And that right there is my first favorite about the best room in our house...
(1)
a feeling of peace
If you've never had to slam the door behind you when you go to load the laundry or had to grab a wayward child who may have snuck in despite your best efforts or known that someone is getting into trouble while you try and start a load of clothes but there's nothing you can do about it because surely you can't invite them to follow you, you will know where I'm coming from here. Either you do your laundry poorly or you take care of your kids poorly. So because child neglect in favor of unstained clothes is frowned upon, the homemaking there was....not good
But now, I can do boring things like pre-treat stains or organize things in the chest freezer and children can come with me and do adorable things like wear towels on their heads while pushing a baby stroller and stacking blocks.
(2)
Electrical outlets and not being a huge jerk
See, when I started envisioning this project I had only one thing in mind: to make the most pinnable room that anyone had ever created. It was even stupider than it sounds, I promise. Because a pinnable room needs cabinets and countertops and backsplashes and trendy words appliqued onto the wall. In the process of creating such a room, I would kick my husband out of his workshop space and potentially waste a huge portion of the money that was so generously gifted us. That room was a mess, you guys. Electrical, plumbing, fixing a rotted floor joist, putting in new, functioning electrical outlets....all of that is invisible but costs a whole lotta dough.
Luckily I snapped out of my selfish reverie and decided that there had to be a way that we could have everything we needed even if we couldn't have everything I imagined I wanted. So we put in new outlets, including this one at counter height, which is great for plugging in tools and gadgets that you might use on the table, and would be fab in case anyone ever does put cabinets and counters in that room someday. And I gave up on the notion that the room, a utility room after all, should be some kind of girly showpiece and told my husband to put back in what he uses. It was good.
(3)
the utility sink
Speaking of this being a utility room, let's talk about how much I heart, heart, heart having a utility sink.
Honestly, the only reason we included this is because I figured that's what people HAVE in laundry rooms. I've never owned one so I had no idea what one might use it for. I had a vague idea of Tommy using it when he brews beer, maybe. And maybe the...like...washing? Of really dirty hands? Or something? I am the silliest! The sink has a plug, people. When people soak clothes, do you know what they might use? A UTILITY SINK. I mean, I know. Duh, dweej. But I didn't know that. I'd never done it! Now instead of just tossing out stained shirts or (more likely) letting my kids run around looking like n'er do wells, I actually, you know, wash their clothes. Stunning turn of events, folks.
(4)
a chest freezer
(5)
and all the details that are actually details
When I found stuff in pockets, I never knew what to do with it. I would shove it in my own pockets and try to move along. Now I drop odds and ends into this cute can. It's the little things, friends. |
So simple. A magnetic towel bar (courtesy of Meijer) on the side of the dryer. Utility sink get your hands wet? Have a towel! I can't believe I never thought of this before. |
These vintage knobs are on a little cabinet in the corner that's full of woodworking...."stuff." Peruse Etsy for your own! |
This fabric is by Riley Blake designs. Their site is full of all sorts of greatness and is about half the price of buying custom fabric off of Spoonflower. Winning. |
I actually read a book this week too! I'll have to post about that later, though. Right now I'm going to leisurely stroll into my peaceful utility room and put the wet laundry into the dryer. Bwahahahahaha!
I will now blame my lack of a utility sink for my children constantly looking like n'er do wells.
ReplyDeleteoooh me too. Good excuse!
DeleteOh this post makes me so happy. :) Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI will live vicariously through this post when I slam the door on my own littles to do laundry, hehe. Also, I am SO getting us a deep freeze for Christmas.
And utility sinks--who would have thought they were so utilitarian?? :P
<3 jeni
Oh, well done. I love it. I love that you can do different things in there, and I am so happy you got the sink! I have lived in a house with no sink in the laundry room, and all I can say is "dumb."
ReplyDeletei know everyone liked the curtains best but i loved the utility table best from the reveal because i could envision all kinds of useful stuff happening there...like block building. And, if you don't pin this adorable room, I will . Either to my "For the Home" board or my Simple Is Better board!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I am trying to read also. I feel like I am neglecting things, but booooooooooks, I've missed you!
ReplyDeleteDo you ever just take a mini-vacay in your laundry room? I imagine it's quite soothing when you get the appliances wooshing and humming and warm smells....
ReplyDeleteSo, my funny freezer story is this. When my husband and I only had one or two children, his parents offered us their stand alone freezer that they were no longer using, for free. We actually DEBATED whether or not we really needed it. And wanted it taking up valuable garage space, etc. Seriously. I laugh at my foolish self and thank all the angels in heaven that we RELUCTANTLY took it. Like we were doing them a favor. Bwahahahahaha!! That thing is the best appliance I own and I would die if anything happened to it. And I totally covet your sink - it's the one thing missing in my laundry room!
