Monday, October 29, 2012

The Laundry Room


It was cold and windy here today, but I was so thankful for sunny skies.  My thoughts all day have been with those affected by the hurricane and I hope this finds everyone safe and well.  

After I finished giving our laundry room a deep cleaning today, I thought I'd take some photos.  I realized that I've never shared our laundry room with you, most likely because it's not technically finished... we still have some trim work and switch covers to change out... all those little things that can so easily get put aside.  However, I thought I'd better dig up some old photos to show that we actually have done something in this room.  And then I had to laugh, because I had forgotten how awful this room used to look!  We really have done some work here and I was too taken up with the little things that still need to be finished to realize it. So I have a fresh appreciation for our little laundry room today (smile).  

BEFORE:


 I think this picture was taken the same week we moved in.  Probably the biggest eyesore for me was the styrafoam ceiling.  Not only was it unattractive, but it also lowered the ceiling significantly and made the room look even smaller. 


 We removed the tiles in this room the same time we removed them in the kitchen (and here you can see a glimpse of what our kitchen looked like before too).  Underneath was a bright teal and it was in a sad condition, probably since this was originally a porch before they enclosed it.  Actually, I shouldn't take any credit for this ceiling job... it was all my husband.  He worked on this all himself, from making repairs to painting.

AFTER:


 Although the kitchen ceiling is painted white, we painted the ceiling here a subtle light blue.  Since this was originally the porch, I liked the idea of the old tradition of painting in a shade of blue.  Then I painted everything else white.  The combination of these two things really brightened the room and made it appear larger. 


The laundry room is located between the bathroom and the kitchen.  We kept the same shelving unit that was already here but simply painted it white. 


Since we do not have much storage in this room, I use buckets and baskets to store odds and ends.  The old egg basket here stores dish towels and the top shelf holds some canned goods from the summer.

By the way, do you notice all those fabulous mason jars?  Those just recently came from my brother's, where he found them in buckets underneath their old farmhouse.


 The door is the original and one of my favorite things about this room are the two small windows located on either side of the door.  They flood the room with light and cheerfulness. 


We have a tall cabinet on the opposite side of the room next to the dryer.  I guess you could say it serves as our "junk drawer"... it's full of cleaning supplies, canning items and some of my husband's frequently used tools.  

Note: I do admit to removing at least three John Deere hats of my husband's that are always hanging here (smile). 


The washer and dryer sit opposite of each other, which is not my ideal setup, but it works.  And now I have a confession... we just fixed our dryer this very evening.  Remember the clothesline we hung back in August when it broke?  Well, I've been hanging clothes every day since then but I'm happy to report that it's back up and running now just in time for cool days!


In the background you can see a full length curtain which is made out of the same fabric as the curtain hanging on the door.  It serves as a cover to our water heater. 


 Here you can see a final view into the kitchen.  This is always a high traffic area so I try to keep it as uncluttered as possible.  I realized that I didn't take a photo of the wall as you come into the house from the back deck, but all you will see is a family sign on a white wall (smile).     


 P.S.  Although totally unrelated to this post, I had to share a photo of our furry friend.  We have three squirrels that live in our yard, which we always refer to as "our fox squirrels".  Today as I was taking these photos, I happened to step outside and saw one of the squirrels perched here on the top of this ladder just beside the house.  I was able to get several pictures of him and he never budged.  I guess he's as used to us as we are to him! 

52 comments:

  1. Lovely makeover of your laundry room. Like the breadboard ceiling painted in a liight blue. I have my porch ceilings painted light blue, also.

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  2. Andrea, I love your wonderful farm style laundry room. What a great job he did on the ceiling. So much better than the drop ceiling.

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  3. Your laundry room is farmhouse gorgeous!!!!!!! (notice all of the exclamation points) I totally am in love with your home and your photography.

    That squirrel is adorable and the picture of him is fabulous!!!

    You never cease to amaze me, my sweet friend.

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  4. Your laundry room looks great-bright, organized and cheerful. You did a really good job in there. I love your up close and personal encounter with the squirrel. I have one that is not terribly afraid of me...my son feeds his out of his hand- xo Diana

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  5. Your laundry room is so pretty! I love the white walls and shelves and the blue ceiling. Well done!

