Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Beginning The Laundry Room Makeover

After much deliberation, our laundry area is finally seeing some action. Well hello there, washer…. shall we take this to the bedroom?

Rolling Washer Out

No literally, we took it to the bedroom. JEALOUS?

Laundry In Bedroom

Seriously though – it has been a busy week around here (mostly with unrelated book stuff) but we’ve managed to get some dust flying upstairs too. Long story short, thanks to a lot of thought (and a lot of encouraging comments from you guys) we’ve decided to do more ourselves, while managing some pro sub-contractors directly.

Our second contractor estimate (after the initial $5,000 one) came in at $3,300, which was a more digestible number, but he had an impending vacation – and actually encouraged us to do a lot of it ourselves. So we called some people we’ve worked with in the past – the framer who helped in our sunroom, our go-to electrician, the plumber we worked with for the showhouse, etc. – and many of them were able to come out this week! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a team. Sherry wanted me to add some Team Sonja joke here about mystics and dog psychics but I REFUSE TO WATCH REAL HOUSEWIVES (ok, the leg scene made me look up for a second, but that’s it).

With the pros lined up, it was time to kick off demo. WITH MY BARE HANDS. Okay, not really, but a few walls have come tumbling down.

Hand Through Wall

In an attempt to keep things moving (there’s work going on up there right now) we thought we’d break down what (and how) we demoed on Monday, along with everything else we manage to accomplish by then (fingers crossed that also includes framing, plumbing, and electrical updates). We didn’t want a week to go by without a quick laundry update, so my apologies for the brief check-in today, but we hope it means more progress to share on Monday. Speaking of brief, this house is on an underwear ration until further notice. #nolaundryproblems

Comments

  1. alisa says

    ok, I have always felt a love for YHL, but now I can take it to a new level, because I have a RHONY fan on my hands! Table flipping, leg throwing, I love them all!

    Reply

  4. Kim says

    So, I guess you’re not using cloth diapers with Teddy yet?
    We had a major renovation when Samantha was about 18 mo-2 years old. We switched to paper for 14 weeks.

    Had you really been thinking about this renovation for a while?
    It seems like it’s a big undertaking with a short window of planning ahead of it.

    And will you be remodeling the storage room/bunk bed room at that point, since it will be right off the hallway?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Teddy has actually been in cloth (crafty Facebook folks noticed it when we shared an Instagram pic a little while ago)! But it’s back to disposables until we have the washer/dryer hooked up again (hopefully within a week or so). We debated sticking with cloth during the reno and borrowing Grammy’s washer, but thought dirty diapers might creep other people out more than us.

      As for this project, we’ve been planning it for the last month or so, although we never would have thought about this orientation had it not been for Lesley on Facebook (you can read more on that in our last laundry post). And the more we think about the future bunk room, the more we’d love to do it sooner rather than later. The debate is just if the kitchen reno or a bathroom update should cut the line. Will keep you posted ;)

      xo
      s

  5. Tracy says

    I am so excited you are going with the full blown renovation! Woohooo! Can’t wait to see how it looks! This is the first big gut-job/non-phase 1 renovation of the new house, no? Other than the amazing deck/sunroom, of course. Very exciting!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes! Other than bumping up the ceiling in the sunroom and converting that to an open room & planking the ceiling, this is our biggest undertaking! Well, maybe the hardwood installation on the whole upstairs could be in that category too. So excited!

      xo
      s

  6. Anne @ Planting Sequoias says

    Augh, this is so thrilling! I tried to convince my husband we needed to start building our laundry room the day before our washer/dryer were to be delivered (currently in our unfinished basement). Sadly, and wisely, he refused to be sucked into my ridiculous plan. But soon…!

    Reply

  7. Nichole says

    We are in the midst of a laundry renovation too. We have been without laundry for a week and it’ll probably be another week until our new washr and dryer are delivered. Ack! It should be worth it in the end though!

    Reply

  8. ErinEvelyn says

    Yay! Demo! Now I gotta go back and review hat post on the floor plan you’re headed toward. Any chance you can add a link?

    Reply

  9. Laurie says

    Man, I’m IMPRESSED you would tackle the laundry room with a new born! Either you are sink-hand-washing champs or you have a secret washer stashed somewhere in the garage.

    Reply

  10. Sheila F says

    I burst out laughing! Team John with a Sexy J! Hahahahah. I am sadly excited that you watch the RHONY! We know John is covertly watching while pretending to be on the computer! LOL I am happy for you to get a new laundry. It will be so worth it with the 2 little ones. More time for the fun stuff! Thanks for the laughter!

