laundry room update

I while back I posted some of my laundry 'pinspiration' for making our laundry room more functional.  After a few weekends of work, our laundry room went from this:

to this:

We were able to remove the pedestals from our washer and dryer pretty easily and I was thankful for the opportunity to go through the contents.  They would get so cluttered because it's so easy to just toss in items unlike cabinets which encourage more organization.

We purchased the cabinets from IKEA and Joe and M put them together while I painted.  We used left over paint from Madeleine's nursery, Tanglewood from Olypmic, and I love how it makes the molding and doors, and now the white cabinets, pop.  The cabinets were pretty easy to install because you attach a railing to the wall and then the cabinets hang off of that.  It literally was an exact fit and we had to do some major coaxing to get the last cabinet up but it's up and I LOVE IT!



Joe custom made the shelf in between the washer and dryer to take up the extra space and make it look more cohesive.  It's the perfect size to store laundry detergent and I can't wait to buy the giant detergent with the spout that would NEVER fit into the pedestals:)

I had a lot of fun adding some hanging rods on this space of wall and plan to add a little more decor to the room.  

Here is a TO DO list of what remains for this laundry room:
Touch up the trim and door paint
Make a countertop and stain the shelf to match
Purchase a frame or washboard to cover up the ugly connection box
Stage and Decorate??

We are taking a break from laundry and I'm trying to convince Joe to tackle the garage this weekend with the cooler weather.  You can see why he isn't jumping all over this idea:)  Have a great weekend!

dreaming of laundry...

...well I am dreaming of our laundry room.  I have big plans for that tiny room.  Here are a few pics from my pinterest board:  I already purchased the white cabinets from IKEA, and next time on the agenda is painting the walls, I'm thinking the same gray as our kitchen cabinets....

Currently we have pedestals on our front loaders but they bug me because I can't even fit a regular size detergent in them, I mean COME ON!  They are also so tall that I can't utilize the shelf above.  The grand plan as you can see in these inspiration pictures is to remove the pedestals, add a counter top, and cabinets.  Stay tuned..

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cleaning outdoors

So spring is upon us and it's time to fluff up our patios and gardens and get ready for that brief time of year (in texas) where we can enjoy being outside without melting!  Joe and I found ourselves home on a Saturday with no place to be.  All day.  This is so rare so we celebrated the day by spending all of it outside!

We blew off the garage and back porch, we trimmed trees, well Joe did, we took out dead plants, made ready for potting new ones, pulled weeds, cleaned windows, the really high ones, and played with our sweet little bonnet baby in the grass!

It was so refreshing to be outside in the sunshine and cool breeze not to mention all the things we checked off of our list:)

I wanted to let you in on a little secret about cleaning outdoor cushions and pillows.  Ours spent the winter outside instead of packed away neatly in the garage hibernating like the norm.  The dirt build up was all but inviting to lounge so they needed a deep cleaning.

I mixed water, Dawn dish soap, white vinegar, and baking soda in an empty Oxy Clean spray bottle and soaked each pillow on both sides.  I literally used the whole bottle. I let them sit for 15 minutes and then gave them a mild scrubbing with a small brush.  Last, I simply sprayed off the dirt!  It was so satisfying to watch the dirt just fall off the pillows and they look as good as the day I brought them home:)  Try this technique on your outdoor furniture and let me know your results!

socket to me

It turns out I'm not crazy!  The sockets and plates throughout our entire house DO NOT match.  For the longest time I have been pondering these little rectangles in every room wondering if my eyes were playing tricks on me but the inside sockets and light switches were off white and the plates were brilliant white.......MAJOR pet peeve.  

My awesome parents changed all the sockets in our living room and kitchen back when we first painted it shortly after we moved in, but the rest of the house has been on the back burner.  We purchased in bulk all the switches and sockets we needed and then set out to change them all.  

It is quite the process:

1. Switch the breaker to turn off the power in the room you are working in.  (Make sure you have plenty of daylight or a good flashlight as working with the tiny screws can be very tedious, especially with poor lighting)

2.  Test that no current is reaching the plug or switch with this nifty voltage meter.  We borrowed this one from my dad and it saved us tons of times.  For instance we have one outlet that the top socket was wired to one breaker switch and the bottom was to another.  We also have a different breaker switch for GCI outlets in all the bathrooms.

