I found all your lost socks. They’re in my laundry room, stuck in that unreachable abyss between the washing machine and the wall.
Meet my laundry room.
Sorry about all your missing socks.
I’m telling you, there are hundreds in that unreachable nook. They can’t all belong to us. I think they all congregated there one night for a sock party — (a SOCK HOP. GET IT?! Someone please acknowledge the brilliant cheesiness of that joke so I’m not in this alone.) — and they got stuck. And multiplied. Like my plastic lawn toys.
I didn’t know they were there, until I went in to snap these “before” photos. (Are you glad to hear they’re “before” photos?)
I took these pictures because I agreed to sign on with some of my favorite fellow bloggers for an event this summer we’re calling “Blogging Without Borders.”
For some crazy reason, we all decided to push ourselves to try something we’ve never tried over the next two months.
For me, that’s laundry.
…I mean the laundry room. Certain new-to-me projects in the laundry room.
I’m a little nervous about agreeing to this crazy plan, because I still don’t know what I’m going to do in the laundry room, but you and I will figure it out together every other Monday, starting today.
I said those were the before photos, but they aren’t even the BEFORE-before photos. Here’s what our laundry room looked like right before we bought the house.
Did you see the wallpaper border? That’s an example of what I would call “literal decorating.”
It came down very quickly after we moved in. We also took down the popcorn ceiling (here’s how you do that) and painted the walls the same Benjamin Moore Brittany Blue that we have throughout our downstairs. We had to go back and mud a few spots, but we never repainted them. We just lived with it.
Lived with the linoleum floor that’s stained and virtually uncleanable no matter how hard you scrub.
Lived with the one shelf that’s barely functional. Lived with the unpainted sheetrock ceiling and the bare bulb hanging from the ceiling.
No more, my friends.
So here’s the plan:
- Come up with some kind of better storage solution
- Replace the flooring
- Do something to the walls where we mudded but didn’t repaint
- Create a DIY drying rack solution
- And finish everything before this “Blogging Without Borders” project comes to an end.
If I’m being honest? I’m pretty nervous about committing to finishing this room on this two-month, every-other-week post schedule, but I’m hoping that the built-in deadlines will push us to knock this project out super-speedy-like.
But it must be done, because hundreds of lost socks everywhere are missing their pairs. It’s time to reunite them.
Are you planning to try anything new this summer? Do you want me to look out for any socks in particular?
Hi, I'm Kelly. Glad you're here! This little blog is where I chronicle our efforts to fix up our beaten-down home on a tiny budget. We're not there yet, but here's a peek at the view along the way...
missong socks of the world, reunite! 🙂
can’t wait to see what you do! i have seen some great diy laundry racks that attach to the wall…. just a thought, though you probably already have plans and blueprints.
Can’t wait to see what you do with the space! Maybe you should bring back that great wallpaper border! 🙂
I can’t wait to see what you do!! I bet you’ll be able to add LOTS of extra storage space on those walls!
Good motivation to tackle a new project! I don’t know Kelly – that laundry line border was super cute – maybe you can bring it back?????? 🙂
Aww, that wallpaper border was precious, I can’t believe you took it down! Hahaha.
I think you took the “Blogging Without Borders” thing literally when you took down that wallpaper. 😉
I love laundry room redos!!! I can’t wait to see what you do!!
Ooooh I’ve missed your mental humour! You’ll be happy to know that I can now view your blog at work so tell hubby and IT genius they succeeded, whatever they did 😉
Really looking forward to your laundry room zhush up – At least the current state is functional – that border was just horrendous! At the moment, I’m ripping into my dressing room but a two month deadline is probably a bit tight for me so I’ll be living vicariously through you sheer speediness 😉 xxx
I can’t wait to see what you do! Our laundry room needs some help, but I haven’t gotten around to it.
The great news is, you have a cool space to decorate that your are sure to LOVE when you’re done. You know we live in that darn room!
I have seen so many cute laundry room makeovers, there is tons of inspiration out there =) And your’s will be inspiring someone soon!
It was a toss up for me, laundry room or half bath….I picked the easy one. I know you will inspire me to do the laundry room :). I can’t wait to watch your progress 🙂
Debbie
Wow, Kelly, this looks like a really fun project! I will watch with great anticipation since my laundry room highly resembles your before photos (including the sock collection). Sounds like you have a good plan!
I love this series you guys! And what is up with the missing socks…..I mean seriously where do they all go? Anywho can’t wait to see what you do Kelly! xo
Haha! A sock hop! You crack me up!!
Can’t wait to see what you do in your laundry room. Mine is on the list of things to do this summer also!
Have a great week!
xo-Lisa
You go, Kelly!! I’m with you in the nervousness department, but I do think holding ourselves accountable will help move our projects along! Good luck! Can’t wait to see!
xo Heidi
Can’t wait to see it! Are you still thinking of stenciling it? I meant to ask you if you got any good stencils in your door prize.
Sock hop! Tee hee … I’m pretty sure there are some fuzzy socks of mine in there too. They have pink and purple stripes and love to party …
Now the pressure is on. I’ll be checking in. And, no, I will not be judging you against the others …
🙂
Linda
I sure do hope to get to my laundry room one day. That Holly Hobby wall border was eeewwwwww!! It already looks a thousand times better just removing that and cleaning it up.
Can’t WAIT to see this makeover. I hate doing laundry… but I love scoping out other people’s laundry room makeovers.
I really want this to turn out awesome so I am inspired to make over mine.
Bliss
You’ll make this into a room you never want to leave! Ok, well you’ll still probably want to leave but at least you’ll enjoy your time there!
I forsee a special place for all your lost socks too. No longer will they be sop hopping and bee bopping behind the washer!
Can’t wait to see – and removing that literal border was an amazing first step!!!
Kelly
i may or may not have spit out a little water at your brilliant sock hop comment ;).
that border is INSANE. it actually made me LOL as well.
Can’t wait to see what you do….2 months is ambitious!!
“literal decorating” – love it. I think you should just faux paint a whole clothes line scene … or maybe not. 🙂
My laundry room needs a complete makeover, also…but it’s a task too formidable at this point–maybe when I retire.
I can’t believe you took down that wallpaper. I’m not sure I can read your blog anymore. It was beautiful. I hope your new plan rocks my socks off because I’m mourning that stunning border….
Nice, giving the laundry a little love after it gave you all those touching reminders 🙂 And, um, should you find a tiny little sock that looks like a Leprechaun shoe, please send it my way. If you don’t die of adorability first. Oh who am I kidding? My girls are too big for my favorite orphaned baby sock anymore. Keep it, I’ll send you the other for Mila.
Kelly,
I can’t believe you didn’t leave that wallpaper border up. I mean….just in case you forgot where you were…..that was such a reminder.
Literal decorating…..that term is going to go viral 🙂
Can’t wait to see your finished project!
🙂 me
I laughed reading this, and then again reading the comments. I saw a similar laundry room in a friend’s house recently and it inspired me to find this wallpaper border as a joke and send it to her. Thought I’d share with you too. After all, if you’re gonna hang pictures of clothes in your laundry room you might as well go Hawaiian!
Tried to include a photo but I don’t think that’s allowed. 🙁