Tuesday, October 14, 2014

43 Having Temporary Fun in the Laundry Room

I know two things for sure; I love change and I love to make chore time more fun.  Chores are a daily fact of life, so why not work in surroundings that make you smile?  And let's face it, change is exciting!

Today's change is another one of those that seemed to pop out of nowhere thanks to another project we are working on.  I have quite the pile of paint supplies, cans and jars on my laundry room floor, so we are in the process of building a new piece of storage furniture for my paint supply clutter {sneak peek here on instagram}.  When we started the project, I found some gift wrap that made my heart flutter.  It could have been because I loved the color, the design and the playfulness in the paper, or it could have been the fact that it was covered in hummingbirds.  So I purchased it with the intentions of lining the back of our new paint cabinet.

Then, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the paper wouldn't work in the paint cabinet because it wouldn't be given the attention it deserves.  It needed to really make a statement in the laundry room, and the sorting area we built earlier this year seemed to be calling the paper's name.


But something magical happened and I had an epiphany.  The, "I love a good change" thought entered my mind and I realized that as much as I love the paper now, that someday I may not.  So if I were going to line the built-in folding station, it would need to be with a temporary solution.

So I chatted with the hubs about my options.  I knew I could go the easy route and line some foam board or cardboard and pop it into the opening, however, given the traffic the area sees, I opted to line a piece of scrap wood instead.  The wood would be stronger and would be much more difficult to puncture.

Bryan cut down two pieces of thin, smooth paneling that had a little give in them {they are thin enough to bend slightly allowing them to wiggle into place}.  I grabbed the spray adhesive, my oversized cutting mat and a utility knife.  Oh!  And some washi tape was there too.


I positioned the paper on the board and used some washi tape to temporarily hold it in place.  The beauty in washi tape is that I could remove it later without damaging the pretty paper.

The process was simple, I lightly sprayed the adhesive onto the wood board and smoothed the pieces of gift wrap with my hand, lining up the pattern to eliminate any visible seems.  The utility knife was helpful in cutting off any excess paper around the edge of the board.

Then, we simply popped the boards into the openings.  The way we built in the sorting station allowed the thin piece of paneling to pop right behind a portion of the counter and cabinet without the need to tack anything in place.  However, if you were looking to do something similar and needed to affix the board without damaging the walls, Picture Hanging Command Strips are a really great solution.

Up close, I must say, the paper was amongst the loveliest I have seen.


But when I stepped away thinking that I would be doing laundry room cartwheels, I had a different reaction.


Ooooooooooooooh no!

I learned a few lessons with this project:
  • Pre-project planning and epiphanies are FABULOUS!
  • Scale, scale, scale.  The pattern works in small doses, but in a large area, it looked like I tossed my Skittles on the wall.  
  • Don't force something that doesn't sit well in your gut.  I felt guilty that it didn't work out as planned, and almost tried to convince myself to keep it, but....
  • If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!
I knew I would probably want a change someday, little did I know it would be the same day!

And I am sharing it with you because.... this is my process.  Sometimes I think that something is going to be the best thing since Sangria, and then it turns out that the fruit is expired.

So I thought and thought and thought about it some more, and finally decided that it was OK that it didn't work out, and I pulled the pretty paper panel back out {with a nearby paint can opener}.


I then carefully peeled the paper from the board and was able to salvage a large piece, which will now find its way back into the paint cabinet when that building project is complete.

I found another paper I had been storing in my closet under the stairs for about a year now.  I initially purchased it for the studio, and I just have not gotten around to using it.  So, in the spirit of using what I already had, I followed the same steps of applying the paper to the same cut-to-size boards with a spray adhesive and popping the boards back up in place.... again.

Take two:


Soooooo much better!


The paper is still temporary, so if I should ever tire of it, it will come down in one quick swoop.  But this time, I think it will stay for quite awhile.


The pattern on the paper is fresh and adds a really fun dimension to a place I fold and hang our daily loads of laundry. 


As I was working on putting everything back, I borrowed an over-the-door storage basket from a nearby cabinet and used it to hold my clothespins.  I use clothespins frequently for drying and clipping items to the hangers, and having a basket nearby was a simple and practical solution.




And if you are wondering how spray painted hangers hold up, ours are still going strong!

