going on, which is why I hadn't really had anything exciting to post on the blog about the whole thing.  {In case you are a new reader to this blog, we had a huge flood in our lower level last summer that required the flooring, trim, doors and furniture to be replaced}.    However... we have a giant shindig taking place this coming weekend, so we really kicked things into high gear to try and get as much done by this Friday.  Enter chuckles now.  We are crazy folks.

So yes, we are replacing all of the flooring {goodbye carpet}, trim and doors.  More on that in a separate post, all about the things we are doing this time around to mitigate the risk of flooding again in the future.  We also decided to take this opportunity to repaint pretty much EVERYTHING.  We really want it to feel all shiny and new when all is said and done.

Today, I am sharing our current progress in our laundry room.  It's actually a room that I used to adore as is, however, the paint was a flat paint sheen {NEVER again in a laundry room}, and it was looking pretty shabby.  Plus, we were putting the new floors in seamlessly throughout the ENTIRE lower level, including the laundry room!  So, it is getting a face lift.

Here it was in it's previous state:


Yes, if you are observant, you will see the dryer was on a 2x4, it was propped up to fit the exhaust in the back.  Talk about one of those things that really drives a gal batty, an uneven washer and dryer combo.  Ugh.

The flooring was a cheapo peal and stick tile, the rug was a victim of the flooding...

And here is how the room is looking this very minute of the day, after a little re-working this weekend:


The floor is IN!  We went with TrafficMaster Allure Ultra from Home Depot.  Straight from the website, here is why we chose the flooring we did:
  • Wood-grain design with a vintage-oak color complements many home interiors
  • Resists marks, scratches and stains and absorbs shocks for easy care
  • Waterproof material offers skid resistance
  • Designed for floating installation over most subfloor materials
  • No underlayment, expansion joints or heavy tools required
  • Luxurious embossing and natural look of wood plank flooring
  • Quiet underfoot
  • Commercial grade wear layer
  • Lifetime residential, 10 year commercial warranty
It actually went in pretty smoothly, we got the whole basement done this weekend {with much help from family of course}.  And we LOVE LOVE LOVE that it's waterproof and so durable.  Smiles all around.

I really wanted to paint the laundry room a crazy green color, but I chickened out.  Which is a first for me since I am such a color fanatic.  I decided to stick with something neutral since I have oodles of colorful accents instead.


The color is Behr's Light French Gray.

Now, I can have all sorts of fun playing off of the colors in the rug to finish up the room.  But there is still SO much to do in there, aside from the obvious trim and door installation.


UPDATE:  Lot's of requests for the rug source, it's from Urban Outfitters.

Oh, and notice, the washer and dryer are now LEVEL!  The hubs and his dad notched out the drywall correctly when putting in the new flooring, so that they would sit nice and perfect for this Mrs.


Forgive the photography.  It's so hard for me to shoot real color in a natural-light-less room.  Yep, zero windows...

Where to go from here?  I think I need some laundry room inspiration.  Ready to ooh and aahh?












Kinda makes me want to go finish things up right now!  Thank you inspiration!!  Stay tuned as we continue to tackle this space and all the rest!


What do you think of the new, more neutral color?  The crazy colorful rug?  The level washer and dryer?  Anyone else whipping up a laundry room makeover?


54 comments:

  1. It looks great! This weekend I finished a mini laundry room makeover! =D I'll be posting about it soon. :)

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  2. Love the changes! We are currently working on our lower level...just finished the floors in the work/craftroom, hall and utility area (our laundry is on our 1st floor, but I'd love to have more room). Glad you posted on the traffic master flooring...we were looking at it for the tv area. Can't wait to see it completed. It can be a daunting task, as we well know.

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  3. Part of me really wants to pout that I don't have trendy awesome washer and dryers in my home -- but I'll survive =)

    I cannot wait to see how you play up those rug colors! Ohmygosh its going to be fantastic! and the floor choice is superb girl! love it!

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

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  4. I'm in love with that rug! Where in the world did you get it?! I need one!

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  5. Oh and here is the link to the rug: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=80&startValue=1&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=18491175&parentid=A_FURN_RUGS&sortProperties=+subCategoryPosition,+product.marketingPriority&navCount=15&navAction=poppushpush&color=&pushId=A_FURN_RUGS&popId=A_DECORATE&prepushId=&selectedProductSize=

    Thanks all!

    xoxo,
    Jen

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  6. Where oh where did you get that AWESOME rug? I have a list of blogs that I follow each day - but I always go to your blog first (with two littles of my own I am always pressed for time). You inspire me!

