I want to talk about usable space. So much space in a house can be wasted if you do nothing with it. Case in point: we have a breakfast nook that is completely useless. It is basically a blank space, a catch-all for all of our junk. I got to thinking about the messy state of our house and realized that the mess can be separated into 3 categories: TOYS, coats and shoes and book bags that the kid fling off whenever they enter the house, and laundry. The toy problem is probably not going to be solved for about another 15 years or so, but I am confident I can find solutions for the other two problems. I have always wanted a mud room, but we don't have one so I am creating one! I took a picture of my blank wall, went to Picnik and designed this:
The bench is an old coffee table that's been sitting in our garage for 2 years. The shelving unit and hooks I purchased from my local Home Depot that is closing and everything is on Clearance (SCORE!), and the rest of the items will have to be scavanged from other parts of the house.
It's almost finished, and I can't wait to show it to you!
As for the laundry issue, I have a few ideas in the works. I am trying to figure out how to turn the other wall of the breakfast nook into a laundry folding station with storage underneath for all those baskets of unfolded clean laundry.
Have you turned a blank canvas in your home into usable space? Tell me about it!
The bench is an old coffee table that's been sitting in our garage for 2 years. The shelving unit and hooks I purchased from my local Home Depot that is closing and everything is on Clearance (SCORE!), and the rest of the items will have to be scavanged from other parts of the house. 
Well, it is a work in progress, but we're getting quotes. We can't sell our house (duh, who can) so we're making it work for us. We don't have a mud room either and it drives me bonkers. PLUS the laundry room only leaves 2 feet by 4 feet for me to work in AND you have to walk through the small bathroom to get to it. SOOOOO
ReplyDeleteWe're finishing the basement by moving the laundry downstairs....pushing the current bathroom back into the laundry room space and using the existing bathroom space as a Mudroom! And the rest of the open space in the basement......HUBBY"S GIVING ME A SEWING ROOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So excited! And, we've been planning this long and hard enough to pay CASH!!!! I'm still counting my blessings and praying that this will all work out.
I love your blog! :) I have an award for you at my blog!
ReplyDeleteI love Ana White's ideas. Check out these two
ReplyDeletehttp://ana-white.com/2011/01/saushas-washerdryer-pedestals.html and http://ana-white.com/2010/11/laundry-basket-dresser