Last week I told you about how my laundry room becomes a “catch all”. Â It’s never clean. Â It’s never organized. Â I got to thinking about it more and more. Â I begin questioning, could the space be used better? Â Am I using the space to it’s potential?
The answer to that was a quick, NO!
So, what could I do? Â What do I need this space to do?
I needed more storage for childcare things….I needed to be able to reach the buttons to turn on the dryer. Â Now days, the dryer is covered in stuff. Â This is how it looks after I cleaned it off.
Previously there was a HUGE box on it and it was awful….really awful.
The “other side” of the laundry room isn’t much better. Â There’s stuff and stuff and stuff. Â I hate it.
There is so much stuff there that I never use this sewing machine anymore. Â How depressing.
I really started thinking about it…How can I make better use of the space? Â That got me thinking and I came up with this idea….get rid of the sewing machine.
I know that’s surprising for me to say that, but that’s what I really decided to do. Â After I thought about it, I never use the machine anymore. Â I think it’s been since July that I have used it. Â The only thing that I sew here is my Pineapple Crazy blocks. Â Obviously I can’t even get to the machine so why waste the space with one.
Since I bought my 301 (read about that here) I’ve rearranged my upstairs quilting room. Â I could easily use that 301 as my paper piecing machine. Â The mess could stay there at that machine and I could have decent space here in the laundry room. Â I’ve learned that if I get time to do anything sewing related on the main floor, I prefer cutting at the kitchen island or doing some pressing. Â Sewing here isn’t my favorite thing at all.
So now what to do with the machine….Kayla has told me time and time again, if I ever get rid of it to let her know. Â So, I called Kayla and yes, she wanted the machine.
Okay…now to get Hubby on board.
I explained to him my concerns. Â I told him my frustrations and then he asked what I proposed. Â I said possibly a counter top with some kind of storage below. Â His first comment was this, “If we do this, does that mean we’ll be able to reach the dryer buttons?” Â I laughed and said, “Ya.”
Well Kalissa had bought a big counter cabinet thing at a garage sale this summer and hadn’t gotten around to fixing it up.
You can’t see it very well here but there it is. Â She had taken the finish off the top of it but had left the bottom. Â That’s where she quit.
Well Hubby ended up talking to Kalissa and asking what her plans were…then offered to buy it from her. Â She sold it and now, Hubby is working on getting this fixed for the sewing room. Â He has to do a little work to get it in place. Â He has to take the trim off of the doorway to be able to slide it in place but according to him, it’s do-able.
The front has sliding doors. Â There is space for the laundry baskets to fit. Â I am thrilled. Â Once it’s done, if that room doesn’t stay clean, it’s all my fault.
I think it’s going to be the perfect solution. Don’t you?
Have I told you how much I appreciate having a husband that can do all these things?? Â I really-really do appreciate him. Â As I write this, he’s out in the garage sanding the cabinet. Â It’s going to take a bit before he’s done with it but in the meantime, I should probably start cleaning out that space and removing the sewing machine.
Who ever thought I’d be happy to get rid of a sewing machine??
What is it about laundry rooms, mine is a catchall too. Looks like you have found the solution, though.
Good solution, great hubby. He is a keeper, but you already know that!
What a special guy your hubby is. lucky you!
Excellent solution! A great Christmas present for you!
I love the cabinet. It is going to look great there!