Kitchen counter top reveal....

Time and again I have made changes to my kitchen in my quest for “lighter and brighter.”

This past week was another piece to the puzzle in this quest…

I LOVE the white quart counter tops. LOVE!

In my quests for “lighter and brighter,” I started with under-the-counter lighting…an absolute must in any kitchen.

I swear it doubled the usable work space!

If you don’t have it, get it…seriously.

Then I popped up some cabinets, added floating shelves and some glass doors.

These awesome changes made a huge difference!

Then the last little makeover…new tile backsplash, larger window and more glass doors….

Then there was the addition of the black stainless appliances…one at a time, but eventually the stove, microwave, refrigerator and dishwasher all matched again!

All these changes have made a big impact…but I was still missing “something.”

I shared how I acquired my stunning granite…at an auction for a fraction of its retail cost. I had it installed nine years ago and it looked amazing!

It’s not that I grew to dislike the granite…I loved it. But my kitchen is relatively small and I just felt that even with all the “light and bright” changes, it still “felt” small and dark.

A couple of years ago I update my bar top with white quartz.

I absolutely love it…the quartz made a HUGE difference in the look and feel of the space and I have found it to be exceptionally durable and easy to care for.

When I did my mini makeover in the guest bath, I went with the white quartz again.

Now there was no question what I wanted in my kitchen. It was just a matter of affording it.

Quartz counter tops are not something I would suggest “DIYing” and while I really WANTED new tops, they weren’t really a NEED.

My rule of thumb…always ask, is it a need or a want?

“Wants” are okay…just as long as you don’t go into debt. So for a time I saved my pennies so I could afford new tops without digging into my savings or going into debt.

This past week they were installed.

Being a DIYer at heart I had to get in on the action just a tad. I used this AMAZING little tool to cut through the caulk between the old tops and the backsplash…

I have no idea how I managed without this tool for the first 54 years of my life! Add this one to your “must have” gift list!

I decided to change out the double bowl stainless sink to a single bowl black stainless.

I love it! I would like to have a black stainless faucet but I didn’t get around to ordering one in time…maybe someday. Right now I don’t find the stainless faucet terribly offensive.

My “baking corner”….

(The pink roses are from a bush Sarah and Joel gave me last year for Mother’s Day…I love gifts that keep giving! And in case you are wondering, I take my own advice…I asked for and received a battery trim nailer this year from my kiddos for Mother’s Day! LOVE!)

In case you are wondering if under cabinet lighting is worth it…this is the same corner pre-lights. I know the backsplash and top is lighter now, but just adding the lights made the space usable rather than just a big black hole!

I love the white tops with the black stainless appliances and the travertine backsplash! That backsplash is amazing but I really think it was over shadowed by the “busyness” of the granite. Now it really shines!

My quest for “lighter and brighter” took a HUGE leap with the addition of these tops. I LOVE them. Yes, they are just plain white…but in a kitchen with a beautiful backsplash and stained cabinets, they look great!!!

My neighbor ask me what my next big project will be…hum, I’ll have to think on that!

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Wall planters....

My counter tops will be installed tomorrow… I AM SOOOO EXCITED!

I will share those next week but until then I wanted to share a simple little addition to my kitchen decor.

For some time I have wanted to grow herbs for cooking but I really don’t have the space for planters on my counters. I guess I could put some on the deck, but I just have this vision of reaching over and pinching off a fresh herb while I cook!

(Keep in mind if I have garlic, salt, and pepper, I’m good. And trust me, when these herbs croak, the planters will be filled with fake greenery.)

When I posted this picture last week, I realized I have the perfect spot for herb planters….

On the side of the upper cabinet!!!

So I went searching for wall planters on Amazon.

I found two…these…

And these….

I wasn’t sure which I would like better, so I ordered both.

I like the diamond ones better…

As you can see I only used three….Katie took the “spare.” I had planned to return the other set but she liked those as well, soooooo.

