I should have titled this post Abby Gave Me A Baby Reindeer So I Had To Paint The Laundry Room. Because that's what happened, except that makes no sense, so I'll back up and explain.
In the past, a drapery panel had been hanging in the doorway between the kitchen and our laundry/mud room. I took it down when I painted the kitchen, and realized that I really liked having all the sunlight that came into the room.
But the laundry room was scary. Strange things had been done to this room in the past 86 years, like wires being glued to walls and plumbing holes cut where none had ever existed before. This wasn't a laundry room when this house was built in 1926, just a back entry. (These houses didn't have laundry machines at all, I imagine, just wash boilers like the one Maurie brought me from his mom's house.) The room has pine plank floors, even though the rest of the flooring in our house is oak. The poor things had been covered with tile, then linoleum, then vinyl sheet flooring, all of which I had scraped up long ago.
So anyway, Baby Reindeer came home the other night, and I wanted him to be somewhere that I could look at him all day. He landed on the washer, one thing led to another, and I just kept going. And now I'm so enjoying my freshly cleaned, spackled and painted room!
In the future, I would love to have a shelf above the valance, with cheerful red painted baskets to hold extra laundry supplies and towels. My sister gave me this sweet chalkboard years ago, and it's a great spot for kitchen towels and this thrifted basket that holds extra shopping bags.
When I was cleaning the light fixture, I realized that we had drilled this one for crystals. This is one of the leftovers from years ago, when I bought, revamped and sold lighting in my antique booth. Now that the chandy is bedazzled, it really is the crown jewel of the tiny room. Just imagine that when you look at this photo, you see sparkling white beadboard on the ceiling :)
Brenda pinnned this cute display the other day, and I couldn't copy her fast enough. If you love red like we both do, you'll swoon over her Red Of Course board on Pinterest.
Now Baby Reindeer has a happy, fresh, clean new home, and I have a pretty view of my laundry room! By the way, Baby Reindeer can be found at Pier 1 here.
I'm joining Kim for Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Courtney's Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Heather and Vanessa's Inspiration Friday at At The Picket Fence
Cindy's Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Your laundry room is now a real jewel -- good job!! Sally
Posted by: salmagundi | November 27, 2012 at 03:01 PM
Looks wonderful! I love all the red. So nice!
Posted by: Kathy | November 27, 2012 at 03:30 PM
Wow your laundry room looks great! I can see why you wouldn't want to put the curtain back up - the light from that window must be very nice. That chalkboard is great. Did your sister make it?
Posted by: Manuela@a cultivated nest | November 27, 2012 at 04:32 PM
Your laundry room is lovely, Andrea! I love all the light you get from that window. Living in a condo now, I find I miss all the windows that I had at my old house. Love the plates and chalkboard you hung. Great valance and the chandy is a great touch.
Posted by: Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions | November 27, 2012 at 04:58 PM
What a pretty and cheerful looking laundry room Andrea! Think I'll be stopping in Pier 1 to get a baby reindeer for myself, he's so cute! Love the makeover!
Posted by: Martina | November 27, 2012 at 05:13 PM
Oh what a pretty room! I would love a window in my laundry room!
I have the same deer. Don't you love the face on her?
Posted by: Molly | November 27, 2012 at 05:19 PM
Andrea, what a pretty laundry room! You've filled it with some great accessories. I may have to add a touch of Christmas to mine. I've never decorated it for Christmas. I'm inspired!
Posted by: Shenita | November 27, 2012 at 05:35 PM
Love what you have done, looks great!
~Audra
Posted by: Audra | November 27, 2012 at 07:34 PM
Nice decorate I have an idea this Christmas I think this decorate can help me a lot.. thanks for this posts :D
Posted by: Plumber | November 27, 2012 at 09:08 PM
Your laundry room looks so pretty and what a pretty little baby reindeer! :) I'd smile every time I'd walk in there.