    Reply

  12. Kate says

    Today’s post and comments are cracking me up! You guys said sometimes the shorter posts were fan faves and this one lives up to that! Also it’s making me give my little laundry room the stink eye.

    Reply

  14. Whitney says

    Thanks for the awesome and hilarious RHONY reference! Everyone should watch that leg scene at least once. My jaw was on the floor! #trashytelevisionforthewin

    Reply

  15. Lisa says

    Underwear rationing-schmationing. Throw caution to the wind and head to Costco to stock up on bulk packages!

    Reply

  19. Stephanie H says

    6 words.
    Real Hotwives of Orlando on Hulu.

    A bunch of comediennes, including SNL alums, Office alumns and other big names teamed up to create a parody show with multiple episodes and it’s HILARIOUS.

    Reply

  20. Sherilyn says

    I can’t wait to see how this project plays out!!!

    Also, I had your page open and a pop up started playing music and a video, the add was for” MERRELL Adventure Magazine”.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      ACK! So sorry Sherilyn. I think we’re closing in on the loud ads, and knowing that was from Merrell Adventure Magazine really helps. Thanks for the tip!

      xo
      s

  21. Lauren L says

    I wish there was a way to put comments directly next to the little lines that I find so hilarious throughout your posts. Demoing with your bare hands, asking if we’re jealous of your new bedroom/laundry room combo? The snark and silliness gets me every time I love it. Just had to give some humor props! <3

    Reply

  22. Casey Atterbury says

    LOL about the underwear ration! I’m so happy you are tackling most of the reno yourselves! I have complete confidence in your skills! Can’t wait to see the progress!

    Reply

  23. Lesley says

    When you guys balked at doing a fair bit of the work yourselves, I was surprised. I think this’ll be a good, safe sized stretch for you. May give you some ideas to really work some changes into the eventual master bath and kitchen renos on your own. You can do it!

    Side note: I just dropped a big wad of cash at Joss & Main to get 2 beautiful leather couches for our new living room…. and convinced my husband that even though we have NEVER USED THEM BEFORE, the company is totally legit and I’m sure the couches will be gorgeous – mostly because you and your other readers vouched for them…. I hope it turns out okay??!?! Talk me off the ledge… please?

    Reply

  24. Karin Bunton says

    Soon we will be demo people in arms. My kiddos go to the Grands this week, and I will be removing the ceiling, the insulation, and then replacing it all. Let’s hope I can do most of this myself! Good luck to you guys! I think this is going to be good for you guys as a family! :D
    I swear demo and the first look at the “it’s finished and we’re done” moment are the best. :D

    Reply

  25. Lorelei Reed says

    underwear rationing??? hee hee…it’s SUMMER! Just take the darn things OFF and call it a day!

    (sung to the tune of Jackson Brown’s “Stay”):

    “well, the baby won’t mind….

    “And that Clara won’t mind…

    ” And the doggie won’t mind…

    if we take a litle time and just

    P – L- A- Y around BARE!

    Reply

  26. Cheryl says

    Yay! So glad you went with the option to let more light into the hallway – I think you will be so so happy that you did! (We have rooms at either end of our long upstairs hall and when we have both doors open, it makes such a difference. Go Petersiks!

    Reply

  27. Christine says

    Have you guys thought of doing a pocket door to the storage room/bunk room/slumber party room… one with a frosted glass pane in it? More light through, and b/c pocket doors are just handy and space-efficient? You could even make it look like an old-fashioned classroom door, with the frosted top pane of glass, the wooden bottom, and a number or something on the glass pane, or the letter, ‘P,’—- do you know what I mean?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes! We have been thinking a lot about options for that door and the laundry room one too! Will definitely have to see what we can find and where we end up :)

      xo
      s

  29. Danielle Purtle says

    I love this action! But I do want more Clara conversations. I wonder what her ideas were for the laundry room reno?! ;)

    Reply

  30. Anne says

    I think my husband would have a similar sentiment regarding the Real Housewives . . . and yes he definitely cracked up at the leg throwing and subsequent jokes with Ramona and LuAnn on WWHL. YAY BRAVO!

    Reply

  31. Anne G. says

    Who knew that a laundry room upgrade post could generate such a lively comment chain! You are very brave indeed to unplug the washer when you have a diaper wearing baby in the house! On the other hand, babies and parents somehow managed before diapers were even invented, and my grandmother apparently washed everything by hand with one of those washboards and hand-crank centrifugal spinner dryers/wringers. Sure makes me appreciate modern conveniences!