So far I have planted rosemary and thyme…I would like to plant cilantro as well, but in the meantime I used a little fake greenery I had on hand.

This window doesn’t get direct sunlight so I am not sure any will thrive. No biggy…the faux greenery looks pretty decent.

Time will tell!

I worry that the little planters make that space seem kind of “cluttered.” Maybe when the plain white tops are installed it won’t seem so busy…we’ll see BECAUSE THEY WILL BE HERE TOMORROW!!! YEAH BABY!

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ANOTHER KITCHEN MAKEOVER....

The last kitchen makeover was in 2016.

I did a “mini-makeover” a couple of years ago when I installed a new microwave and stove…

….and last year I finally added a new matching dishwasher.

I also did a little makeover on the dining room last year and I LOVE IT!

I sat on my hands long enough that the “white painted cabinet” craze is slowly dying off. Fortunately I don’t have the dreaded “honey oak” cabinets and still like my cabinets…and truthfully I loved the granite tops when I first installed them.

But for years I have been on a quest for “lighter and brighter” without painting the cabinets.

Two years ago I replaced the black bar top with white quartz…and I have coveted white quartz counter tops since!

See the mini makeover of my guest bath with white quartz!

I LOVE IT!!! I have Google and Pinterest searched enough to know that I would love white quartz tops with the “paprika cherry” stain cabinets and a travertine backsplash.

To give myself a “visual,” I bought some white shelf liner and white duct tape and covered one entire side of my kitchen with it…just to make sure I would like a “white” counter top.

I LOVE IT!!!

The “visual” really sealed the deal for me.

For several days I debated on whether I should get tops that have “veining” in them or just plain white. I even contemplated going back to the shop and picking up a few samples of quartz with some movement (the unique pattern of patterns that flow through the piece of stone) in them.

I decided the travertine has plenty of movement and “veining” and really needs to stand alone…I ‘m concerned that any “movement” in the quartz would “compete” with the travertine and make it all too “busy.”

This is my personal preference…either “movement” in the backsplash or top…but not both! I know people do both, but again, personal preference.

So white it is.

They measured and templated this week…

… and the new tops should be installed in next weeks!

I ordered a new black stainless single bowl sink! I would love to have a new black stainless faucet but, HOLY COW, those puppies are expensive so I may wait on that luxury!

I can’t wait to share!

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Maintaining a positive attitude during these uncertain times....

I am fortunate…my life has changed little since the entire nation went on lock-down. I own rental property so I have to go to work. Brian is in the grocery business so he has to go to work.

We tend to be “home bodies”…we rarely eat out, the last movie we saw in a theatre was “Shrek,” we bike and have a home gym so we don’t “go” to a gym…our favorite hobby is fly-fishing and that is a pretty solitary hobby. After raising 5 kids who participated in baseball, football, choir, band, softball, theatre, etc…we are enjoying our “down time.”

Little has changed. A few tiny sacrifices…we can’t go to our favorite breakfast restaurant on the weekends…but I cook at home. We kinda miss our weekend run to Starbucks but that is a habit we probably need to break anyway. I don’t go to the grocery store with Brian anymore, but trust me, not something I miss!

The biggest sacrifice has been our family Sunday dinners…I miss my kids and our grandpuppies terribly. I am hoping we can all have a big Mother’s Day celebration next month…fingers crossed!

But let’s be honest…regardless of how little my life has changed, the “negative” and “fear” is all around.

This is one of those times when we all need to dig deep to find SOMETHING to be grateful for and really focus on that…because if we don’t keep a positive mind set, it is going to be too easy to mentally dive into a pretty dark place.

There are so many negatives that can consume our minds…unemployment, finances, basic necessities, home schooling, your future retirement… just your future in general.

Here are my “tips” for not letting the “negatives” overwhelm you…

1) Edit your social media. Get rid of any “friend” who is always posting anything political or negative. If they don’t post fuzzy kitty videos or dog memes. delete them. Be VERY selective about who and what is allowed into your brain! Critically limit your “online” social time in general.

