Laundry Room

Today, I'm taking some time out to reorganize my Grand Central Station - the utility room. It's our laundry room/garage/pantry/gym/storage/broom closet and more. And it's in bad shape.

The goal is to not spend any money (or very little) and get the space prettier and way more functional. I loved this laundry room featured in Canadian House and Home.


My favorite part is the Manuel Canovas Misia fabric on the sink skirt.


Here's another image of the same room from a different shoot (via Design*Sponge). Looks so cheerful with the striped rug here. And I love getting to see the vintage map on the wall. It's a great color - and why not have something fun to look at while you're doing chores?

51 comments:

  1. Good luck! I can't wait to see the end result. And thanks for sourcing those photos. I've also been loving them for some time now and couldn't recall where I first saw them.

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  2. Is it bad that I dream about having a beautiful laundry room?

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  3. I was planning on doing a fabric skirt over our laundry sink. I've never done anything like that myself so do you have any suggestions?

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  4. That is one of my most favorite fabrics. And those laundry rooms are absolutely adorable!

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  5. Jenny, do you know who makes that rug?

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  6. That first photo has been in my inspiration folder since July 2009 but I couldn't remember where I first saw it. Thank you for linking back to the direct source!

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  7. LOVE LOVE LOVE that M.C. fabric!! The laundry room isn't too shabby either! Good luck!

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  8. So pretty! The color on the walls is my favorite.

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  9. Hi Sarah! I made a skirted sink just like that here:

    http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/01/skirted-pedestal-sinks.html

    Anon - Ballard makes a black and white striped indoor/outdoor rug here that looks very similar:

    http://www.ballarddesigns.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDetailView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10551&productId=13430&langId=-1&SourceCode=BDSBT1

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  10. Loving the skirt on the sink. I HATE the way my utility sink is just plain stinking ugly. I foresee a cutesy little skirt for it in my future.

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  11. So cute! I actually went a step further and hung curtains in front of all of the utilities in my laundry room! I had my dad hang small pvc pipe from the ceiling with hooks and chains on either ends. Got some cheap ring clips and just cut lengths of some of my left over fabric. Didnt even hem it. Now I just pull the curtains closed when I am done doing whatever, and it looks so neat and polished!

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  12. I have always loved that laundry room as well. It's the fabric that makes it!

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  13. I love these images. I especially love the fabric, it brings such energy to the room! Excited to see the turn out of your room.

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  14. Good luck!!! I have a pretty small (sinkless) laundry room that needs to double as laundry room, pantry, and storage space, all while housing our stackable washer & dryer and water heating unit. Can't wait to see what you do to spruce yours up...loooking forward to the much-needed inspiration :)

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  15. have fun! i'm in the same mode. we have new laundry rooms i just need to add color and accessorize! these are fun inspirational pics :) i love your style by the way and am forever perusing your archives...... :)

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  16. Jenn Kemper with Stella & DotJanuary 17, 2011 at 11:23 AM

    LOVE that you're working on this! I'm in the midst of an overhaul in our laundry/mud/utility room myself. Such an enjoyable space to work on, for some reason. I guess cheering up the room for quite a few chores gets a lot done for my mood!

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  17. There is a chance I would do my laundry more often if my laundry room looked like that. I can't wait to see the room.

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  18. That fabric is gorgeous. I'm pretty sure there's a knock off of that striped runner over at Ikea! For something awesome like $12.99, nonetheless. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

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  19. I'm all for a cheery yet functional laundry room. It really does make a difference!

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  20. today must be the day where we are yearning for pretty laundry rooms! I did my post today on beautiful laundry rooms. how funny.
    I would be honored if you stopped by and said hi, or told me what you think!
    - {darlene}
    http://www.fieldstonehilldesign.com/2011/01/rituals-taking-chore-out-of-chore.html

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  21. I love the pictures of that laundry room, but whoever styled that space definitely doesn't sew. I'd never store a sewing machine on a high shelf.

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  22. I want to see what you come up with! Ours is fine...just OK. Think I will get a cute rug at IKEA and baskets ...hmm, blog material? Thanks!
    Mary Ann

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  23. What a great laundry! I wish I had a laudry room. Right now they are in a closet in the kitchen. I've even drawn plans for a laundry/mudroom addition. Ahh...one day.

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  24. I've been crushing on this laundry room for a while too. Good luck with yours, I hope you share it when your done!

