DIY Laundry Room

This is my first major DIY Project.  One I did from floor to ceiling.  I thought it was only appropriate to showcase it as my first blog post. Project dates: 9.29.11 to 10.3.11

It was not a desirable room to be in for anything, especially laundry, ironing, folding clothes, hanging clothes.  That is about to change!

First order of business was to empty the room.  Remove cabinets that were being relocated, remove doors that were being painted, and remove the laundry sink.  The old washer and dryer went to the curb.  There was grime, dust, and dog hair caked on the floor underneath the old washer and dryer.  We lived here for seven years and had never cleaned nor seen under these machines.  That hideous wallpaper, yes those were squares of contact paper that were maybe 12″ x 12″.  Such a pain in the butt to remove.

The next step was putting down the backer board.  It was screwed right to the floor.  The mortar would adhere the tiles to the backer board.  One person at Lowe’s had me convinced to go with the ready to use mortar (no mixing necessary).  The next day I was back at Lowe’s and the two guys there that day convinced me otherwise so I bought the powdered mortar and the large mixing drill bit among many other items.  So my neighbor and friend Andre’ helped get me started with putting down the tiles.  He had done flooring before so I found that extremely helpful.  He showed me the right consistency of the mortar and then he was in charge of cutting the edge tiles since I wasn't very good at that part.

After the tile was down and set, it was my chance to get the walls completed.  I cleaned up the tiles and readied the walls for paint.  Needed to mud some areas as you can see how the lovely wallpaper came off and took some wallboard with it.  Once that was done, I painted, nailed the base trim, attached the bead board, nailed the chair rail.  Also painted the cabinets and the removed doors white.

I was very pleased with how this turned out and the new washer and dryer hadn't even been delivered yet.

The next part was my favorite part I think.  Grouting.  I watched professional and non-professional YouTube videos.  They were so helpful.  While I watched the pros do it, I realized that was best case on what I wanted.  As I watched the DIYer, I imagined this was how it was going to go for me.  I liked this part, did I mention that?  Right.  Then that night I cleaned the grout haze and installed a new ceiling light.  Nothing fancy, just didn't want to have the circa 1968 light still in this bright new laundry room.

Frank’s Appliance Center delivered the Whirlpool Duet Washer and Dryer on Monday morning as planned.  I re installed the laundry sink when I got home from work at 4:45 that day.  Put down a rug, rehung the doors back on the cabinets.  It was coming together very nicely.

Mindy saw this ladder idea from someone’s blog.  I just loved the idea.  I hang a lot of clothes to dry and this was perfect.  I didn't want to see the plastic coated wire shelving in my beautiful new laundry room.  I got an old wooden ladder from a friend but as I was stripping that I realized that this laundry room has nothing rustic or old in it.  I decided to make my own ladder.  Off to Lowe’s again for some dowel rods, 1×3′s, screws, and yellow paint.  A couple of nights later I hung the pictures, the ladder, and the ironing board hanger.

It is so nice bright, fresh, and new...I just love my laundry room.  After the washer and dryer (purchased from Frank's Appliance Center) were delivered, my roommate and I sat against the wall and just watched the first load wash for about 30 minutes. It is so nice, bright, fresh, and new…I just love my laundry room.  After the washer and dryer were delivered, my roommate and I sat against the wall and just watched the first load wash for about 30 minutes.