Monday, January 23, 2012

A Spruced Up Space

Happy Monday! I had a great weekend cleaning, organizing, and rearranging my son's room. I also worked on sprucing up our laundry/mud/utility room which I'll be sharing with you today. I don't have a true before picture of the space (we repainted recently), but here it is:

 When you walk in from the back door, this is the area that you first see. As you can tell it's a tiny multifunctional space that we use as our laundry, utility, and mudroom. It's also where we keep our paper recycling and our tool pantry.

I've been wanting to do something with this area for a while mostly because (if you didn't notice) we have been using a paper box to hold our shoes and I was getting really tired of looking at it. 



The box was supposed to be only a temporary solution until my husband built me a shoe rack. Other projects were a bigger priority so I kind of forgot about it until inspiration hit this weekend!

I remembered this shelf that I bought at an estate sale over the summer. It's been sitting in my garage waiting for me to decide where I wanted to use it. It's perfect for a shoe rack!!

 

Our flooring has some grey in it, so using paint we already had and the vaseline trick I used on my shutters to shabby it up, here is the shelf now:

 

Next, I worked on cleaning and organizing the room and adding some fun laundry-ish decor, here's what the space looks like now!!!! Even with the ugly water heater and furnace, I think it looks so much better!

 



 



I love that I have a spot for hats, gloves and scarves now!

Here's some close ups of the distressing on the shoe rack. I love the vaseline trick! It makes sanding so much easier!



I'm linking to the parties listed HERE and to:



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43 comments:

  1. BlissJanuary 23, 2012 at 9:18 AM

    Way to get those shoes out of the box! I just read a redo on someone's blog about a similar space to yours. They hung a floor to ceiling curtain across the service area of their laundry room to hide the water heater etc.. I can't remember what blog I was on....

    ~Bliss~

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  2. PeggyJanuary 23, 2012 at 11:29 AM

    I love the shoe "rack" as well the overall decor. I don't have pictures of it because it was long before blogs were around but I had a similar room situation. We used an extension rod and hung a curtain in from of the "appliances." Okay I have to admit It wasn't a curtain as much as a painters cloth which can blend in so nicely. But I do agree it does look so much nicer already!

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  3. KatieJanuary 23, 2012 at 11:30 AM

    Great job! See what a little reorganizing does! You should join me for Handmade 52! http://raisingoranges.blogspot.com/2012/01/handmade-52-3.html

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  4. Jen C.January 23, 2012 at 2:55 PM

    Cute and functional! Great way to tame the space and make it work better. Love the redone shoe rack! :-)

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  5. eleven-o-oneJanuary 23, 2012 at 3:52 PM

    The shoe rack looks great and the decor fits nicely. Great job!

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  6. DeeJanuary 23, 2012 at 4:30 PM

    Wow, could you come over & organize mine now? Just kidding, look great! Dee

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  7. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2012 at 5:33 PM

    Love the vintage touches! Looks great!

    Sharon

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  8. GailJanuary 23, 2012 at 8:11 PM

    Much better use of the space with the shoe shelves and hooks
    I really like the vintage decor touches you added

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  9. chateau chicJanuary 23, 2012 at 9:39 PM

    Much better use of the space. Looks charming and organized!
    Your newest follower, Mary Alice

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  10. SoniaJanuary 23, 2012 at 11:03 PM

    Good for you...the small changes made such an impact. I know you must love having the shoes all organized. Love the little shelf that you repurposed! Thanks for sharing!
    Miss Bloomers

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  11. EnchantedBellaJanuary 24, 2012 at 2:18 AM

    Wonderful! I love it. Rebecca

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  12. Kammy's KornerJanuary 24, 2012 at 8:13 AM

    Doesn't it feel so GOOD to do something like this?! Love the vintage-y feel!

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  13. UnknownJanuary 24, 2012 at 8:34 AM

    love the little shelf with the hats and scarves. definitely has a vintage feel. good job! visiting from tip toe through tuesday.

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  14. Honey I'm Home BlogJanuary 24, 2012 at 12:51 PM

    I'm crazy about all these vintage accessories & the way you put them together. Looks great!

    Warmly, Michelle

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  15. Marty@A Stroll Thru LifeJanuary 24, 2012 at 1:03 PM

    Great job. Everything looks amazing. I love the shelf and all the cute accessories you've used. Thanks for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

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  16. Kelly @ Here Comes the SunJanuary 24, 2012 at 2:14 PM

    Great job! I love the shoe rack and the blue mason jars with the clothespins is a nice touch! Please come stop by and share at my blog if you get a chance.

    http://www.herecomesthesun-kelly.blogspot.com/2012/01/fabulous-friday-9.html

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  17. Joyce - Quilted NestJanuary 24, 2012 at 4:07 PM

    We all have 'em don't we - spaces that need sprucing. Good for you!

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  18. UnknownJanuary 24, 2012 at 6:15 PM

    It always feels so good when you get projects like this done...I really need to get started on my basement! I also wanted to let you know that I'm hosting my first giveaway, I'd love you to stop by my blog & enter to win a free My Memories digital scrapbooking software!
    Sally
    loveofhomes.blogspot.com

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  19. Kristin @ Yellow Bliss RoadJanuary 24, 2012 at 7:41 PM

    Your shoe shelf looks great!

