My mud/laundry room makeover plans
May 08, 2019
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Hey there! This room refresh is a case of if you give a mouse a cookie...or if a DIY blogger finishes one project she wants to start another. Basically the same thing.
I'm in the process of starting the built ins in my office, but I also started another project that's keeping me busy too. I had a bit of a misstep already that I'll show you in a minute.
It started when I shared this built in unit on the side of our fridge a couple of weeks ago:
I've been thinking about some updates to our laundry/mud room for a long time now, and this photo got me motivated to start. Look at that wall...just calling out for something cool!
Here's a better look at it:
I've planned to continue the board and batten from the built ins around the room. I played around with heights and taped off one that would bring the B & B a little more than half way up the wall.
I didn't want to go all the way up where the back of the built in bench did for a few reasons (it not matching the exact design of the bench for one), so I settled on a different height...and turned out I hated it. ;)
I also hated the color I picked out. I don't usually choose wrong when it comes to paint colors, but you really do need to see it on the wall before you know for SURE sometimes. It's a color called James River Gray that is really a lovely color -- a beautiful ashy gray blue.
But I HATED it in here:
The area under the green tape was supposed to go white. I knew almost immediately that I didn't like the blue color for this space, but I kept going with the whole wall to be sure. I was sure. Ha!
It's such a pretty color but it goes too country blue in here for me. We don't get a ton of natural light in this room so knew I needed something lighter.
I also scrapped the board and batten idea because I realized it was going to be too much of it. I felt like I needed to match it to what was already there and the spacing was going to be really busy in here:
So instead I plan to go with a color I know I love, Whitestone by BM. (I have it mixed at Sherwin-Williams.) I used this color in our master bedroom at the old house:
It's a very pretty light blue/gray.
I also plan to give that wall (maybe all of them, but I doubt it) a treatment of some kind. That wall in particular gets lots of scuffs from us taking off shoes and tossing them in the general direction of the shoe bins. We don't usually take them off and place them in there nicely. ;)
That bench area will get a few other changes too -- I plan to make rolling bins for the shoes (the baskets are falling apart and drive me crazy). I'll be getting rid of the pillows and will add a DIY cushion instead.
I also have an idea to build that area up to the ceiling. It bugs me that those cubbies and the cabinets over the washer and dryer don't go all the way up. We'll see if I can make that work!
The other side of the room may only get paint for now, but the long range plans are bigger. I hope to add bottom cabinets under the folding table:
You can see how I hid the cat litter here!
That would mean finding a new spot for the litter, which we've wanted to do for awhile. I have a couple spots in mind. I also plan to cover that whole wall in something pretty, whether it be wallpaper, or a stencil, or tile.
It's a big focal point when we walk in from the garage, so I want it to make a pretty statement. I'm considering a cement tile look like I did in our son's old bathroom:
But would probably do something lighter instead of the black and white. I'm loving this one, this one and this one (affiliate links)...but if I find a cool wallpaper or stencil that may win out.
I've got time to look since this side will have to wait until the budget allows. I think this could be a really beautiful and even more functional wall when I get done with it!:
I've already started painting the window wall, again! And it's SOOO much better already. I'm seeing my vision come together just a bit!
I'm also going to hit the office hard soon too, but the mudroom projects (at least most of them) are quicker and easier. So stay tuned for both!
Do you have a laundry/mud room combo? We had one in our old house that I hated because it was so small. I ended up moving the laundry to the basement and made it a dedicated mud room because it was always such a mess in there. I LOVE this one because it's so spacious. It will be fun to put my stamp on it!
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Your fixture for the cutting boards came out awesome ! You did a great job.
ReplyDeleteI have one I did right behind the kitchen door and I totally love it and I decorate it with seasonal dishes.
Fabby
Cabinets in the laundry room sound great!! How about cabinets that are pull-out laundry bins. A friend did this and it's spectacular!! Hides that dirty secret of soiled clothes ect......Looks more finished than the regular laundry sorters.
ReplyDelete"Have I told you lately" how much I luuurv you? I loved the fridge thing, and love the ideas here. And I've twice painted and then realized it was a mistake. Welcome to the club. But for my second song quote, "life is not tried, it is merely survived" if you haven't made an error here and there!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure everything will turn out wonderful when you're done with the laundry room! Can't wait to see what you do with it!
ReplyDeleteCharmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
I'm not seeing the link to the rug in your new Instagram pic of your dining room. It's not linked in the like to know. I love it!!! Please share.
ReplyDeleteYou can find it at Rugs USA! http://bit.ly/2HhmSrI
DeleteHave you seen the adorable cabinet that Kristi at Addicted to Decorating made in her hallway? She did a cutout for her kitty and hid the litter box. It was so clever. Search under "hallway cabinet" and you'll find it.
ReplyDeleteI haven't! I'll have to look.
DeleteShowing that picture of your old bathroom, makes me think you should build a similar one where your counter is with the skirt! No big deal right??? Ha! I think you said your dad helped you build that bathroom counter. It's so cool!
ReplyDeleteYes we built the potting bench that inspired that one! :)
DeleteI find that despite high hopes for a pretty, neat mudroom, it's pretty much what it is. At my house it is the mud catcher, hay drop, dirty shoe place. I'n not sure I will ever get it under control. On the other hand, I just finished my laundry room and am very happy with it. I put some shiplap wall paper on one wall and it looks terrific. Thanks for the inspiration of your hallway.
ReplyDeleteHow about leaving the litter box where it is and making a door so you can open it up and clean the box and put a hole in the door so the cats can get in and out? :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!!
DeleteOh how I'd love a mud room but alas, my entry is right into the kitchen or right into the living room....I use the kitchen door, have never used the living room entrance for anything other than accessing the deck.
ReplyDelete