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  7. We actually had out laundry room on our to-do list last summer, (http://www.ourhouseonpender.com/2010/07/out-to-dry.html) but then one thing lead to another and we never got around to it. However, with a baby on the way and a lot more laundry in my future it is next on the do-to list after the nursery.

    I can't wait to see what fun elements you add to your laundry space!

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  8. The space is great, but I'd add a little bit more color on the walls.. maybe a yellow to light things up...

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  9. I love how the wood floors look in the space! Can't wait to see it all finished.

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  10. I'm also in the process of updating our laundry room area (it's located in the garage). I actually went with a Crazy Green Color, lol! That's where it's left, for now. Can't wait to finish it up to post about it....and enjoy a beautiful new laundry area!

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  11. Your laundry room looks great! It's giving me the push I need to tackle ours! I hate our laundry room - it's the mudroom too, coming in from the garage. It's like a tunnel with no windows, and it needs some help! Thanks for the inspiration!
    Jo-Anna

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  12. Looks great! How 'bout a window pane with a picture on the other side so it looks like you have a window in there? ;0)

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  13. I just finished our laundry room! Check out my before and after here: http://gabrielsgoodtidings.blogspot.com/2011/06/laundry-room-transformation.html?m=1

    Thanks for a great blog!!!!

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  14. Your rug is rockin'. I want it. It would go perfect in my recently remodeled laundry room!

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  15. Looks fab! My favorite has got to be that rug!!

    L
    adventuresofoldandnew.blogspot.com

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  16. Awesome Jen! I really like the punch of pink - you deserve it being the lady of the house. :-) I think once you get some art up on the wall it will be perfect - maybe another wall decal or quote?

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  17. Your laundry room looks great so far! The floor is gorgeous, the wall color is so soothing, and I am totally in love with that rug!!

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  18. It already looks great. I really love how your floors turned out. Would love to have that in the kids' rooms but can't bring myself to face the work involved!!! Rug is adorable. Is that a TV on top of the Expedit? lucky girl .

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  19. Honestly, I love the new neural color. I think it will give you more options to add color in a different way. LOVE the new rug, too. Seriously, so perfect in the space. I can't wait to see what you do to the space from here. :) I'd love to help you with art, too! Just say the word and we'll get to it.

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  20. I'm jealous of your in laundry room sink! And now I REALLY REALLY want a rug for my laundry room. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  21. The whole room looks great but I really love that rug! Thanks for the source info!! I adore UO!

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  22. Wow, both rooms look/ed great! Lovin' the new rug and new colors!!

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  23. Looks great so far. We had a flood in our bathroom last year and needed to replace carpet in the master bedroom which led us to tile the entire house. We live in a tropial climate so can get away with no carpets. It's so much easier to maintain now. We only have the laundry to do still and I love all the photos you posted for inspiration. It's given me some great ideas for shelving and such. Thanks.

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  24. I love your old laundry room, but the new one is just beautiful. I am a big fan of neutral wall color and adding pops of color with accessories. My laundry room redo is on my someday to-do list. Right now, we're trying to tackle the office!

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  25. We have that floor throughout our kitchen and hall (from kitchen to front door) and we love it. With a dog, two cats, and three kids, it is very resistant to everything! Love the changes and can't wait to see the final product!

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  26. I love it and am jealous. Our laundry room is really a walk through from the garage basically you have the washer the dryer and enough room to open the door. No room for anything else. It is a mess. If I ever had disposable income I would hire a contractor to build it out a few feet into the garage.
    Heidi
    bandedup.blogspot.com

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  27. Love the laundry room. I am taking notes...can't wait to move out of my current house and take on a new project. You do such an incredible job! Thank you for all of your tips.

    New Reader from www.sippycupchronicles.
    I put your link on my blog :)

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  28. Ugh!!, about the flood. My parent's basement gets flooded often. The worst!

    I can only dream of an actual laundry room. I am grateful we moved into a place where I could have a washer/dryer in my own home. They are in the kitchen. My days and nights are spent on dreaming of our kitchen remodel and how I'm going to prettify those things. :)

    The uneven washer/dryer would have driven me crazy too!

