Updated Mudroom in a Closet

One of our top blog posts of all time (four years to be exact) is our mudroom in a closet. We had a pretty awful dark entry way, and the closet was always a disaster and pocket doors are hard to deal with when kids are around in our house. Four years ago, Rob worked on changing it into a mudroom.

Here is the mudroom after we completed it four years ago. Click here to see the original project.  

Fast forward to after the holidays, and we decided we wanted to update the white and tan coloring. We had recently painted our entire house gray, and so w used leftover Sherwin Williams Repose Gray.  


Rob used pine boards to create the board and batten look.  He caulked and sanded the boards, primed them, and then painted them.

We reused the hooks I originally purchased four years ago.  Then added a new fabric from Jo-Anns to the foam cushion.  I also ordered three new burlap and black pillow  covers from Amazon.  

A small update that makes a big difference with some wood that was approximately $40. The pillow covers were under five dollars on Amazon, and I already had the inserts.  

Closet Organization and Lucketts

I am in the process of organizing a closet that we have really never used. I purchased some baskets in various sizes from Lowe's. I found they had the best deal for the size of what I was getting. The largest basket I purchased was around $9. I purchased three large and six medium sized baskets. I would have purchased more but I bought all that they had.

A few weeks ago I purchased this small wooden plaque from Michaels. I did not have a plan for it, but decided to use it to label my baskets.  This means I will be heading to Michaels soon to buy plenty more.  I painted it with some leftover paint from a previous project. After it was dry I added some vinyl lettering and attached it to the basket with some jute twine.  


Now, I only have to make about 11 more for the rest of the baskets I'll need in the closet.  

It is certainly a start towards keeping things organized, and especially for sheets which never seem to stay on a shelf very long. 

On another note, yesterday we went to Lucketts, VA for the Lucketts Market. I took a few pictures on my phone. I did get to meet up with some of the Hometalk ladies for a little bit as well. That was very cool!  I also was able to get Marian from Miss Mustard Seed to sign a copy of her book for me. She was so very sweet.  This year we were in and out pretty quickly with Wynn tagging along, but we did get a lot of ideas and saw a lot of wonderful furniture pieces.  

Wynn loved the popcorn and thought that the port-o-pots were beautiful.  That was her first experience seeing one and she loved them. The people walking by listening to her yell "these are so beautiful and just my size, Mommy" certainly got a kick out of that one.

Wynn insisted that we buy this to wash our dogs in.  Unfortunately I don't think it would hold 175 lbs worth of pups.

 I really loved all the goodies that you could find everywhere you looked.

These stools from Ekster Antiques were so pretty!

 Wynn really wanted one of these metal W's. I think that she has quite a few w's already.

Hope you have a great one! 

Budget Friendly Linen Closet Makeover

I am someone who loves to be organized, but over the past few months our linen closet has become a mess. Our two year old loves to reach in to get her own band-aids now, and that means that everything is thrown everywhere.  I was beginning to worry that her access to items I may not want her to reach was becoming to easy for her.  


I decided that I had some materials around the house that I could use to update it. I only had to purchase two items for this project.  Here is the mess before...cringe!

The builder of our home some twenty years ago installed this shelves with molding to hold them in place. I figured they've worked well so far, and to save money I decided not replace them. However, the closet was in need of a good coat of paint. I found a free quart of white paint that I received in the mail.  I was going to do a color but I thought I might as well take advantage of free materials since they were available.

It definitely looked brighter after the first coat.

I used baskets and storage bins that previously served no purpose in our house. They have been sitting in the basement for a while now.  I also switched up the position of the towels for two reasons. The pile won't fall on head of everyone who tries to reach up to the top shelf. Also, now Wynn has only access to towels at her height instead of products she should not be allowed to get into to.  

The only items I purchased were the two collapsible Rubbermaid hampers at the bottom. They ended up fitting perfectly. Prior to this our toilet paper just sat in the giant BJ's Club size packaging, and I thought it always looked ugly. Therefore, I put all of the toilet paper in one of these hampers.  I haven't decided what I will use the other one for, but I am sure I will come up with something.