2) Seriously limit your news consumption. Personally, I would limit it to maybe one national and one local segment a day…if that. It is one thing to stay informed, it is another to let it take over. This includes your “online” time….social media is chalked full of “news” links…AVOID THEM!

3) Get out and get some exercise and fresh air. Seriously, GET OUTSIDE!!!! Even if you have to bundle up or carry an umbrella. Here is a good swap…for every minute you watch the news, you walk. That will cure you from sitting around sucking in the neganews. Walk, ride a bike, pull some weeds, plant some flowers…do something outside every day!

4) Only read uplifting and positive books, magazine, and articles. This is not the time to amp up your “fear level” by reading scary books…this is not a time to read doomsday crap. Keep it positive and uplifting.

5) Eat right. Sugar and carbs mess with your body and your brain. Again, not the time to be chowing on empty calories that don’t do anything but hurt you. Eat healthy if for no other reason than you need to be in top shape if you do get this nasty virus!!!

6) Keep a set sleep schedule. Go to bed, WITH THE TV OFF, at a decent hour and get up at the same time every day. Make your bed so you aren’t tempted to crawl back in it during the day.

7) Make a list of everything you want to accomplish the next day. I’m not saying you WILL get it all done…you may have to carry something over to the next day and maybe the day after that…but at least it is in writing and you know what you WANT to accomplish!

8) Take a shower, fix your hair, and get dressed. Sitting around in your pajamas all day is just an invitation to waste the day away.

9) Do something kind for someone else. Run an errand for a neighbor, volunteer, buy UPLIFTING books online and send them to neighbors and friends, go be a dog walker at the local animal shelter, clean out your closets and donate stuff you really don’t need! Leave your own pity-party and DO SOMETHING for someone else.

Stay focused on the positive. You may have to really dig deep to find it, but trust me it is much easier to dig deep to find a positive than it is to dig yourself out of a negative “pit.”

A friend posted this on Facebook…I stole it because it is exactly the kind of thing you need to print off and post on the fridge and bathroom mirror!!!! Positive affirmations!

I’ve posted this before and I will post it again….

And remember, EVERYONE around you is experiencing loss and fear…they are GRIEVING just like you…so be kind and respectful and patient.

Remember, AND UNDERSTAND, that fear, frustration and hurt are the catalyst for ANGER!!! Everyone is fearful and frustrated right now.

Not an excuse for bad behavior but knowing this may help you deal with your own feelings and understand the emotions and behavior of those around you!

Stay safe and healthy!

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My soap box...to pay or not to pay your rent.

Today I want to use this blog platform as a soap box.

I know everyone is suffering right now…physically, psychologically, emotionally and especially financially.

But people, you need three things in life to survive and as a landlord I provide two of those things…shelter and water.

I am a landlord. I am the person who many believe is one step above (or below depending on your personal experiences) a used car salesman. I do want to point out that my apartments are “affordablet” units…so they are not expensive to live in and have very few frills. For those of you who live in areas with higher rent or who live in “high dollar” rental dwellings, this “rant” may not apply to you entirely…but PLEASE consider the underlying message.

I am a good landlord. I make sure maintenance is done when needed and the grounds are well maintained. I make sure units are SUPER clean before new tenants move in. I make sure there are no bugs. I work hard to keep the area safe and crime free.

And more importantly I work with people when they can’t pay rent for REASONABLE reasons. Not “I lost my job”…you literally can walk two blocks from my complex and get a job…even now. “My car broke down”…I am 1/2 block from a bus stop.

My favorite…an excuse from a stripper… “I couldn’t work this week because I was….” Let’s just say it was “her time of the month.” I kid you not.

Right now, times are tough…but I live in a state that is not under a “shelter in place” order and we haven’t been hit terribly bad with the virus. Heck, Lowe’s parking lot was jam packed Sunday afternoon.