    And I love it! :D

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  29. I think it looks great and I really like the colorful carpet! One question about the flooring: is it a click together floor or a stick down, or one that sticks to itself? just curious. thanks

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  30. @Jenn,

    It is a click together, but it's known to be the easiest to install, and it was! We have done other floors in our home and it was awful compared to the new floor. This stuff doesn't need underlayment, goes together really nice, and we cut it all with a utility knife, no saw needed! LOVE IT!

    xoxo,
    Jen

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  31. Luv the rug! What a great laundry room. I just redid my laundry closet (so wish I had a room!) http://cropluvingirl.blogspot.com/2011/06/pretty-laundry.html

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  32. I wanted that rug for our living room but The Man vetoed it. :(

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  33. I wish I didn't live in an apartment right now without our own washer/dryer. I'd totally have some awesome inspiration!

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  34. LOVE what you've done Jen!!!!!

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  35. Martha Stewart always recommends you add mirrors where you would like a window and there isn't one. She often lays them out with gaps as panes, if you know what I mean. I think it would look great above the washer and drier.

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  36. Love the rug! It is super fun! We are gearing up to start a laundry room makeover. Currently our W/D is in the garage. We have no set laundry room. Never thought this would bother me when we were looking for a house but 3 years later it is a tad annoying. So we are drawing up a design, inviting over our talented family, and going to create a closed in totally redesigned space (extended from the kitchen, not in the garage, woohoo!) Can't wait!

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  37. I JUST finished my laundry room this weekend as well- and I was inspired by some of the very same spaces that you were. I love your new rug (although I did like the old one too), and the colors you chose.
    If you want to see mine:
    http://cleansmartsimple.blogspot.com/2011/07/laundry-room-re-do.html

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  38. Hi Jen. I just love your new laundry. I can't wait to see your colour accents. It will be spectacular.

    I wonder if I could ask you for some advice? I've got a very small laundry downstairs which houses my appliances plus our 2nd toilet. Wihtout redoing walls, do you have any advice on how we could hide the exposed water pipes? I don't want to do a major renovation but would love to make it look nice.

    I really appreciate it Jen, only when you have the time. I know how busy you are especially with Peyton's birthday and your busy weekend.

    Anne @ Domesblissity

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  39. What I gathered from your laundry room and the pictures you pinned was that laundry rooms have every right to be decorated as the other parts of our homes and with good reason--we spend a lot of time there too. Nice job!

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  40. I bet you are very excited about getting your flooring in. It looks great and I LOVE that rug so fun and colorful!

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  41. I have so much laundry room inspiration now for my new house. I defiantly want a chandelier!

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  42. Maybe if I had a laundry room like these I'd love doing laundry!! :)

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  43. I hit the laundry room this past weekend too, not nearly as impressive as yours though!

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  44. totally LOVE your new laundry room Jen! The colors are absolutely amazing and that rug is to die for!!!! :)

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  45. I'm planning a laundry room beautifying project too! We just bought a house and I'm going out this Thursday to buy front loaders! I can't wait to paint the laundry closet and make it pretty!! You've inspired me again Jen!

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  46. So Jealous! It looks wonderful! I am trying to make our laundry room more functional. I just posted a plea for help...

    http://reallifehomelife.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-pitiful-laundry-cubby.html

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  47. Love the new floor and I really love the new rug...such a fun and colorful space!

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  48. Blogger etiquette note: attributing photos and/or linking back is the classier way to show off your inspirations.

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  49. Hi Jen! It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I just finished painting my laundry room/office today! I love the colors! Is that an Expedit cubby from IKEA? I'm so sad! We do not have one here and I want one soooo bad! Haha! Thanks for so much inspiration!

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  50. Love it .... makes me wish I had a laundry room :( . But you are giving me so many ideas for when I one day have my own house and my very own laundry room sancturary!!! Great work.. I love the blog I keep coming back for more!!!

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  51. Looks great! The flooring is so pretty! I would love to replace our carpeting with this. Also, I used the paint color in our boys room and it's light blue! I was a little disappointed, but just goes to show that a little sunshine (or lack thereof) can really change the colors.

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  52. Jen what size rug did you get?

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  53. I'm just finding this post and you may have changed since then, but I liked the blue walls with the orange better

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