Tuesday, October 18, 2016

The Laundry Room (Again)


 Happy Fall!  Is anyone still reading?  I wouldn't be a bit surprised if all have given up on me! I 'm so behind on updating here and posting some of our house projects!  Which is actually good in one sense, because it means we've gotten some things accomplished!  :-) 

After moving in, painting the laundry room and exposing the original ceiling was one of the first projects we did and it made such a huge difference.  Then last year we made a few more updates to complete this room, like replacing the shelving and adding new trim.   You can see the first laundry room post here which has all the before pictures! 


Having a laundry room that opens up to the back door and has a lot of through traffic (located between downstairs bath and kitchen) has forced me to keep a tidy laundry room and also a decluttered one!  In our previous house, our laundry room was a separate room where I could close the door and forget about the piles of laundry.  Not so much since we've lived here. ;-)  Daily laundry is a must or the piles accumulate, but it's also gotten me into a few really good habits.  


 We also added a peg rail on the back wall for hanging some of our utility items, like brooms, egg basket, dust pans, etc.  (During the summer, this also became a place to store all the ball caps - wink.)  After visiting a shaker village several years ago, I loved the idea of utilizing pegs on the wall to store items.  Since then, Justus and I have incorporated pegs in several places throughout our house.  



When we moved in, the laundry had some existing open shelves, which we used for several years.  Last year we replaced the shelving, but I wanted to keep it open as before.  The open shelving helps keep the clutter down and also helps keep the room looking open and bright. This year I also repainted the ceiling.  When we first remodeled, I painted it blue also, but I went a little more subtle this time around.  This is probably a change that is only noticeable to me!  ;-)  I painted the shelves white.  At first I tried staining a gray color, but I was unhappy with the results.  While I like the idea of it, I feel like in a house like ours where there are so many different materials and textures, white just helps everything flow a little more smoothly. 

  There are two small little windows on each side of the back door and I love the light they let in.  It's always a bright, cheery room and makes the laundry tasks a little more pleasant!  None of these pictures are styled for this blog post, but happy for you, I did move all of the dirty clothes out of the basket for these pictures.  ;-)  When I first bought this laundry basket beside the washer for our dirty clothes, I thought it too small, but it's actually been the perfect size.  When it's full, it's time to do a couple loads, so this is just another thing that helps me keep on the ball.



Having open shelving like this, I've had to get a little creative with storage.  Baskets are always a must for corralling smaller items!



I also use various buckets for holding items that aren't visible to anyone.  The large tub on the top shelf (pictured a ways above) holds miscellaneous items, like winter hats. I have a bucket that stores all of our clothes pins and the chamber pot holds cleaning rags.  


 On the other side of the laundry room, we added a shelf above the dryer for extra storage.  And while everything pictured so far looks tidy, I can assure you that everything in that white cabinet next to the dryer is a cluttered mess!  Instead of a junk drawer, we have an entire cabinet!  ;-)  


 Just for fun, the above photo is a before photo of the laundry room after we removed the styrofoam ceiling tiles and exposed the original ceiling.  You can see we hadn't done any work in the kitchen yet!  It was so dark and dreary.  And the after picture below.  (These before and after pictures are really for me... just serve as a reminder that we actually have done a few things around here!)


 (Huck's favorite sunbathing spot...)


And here's a real life photo of life around here on a daily basis... never ending laundry and ironing.  But I sure am thankful to have a cheerful, pretty room to do it in!  :-)  

I'll try to post some more of our house projects soon.  Spending a little more time here has been a goal of mine for awhile, but I never can seem to quite get there!  I'm always open to blog post suggestions... I know a few of you have asked for a cleaning post, and while I don't feel like I have much to share there, I'll try to get that done too!  I also have got to post some about our flower business and try to get some summer pictures posted for myself as memories.  ;-)  

Hope you're having a wonderful October so far!  



42 comments:

  1. Yes, still reading your posts! Posts don't have to be amazing. ..everyday things are wonderful:)

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    1. Hi Wendi - thank you for the reminder to post simple things!

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  2. I love reading your posts, they inspire me!

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  3. I enjoy reading your posts! Maxine J

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  4. Still reading! I love to see a new post from you...even it if just about your hens. Looks wonderful another great job.

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    1. Thank you! The other day I noticed some of my original posts and I was so thankful I had taken the time to capture some of our ordinary moments. I always think of the blog as an online journal - thankful for the reminder that capturing little things are important too. :-)

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  5. Still reading :) Love your blog & style! Awesome post!!

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  6. Love reading your posts, always, and know when you go missing you're "living life"! You guys have done such a great job with that house - your pics show the lightness and care perfectly!

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    1. Aw, thank you, Betty! Yes, unfortunately the busyness of life sometimes catches up. :-) Or more likely, I just need to prioritize better! ;-) Thanks for the kind words about our house and for reading!

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  7. always happy to see you pop up. I do not enjoy doing laundry and try to avoid it as much as I can but since I am the only one who does it around here that is nearly impossible.

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    1. Thanks so much, sweet friend! I do understand... I often wonder how four people can go through so many clothes?! ;-)

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  8. I'm still reading. Enjoy your posts about simple changes that bring joy and order to your life. Those little Windows on either side of the back door are interesting. Brings light in but doesn't take the entire wall space.

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    1. Thank you, Jan, for the kind words! Yes, the little windows are interesting... I actually asked the men that grew up in this house about them, and they told me they were always there. :-) It's a nice little feature to bring light in, as you mentioned.