Yes, companies and businesses, large and small, are laying people off…but there are also companies who are begging for workers. Brian works in the grocery business and they are hiring like crazy.

Also, it is tax season and most people have gotten or will get their tax return. The government just sent out a stimulus payment to tax payers (the amount would cover two months of rent in my apartments) and unemployment is paying more than your average hourly worker makes in our state.

So what has my panties in a wad….

I have a real beef with the people who are TELLING people not to pay rent. I heard it just this past week on the Bobby Bones show…Barbara Corcoran, Shark Tank panelist and NYC real estate tycoon, telling people to NOT pay their rent…landlords can’t evict you so just don’t pay it.

Okay, first….WRONG. The federal government has stopped evictions on HUD housing and properties with HUD loans…but I am not a HUD housing project and I do not have a HUD or government backed loan. Nor do many landlords. So yes, we can evict.

Here is the catch…an eviction process is costly and time consuming. While it may sound simple, it is not. I personally have to hire an attorney because the properties are in a corporation…while I could do the filing myself, I cannot legally.

I would rather work with a tenant than go through the hassle.

So, here’s my soap box…

First, you have to have shelter. It is a necessity. In my case, I also pay all the utilities and water is always top on the list of “have to haves”…that is why I say I provide two essentials to life.

Second, NOTHING should take priority over your housing expenses. Except maybe food…and there are places that literally give it away. Car loan? Defer it…the banks are working with people. Court fines? Defer it…courts are working with people. Student loans, credit cards, furniture rentals…all things that can be DEFERRED for the time being.

Don’t even get me started on cigarettes and booze. If you can still buy either and not pay your rent…wow…just wow!

Your landlord still has things they HAVE to pay even if you don’t. A mortgage…most of us have a mortgage on that property. Property taxes…the state isn’t going to let that one slide! Property insurance…haven’t gotten anything from State Farm saying I don’t have to pay insurance for the next few months. The bug guy…that reason should be obvious! Utilities…yes, some are “deferring” utility payments…but I still owe it and will still have to pay it! And then there are all the taxes and fees I have to pay yearly, quarterly and monthly…holy crud!

Maintenance…if your water heater/stove/HVAC/refrigerator goes out…you want it fixed. If a water line bursts or the sewer line breaks (both happened this past year to the tune of over $5K) you want them repaired. If your roof leaks, you want it fixed. If your window gets busted out, you want it replaced. Yes, things still break and still need to be fixed…imagine having to pay for a new water heater, refrigerator, and stove all in one month…welcome to my world…plus some!

The sad thing about this “just don’t pay mentality” is that it really hurts the elderly and disabled. They are going to get a check every month…and they are going to pay their rent. But because the other tenants don’t pay I can’t afford to replace refrigerators or fix stoves or repair the HVAC for the elderly and disabled.

Because you don’t use every resource you have to pay your rent…your tax return or stimulus check, unemployment, car loan, dig ditches…whatever…THEY SUFFER!!!!

Also, I would like to point out that NO ONE encourages you to just walk into grocery stores (or Wal-Mart or Target or any convenient store) and just TAKE what you think you need or want. Food, shoes, personal products. No, that is theft…you can’t just walk in and take what you need just because you don’t have any money…you can’t just drive up to a gas station and fill up your car and drive off without paying because you don’t have a job. They, just like landlords, have overhead and expenses. They, just like landlords, don’t have the ability to just GIVE everyone things they need.

If you still resent the hell out of your landlord and think all are just a bunch of money grubbing thieves, here is my suggestion…go buy your own house. You take on the financial responsibility of owning a home…you take on the responsibility of paying the taxes and insurance…you fix or replace the refrigerator or stove or HVAC or water heater. You replace the roof when it leaks. Mow and maintain the yard.

Go get a loan, buy a house, and take on the responsibility.