Total Cost: $27.08 for the two Rubbermaid Hampers from Amazon

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Megan

Master Closet Redo: Made with blood, sweat and tears literally! By Amy & Chris

Chris has wanted to redo our master closet since we moved in two years ago. Finally he got his wish, he had off work for spring break and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to complete the master closet project. We have had this project done for weeks but I wanted to change the light fixture in our closet, needless to say that was an adventure in itself. After 2 trips to Ikea and one to Lowes we finally have a light. I wanted a cute mini chandelier but the ones we found at ikea we either too long or didnt work in the space. Since I was at work, Chris was supposed to be in charge a taking pictures...need I say more?  Sorry guys but this is the only before picture we have. Just imagine a bare closet with 2 wire racks.

Chris started by clearing everything out and painting the walls. Next he placed wood ledgers around the closet to give a floating shelf effect. The ledgers were 10 inches off the ground. We wanted space underneath to store our shoes and I had space on top to store my purses.

Next, he started building the frame of the closet using MDF board which was 6ft wide by 6ft high. He built the frame on the floor first.  He used toggle bolts to secure the closet in place. He then built the cubed shelves on the floor as well and then installed them as one unit. This was much easier then trying to build cube by cube on the wall. Building the shelves prior to install was also easier to make them even.  I wasn't kidding when I said blood, sweat and tears lol.......

 He added closet rods in multiple areas so we could hang our clothes.

After many many many trips to Home Depot...it is finally complete!  I thank my wonderful husband for all his hard work to give me my dream closet, I could be happier.  :)

Thanks for stopping by. We hope you enjoy it!!


The project total cost: $300


Amy & Chris

A Mudroom in a Closet

We have a very small front entrance when you enter our home.  To the left of the entry door is another wall, which made for some very close quarters. I was hinting to Rob that we should change it up in this area. Every time I have to close these bi fold doors something new is blocking the doors from closing.  It was becoming a pit of stuff on the floor and so disorganized. If you know me it was really getting on my last nerve. :)

So we decided to go through with a project (Rob did the manual labor and I did the shopping)  We are a good team that way. Here is the closet inside before. Two upper shelves and the typical rod.  Obviously this photo was taken after the other 15 coats, mittens, gloves, hats and shoes were taken out.  :)

Rob began to take measurements with his assistant, Wynn.

Using 2 by 4 Rob framed out the front and back of the cabinet at the bottom.  This will give something for the lid for the cabinet to rest on.

Using quarter inch plywood Rob created boxes inside the frame he made above. 



Rob used the Kreg system to screw together three white pine boards together for the lid. The first picture shows how the Kreg system is set up.



Next Rob wanted to create a front for the cabinet using beadboard that we had leftover from another project.  Rob used the table saw to cut a groove down the middle of a 1 by 4 that allowed him to slide the piece of beadboard in place.

Then he matched the piece flush with the top panel of the front board he created.

Using outdoor fabric and 3 inch foam from Joann Fabrics Rob added this to the top of the pine boards he put together above. He used a pneumatic staple gun to attach this easily.

We found four pillow covers from Etsy and pillow inserts from OnlineFabricStore to give a finishing touch.

Here is our new shelf, hooks and baskets. The hooks are just high enough so the coats won't go over the pillows below.

Total Cost Breakdown

Wood - Lowes $125
Paint/Painting Supplies: free because we used paint from other projects.
Foam $32.00 (60% off) at Joann Fabrics
Material $20 (on sale) at Joann Fabrics
Pillow Covers $63.40 from Etsy Stores CottageRuffles and ArtisticCotton
Pillow Inserts $42.00 from http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/
Hooks: $20.68 from Amazon for 4
Baskets: $27 from Michaels
Shelving: redone from the shelves that were previously in the closet

The Taylor House