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  25. You've done it!! Now I need a sink skirt too! :D LOL

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  26. Love it! I'm all about a cheerful fun color in the laundry room. Almost painted mine gray and then (at the last minute) went with an aqua green and some vintage art. SO happy with it. :)

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  27. Our room looks like a disaster! I love the wall color. Brightens it up.

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  28. What a great inspirational photo! Love the map and the black and white striped rug!

    I am renting too am re-did my laundry for next to nothing. Here is a link:
    http://hodgepodge-babselou.blogspot.com/2010/02/laundry-room-reveal.html

    I have made a few changes since, a thrift store frame painted black to frame my cork board and replaced the coat hooks with another one made from a chunky piece of wood painted red. I would LOVE a black and white striped rug but am afraid that my dog would get it dirty, that is where we put him to "dry" off after a rainy walk.

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  29. this is what I need! a pretty laundry room! then i might actually iron... :) love it!
    show us how you do over yours!

    xo
    lindsey
    www.lindseyandorlando.blogspot.com

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  30. That laundry is my all time favorite! I've had it saved forever and ever and I'm so glad to have a name for the fabric now!

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  31. This room is fantastic! Once upon a time, my laundry room looked nice, but now there is so much stuff in there... storage, bags, old decor items. It has become my drop all place.
    I think I need to clean up and revamp that room. I wonder if it will ever look as fresh and clean as those lovely pics? Can't wait to see yours. :)
    Looking forward to meeting you at Alt! Can't wait! Last year it was such a great experience and I learned so much and met so many great people.
    xoxo Alisa

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  32. I've been admiring that pic for a while! It's amazing what an impact one piece of fantastic fabric can make to a room! I need to spruce up my laundry area too, especially since it's directly visible from my kitchen. :)

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  33. I've loved that fabric for so long! It's gorgeous!

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  34. Genius! The fabric is great- but I love love how its used. Our utility sink is such an eye sore- but this is so fresh. Cant wait to see your finished project!

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  35. I've always loved that laundry room. Pretty, petite, and functional. No doubt yours will be just as pretty.

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  36. Wow. I love what the striped rug does for the floral. I think the stark difference makes the floral more beautiful.

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  37. Great fabric. I love a pretty floral paired with a bold, geometric black and white.

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  38. LOVE the fabric, but hate the mis-use of "your". I really wish that bloggers would not perpetuate this error.

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  39. I just painted our laundry room. It is the only finished room in the basement. My husband asked me why that room as "we don't spend any time there." I told him it was my practice at painting in prep for other rooms as it had been a few years since I have painted. Anyway I chose Blue Hubbard by Sherwin Williams. It is a Martha Stewart line. They still have the formula, but might not be able to get a sample paint chip. I begged and promised to bring it back. I love the color and all my husband keeps saying is "I don't understand why it looks better than the white that was on the walls. It looks brighter." It reminds me of the
    1st picture you posted. Good luck with your room! I now can pretend that I am at the beach as it reminds me of it even with snow on the ground. Pat

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  40. Roma: Thanks for catching my your/you're error. It is also a pet peeve of mine! I guess that's what happens when I write posts at 2:00 am after a long day. :)

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  41. I too would love a laundry room like that someday but the nursery comes first. I've been looking at some older blogs for inspiration. The striped curtains from your living room...they would look marvelous in the baby's room. Where can I find wide stripe fabric and or curtains like that? I'd love something to match the Richloom Invigodk Confetti fabric (i picked up a few yards after seeing it on your blog). Any ideas?

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  42. TMykula - I used Braemore's Sutton fabric for the lr drapes. The black was called 'Domino' but I know it came in many different colors. I think there was a soft aqua color too. You should check Orien Textiles online - they might still sell that pattern.

    Good luck!
    xx

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  43. Oh, I wish I had some space in my laundry room! Love the look of the skirt, so feminine and pretty!
    Janell

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  44. oh i love that rug. i've had my eye on one similar at IKEA.

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  45. Ahhh! I have always wondered who makes that sink skirt fabric. I have seen the image so many times...too much hunting to find the maker. THANK YOU!!! ~Jen nifer

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  46. We can not get over this fun laundry.

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  47. I just can't wait to have a new laundry room/mudroom! It's been on my mind a lot lately...check out my blog to see current condition of the porch I'd like to put the laundry room in...not too promising! But these pics are inspirational!

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  48. So pretty! The color on the walls is my favorite.

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I so appreciate hearing from you. Nice comments make my day! Thanks for keeping things light here, friends! :)