If you cannot or will not do that, then maybe, just maybe, you should be thankful that there are people out there willing to take on the RISKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES so you can have a roof over your head.

In the meantime, remember you have a responsibility to do EVERYTHING in your power to pay your rent. You have a responsibility to make it a PRIORITY!

In spite of what some people spew irresponsibly on national radio.

I wish I had the financial ability to just “give” everyone a place to live, free of charge. I do not. I am living week to week just like everyone else. I am still going to work every day to make sure my tenants have what they need.

I will stand down now…

All that being said, I do have a very “uplifting” post prepared that I had originally planned to post this week…so I may post it tomorrow. Just a few tips on staying positive during these trying times…stay tuned!

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Time for a little "spring sprucing"...

A few years ago (okay so SEVEN years ago) I shared a little makeover on my storage/garden shed….

This is the perfect time of the year to complete this kind of project...too early in most places to plant flowers but warm enough most days to paint! Even though we are past our “freeze date” and temps were in the 80s last week, we actually had snow this week. I have learned to wait a few extra weeks to plant tender annuals…they just seem to fair better long term.

Let's be honest...storage sheds can be a real eye sore. But with a tiny bit of imagination and a little "oops" paint from your local home improvement store, they can easily be transformed. They have paint for every type of material...plastic, metal, wood! Hose it down first, then use a good exterior primer and GET CREATIVE!!!!

Is your storage shed one of those ugly "barn" shaped things? Paint it to look like a REAL barn. (Barn red with white trim! Google it!)

No windows in your shed? Paint fake ones...seriously, just paint a fake window. Maybe some shutters...real or painted! Attach a little flower box and put some flowers in it!

Same with the door...paint it to look like mine! Or a pretty atrium door. Hang a grapevine wreath on it...anything to doll it up a bit!

Attach fake light fixtures or hang lanterns! (Mine are real light fixtures, but they don''t work!)

Again, google "garden sheds" or "storage buildings" and find something you think is cute and "fake" it! Pinterest has some awesome pictures of dolled up storage and garden sheds!

Anything to make it look like something other than a boring old storage shed.

This is a great weekend project for the entire family. Who cares if you drip paint all over the yard...PERFECT project for the kids! (Kids always think they want to help paint...always!)

Turn your ugly old storage shed into something other than an "eye sore!" You won't regret it!

AND YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

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Bedroom step repair with gel stain...

About six years ago I installed laminate flooring in my master bedroom. I haven’t regretted it for a second.

One thing I did to save a little money was use gel stain on the oak thresholds and tread rather than buy new that matched the laminate. As I mentioned, laminate thresholds can be VERY expensive!

I sanded the finish a tad on each piece and then applied three coats of General Finishes gel stain and a coat or two of poly.

Usually gel stain holds up a tad better. I can only assume it has not on this step because I didn’t put enough top coat on it to protect if from constant foot traffic.

I decided the only way to fix this issue was to strip ALL the finish off the step…down to bare wood.

This entailed using my 1/2 mixture (1/2 acetone, 1/2 lacquer thinner). I didn’t want to get the stripper on the painted trim so I made sure to tape it all off with 3 layers of tape and put plastic down to catch any drips.

After stripping all the finish off, I lightly sanded it, wiped it down with a tack cloth then applied stain. I had to apply three coats to get a deep color that matched the floors. I let the stain dry well. This time I used hard-core poly specifically for flooring…three coats( lightly sanding and tacking between each coat)!

Niiiice….

A tiny boo-boo…seems some of the stripper managed to sneak through the tape and muck up the paint…oh well, another “honey do” on my list..

I used the same gel stain process on my bedside table tops when I painted them a few years ago. Brian’s has held up fairly well but mine has not…to many glasses of water and cups of coffee without a coaster!

My plan is to strip all the finish and gel stain off the tops of those as well and refinish them…someday soon!

