Wednesday, April 11, 2012

34 Reader Space: Trash to Treasure Garage Cubbies

With the onset of the nicer weather now that Spring is here, I recently found myself dreaming of garage updates... Then, much to my delight, today's reader popped over some photos of a recent project she completed for her garage and I was left feeling even more inspired!  So of course I had to share her super sweet story with you!


Jenn wrote:


Hi Jennifer,

I wanted to say I love your blog and that you inspire me to organize, organize, and do some more organizing.  This weekend I took on the massive project of organizing our garage filled with an unbelievable amount of stuff.

I too have 3 boys, who are very much into sports and their bats, balls, gloves, bikes and scooters have overrun our poor, helpless garage.  So this weekend I took some action.  I am a teacher and our building service manager was planning to throw out some well loved cubbies.  I couldn't let that happen.  Who would throw out some perfectly good cubby storage?  Obviously someone who has never been on Pinterest :)

So I took these raggedy cubbies home and gave them some TLC and breathed some new life into them.  I am so proud of my work that I thought I would share it with you, since your inspiration was what made me take on this crazy project.

All the best,
Jenn


I love that Jenn was able to look at an old, kicked to the curb piece of furniture, and see the potential!  Check out what she started with:


Not all that pretty at first, but Jenn changed with a couple of coats of paint!



And because she was able to see the potential, she now has THIS amazing garage and cubby storage to call her own!





  • Just look at the storage she gained, and to think, that piece almost went to the graveyard!  I love that Jenn was able to see the potential in a piece that someone else couldn't.
  • Cubbies are a really great way to store sport equipment, everything is easy to see, easy to grab, easy to put back.  A must with kiddos.
  • The rest of Jenn's garage deserves some props as well, it's rockin' all sorts of great storage!
  • Garage storage tends to be pricey, however Jenn's solution was just the opposite!  It's important to consider options outside of the typical and it's simple to check with your employers or Craigslist for old furniture pieces to keep those storage costs down.
  • This is a great visual reminder of how important it is to utilize all of that wall and ceiling space in the garage!
  • Just because something is going into the garage, doesn't mean it doesn't deserve a little love and beautification, just like if you were putting the storage piece inside your home.  Your garage is an extension of your home, and Jenn showed how taking the time to make the cubby system prettier, made a major difference in the overall aesthetics of the space.

Who else has been working on the garage, now that the weather is being spring friendly?  Who else found potential in something that others couldn't see?  Let's share some fun trash to treasure success stories!


ATTENTION!!  Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition?  Have an awesome organizing story to share?  I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life.  Please send your story and photos to iheartorganizing@gmail.com and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Photos should be high resolution and unedited.  Please include a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your life and routine for the better!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!  More info HERE.

  

34 comments:

  1. This is seriously amazing! I love how active Jenn's boys are too. Seeing this makes me really want to make some changes in my own garage. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  2. That is really great work!! I hope to something along those lines in my own garage. Thanks for the inspiration!!

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  3. Wow thats a super organized garage!

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  4. Love the garage cubbies! I am hoping to put a mudroomm area in our garage, and cubbies like those would really make it work!

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  5. Love this. I also love how many Jenn followers you have, including me! <3

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  6. What a great eye for trash to treasure. The garage is still an organizing project on my list. Way to go Jenn!!

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  7. What a great find/creation!

    we are in the process of turning our (detached) garage into a rec room/outside bar/additional bedroom!

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  8. Wow!! That is amazing!!!! Love it;)

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  9. Wow! Great job. I love that. I need to get cracking on my garage.

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  10. Hi Jen,

    Just found out your blog and I'm loving it!! So much inspiration and useful tips, thank you!
    Now as organizing-newbe, I have this question : Where do I start? How did you start organizing? Can you help me with this?
    Thanks, Sandra

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  11. That is crazy impressive! That garage is completely drool worthy.

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  12. I love the project I could really use something like that in my garage.

