When we move in to a new house, the last thing we want to do is spend big money on a room like the laundry room. But that has been the case for us here at the cottage.
We left behind our Whirlpool Cabrio washer and dryer with the sale of our Illinois house. Truly, we just didn't want the hassle of transporting it once again, especially when we needed every square inch of space in our pod-style moving trailer. So we asked for the washer and dryer to be left with our new house. Yes, they were old, but our hope was they would be fine in the interim.
And they were okay, except for two problems. The washer was so loud, it sounded like a jet engine was being fired up every time it was in use. And when you consider that the laundry room has no door, and it's right off the kitchen and great room, well, it was a problem. You couldn't hear the television if you were doing the laundry.
The second issue? The washer drained into an ugly utility sink, which was not to code. Twice, someone left a sponge in the sink, and when the washer drained, the sponge would get sucked in to the drain, the tub would fill with water and overflow into the hallway and basement below.
No bueno.
We could've made it work for a little while longer, except the washing machine died right after Christmas. The laundry room got bumped to the top of the remodel list.
I researched machines based on their cleaning ability and their quietness rating. These LG machines ranked high in both. So we bought them from Best Buy, and when they were delivered, we discovered that the hot and cold water taps had seized and were leaking, and we'd need a plumber.
Around this time, I was hearing cha-ching every time anyone discussed the laundry room.
The plumber came...over the course of three days. In the meantime, we purchased a new utility sink, which my husband assembled. But it sat in my great room for about six weeks until all the various jobs were finished.
For starters, the plumber cut into the wall, installed new piping and new hot and cold water taps, and put the shut offs recessed into the wall...to code, as it should've been all along.
Then, I found a contractor through Nextdoor.com who was able to do the drywall repair, mud and sand the wall, paint the repaired section, and install the new utility sink.
Yay! No more sink in my great room!
My contractor asked if I had some leftover paint, so I gave him what I had from the office room. Looks like the new laundry room color will be Benjamin Moore Philadelphia Cream!
We found the sink at Lowe's. I liked that it had a nice deep sink, with a decent faucet and spray nozzle, and a shelf for important stuff.
Another cabinet for storage...always handy! I liked the beadboard detail, too. Very cottage cute.
The room is not quite finished yet. We still need to paint all the walls. When that is done, I will get a new curtain rod and put a real curtain over the window. In the future, we will probably need new flooring, and we will have to have a drain installed in the floor (again, not to code). But for now, we've spent plenty of money on this room.
As for the washer and dryer, I love them! Nice and quiet, as promised. They do a great job of getting our clothes really clean. Everything smells much fresher now. The funniest thing about the LG appliances? When the cycle is over, they play a little catchy tune. My husband says it sounds like the Pied Piper that plays his flute (if you've ever been to the Glockenspiel at Frankenmuth, Michigan, you will understand!).
Since Christmas, we have had to replace a washing machine, a dryer, a garage door opener, and an office printer. Yikes! Hoping we can slow down the house spending this spring. Paint. Paint is cheap, right?
Blessings on your weekend, cafe friends!
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