    Pam

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  6. What an absolutely charming laundry room. I would take your laundry, even with all of its quirks you think you have, over mine. Its a "pass through" from the back foyer to a guest bath and I hate it. I love your shelves with all the jars and baskets. LOVE those windows, the door and that doorknob. Just LOVE. :)

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  7. Hey sweetie :) Looks like you two need your own DIY show! You have worked so hard on your farmhouse. I so love coming here to see your finished rooms! And I'm always amazed at how each room is so magazine worthy.
    Love the laundry room- the door & windows especially.
    P.S. Your photography is spot on & the squirrel is adorable :)

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  8. Love your blue ceiling. How great to have those two windows in there! Cute squirrel.

    Judy

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  9. Love your crisp clean laundry room but NOT that furry little "rat" ( as I call them) Squirrels just freak me out, especially since I had one in the house one time! :)

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  10. I love that you've made the space pretty and bright and still have it be useful. How lucky to be able to expose the wood ceiling! ~ Maureen

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  11. Really, really beautiful, a lot of work of course but I'm sure you can manage better now and you feel stronger to do the ironing there, don't you? I like it.

    Marina

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  12. So pretty and cheerful and sunlight-flooded bright! AND I remember that basket from some post in the past when you'd purchased it : ) I love your squirrel ...I took pictures of one the other day when he was on my front porch...at first I was trying to capture him through the window but I opened the door and he stayed put for his photo shoot. Maybe I'll use him for a wordless wednesday or something..

    Lovely photos as always, Andrea...you do your farmhouse justice, that is for sure. It must feel very loved :)

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  13. I love laundry rooms. Maybe that is because mine in behind doors in my family room. I think if I had a "room" for this I'd be in there playing a lot. If I ever go to open hoouses I look for the laundry rooms. Thanks for the peek.

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  14. I'd love to have a wonderful laundry room like yours! The windows are so charming and it's hard to believe somebody ever covered up those wonderful ceilings. Our laundry room is in the basement, and I'm going to dedicate some time to brightening it up over the winter. It won't look anything like yours, but a little white paint goes a long way to making a space look fresh!

    Thanks for sharing another great before and after!

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  15. Amazing what paint can do to cheer up a room. Love all the white and the beadboard ceiling is the best...great job of your hubby. Lovely decor as that white tub on your shelf is dreamy.

    Lynnie

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  16. Laughing over here!!!!
    We should be neighbors.
    My laundry room door to the basement is that same teal color. Of course, the prior owners had it covered with that tacky faux wood paneling from the 60's. Along with all the walls and a lowered ceiling (!) in the room.
    Currently, I have NO walls. My hubby pulled off all the paneling and the real wood paneling under that to get to all the wiring and pipes. So, I've been staring at the lathe and plaster "walls" for...about a year...as he works on other things.
    And the dryer opposite the washer? Not ideal. But then neither is where my is located: on the front porch. *sigh* Why yes, my laundry does freeze if I have to wait for an earlier load to finish and the wet load is set on the dryer.
    I only type this bc I know you can related restoring an old farmhouse. :) Yours gives me hope!!!!

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  17. I think the haint blue ceiling is perfect in your Southern farm house. Love that choice! You have the most beautiful and simple style. I think one's home should reflect who that person is. Yours is a stunning reflection of you and your family!

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  18. I love your laundry room. It made me smile because seeing your canned goodies in your laundry room reminds me of my grandparents' home. Which btw is the coziest place I know.

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  19. Your laundry room is just so pretty and "fresh"....would never be a chore to do laundry in that room as it would actually make you happy!....What a transformation!....Just love all the beautiful details that you have done!!..

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  20. So lovely and fresh!! I LOVE it!!

    ~Julia

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  21. Looks great im a new reader from N.C your home is great! Have a great day

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  22. The laundry room is lovely. Very farm house-ish and perfect. I see you've been canning. And what a pretty door knob!
    Brenda

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  23. Your laundry room is beautiful! I love the blue ceiling and everything else being so white. It all looks so clean and fresh just like a laundry room should look! I have a jar full of clothes pins too. :) Have a great day! ~ Jamie

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  24. I absolutely love your laundry room. I so need to do something like this to ours. I might be checking back with you to ask you questions on the details ;)

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  25. WOW!

    Does that ever lok AWESOME NOW!

    Love it- it is so bright and sweet.