ReplyDeleteI have a fully functional laundry room and I am still jealous of yours! It is so pretty! I love the way the knobs match the curtains! You are so lucky to have so many friends who love you Dwija! I love the picture of Cecelia - she is letting her baby sleep while she works - just like Mama!
ReplyDeleteI have used Pinterest in ages and I think I'm probably the kind of person they target. I love beauty and order and all that but it has to be married to practical and functional for me to really fall in love with it. Oh yeah... and work for my particular limited situation. Your room does all that. it's better than "pinnable", it fits your family perfectly!
ReplyDelete* haven't used Pinterest
DeleteI didn't understand utility sinks either, since I've been living in apartments for 10 years and the house I grew up in didn't have one either. But the house we just bought has one, and now I'm a believer! So far we've mostly just cleaned paintbrushes in it, but you can fill a bucket in it in the dead of winter! And soak clothes and stuff. We're pretty sure the previous owners washed their dogs in there, too...
ReplyDeleteYour hooks looks like drunk octopus' college roommate: drunk eel. He also wants to fight.
ReplyDeleteDwija, what website do you use to sell or consign your old designer clothes? I remember you wrote a post about this once but I can't find it. I have some nice dresses I want to sell online! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe two sites are www.liketwice.com and www.thredup.com . I've never sold through either one, but I like Twice's quality and selection better. Hope you see this! :)
DeleteDeep freezers are the best! We buy whole cow and a whole pig from a cousin who raises them every 1 - 1.5 years. It is great!
ReplyDeleteOh, this is so wonderful Dweej, makes me so happy :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you shared these lovely details!
ReplyDeleteFabulous. We don't have a laundry "room", more like a laundry hallway. Even so, I've been making the area prettier with pictures and such and it makes a difference come laundry day. I'm looking for some fancy knobs for a cabinet in our bathroom, where did you find yours?
ReplyDeleteYour utility room is so beautiful and BIG, it makes me drool a little. All we have in our house is a little laundry closet, barely big enough to stand in with the washer/dryer in there. I would love a whole room to work in, especially with a sink!
ReplyDeleteAlso, those doorknobs are unbelievable. They are the most ornate doorknobs I've ever seen, and I think I must have some like them Right Now.
What a fabulous room, Dwija. It seems like a second family room, in a way! Please please please share the paint color. I am getting ready to paint my daughters' room yellow...
ReplyDeleteThank you for making me finally do this! I've added all colors and brands at the bottom of this post: http://www.houseunseen.com/2013/09/laundry-room-final-reveal.html
DeleteThanks! :)
DeleteThanks! :)
DeleteI LOVE IT!!! It puts a smile on my face - it's the little things. :-D
ReplyDeleteIt's so beautiful!! I love the peaceful cheeriness of the room. Or the cheery peacefulness. Either way. :)
ReplyDeleteOh I love the little things in your laundry room. A utility sink sounds like such a luxury! I had one in our last home but couldn't use it because our washer had to drain into it since the church decided a proper drain for the parsonage's washer was really unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteThis room makes me smile every time i see it really. It's just....hope.....to me. Hope that things can be okay in the midst of tragedy, hope that people are generous, hope that while one child is being grieved there are others here who are alive and playing outside making big wonderfully dirty piles of laundry, and hope that there are other little Catholic families out there doing their best to do small things in a great way.
This is exactly all the things it is to me, too, Amanda. So miraculous.
Delete*sigh* I'm so happy when I look at this. Right now I do laundry in the unfinished basement of our 100yr old home... but I'm not complaining because for years I didn't have neither a washer or dryer and did my laundry at friends houses, so I'm happy and VERY grateful, but happier for all the good that has been given you. It delights me!
ReplyDeleteYou seem like such a nice person, just based on this comment. Totally finding your blog now.... :)
DeleteDwija, since thou art new to utility sinks, might I tell you how fun it is to give a toddler/baby a bath in one? WAY better than the tub since you get to stand up. If the child is big enough, you can let them soak while you iron. I grew up supervising little sisters in the utility sink while I ironed.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm really glad you did this post because I was a little surprised that you had not-so-pinnable stuff out in your reveal. Per usual, you are awesome and have humbled me with your humility. The funny thing is that my laundry room is pretty cute and I tell my OCD husband to stop urging me to clear out the useful things I keep on the shelf above the machines. He hates the way it looks, but I need to spend less time doing useless things, like hiding the stain spray, not more.
Super jels of your utility sink! Mama likey!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the utility sink!
ReplyDeleteI am having a hard time finding a model that is squared off...can you tell me who makes that, and if you have the dimensions?
Thanks!
Simple and organized! and I can deny it, I also love the utility sink! Great job Dwija. Where did you get it? I am also planning to place one on our laundry room. But as of now, I am still finding away how to partition our unit at north park residences condo I think I have to find out it first.
ReplyDelete