I ordered new black door knobs for all the downstair doors. I painted the door knobs years ago, then painted the doors black…still LOVE! I used a good metal primer and paint on them and they have held up fairly well but I found relatively inexpensive knobs on Amazon so I decided to order them.

I have installed passage knobs and I am still waiting on the privacy knobs!

Just a few little projects to kill time during my home quarantine…projects I have been avoiding. Maybe I’ll clean out a few closets upstairs. Who knows…I do have a pile of good books I could work through as well!!

I’m kind of a homebody so I am use to being home…but when someone tells me I CAN’T leave, the 5 year old in me comes out!

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Guest bath makeover....

I’m trying to complete a few small projects…a few weeks ago it was my laundry room.

This past week it was my guest bath.

The guest bath is right across the hall from the laundry room…since I painted the laundry room a pretty “sagey green” I decided to tone down the blue in the guest bath. While I was at it, I decided to change out the counter top and backsplash.

I installed a glass vessel sink, a super awesome faucet and new lighting when I gave the room a little makeover a few years ago (probably a decade ago!) and I still love them so I didn’t need new ones.

(My dismal attempt to photograph dark cabinets with no natural light!)

The wall decor over the toilet had yellowed a tad because I sealed it with poly. (Yes, poly yellows…to avoid, use polycrylic or a clear coat sealant)

My “plan” was to paint the walls and trim, change out the top and backsplash, strip the cabinet and mirror frame for a “lighter” wood stain and repaint the wall decor.

After painting the room a lighter color and installing a lighter top (white quartz) and white backsplash and lightening the wall decor with a fresh coat of white chalk paint, I decided to stick with the vanity cabinet and mirror “as is” for the time being. I had stained the vanity “java” with gel stain years ago and I think it looks fine (but impossible to photograph!)…the mirror has a “java” stain finish, so it coordinates well with the vanity.

Just these few easy changes made a huge difference…the paint really lightened and brightened it.

Still love the Devoe prints I added two years ago!

One of my favorite little projects…a TP cubby! Super simple!

Fresh white chalk paint with a tiny bit of distressing…this time I sealed it with a clear coat so hopefully it won’t yellow again!

I would like to mention my trim paint…I painted it the same color as ALL the trim in my house. White would have been great but I decided to stick with the color of the trim throughout the house…just my personal preference.

Paint.

A must when you want to change a room! Whether you paint the walls or furniture, JUST DO IT! Paint is relatively cheap (only took 1/2 a gallon for this room) and if you don’t like it, you can always change it!

I love this little makeover. I have been coveting white quartz for my kitchen tops and this tiny bit has REALLY stoked the fire.

Who knows….

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The Twix Birthday Cake!

I still love doing DIY projects and rehabbing furniture but as you may know I am on a bit of a hiatus from any major projects. One, I have a lot of work to do at the apartments 2) I think I have an ulcer (at least that’s what we are treating right now!) and 3) I’m just kind of tired!

So….

For now I want to share one of my latest creations.

A Twix Cake…check it out here!

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ANOTHER laundry room makeover!

One nice thing about blogging is I can go back and know exactly when I did something…case in point, the laundry room.

Here I shared how the laundry room went from this….

…to this….

…in 2014.

I raised the cabinets to the ceiling and painted them. I painted the walls, stenciled the little birdie murals, installed a new light fixture, purged and added a little storage cart. Nothing earth shattering but enough to dress it up a tad.

The most dramatic thing I did to the laundry room was installing reed glass in the door. Here I share a tutorial on how I turned a plain ole’ hollow core door into a really awesome feature!

One thing I debated and am now glad I did not do…put a solid “top” across both the washer and dryer. I worried some day I might go back to a top load washer. Sure enough I did! The shelf is perfect and it is an element I kept!

The only other changes over the last few years was a little kitchen cabinet I removed in one of my kitchen makeovers and put in the laundry room and I moved the sewing machine to a little portable table.