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Posted by: Shelia | November 27, 2012 at 09:10 PM
Okay- That does it- Your laundry room looks so nice now I HAVE to do my own! Love it- xo Diana
Posted by: Nana Diana | November 27, 2012 at 09:15 PM
I am loving your decor. How sweet and the plates, love them!
Vanessa
Posted by: Homesbutterfly | November 27, 2012 at 09:37 PM
LOVE that yellow paint! What brand/shade is it?
Posted by: betsy | November 27, 2012 at 10:13 PM
Oh Andrea, your laundry room is so CUTE! I just might have to stop in Pier 1 today just for that sweet little deer!! Enjoy your day, Gail
Posted by: Gail | November 28, 2012 at 05:33 AM
I wouldn't mind doing laundry in here at all! Love the sunlight that comes in...very cute! :)
XO,
Jane
Posted by: Jane | November 28, 2012 at 05:39 AM
It looks so bright, cheery and Christmas-Cozy !
Posted by: debra | November 28, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Look at you! I bet Abby had no idea what she would cause when she gave you that cute reindeer. I love it when things fall into place like that. your laundry room looks fabulous!
Posted by: Stacey | November 28, 2012 at 11:21 AM
I know you love that extra light. My last house was dark. My bedroom probably has the most light in the house, wouldn't you know it. Yeah, red! Of course!
Brenda
Posted by: Brenda Kula-Pruitt | November 28, 2012 at 07:40 PM
He's such a cute reindeer! I can see why you were inspired for a makeover using him. Wish I had a nice laundry room like that.
Posted by: kelly | November 28, 2012 at 07:56 PM
So Keeeeute! I love it. What an adorable look. I'm doing my laundry room too because it is the first room you see when you come through the back door and EVERYONE uses our back door! So rather than throw a fit that they don't come through the pretty entrance at the front I'm decorating the back door area, cute...not as cute...but you know cute!
Blessings,
Debbie
Posted by: Debbie | November 29, 2012 at 08:45 AM
Stopping by from WOW us Wednesday to see your laundry room! Never thought to decorate the laundry room. It looks so cute! My front loader vibrates so fast that Rudolph would be laying in the hallway!
Posted by: Bonnie | November 29, 2012 at 09:04 AM
I saw baby reindeer at Pier One. He almost came home with me. I love the chandelier in the laundry room. Makes doing laundry just a little more fun!!
Posted by: Katie Mansfield | November 29, 2012 at 01:17 PM
Your laundry room looks darling! And I'm inspired to add a chandelier to my laundry room too...Love yours! Vanna
Posted by: Vanna | November 29, 2012 at 03:10 PM
Your laundry room is so amazing! How fun to go in there and do laundry! The chandy is wonderful! It's just beautiful! Fabulous job!
Miss Bloomers
Posted by: Sonia | November 29, 2012 at 08:18 PM
Awww.....the baby reindeer is so adorable, and your laundry looks like a perfect spot for him.
Posted by: Carol | November 29, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Your laundry room is adorable. Now the million dollar question, do you plan on doing any laundry between now and Christmas? I know you can't with those decorations on those appliances. LOL Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing your talent with those of us who have none.
Posted by: Pat | November 30, 2012 at 07:45 PM
I love how pretty and functional your laundry room is! Love that baby reindeer too! :)
Clyde W
Posted by: Makati condominium for rent | December 04, 2012 at 09:24 PM
I want to see the rest of your house, our tastes are so in tune! I have the same toile valance in my kitchen, the same green plates and transfer ware... and I just bought the same tiny tole tray at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago. (wish I had two!) My builders white' laundry room will be seeing some changes soon.
Becky H.
Posted by: Becky H. | December 06, 2012 at 01:09 PM
Oh..I just saw this..that you got one of those sweet deer we had at Pier 1. I wanted one...but told myself no. I think they have the sweetest faces.
Posted by: Nita {ModVintageLife} | December 13, 2012 at 12:02 PM