Laundry Room Revamp
Before: Storage Wars
We’ve had plans to add shelving to our laundry room, which simply had nowhere to put things. Laundry products sat on top of the dryer, random bins of lightbulbs and hooks accumulated lint and dust in a pile on the floor, and dirty laundry took up valuable floor space. The alcove with a sorting hamper became difficult to access in the very back. I put up a tension rod, but hang dried most things on the staircase since it was simpler.
And then my Dad and Mom came and transformed this room from a pit of unfinished work into a calming retreat where I look forward to doing laundry every day just to smell the wood and be in a space where everything makes sense.
Check out the transformation below!
After: Space Optimization
My parents visited in April and finished several home organization projects, which was just the reset we needed after months of being in Survival Mode with our medically complex baby. My Mom had wonderful ideas to improve the flow and storage in the laundry room, with the goal of clearing the floor and using the vertical space. Some ideas I couldn’t wrap my head around. For example, she talked about a cabinet to stow away my ironing board. I was excited to see what she meant by this because all I could imagine was hanging the ironing board up or leaning it against the wall.
They went home with Mom’s designs and my room’s measurements, and returned 3 months later with Dad’s custom built carpentry and Mom’s solutions. What great team work! Dad takes direction so completely from Mom that it was only after he put it together that he asked, “Wait, what is this for? Why did I build this?” 🤣 It was the ironing board cubby!
Mom asked Dad to do a modern style door without a frame on the cabinets so it will look seamless—just my style. I thought it was so considerate of them to pay attention to that kind of detail and make it fit the rest of our home.
Mom thought of everything. A floating shelf is within easy reach, holding cute clear containers including a pitcher of liquid detergent. I no longer have to lug a heavy jug or make a mess measuring soap. All those household odds and ends like lightbulbs and batteries have a home now, inside gorgeous cabinets. They no longer create visual clutter.
Mom got a wall mounted drying rack that can be stowed away when not in use, a set of sturdy bins with peekaboo windows that are perfect for linens protected from any lint or dust, and even a collapsible laundry basket. One of my favorite solutions that Mom brought were magnetic baskets and holders that attach to the side of the dryer for easy access to yarn balls, the bags to wash Delicates in, and hangers!
The most surprising thing about the laundry transformation were the little “homey” touches Mom added like the Welcome mat by the door and the pretty decorations like a picture frame, candle, small towels… She had Dad build a shelf specifically to be able to display things to bring me joy. The laundry room was always a utility room for me with no purpose for extra things, and yet these additions are some of my favorites. The most unexpected thing I really liked? That welcome mat which keeps my feet comfy on the way in.
Behind the Scenes
Dad made these shelves and cabinets with such care and precision, I can’t even believe it. He edge banded and dry fitted each of the cabinets and shelves, made the inner shelves adjustable, and made crown molding for it. He sanded each piece and finished all the wood with Tung oil to bring out the natural color, and I LOVE IT! He reverse engineered it and pre-constructed some pieces so that he could assemble it right here. Mom helped him painstakingly wrap them for transport. He brought his nail gun, a laser tool that keeps the lines straight, and all of his screws/nails. This project was certainly a labor of love from my parents.
We did run into some issues with the installation when we found there is electrical right where they wanted to put the ironing board, and also an electrical outlet just where Mom wanted the floating shelf. I also didn’t realize that my measurements for the shelves on the back wall were off since the walls were not square! Jer helped with solving all of these, and getting the doors to shut straight. Lily was the best assistant bringing tools and fetching wood. It was a group effort!
I’m still ecstatic and floored at the change in this room! My parents did a fantastic job and I am the luckiest most grateful person, thank you Dad and Mom!!!!!
One more Before/After…
Love, Kat