When I painted the walls I was a tad frugal and used some paint I had on hand. I decided to go for broke and actually buy an entire gallon of custom color paint this time. Gasp! I wanted a soft “sagey/greenish” color so I did what I always do…headed to my favorite DIY store, picked up about 15 paint samples and brought them home. Took me all of 2 minutes to pick the perfect shade! Seriously, I think this is the perfect “sagey/green” color…I wish the photos did it justice!

THIS is the process I use for any “makeover”…whether a room or a piece of furniture. Find your inspiration, make a plan and execute the plan.

Inspiration came from cruising Pinterest. As I said in the first makeover, I don’t have the laundry room of my dreams but I have a space I want to be pretty and organized. I knew exactly what I wanted (the plan)…paint, storage, lighting and tile!

First step….PURGE! Empty out the entire space.

Yes, you are going to make a mess…there is just no way around it!!!

My goal is to NOT put back most of the stuff I take out. Now in my case, I am a pretty good “habitual purger” so I have very little “stuff”….but there are always things lurking that have been untouched for years and can go!!!

Next, remove the old light fixture, paint the ceiling (with a flashlight) and install a new fixture. It wasn’t that i disliked the old fixture, but it had fluorescent bulbs that got really hot and one of the three sockets evidently had a short or something because I could never get it to work right. I tried to change out the sockets in the fixture to accommodate LED bulbs, but the wiring was too short and I finally said “FORGET IT” and bought a new fixture.

Remove switch plates, shelving, and stuff on the walls.

Wipe everything down with a damp cloth….don’t paint over dirt!!!

Build storage shelving. I have lived here long enough to know what I need and how I want a space to function.

Caulk the new shelving.

Paint the trim, then walls.

A new shelf…I went with poplar sealed with a clear finish…no stain. I may or may not stain it or paint it in the future…for now, I like this look!

Then a debate. Do I or don’t I stick with my original “plan.”

So my original “plan” called for tile on the wall behind the washer and dryer. I really gravitate towards that look and every time I see a picture of it on Pinterest, I really love it. Yes, that would mean losing the birdies…

HOWEVER, as I have mentioned many times before, NOTHING is “timeless.” And I know me well enough to know that in 5-6-7 years I will not like whatever tile I pick out today…which means that sometime in the future I will have to remove the tile, repair sheetrock and do something else.

NOT something I look forward to. A huge reason why I didn’t put wallpaper in this house 20 years ago, even though it was still a “thing.” I had removed enough wallpaper in my years to know I never wanted to do it again.

So…no tile…for now! I painted the wall and added a little “farmhouse” mirror. The light fixture and the mirror add a touch of “farmhouse fad” without breaking the bank. This is a small room so the mirror is a huge plus!

The storage shelving is THE BOMB!

Love it…it is something I have wanted to do for years! And again, since I have lived in this house for 20 years, I knew exactly what I need. A place for doggy towels, some simple baskets for light bulbs and dust rags and plenty of room for my detergent stockpile! I designed the shelving so I would have the perfect spot for my sewing cart (See how I “upcycled” an old typewriter cart to make a portable sewing table HERE!) At the last minute I added a shelf above the sewing cart so I would have space for a sewing machine if I ever did away with the cart in the future…right now it holds my little coupon box.

Keep in mind that the cart between the washer and dryer I built on the last makeover holds a ton of stuff…dryer sheets, MORE detergent, the iron, spray starch, etc.

The back of the cubby is perfect for storing paints…remember, STORE YOUR TOUCH UP PAINT IN THE HOUSE!!!! Not in the garage or storage building!

Since I now only do laundry for two, my laundry room isn’t near as chaotic as it was when I was raising kids. But whether you do 8 loads a week or 30, there is NO reason to have a disorganized and blah laundry room. Get it organized. Make it a space that is beautiful…it won’t take the sting out of doing laundry but maybe it will make the experience a little more enjoyable.