I am aiming to have that paint storage cabinet built and in place by the end of the week, assuming everything goes as planned!  I can't wait to get it into the space and finally have that year long problem solved for good!

Lining cabinets, drawers and even walls, is a great way to add instant change and wow to any space!  Finding ways to do it without damaging the walls is the key to long term happiness!


43 comments:

  1. LOVE!!! And, of course, now absolutely need to know where the paper's from ;)

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    1. Thank you Elizabeth! The Hummingbird paper is from Paper Source: http://www.papersource.com/item/Hummingbirds-Wrapping-Paper/44382050.html

      The second paper I used is from Joss & Main - it is Garden Trellis Paper in Coral. xoxo!

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  2. I kinda love the first take...but I'm weird that way. I hope you find another place for the hummingbird paper!

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    1. Oh, I will! Love it like crazy - just in smaller doses. :)

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  3. I'm wondering if you would mind sharing some of your favorite places to find gorgeous wrapping paper? I'm looking for something to use to line baby girl's drawers and am striking out all over! Thanks!

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    1. Hi Kate! My top two sources at the moment are Paper Source and HomeGoods. And occasionally Target as well!

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  4. The second choice was definitely the best one! I like what you said about Skittles! Hehe The hummer paper is totally cute up close, I agree! Good luck getting the paint storage done by the end of the week! :D

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  5. I love that you share your mistakes and your "Oh noooo!" moments. It's nice to see that I'm not the only one that doesn't get it right the first time. Third times the charm right?

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    1. Absolutely! We say that quite a bit around here. :)

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  6. Thank you for sharing the challenge along with the success. While design may not always work out, have you ever had challenges in method of application and if so how did you overcome them?

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    1. Of course! Trial and error is key for me. I always try and start small so I won't be too frustrated if it doesn't work out. A few tips for applying papers - The thicker the paper the better, small amounts of spray adhesive go along way, they make re-positionable adhesive which would be great for practicing, work from a corner and smooth your way out, and be OK with imperfections. No box or wall or drawer is perfectly square, so there may always be a small section or strip in the corner that doesn't get covered perfectly.

      xoxo!

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    2. "No box or wall or drawer is perfectly square, so there may always be a small section or strip in the corner that doesn't get covered perfectly. " I think this make my day. I just lined my desk drawers with contact paper and in every single one of them there is a tiny sliver of wood peeking out. I got so frustrated with it at first! It took me three hours to line one shelf and after that I decided, "I am going to line this. It is going to be imperfect but there will be things in these drawers to hide the flaws and so it will be okay."
      On the other hand, I will be re-trying my hand at the cereal box divider challenge. Despite enjoying sketching and illustrating, I do not have the most steady hand in the world. Especially when it comes to cutting. Needless to say, the box edges were jagged and uneven, which did not make for easy wrapping. I tried cardstock paper but tragically it would not conform to the box. And I ran out of the paper. Wrapping paper. . . tore. Tore like the devil had possessed it and had chosen to complicate all endeavors in wrapping.
      As soon as I can procure another box I will be going at it with Round Two! Thank you for the feedback!

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  7. Cute change Jen! May I ask where you purchased that hummingbird wrapping paper from?

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    1. Oops, thought I had initially put it in the post, sorry about that. It is from Paper-Source: http://www.papersource.com/item/Hummingbirds-Wrapping-Paper/44382050.html xoxo!

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  8. Love it! I totally agree...the first pattern was too much. Maybe you could frame the salvaged pieces for use elsewhere? Like an inspiration board or...? :)

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  9. Love it ! It really brightens up the whole unit. Well done Jen !

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  10. LOL - When I scrolled down my screen after reading the text to see the first paper, I went "No! That's not right!" -- how funny to then read your "Ohhhhhh no!" as well.
    2nd paper is much better. :)

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  11. I have to admit, I kinda liked the first pattern! I would have probably kept it just like that. But then I would have missed what it looks like now and that is just fabulous!
    Love,
    Svenja

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  12. I think this is my first time making a comment! Jen, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who doesn't poop out amazing things the first try! But I LOVE that trellis paper....wowza...Great job!

    Christine

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  13. Skittles... lol! You are SO RIGHT! I thought that bird paper was great (although I really don't like birds). But it was so wrong. Thank you for sharing the good and the bad. You could have just as easily skipped the whole rainbow bright paper mistake and led us to believe you made the perfect choice first but you didn't and that's why I HEART you! :) Love your projects!