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  20. Barbara JeanJanuary 25, 2012 at 12:04 AM

    looks great. always nice to get things straightened up a bit.
    I'm gonna try that one of these days. =)

    blessings
    barbara jean

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  21. HoneySageJanuary 25, 2012 at 8:52 AM

    It's always nice to tidy a small space and you did a cute job with the scarf shelf. Thanks for sharing!

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  22. Pam - @diy Design FanaticJanuary 25, 2012 at 9:36 PM

    So great to get your shoes out of the box on the shelves and where you can see them!

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  23. An Oasis in the DesertJanuary 25, 2012 at 10:56 PM

    Like what you did! I especially like the old shoe forms and the jar of clothespins -- both are so cool!

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  24. PCovi January 26, 2012 at 12:18 AM

    really nice!

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  25. Saw Dust ArtJanuary 26, 2012 at 1:23 AM

    Hi Melissa,
    I am your newest follower. I just stumbled onto your blog, glad I did. I have looked thorough your past posts and love what you do. I can’t believe you have so many followers so soon; I have been blogging for a little while but have a lot I could learn from you. Look forward to being your blogger friend.

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  26. amy and jesse hudsonJanuary 26, 2012 at 3:17 PM

    I love what you did! I love seeing resourceful AND creative people like you transforming stuff so brilliantly. I would love if you would consider linking this up to my "Drab to Fab" linky party this Friday (tomorrow). The theme is taking the ordinary or simple and turning it into something fabulous! This post totally embodies that! I know my readers would get a kick out of seeing this! Here's a link to more info about the party.
    http://www.amynjesse.com/p/drab-to-fab.html
    Hope to see you tomorrow!

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  27. Robin JohnsonJanuary 26, 2012 at 5:52 PM

    It's amazing what a little organizing and a few pretty items to look at can change the whole feel of a room. It looks great now.

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  28. AnnJanuary 26, 2012 at 6:32 PM

    Great Job! I love seeing utility rooms like this (my laundry is in the garage) instead of those gorgeous laundry rooms I am sooo jealous of! Lol!

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  29. A Cozy Cottage in the CityJanuary 26, 2012 at 7:44 PM

    Hi Melissa!

    Oh I love your new space!!! It is sooo much nicer, I agree - even with the water heater/furnace! Our laundry room {if you can call it that} is TINY! lol Would love to be able to spruce it up...but that is last on our crazy to-do list! Love the distressed shoe rack and wall shelf with all of your essentials!!! Your redos are always so inspiring! :) Have a great night!


    Hugs,
    Jessie

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  30. ktJanuary 26, 2012 at 10:07 PM

    Great job! & I love that you have a *normal* size looking laundry room--looks like mine--that doubles as "the dogs room". lol

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  31. Jeannie B.January 27, 2012 at 12:34 AM

    It looks good. Makes me want to clean mine out!

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  32. GloriaJanuary 27, 2012 at 8:05 AM

    Great going, little changes do make a difference!

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  33. LisaJanuary 27, 2012 at 8:09 AM

    Love the shoe rack! Hope this help keep things more organized! And I hope you don't have the problem my husband does where he puts the shoes NEXT to the rack. Like it's so much more work to put them ON it!

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  34. UnknownJanuary 27, 2012 at 9:06 AM

    love the redo. I specially like your laundry goodies, the little dress and ball jar of clothes pins.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Michele

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  35. Kimberlee, The Spunky DivaJanuary 27, 2012 at 9:26 AM

    You definlty made a step in the right direction. Some spaces are soooo hard to work with. Would love to have you come link-up at Finished it Friday! Have a fabulous weekend! ~Kimberlee, The Spunky Diva

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  36. Jean TuthillJanuary 27, 2012 at 10:24 AM

    I love your redo, especially the clothespins in the jar and the little slip and the shoe stretcher...so cute...

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  37. The mum of all tradesJanuary 27, 2012 at 3:29 PM

    This is exactly what I have been doing this week! You have been very busy, great results. Just wanted to drop by and say thank you so much for linking up to my blog party last weekend, I really appreciate it! Hope to see you again soon x

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  38. Katie @ Creatively LivingJanuary 28, 2012 at 4:01 AM

    Nice work! I love the style you put in the space!

    Thanks for linking up to Tell it to Me Tuesday @ Creatively Living
    --Katie

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  39. RuthJanuary 30, 2012 at 10:44 AM

    You are right. It looks so much better. I love the shoe rack. It seems perfect for the space.
    Ruth

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  40. Kelley @ TheGrantLife.comJanuary 30, 2012 at 3:02 PM

    I love re-dos! This is perfect. Love it! :)

    Thanks for linking up to Financial Friday :)

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  41. Eclectically VintageFebruary 1, 2012 at 5:48 PM

    Great transformation - This would be a perfect inspirational post for our "Impossibilities" challenge ...

    I've joined up with 5 talented bloggers for an "Imagine the Impossibilities" challenge multi-blog link party going on now. It's all about tackling your most daunting task ... and you can find out more at this link ...

    http://www.eclecticallyvintage.com/4/post/2012/01/imagine-the-impossibilities-link-party.html

    Hope to see you there!
    Kelly

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  42. ErinFebruary 5, 2012 at 5:45 PM

    Great touches, Melissa! It's amazing how adding to that one wall with functional and attractive accessories improved the entire space.

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    Replies
    1. rabbit hutchesFebruary 11, 2012 at 7:06 AM

      Your linen closet is the same size as mine. going to check the dollar store for those bins. keeping eye out for good bins for not only closet but for new shelves. so glad stopped by from Feathered Nest Friday.

      Delete

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