Month: February 2011

A Productive Weekend

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As you know, we’ve finally decided to finish our laundry room.  Well, part of it.  We can’t finish all of it due to the nature of utility rooms.  Last weekend Ben hung sheet rock and we ordered a new washer and dryer set.  During the week, Ben taped and applied two coats of mud to cover the sheet rock seams and holes.  We took a few steps toward completion this weekend, too. 

On Saturday, Ben laid the tile.  The pattern is a continuation of the pin wheel pattern throughout the rest of the basement. 

Vincent made sure the tiles were evenly spaced, too.

Talk about OCD…  We have a drain in the back right corner, so Ben tiled around it.  It will be hidden under his desk anyway.

Our washer and dryer were set to be delivered on Thursday, March 3, but we got a call on Friday from the fine folks at Home Depot informing us they were in the local store.  With the tile in place, Ben got a bug up his butt to pick the washer and dryer up, rather than wait for the delivery.  So, around 10:30 yesterday morning, Ben and Vincent went to Home Depot, with a spring in their step.  While Ben was away, I listed our old Kenmore (non matching) washer and dryer set on Craigslist. 

When Ben came home, he had our brand spankin’ new washer and dryer in the truck as well as two adjustable closet rods and a 9 foot by 12 foot drop cloth.  We’ll share the deets on those later.  Ben lugged the old machines up from the basement and out to our driveway.  We figured if no one bought the old set, we’d donate them.  As Ben was hauling the new washer in, his phone rang.  Someone was interested in the old set!  They said they would come over later in the day to look at them. 

Then, Ben filled the basement landing with loving loaded the new washer and dryer to the basement, after some measuring and careful maneuvering. 

The potential buyers looked at the old set around 3:00 in the afternoon.  Oddly enough, they saw the listing on Craigslist, but lived three doors down from us.  Not like the band, either.  So, they bought the mis-matched set and Ben pushed them down the sidewalk to help the new owners move them in. 

After moving the old washer and dryer out, the new set in and selling the old set, Ben also grouted the tile. 

 Once that dries, we’ll move stack the new washer and dryer to put in place.  That’s one small step for Ben, one giant leap for the laundry room.  Tomorrow, we’ll give a price breakdown and the smokin’ deal on the new set.

P.S.  Here are a few shots of the area that will stay unfinished. 

Our geothermal unit is at the far left and the bright blue monstrosity is a pressure tank.

The tankless water heater is in the back corner as well as our electrical panel.  Do you see that white machine with tile against it?  That is the steam generator that will live in here once the steam shower is started finished.

There you have it.  An update on our laundry room.  Did you check anything off your to do list?  We have some laundry to do.

Etsy Favs: February

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Are you ready for another Etsy round-up?  hold on to your seats, kids.

First, this Feathers print by Groundwork.  I love the detail and the coloring.

How sweet is this Bird Stack bookend from Graphic Spaces Wood?

I think this World Map linocut print from The Big Harumph would be great in an office or child’s room.

The Jog is an original oil painting by Davs.  I love the texture and movement of this piece.

Shut the Front Door by William Dohman just cracks me up!

You know I’m a sucker for initials carved in a heart, so this Forever Carved in Wood platter by In Her Words Ceramics is right up my alley.

Need storage?  How about these Fabric Baskets by The Spotted Barn?

More bookends comin’ at’cha.  Love the idea behind these Female Criminal Minds bookends by Peg and Awl.

I don’t know why, but I love miniatures.  Am I alone in this?  If not, these next two items are for you (and me).  Cute paper bee sculpture by Elsita.

And Mini Macarons by Petit Plat.  Don’t ask me what I’d do with these, but they’re cute!

I love the idea of transforming letters with pretty paper, like these by Little White Dog.

Keep the four seasons at your fingertips with these fantastic mugs by Bailey Doesn’t Bark.

Want to see what else I’m loving?  Check out my Etsy favorites.  What do you search Etsy for?  I’d love to see your favorite finds!