3.  Unscrew the plates and remove the two main screws of the sockets and then you should be able to pull the entire unit out. (Don;t be afraid to tug as the copper wire is stern but flexible)

4.  Unwrap the wiring on the sides of each switch or sockets and then wrap them around the new switch/socket.

5.  Stuff in the wiring and screw the new socket/switch into the wall and then reattach the plate.

6.  Switch the breaker back on and make sure everything is working properly.

The before and after below is quite dramatic because in this room, the previous owners actually painted over the sockets....SOOOO DANGEROUS!!!

benched

Joe made a bench for our patio dining table the other week to allow for more seating for Evelyn's baptism reception.  He found the plans from Anna White and just went for it... like in a day.

Joe cut the wood with his saw.

We painted it green to match our front door...hopefully we will paint our back door the same color too! We painted the pieces separately before we put the bench together so we could be sure to reach every nook and cranny.

Using wood glue and screws, Joe put it all together....And it looks like this!

In action at Evelyn's Baptism Reception...I promise you can sit on it:)

warehouse district

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One of my first projects at my job with Texas Physical Therapy Specialists was to organize the warehouse space we designated to patient files.  My boss knows how I love to tidy things up so she was very excited to get this off her hands!!  The company grew very fast and the clinics ran out of room to store charts in house so we needed room to store them at our central billing office (CBO).

There are some rules when it comes to personal patient files. 1. They have to be kept under lock and key 2. You have to keep all files 7 years past the last visit 3. Pediatric charts (18 and under) have to be kept for 7 years after their 18th birthday.  So you can see how we are in need for extra storage for all 16 clinics!

We contacted out shredding company and had them come out and shred all our files from 2005 and earlier.  I had the fence contractor come out and widen the fence line to give us almost double the area.  We then purchased more shelving that can hold up to 80 file boxes per unit.  Thanks Nate for helping me put these together! It's crucial to have all the clinics use a standard file box because it allows for easy stacking to use maximum space. We added a labeling policy so all the records are labeled alike which makes retrieving files for litigation or returning patients easy breezy!

Once we were all set up, I contacted all the clinic directors and told them to send me their charts.  We organized charts within each year by clinic and labeled the shelves accordingly.  The system makes it easy to retrieve files when patients return or litigation comes up. We got tons of files out of the clinics and have more room to grow!

Copyright 2012 Get It Together Professional Organizing

it's good for you

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We made Popo a work bench out of materials we found

Who knew Popo was a packrat?!  After New Year's this year, it was a family affair at Grandma and Popo's farm shed.  I love projects like this 1. because it's personal and every story behind an object is part of your family 2. we got to sweep a lot (I love sweeping) and 3. it was fun to work alongside family!


We took 3 truckloads to the dump, sorted through like 12 coffee cans of nails, nuts, bolts, and screws (Popo oiled all his hardware so they wouldn't rust after all the years...still good as new), and built one large burn pile.

Hope you enjoy your new palace Popo!!!

Copyright 2012 Get It Together Professional Organizing

may=garage

Elfa

Let's dedicate the month of May to organizing garages.  

Garages have great space for storage but can be intimidating because you need a lot of resources to utilize the storage space like shelving, tubs, and hooks.  Don't get overwhelmed trying to do the whole thing at one, but devise a plan for the entire garage and then tackle sections at a time.

Decide what the space will be used for; parking your car, work shop, etc.

The Family Handyman

Create kits for different tasks and projects.  For example, a painting kit would consist of a large bin that stores your paint, brushes, painters tape, hole filler, stirrers, etc.  A car washing kit would consist of sponges, soap, squeegees, etc. You get the point!

Sports gear is a major issue in most garages.  Group all sporting goods together and then divide and conquer.  Keep loose balls in a basket, hang bat bags and golf bags, and create a box for other accessories.

The Container Store

Garages have a lot of vertical space, so utilize it by purchasing a tool system or a shelving unit.  I recommend The Container Store's Elfa system.  You can find similar products at Home Depot or Lowe's. See a before and after on utilizing vertical space.

