NEAT & SIMPLE LIVING with Ariane Benefit, Organizing Coach: Tackle it Tuesday

August 22, 2006

Tackle it Tuesday - Laundry Room Makeover

The weekend before this past one we finally finished cleaning our basement and put in the final touches on our flood cleanup & Laundry Room renovation project. (See Photo Below) We had a flood down there a few weeks ago when the plumbing backed up. We had to throw out all the linoleum and carpet and disinfect the floors, then put new flooring & carpet in.

TIP: In the basement, never tack down the carpet and linoleum! We buy very inexpensive carpet remnants just so that we can easily change it all out if there is a flood. After all, the water heater, washing machine and a toilet are all down there!) We also keep everything off the floor unless it's in plastic bins. So, luckily we didn't lose anything but the flooring! All we had to do was cut the wet carpet into pieces, put it in contractor bags and trash it. Granted it was a nasty job...but it could have been worse! : )

While were at it, we took the opportunity to get a new utility sink to replace the disgusting one that was there for probably at least 40 years - if not since the house was built 65 years ago. (Click the photo to see it larger) So sorry I forgot to take before pix! : ( But I was just so anxious to get it all done! )

As you can see, we painted the previously all boring white room in a gorgeous blue by Benjamin Moore (809 - Soft Jazz) and painted all the yucky looking pipes white. (NOTE: To paint pipes, you first have to prime the pipes with a special primer.) They look kinda like art to me. I love spending time doing laundry in there now! : ) FYI - We got the utility sink with cabinet & awesome faucet and everything you need with it at Lowe's for around $200. It wasn't available at Home Depot. Because we are in a 65 year old house, though, Alan did have to get some additional plumbing pipe fittings and supplies to make the hose and drain pipe work. I'm so lucky he's so handy!!! It would have cost more than the sink to get a plumber in to do the work.

The storage we have in the laundry room is a wardrobe which is actually a child's wardrobe from Target. The wardrobe was originally bought more than 10 years ago for the huge bathroom I had in my Victorian apt. which had no storage at all. I think you can still get similar units at Target. (p.s. I also changed the knobs to make the unit less child's room looking.)

The counter / folding table was from Caldor (which no longer exists) but you can find this kind of counter height table in lots of places. You can also get tables that fold down from the wall. I bought the counter / table about 15 years ago for my kitchen when I was in the victorian apartment in Montclair. These items repurposed beautifully to the laundry room in our new home! I LOVE furniture that is multi-functional!

Hope you have a great Tackle It Tuesday Project!

http://www.5minutesformom.com/category/blogging/meme/tackle-it-tuesday/

Read more about the background here:
http://www.5minutesformom.com/160/tackle-it-tuesday-update/

Sending Neat Thoughts!