The Laundry Room Project
Today is Madison’s 13th Birthday ! My parents flew out to be here as she takes her first steps…as a TEENAGER. I can NOT believe my girl is 13. Sigh.
Anyway… whenever my parents come out for a visit, my dad likes to help me get a project done. It’s always tricky, choosing the right job. One that won’t take too much time to complete or require him to work too hard while he’s here on “vacation”.
We decided to tackle installing a pocket door in the laundry room. That sounds like a one day project, no?
No! This is what my house looked like when we quit for the day…
The Laundry Room had two doors opening up into the room. I’m planning on adding cabinets and countertop so dirty clothes don’t have to pile up on the floor and I can have a place other than the couch to fold clothes.
Right now it’s just a bunch of wasted space!
The inward opening doors are really not functional for accessing the sink and future storage. I don’t like the idea of having to go into the small room and close both doors in order to USE the room. It would feel the “time out” kitchen” – times 10!
So, I’m changing both doors! This one, is going to be a Barn Door in my wide hallway.
This one is going to slide open right into the wall cavity. How convenient that the ironing board is already removed! ;-)
I had planned to have my dad change out all our light switches but I was pointing out all the non functional spaces in the house and suddenly, we were tearing out a wall!
I guess I do get THAT from my dad. We also have another similarity…we both think we are in charge! LOL
Hopefully we will finish with a “DECENT JOB” tomorrow.
With both of us trying to be “in charge”, my dad being the king of “That’s Good Enough Land” and my OCD about every detail…we’ll see how it ends up.
It will be a fond memory at any rate: Mom baking bread, playing the piano and singing while Dad and I tear out a wall, rough frame a new one and tear out everything we just put in at least three times!
Dad thinks today will go smoother and we’ll slap it together in a jiffy! (That’s what I’m afraid of.)
I’m just hoping for time to shower before I pick Madison up from school so we can celebrate her big day!
She still hasn’t decided what she wants for her birthday dinner. I’m crossing my fingers she chooses “Going Out” !
Happy Birthday Madison..
45 Responses to “The Laundry Room Project”
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Hi. I’m Sandra.
I'm a crafter, DIY'er, home renovator and builder of "STUFF". We move frequently so I get lots of chances to buy a house and then tear it up so I can put my mark on it before we sell it and move again. I hope you'll join me on my DIY adventure as I start all over again.
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Happy Birthday Madison!!
@Sandra Can’t wait to see the results. If you find cheap barn door hardware pleasepleaseplease share
I will be sure to pass on any deals I find!
How exciting! A teen AND your soon-to-be new laundry room! Is your dad a contractor? Is that where you got your skills from?????
LOL No, I wish he was!
Love that your parents are part of your team – what great memories! So wonderful that everyone is hands on and involved. (but please don’t let your dad get up on that chair again – and in sock feet, no less!! Get another ladder, girl – safety first!)
Yeah…my dad has a way of doing what he want how he wants to do it. LOL I did get him to wear a dust mask for about 10 minutes!
Hsppy Birthday, Maddie! Have a super fun time with your G & G! Wish we could share it with you, too! Sandra, I’m sure your Dad will help you get things back in order in no time…breathe in…exhale…It’s all about the love!
Breathing! LOL Maddie is so excited to buy a new quiver with her GC! (We’ll call you later.)
First off, Happy Birthday Maddie!
OMG… too funny about you and your dad. Can’t wait to see the finished project!
Thank you Katie!
Your description of working along side of your dad reminds me of what I say about working with my husband. These are MY projects, he is the helper, so why do I always have to explain it to him so many times AND insist that it be done MY way? Many times I have come away from a project muttering, “I love my husband … I love my husband …”
Great idea about replacing the doors, BTW.
That is so funny. I had to explain to Wes years ago that I am the project manager and he is the assistant. LOL
lolllllllll this is so funny…..now we know where you get your *gettin your groove on * from……psssst to be safe why not make reservations and make sure you go out!!!!
Phew! She decided she wants 5 Guy burgers of all things. LOL And I ordered the cake so we’re all set. Nothing like last minute planning for me!
Love this post!!
And happy birthday Madison! 
Thank you Angie!
I just love you and your parents. And I am sure I would love your Madison, were we to ever meet. 13 is scary. Good luck!
Well I just love you too Andrea. We’re bracing ourselves! Hoping we all come through ok.
p.s. I love that you are protected to the hilt with dust mask and ear protection, and your dad is just chillin’ in his regular duds all old school.
No kidding. I did get Dad to wear a dust mask for about 10 minutes and I put my ear protection on him…but he just shed it and kept working. He does what he wants! LOL
Happy Big 13 Madison!!