Take organization into your car by organizing the trunk with these folding bins that keep your groceries, safety gear, and spare clothes tamed.

Photos courtesy of Google Images
Copyright 2012 Get It Together Professional Organizing

april=laundry

An Inspired Workspace

Continuing on with our 12 month storage plan, let's take a look at your laundry room.  Whether it's a closet, a room, or even just a space in your garage, your laundry room needs to be functional.  

GE

If space is an issue, I suggest stacking your washer and dryer and putting in a utility sink with shelf space.  If this is not possible, then build a cubby for your appliances and add a solid counter top for folding and storing detergents. If you have a bare wall above your washer and dryer, try installing some cabinet units or shelving to maximize that vertical space.

Purchase the coordinating pedestals to add storage space under your washer and dryer.  These are perfect for housing large detergent containers.

kaboodle

Designate a basket especially for stain removing items.  When you have to spot treat an article, simply grab the bin and all your tools are at your fingertips.

Ironing boards are awkward to store.  Try hanging your ironing board behind your utility room door.  Hangers for ironing boards can be purchased at The Container Store, Bed Bath and Beyond, or Target.

Sears

Most homes implement a three basket system for sorting.  My personal preference is to sort an entire hamper at once and get it over with.  However, I suggest a three basket system for dry cleaning, repairs, and donations.  You can use smaller baskets for these items so they won't take up too much room and what a great way to keep your closets purged of unwanted items!

One of the most time consuming and overwhelming chores at home is laundry, and most of the time we put it off until we run out of clean underwear.  I suggest making a plan that works for you and your family.  My mother scheduled a laundry day, Sundays, and that's the only time she did it.  If our clothes weren't in the utility room in time, tough luck! If you are an advocate of your kids doing their own laundry, then assign each child a day and time of the week that the laundry room is reserved just for them.

Just because your laundry room is used for chores and needs to be practical and functional, doesn't mean it can't be beautiful.  Add some unique touches that make you smile so you can feel happy while you fold!!

Copyright 2012 Get It Together Professional Organizing

hooked

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I never knew how many kinds of hooks were actually out there....until this garage project!  Clip hooks, screw hooks, peg hooks, ladder hooks, fish hooks, and even t.u.hooks!  You name it.
One of the main goals of my clients was to optimize their garage space, so they could park their car inside and still have room to get out of it.  In order to create more space on the floor, we had to get everything OFF the floor. The best way to do that?  Hook it!
We began by taking everything out, tossing unwanted items and old equipment as we went, and then categorized what we had left into piles on the lawn.  Sorry nosy neighbors and HOA!  After a good pressure washing, we had a great blank canvas.
We designated the right wall for large yard tools and equipment.  Using a customizable system from Lowe's, we were able to install the perfect solution that saves floor space and make tools more accessible.
For the smaller tools and gadgets, we purchased a peg board (only $15 at Lowe's) and cut out slots for the breaker box and outlets with a jig saw.  Thanks Joe!  We also picked up a package of assorted peg board accessories, AKA hooks.  There is some rhyme and reason to what hangs where. For instance, garden tools hang on the left and common tools hang on the right.  Make sure your peg board is large enough so items don't get cluttered and difficult to find.
Some other things we hung include a pair of ladders and a bike. It is amazing how much space you save and even how visually appealing things are when hung on those white walls.  It's like wall art for you garage!!

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 Copyright 2012 Get It Together Professional Organizing

cover it up

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Most of us live in homes that are desperate for more storage space.  We have closets for clothes, attics for seasonal items, but what do we do with the things we need more than once a year but not every week? 

In this home, the laundry room was blessed with open shelving above the washer and dryer and above a nook for a freezer.  We wanted to keep original boxes for serving ware but couldn't think of a way to make the cluttered look go away.  So what did we do?  We covered it up!!

We purchased some simple curtains and extension rods to do the trick.  The space serves as great storage room but now the laundry lady doesn't have to feel overwhelmed every time she steps inside.

Copyright 2011 Get It Together Professional Organizing