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  14. I think this looks fabulous, and such a great idea! I am thinking I could utilitze this in my laundry room --- but I have a question ... do you dry your cloths on the rod that close to the paper?

    If so, is the paper affected at all by the damp clothing? I am thinking my damp clothing may cause the paper to warp ... fingers crossed you have had zero issues.

    GREAT IDEA!!!

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    1. Really great question! With the first option, because it was gift wrap, I probably would have added a coat of poly over the top {I have used water based poly over paper in the past with no bubbling or issues}, but the new paper is a heavier wallpaper and because our clothes only slightly skim the wall when hanging, it should be A-OK! :)

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  15. Hello, can I ask where the stool is from? Thanks!

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    1. The stool is from Target: http://bit.ly/1yBmzhc. I just spray painted the lower portion white. xoxo!

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  16. Hi Jen. I really like both of the designs. My first thought when seeing the result of the 1st attempt, and again when I viewed the 2nd try, was maybe it wouldn't seem like too much if you only lined the top half above the table, and left the lower half white...? Glad you found yourself in a happy place with it the second time around.

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  17. I loved the first one too! :) Rosie

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  18. Thanks for sharing! I love both of them, but I think the second one is definitely the right choice!

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  19. I think I would have tried half strength before ditching the birds all together. Birds above the table top and a matching solid color below might work. But crazy pattern top and bottom...too much. :)

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  20. I love the hummingbird paper too but I completely agree that it was a little too busy for such a large And also busy area. The new paper is fantastic and I am now trying to figure out where I can bring something fun like this into my laundry room! LOL

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  21. Oh how I wish I had a laundry room like that - envious for sure... very beautiful.

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  22. Laughed so much at the full view of the hummingbird paper! But it really was lovely up close! x

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  23. What a neat spot you have to craft and do laundry! I'm glad you shared this... sometimes people get so discouraged when a creative endeavor doesn't come as as envisioned. But hey, it isn't the end of the world. Just try something else.

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  24. I like the hummingbird paper but I agree with your choice. Hope you can use it creatively somewhere else.

    This is probably a silly question - but I love those 2 polka dot items you have on the hangers (cardi and top) - can I please ask where you got them? I have a thing for polka dots and stripes.

    Thanks in advance,
    Meg

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  25. Hi Meg!

    Thank you! The top is from H&M: http://bit.ly/1rcYy7x and the sweater is from The Limited: http://bit.ly/1nm73lk

    xoxo!

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  26. Guess it's a good example of how we can't see the forest for the trees sometimes!! Love the birds up close as well, but sometimes you just don't know til you try! Did it with curtains one time... but at least they were yard sale sheets I hemmed up and I wasn't out too much! Thanks for being real and sharing your "oh noooos" as well as your "ahaaas" : )

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  27. I love this post! Could you tell me more (or point me in the right direction if you've covered this in a post already) about your lighting. This laundry room--and your other basement rooms--look so full of great light. We are in the midst of a basement project and this is the lighting I would love. It photographs well and looks very natural. I would love to know more! Thanks for all that you share here. I really enjoy your blog!

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    1. Hi Whitney!

      I use "daylight" bulbs in all of the rooms in my lower level that do not have natural light. It is still not as wonderful as real daylight, but definitely helps white balance things out in the spaces.

      For my photos, I use extra lighting to ensure a crisp image (low lighting can cause photography grain). I will share a few more details regarding that within my photography tips post which I am currently working on. :)

      xo!

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  28. Jen, the first sentence in this post made me want to run to my laundry room and add a vase of pretty flowers!!! I'm not kidding. You are so right...we spend a lot of time in there. It SHOULD be nice to be there. I liked the first but my first thought was "with the business of the print, I'd have to keep it PERFECT all the time." And that's not me. The second ;print is awesome. It is pretty but adds a feeling of neatness that would overcome a little something here or there out of place. Pinned em both!!! Now I will go add something pretty to my own laundry room LOL

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  29. Would you mind letting me know how you hang your thread and where you got the materials? Thx

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    1. Hello! The thread is on a thread organizer purchased from JoAnn and painted. You can find all of the details in this post here: http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-easiest-pegboard-project-ever.html xoxo!

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