    Reply

  32. Sarah says

    Hi. I’m a long time reader first time commenter! I absolutely love your blog! Can’t wait to see the laundry room evolve! I’m currently having a bit of a laundry dilemma. My laundry is currently in my unfinished basement. We are planning on finishing the basement and I can include a proper laundry room or I can move it upstairs into a closet, but then it wouldn’t be a dedicated laundry space. With our growing family with 3 kids I hate going up and down for the laundry multiple times a day, but idk what’s the best way to go for a new laundry space! Also my husband is worried about moving it upstairs in terms of it shaking or leaking etc. any thoughts?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Ooh I think I’d move it upstairs (we’re no strangers to a laundry nook, and it’s really nice when they’re conveniently located). It sounds like since you already hate going up and down it might make you happier, although some folks would rather have a larger room in the basement than a smaller one upstairs, so it’s one of those debatable scenarios for sure!

      xo
      s

    • Sarah says

      Thanks for your reply! Also quick q- do you know if all front loaders are stackable?

    • lynne says

      Sarah, I have stacked laundry upstairs in a closet, and it is really convenient. I love only having to walk a few steps to do laundry! Your husband has valid concerns tho – having to unstack the dryer to do any maintainance is a pain, and a leak would be a huge mess. As for shaking, our washer shakes a little. Our old one shook the whole house, but the newer washers seem much better and quieter. With the new one, we feel a little vibration on the floor and a little squeaking as the spin cycle starts up.

  33. Lynn @ Safebeauty says

    Well isn’t that special? (Dana Carvey yes!) I am visualizing sledgehammers flying all over that laundry nook. Did I miss the post where you decided which blueprint you are going with? I’m so glad you have a good team in place to get this thing done. This weekend we are demo-ing our kitchen and hallway ceiling due to a leaky roof that we are still battling. Home ownership is beating us up this month, oy!

    My best, Lynn

    Reply

  34. Lynn @ Safebeauty says

    Don’t need to add this one but just wanted to say thanks for putting Elvis in my skull now. I can never not sing that song for the rest of the day. It’s just that good! :)

    Reply

  35. Gilly says

    $herdog. Last night, I came home from work, had a glass of wine, sat down, then promptly jumped up and ripped the linoleum out of my master bathroom. Without asking my husband first. I thought of you the whole time! Our house was built in ’85 and that nasty stuff came right up! Then I used my steam mop to get the paper backing that was stuck down (worked magically!). Just had to share.

    Also, these shorty posts where you guys are weirdos are my FAVORITE.

    Reply

  37. Julianne says

    You guys are too funny! Actually, yes! Jealous that you can do laundry right from your own bed, lol. Can’t beat the convenience! Def. team Sonja for entertainment value! It’s a must-watch, John…you were a New Yorker! ;O)

    Can’t wait to see the progress!

    Reply

  39. Courtney says

    Next time yall do a stats roundup, you should include one on how many pictures John has worn that Coke shirt in lol!! :]

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Drywalling and flooring that room is looking more enticing to us, so we hope to tackle that soon-ish (it should be even easier than the laundry dealio since it doesn’t involve plumbing and already has electrical/ductwork, etc) so we’ll have to see if it jumps the list or if kitchen and a bathroom or two stay above it. I would love to be gazing out the window from the hallway sooner rather than later!

      xo
      s

    • Allen says

      I look forward to John’s algebraic methods for cutting drywall for all the different pitches in there! It might actually be really simple math but if I can’t eyeball something it might as well be origami!

  41. Chelsey says

    We did this with our basement. Hired out subs and only paid for what we needed. So we paid the plumber to put in the hookups for the shower and sinks, but we actually did the finishing/installed the vanities. Ditto electric, sheetrock, everything. We estimate it saved us well over half, but anything that could cause a flood, a fire, or a collapse was handled by a professional.

    Reply

  42. Claire says

    I’ve tried to read your July 17th post several days in a row but my browser crashes every time. I have never had a problem before (for over a year) or on any of your more recent posts. I’d love to read it because we now have a July wedding anniversary as well to think up fun ways to celebrate :D

    Reply

  45. Susan in Colorado says

    Eh? That’s all we get today? GEEZ.. carry on… but I expect a great big long post tomorrow. OH never mind.. I forgot your ‘off’ on Fridays.. See ya Monday…

    #whatshallIeverdowithoutaupdate

    Reply

  48. Kerrie says

    I didn’t realise there was some sneaky blue trim hiding behind the laundry appliances. It may be an extreme makeover just to get rid of that trim colour, but totally worth it. Cheers

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Ha! I was just telling John I’m so glad I didn’t sit back there painting it while super pregnant because now we’re cutting a doorway there!

      xo
      s

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