Your DAD Rocks!! Can’t wait to see the finished project.
He does. Thanks!
I am in the same predicament with my laundry room, two doors open into it and a double width closet hides behind the open doors. Unfortunately, I will only be able to change one, because the other is the door to the garage. I’ve thought about a pocket door, but I’m pretty sure the wall is load bearing and I don’t feel up to tackling that whole mess. So I will probably opt for the barn door, even though the hallway wall has another door (coat closet) 3 feet away from the laundry door. I’ve thought of putting barn doors on both and one long slider in between. After that, it’s tearing out the hidden closet and putting in locker-style cubbies.
I’m going to have 3 doors on one wall and I think I’m going to do 3 barn doors! We’ll see. (I think your plan sounds great.)
Love you working with your Dad on a project!! I just finished my laundry this past week! Not to the extent of putting in pocket doors though! Happy 13th to you baby girl!!
Nancy
Thank you Nancy. Hope your project turned out Great!
Girl, we are so much alike. Happy birthday to Madison! One of my boys turned 13 last weekend. Sad. Lisa~
We can be each other’s teen parent buddies!
NOTHING to complain about! In New England, there is a sad habit of contractors to put the laundry room the downstairs powder room! I get so tired of dusting the toilet – not to mention that dirty clothes are constantly on the floor of the bathroom! And many, many houses have this “feature.” Yech!
Can’t wait to build my own house and put the laundry room upstairs with the clothes where it belongs!
I’m with you, a basement laundry room would stink. Building a house is my dream too. Maybe someday.
hahaha!!! So funny: “we both think we are in charge.” Made me laugh out loud! Just remember – you can always redo some things after he leaves, if you need to, Ms. Perfection!
Have a fun time!
LOL I had that thought! No, it’s coming along fine and I love that he’s helping. If the door forever rubs against the studs because it wasn’t hung plumb or level…it’ll be a constant reminder of our project together.
Wow…this kinda makes me tear up. When my dad would visit he’d always bring his tools cuz he knew there’d be a project and I probably wouldn’t have the right tools. We’ve done a lot of things around here together and I soaked up all the knowledge I could. He still helps a bit, more overseeing now…he’s in his 80′s. I think I”m the son he never had. He’s so talented. I’ve acquired my own tools now, but take advantage of his huge workshop and massive power tools when I’m at his house. It’s funny though…in our case I’m more the “that’s good enough” and he’s the perfectionist.
I too am a big fan of pocket doors. I wish I had more of them. Total space savers. Hate the wasted space you need to leave for swinging doors.Thank you for making me cry and smile.
Aw, that’s so sweet and how awesome to have access to all those tools. Sweet!
We have a barn door on our first floor powder room! We had to use it because of the way our house is built…a great deal of the electrical/plumbing runs through the walls on either side of the door opening and since the room is roughly 4 x 8, having it swing in wasn’t an option. I’ll have to quiz hubby as to where we got the hardware for it.
This was an awesome post that made me literally laugh out loud! “The king of ‘That’s good enough land’”….hahaha!!! That’s soooo my husband and nothing puts me in a worse mood than him saying, “I’m sure it will be fine.” AHH!!!! lol
I <3 pocket doors! And barn doors!! So glad your parents are there for Madison's big birthday! Hope you have a special day.
Now that’s what I call a productive day! Can’t wait to see how it turns out!
Happy birthday to Madison! My son turns 15 in May. Time sure does fly!
Wow! I want to put a barn type door on my laundry room also,(still trying to convince hubby) but what I thought weird is today is also my son’s 13th birthday! Cute post!!
Happy Birthday Madison!
Can’t wait to see how your project turns out!
Happy (Belated) Birthday to Madison!
How nice that you can work with your dad. Can’t wait to see the final photos.
Please hurry and get those pocket doors in. You know I am waiting on you to let me know how hard or easy it is! Lol
Happy 13th Birthday Madison!! Hope your birthday was great.
lol!! that’s funny!! I love his safety gear… that’s dad’s for ya… I think those doors will be awesome!! can’t wait to see the finished project. Take lots of picks.
I’m considering a pocket door also between our current dining room and soon to be added conservatory. I used other people’s pocket doors and sometimes they don’t run smoothly or get stuck. I’m eager to hear how much you like yours after you use it for awhile. Jo @ Let’s Face the Music
I can only laugh as I know exactly what you mean about the difference between how you and your dad do things. His levels of acceptance for paying clients and for his own house (and family’s houses) are pretty far from one another. I haven’t figured out why that is but I also cannot decline his help!