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  9. I'm still reading. Enjoy your posts about simple changes that bring joy and order to your life. Those little Windows on either side of the back door are interesting. Brings light in but doesn't take the entire wall space.

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  10. Hello sweet friend! You're not getting rid of me that easily :-) Still reading and loving any moments I get to spend at your beautiful home!!! xoxo

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    1. So sweet, Jennifer!! xoxo Always love visiting your beautiful blog!

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  11. Still loving and reading your blog! We are redoing my laundry room, mud room, grandkids craft, play area so I love your ideas!! And I loved the bedroom closet doors a few post back!!!

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  12. Good to see you back! I don't love doing laundry, but I tolerate it. On the other hand I can't stand ironing. I remove my clothes from the dryer while they're still damp, hang them to dry and all the wrinkles fall out. If any stubborn wrinkles remain, I use a spray bottle to dampen the clothes and that usually does the trick. I got this tip from my mother. She hated ironing too.
    Claudia

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  13. I love reading your post. Your laundry room is so nice and bright. Wouldn't mind doing laundry in there. Your posts are such an inspiration. My dream is to have a farmhouse. For now we live in an apartment but I feel I can still have the farmhouse look. Thanks for being such an inspiration.

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  14. Your posts are always a sight for sore eyes! I live in the city but long for life in the country. Love everything you post. I actually love to iron- find it therapeutic. Would be interested in reading about your cleaning routine and organizing techniques (all those baskets and buckets are great ideas). Also, I have devoured every recipe you shared- please keep them coming.

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  15. Such a bright pretty space! I love how you've used useful lovely things for decor!

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    1. Couldn't agree more..I want to stay here! to hide on my kids lol

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  16. You are one of my favorite bloggers and I always look forward to new posts. :-)
    The work that you have done on your home is amazing (from seeing the potential through the mess, to all your husband's hard work/carpentry to your styling.) :-)
    Happy Autumn
    Carol

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  17. Happy Fall to you and your family Andrea! Love the Shaker peg rail, very versatile. My husband made a smaller one for our kitchen and I painted it Barn red back in the day. Your Laundry room is bright and cheerful when working on your daily chores. It seems like yesterday when I started reading your blog and then your moms. Enjoy Autumn with your family, picking pumpkins and gathering colorful leaves, Kathleen in Az

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  18. Always nice to see a post, and I'm still reading! Beautiful room, and a reminder to focus on how far we have come rather than the what's left to accomplish. Thank you!

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  19. Lots of light is a must for my laundry room as well. It does go far in doing what must be done. I had 4 kids (they are grown and flown the coop) and the only way to keep up was to do laundry daily. At least one load a day and many times it was 2. I would toss a load in before going to bed, it got tossed in the dryer in the morning before my coffee brewed. By the time breakfast was done and dishes in the dishwasher the load was ready to fold. To keep myself in check I made sure I folded the laundry as it came out of the dryer, it was not allowed to be put in a basket or tossed in a pile. I had wicker baskets for everyone, I washed and folded but every one had to put away their own laundry. They learned that as soon as they could walk (of course it was with help but start them young!). I did not have laundry piling up and it usually did not take longer than 10 to 15 minutes a day. (time yourself folding a load, you may be surprised it is not that long)
    I loved having my laundry room right off my kitchen, made it so much more convenient.

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  20. Oh yes. Still here!! Love coming to this refreshing bit of space!!

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  21. thanks for your blog. is always welcome love your laundry room ... nelly

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  22. I'm so glad your back!! I love reading your blog. Your home is gorgeous and your girls are precious!! I love the simple life style in your home! It's always so peaceful and calm looking!

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  23. Yep still checking in once a day to see if you have posted anything new! (:
    You are one of my two favorite blogs (the other being assortment). If you want some ideas for posts..here's a couple more. How do you keep your home looking so uncluttered with little kids and all of the toys and clothes and drawings (or other creations) and such that they seem to bring into a house? How do you handle Christmas and birthdays when you know your kids have enough stuff (or too much) and grandparents and aunts and uncles are determined to get them something? No pressure to answer these though. I completely understand you are busy with your girls, your house, and just life. (:

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  24. I'm still reading! :) Love reading your posts.

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  25. Family first...don't worry about your readers. We will be here to enjoy your occasional posts about simple country life. We just purchased 4 acres, but plan to build a simple country home. I'm always inspired by your renovation projects and recipes.

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  26. My girls would love so much to have a flower garden such as yours. I would love to see a post about your planting and seed choices!

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  27. Still here, my friend! Love the fresh white paint and blue green ceiling. It all looks great! I would love to see updated photos of your homeschool space and how you keep that space organized.

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  28. Still reading! Love your finished laundry room. Seeing the pictures makes me feel like I came for a short visit!

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  29. Still reading! Love your laundry room. You have done such a nice job on your home it is a wonder you have time to post. It is always nice to visit you.

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  30. I'm still here too! I love reading your posts!Your laundry room is so fresh and crisp looking!
    Kathy L

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  31. I just popped in to see what's new! I have always loved your posts, they provide me with inspiration. I love your style and have enjoyed seeing the evolution of your home. Thank you for sharing!

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  32. I love your blog-one of the few I read. I grew up in an older house so yours really speaks to me. Love your style. Keep posting!
    Joanna in (far) northern Ca.

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