February Sponsor Appreciation

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A big hug and thank you going out to Jen at IHeart Organizing for continuing to support this little ol’ blog of mine.  Seriously, this gal rocks.  She has wonderful, usable and cheap ideas to clean, organize and brighten up your home.  I love ‘Project Teal’.

Her master bedroom update is to die for, too.  Love the addition of grey and personal touches.

Though, sometimes I hate her.  Why?  She forces me to do projects I was completely comfortable never doing, like organizing my photos.

Check out her Etsy shop for more tools to get yourselves organized.

Family Tree Art

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Don’t you love Martha Stewart?  I do.  Her ideas are fantastic, like this tip to keep a gallery wall looking organized, and this family tree art.  When I saw this idea, I knew I had to try it.  So, I painted a canvas and bought paint pens from  Michael’s and made a family tree for Ben’s side and my side of the family.  You can see one peeking through the door in this photo. 

While I like the sentiment, I hate my handwriting.  I guess I’m like my friend Jen in that regard.  When I went to IKEA last summer, I snagged two 20 inch square Ribba frames.  They were silver (they were $5.00 cheaper than the white) so I spray painted them white while painting some other frames for the hall. 

Then, I got to work in Photoshop.  My mat opening is 11.5 inches square, so I recreated the design, updating with babies and marriages in our families since 2008.  Once I completed the designs, I went to FedEx Office, formerly Kinko’s and had the designs printed as 12 inch square prints on plain white paper. 

I taped the design to the back of the mat and placed the new designs in frames.  I used the Century Gothic font at 9 point, but because the designs are in a hall, they will only be viewed close up.

I really love the cleaner, sleeker look.

Now, we have two custom, framed family trees hanging on either side of the main bathroom door.

Martha has great ideas for other family tree styles, too.  Do you have a family tree?  Any other art to show off your family?  I have a different family tree art piece as well, for sale in our Etsy shop.  I’m considering adding a printed version including a customized option of adding family members names within the rings.  Are you interested?  I’d love to work with you to create a custom art design.

Basement Progress: Laundry Room

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Guess what we Ben did this weekend?  I’ll give you a hint.  It involved a little of this:

Yep, that’s sheet rock.  Ben wants to get into reloading (for bullets and other gun stuff) and he needs workspace.  We decided the laundry room was perfect for him, so we’re finally starting to work on it, which sort of came out of left field.  As of a few weeks ago, we had no intentions to work on the laundry room.

Remember the ugly truth in this post?  That’s what we started with.  After clearing out some of the paint and random junk, things were looking a little better.

After clearing everything out, Ben vacuumed the space, with a little help.

With the laundry room cleaned, Ben got down to business while I played with the boys. 

Before Ben could hang any sheet rock, he had to run wiring for outlets and a new light and switch the dryer duct work.  Then, he started with the longest wall, behind the washer and dryer.

We debated where we could sheet rock to on the back wall.  You see, our electric panel and tankless water heater (which is hanging on the studs) are on the back wall, and we still need access to the left wall to plumb our shower under the stairwell.  And, our geothermal system and pressure tank are a pain to work around.

So, Ben did some more wiring and we were able to sheet rock almost to the corner. 

The left wall and ceiling will be exposed.  Afterall, this is a utility room and if anything happens to leak, we’ll know about it as both bathrooms are directly above this room.  Also, some plumbing hangs about 1 foot down from the ceiling, so it would still be ugly.  We plan to remedy this with a wall of curtains along the entire left side, to conceal everything, but keep it accessible. 

Taping, mudding and sanding still to come, but it’s progress.

Already lighter and brighter, no?  On the laundry list: Get new, front loading, stacking washer and dryer set (to be delivered by or on March 3!  Ben got us a screaming good deal, too.  Stay tuned for more details), build storage drawer and cabinet system, configure Ben’s workshop area, buy/sew curtains, prime, paint, tile the floors.  Yeah, lots to do still, but at least we’re starting! 

What’s on your to do list?  Anything you love about your laundry room?  Tons of storage?  A place to iron and fold clothes?  Natural light streaming in?  What is essential to your laundry room function, other than a washer and dryer?