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  13. That is such a perfect garage for a sports family- I at first thought "there are way too many cubbies!" until I saw all the stuff and I was like "that is perfect!" :-) I definitely will keep this in mind for our kids stuff.

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  14. Nice job on the cubbies! My parents recently donated some to the goodwill...If I had only known I would have grabbed them first but it was too late. BTW, Jenn...I noticed while watching you on tv that you have a tatoo...what is the tatoo of? My niece and a few of my friends all have tatoos...I don't have the nerve to do it, but I think they are cool!

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  15. great job! no link to her blog though??

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    1. She didn't leave a link to her blog in her note - here is hoping she stops by to answer any questions anyone has.

      Thanks!
      Jen

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  16. Great use of the cubbies! It is perfect for all of your sports paraphernalia. I am in need of a huge garage organizational project. With all the tools, fridge, garden stuff, bikes, lawn mower, snow blower and mini 4 wheeler it is bursting at the seams. Hubbies dad passed away end of last summer. So, we have accumulated more tools and what nots from his father's garage and shed. My hubby is already Tim the tool man. So, Jen Jones, if you know of anyone looking for some power tools, let me know. We certainly don't need duplicates of power miter saws and the like. I am local to you in River Falls. I think the wood swing set is going to have to go and in its place, a shed to house everything. It just will not fit in the garage.

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    1. Meant Hubby's (not hubbies). Can't spell today.

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  17. Oh for the love of cubbies, this is awesome! What a great score! I love that she noted only a person who has never been on Pinterest would ever throw out something like this. This is great. I plan on organizing my garage this week and next as I prep for a garage sale...and I love this storage idea...I wish I could score the cubbies for free though! Beautiful job painting and organizing! www.justhadabrightidea.blogspot.com

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  18. I would love to have those cubbies.
    When I was teaching the school was getting rid of an amazing wooden kitchen set - I snatched that up without hesitation. Those cubbies were certainly a good find.

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  19. I love this idea. I'm actually in the process of moving to Florida where, as we know, homes are basement free. So, to think more strategically about how to use space (particularly in the garage) is not only a dream, but a necessity.

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  20. Wow that is awesome! I love the paint colors!

    www.createyourdecor.blogspot.com

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  21. So jealous of her free cubby score. And what a fantastic job she did with them! LOVE!

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  22. I have 2 baseball obsessed boys!! Oh how I would LOVE that instead of switching bat bags from car to car everynight!!! That is perfect!

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  23. great use of those cubbies, I want to build something like that for shoes in our garage. I have been scanning the internet looking for garage storage ideas. Would love to have a workshop area too.

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  24. WOW, I long for storage cube cubbies...I wish my husband was more handy OR I was lol! I can't afford store prices so the only option is to build, luckily a website called ana white has some affordable plans I might try and tackle myself.

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  25. Nice job Jenn! It looks great. My garage is jealous of yours now. :) Oh and I love the fact that you have 2 random bowling pins.

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  26. Great Post, Great Site! Would be honored to have you as the newest Join of the (soon-to-be) largest Blogger Members Directory.

    ~Regards

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  27. WOW!!! Thanks for sharing Jen & Jenn. That is an amazing garage. Wish we had one, but we only have a shed. This is so inspiring even for our shed. I completely have the itch to organize our shed this year for one and all. Thanks for all of the inspiration. :)

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  28. I LOVE cubbies! I use them in my playroom and have some nicer ones in my dining room, as well. Really love that these were a garbage rescue! Great eye for seeing how you could spiffy them up and use them!

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  29. What an amazing improvement the paint made! Score!!

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  30. Hey i like your blog, hmm ii wish i had a garage like that lol or even a garage at all. But, Oh and i found you from the blogs of note :)

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  31. I am in awe of her garage organization! Makes me want to do the same thing to my garage!

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  32. Way to take someone's trash and make it your own treasure!

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