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  26. Your laundry room looks so bright and cheery. I love those two little windows too. So charming!
    Mary Alice

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  27. Hi Andrea,
    Dropping in this evening via Kim's party!
    Love your laundry room so light and bright...Fantastic storage as well love your stock of preserves for the winter.
    All the Best,
    Christine

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  28. That is a gorgeous transformation. I love it! thanks for the inspiration, I have a much needed laundry room makeover on my to do list.

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  29. It looks fantastic.! Love the colours.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Hope to see you on my blog:)

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  30. I love the ceiling in this room. Very reminiscent of an old farmhouse porch! I think the blue is a lovely nod to the past too!
    I'm wanting to paint my utility room/mudroom (as it comes in from the back yard ALL WHITE TOO! I think white paint is the perfect cover for a room built by time!

    ...so pretty. Pat

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  31. Great make over! Looks really beautiful! Liz

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  32. Wow...love your laundry room, especially the ceiling!
    Great job!

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  33. this laundry room is absolutely beautiful!!! well done!

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  34. Your laundry room is so pretty! You've inspired me to do something with my boring one - thanks!

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  35. Love it...please join Welcome Home Wednesday www.vintageonadime.blogspot.com....Debbie :)

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  36. I love everything about your laundry room. I would actually WANT to do laundry in there.

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  37. I've been following your blog for a little while now - and just wanted to pop in and say how lovely your home and decorating are! I fancy myself a novice decorator :) and it's fun to get new ideas!

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  38. Really pretty ... I might even be inspired to do laundry in that space! And loving the blue ceiling -- kudos to your husband's hard work on that project!

    :)

    Linda

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  39. Just found you through Southern Savvy Style linky and LOVE your style! This laundry room is so cheerful and happy. I love the ceiling color, by the way!

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  40. Hi, Andrea! I'm visiting from Kim's party and think you've done a wonderful job on your laundry room. I think it is so charming, and I love that you restored the old wood ceiling. It's perfect!

    Carol

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  41. You are so lucky to have all that beautiful old woodwork in your house. Can you believe someone put that ceiling tile on that pretty ceiling? I love the light blue color and the whole room just looks perfect! It's fun to see that cute square window from the inside of the house too!

    I'll bet the girls are enjoying their squirrel friends, so cute!

    ~Lynn

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  42. Lovely! We have an ongoing laundry room redo too - it's been at a standstill for a few years as other projects seemed more important! We are about to get back at it though and I'm so excited!

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  43. wow! what a cool makeover-- just makes my day. :) so , clean, fresh and useful...
    jenny
    www.baileyandme2.com

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  44. Hi Andrea, I just discovered your blog via A Country Farmhouse. I love what you've done with your laundry room. The before & after photos are great. And the photo of the squirrel is wonderful, and so detailed! Like you, I live in the South in an old house (a 90-year-old bungalow). But we live in a city, not out in the country. I am excited to read back through your older posts, and I've added a link to your blog from mine. Take care,
    Claudia

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  45. Hi Andrea, I really love your laundry room. It looks so so cozy and homey. Just the room you'd like to hang out in, which is pretty important for a laundry room! Although I love our house, it's a new one (well, relatively anyway, compared to yours) and sometimes I wish we had moved into an older one. They seem to have so much more character, as yours does. I also like the artwork you have hanging over the dryer, and what a great picture of the squirrel! I'm your newest follower on GFC. Have a great day!
    Debbie

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  46. Just found your blog over MMS. LOVE your laundry room, and your farmhouse style. Now following :)

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  47. I love the laundry room and how you use baskets to organize everything.

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  48. I just found your blog while looking through my new issue of country living. I love what you have done to your farm house, it is beautiful. I love your style. One of the first posts I read was the one on your pantry. I just re-organized my pantry and spice jars. I also store everything in glass jars and if I can find old or vintage ones all the better! Just finished putting labels on everything a couple weeks ago. Avery makes an oval kraft paper label that fits this style perfect.

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  49. We salvage old homes and it never ceases to amaze me how many homeowners installed ugly acoustical ceilings (or drywall) over gorgeous wood ceilings and walls. I love that you did that, and I LOVE your beadboard ceilings.

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  50. Love your beautiful bleu breadboard ceiling in the laundry room. Makes me want to add breadboard to my laundry room ceiling.

    I was looking through old Top 3 posts at Savvy Southern Style and found this post.

    Judith

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