First of all, I figured out how to do humongous photos. I also enlarged the blog width so that the said gargantuan pics can fit 🙂 YAY me! Now you get to see our mess without squinting! YAY for you!
Secondly, I want you to take a look here at our first floor bathroom.
See anything interesting?!? no…not the mess. Look into the mirror. Yeah, our first floor bathroom – THE GUEST bathroom (should we have company and we often do) – doubles as our laundry room. I hate it. And thank goodness, we have a ridiculously small toilet because otherwise you would have to put your knees in the dryer to pee.
It was always the plan to move the washer and dryer to the basement. I figured that most women would choose to walk up and down one extra flight of stairs in exchange for an entire room devoted to cleaning clothes. And once I plan my dream laundry room, that is exactly what we will have. It will be a mudroom/laundry room with enough space to dry sweaters, hang delicates, and store all the bleach, oxyclean, fabric softener and detergent I need. And a place for that blasted ironing board…why can we send a man to the moon but we can’t figure out how to make an ironing board that fits in your pocket. Or better yet, an iron that won’t burn you. Something like a molecule rearranger…that’s what we need. Where’s that Simon Cowell?! You can create American Idol, why not a worldwide available molecule rearranger?!
(back to the point)
Jeremy moved the washer and dryer and boy was it disgusting. The walls looked like we had let loose a pack of wild (and dirty) dogs in there. I don’t really know how it got that bad. Anyhoo.
Jeremy ripped out the heavy duty dryer outlets and patched a small hole. Five hundred points Jeremy.
And down in the basement, my big brother Brad installed this! He is a master plumber in Alabama and came to help us put together the beginnings of a laundry room. I showed him via a diagrahm where I wanted each appliance and he installed a whole new water line and drainage line for my archaic washer. He even gave me some tips about where the best place for water lines & electrical outlets so that I can save money on materials. He also gave some pointers should this mudroom/laundry room turn into a small inlaws kitchen one day. It was such a relief that I have an honest plumber in my life because Jeremy and I don’t really mess with plumbing or gas. Don’t you just love it when you know the person doing the reno work for you is looking out for your best interest?!?! Three million points (and one hug) to Brad.
And then my lovely boyfriend put the ancient beasts down in their new home. It is so nice to have them outta the bathroom. It makes it so spacious! I am thinking seriously about making over this freebie of a cabinet to put in there for additional storage. What do you think?
So more to come later…more gigantic pictures. and seriously…do you think you would buy a house with a basement laundry room? Or did we make a mistake moving it? I need to know if this is a dealbreaker for anyone out there. Because I like all of our moves to be next-homeowner-friendly 🙂
I bought a house with an (unfinished) basement laundry area. I wanted a first-floor dedicated laundry room, but out of the 25+ houses we toured, only ONE had that. Most homes in our area (even in higher price ranges) tend to have laundry in either the unfinished portion of the basement or in the garage. I think it will depend on your area, but I would take a dedicated, finished room over a shared bathroom space anyday! Plus, it looks like now you could create a full bath on the first level!
Hi! I’ve been lurking for a bit, and let me just say: A new kitchen AND bathroom – impressive! (and, do you want to come over, I could use both of those!)
Anyways, the laundry thing. My laundry is in the basement, and it’s not a big deal. Plus, I like being able to watch The Hills without hearing the dryer banging in the background. And no one really has to see my dirty laundry sorting center, which is a bonus, since I like to keep my dirty clothes all to myself.
If I were a buyer, I’d MUCH rather have a pretty guest bath than laundry on the main floor.
I would definitely buy a house with a basement laundry room. It’s way better than the laundry in the bathroom deal. It looks great! What are you going to do in the bathroom where the washer and dryer were?
Our laundry "room" (well, it's not quite a room yet since it's unfinished) is in the basement. I view it as exercising everytime I go up and down the stairs. Seeing as how I haveb't gone near a gym in 6 months.
Love the blue, black, & white scheme of your bathroom!
Dont you love laundry! You will really love it now. LOL….
Ooh, I love that bathroom vanity cabinet. I have no problem with basement laundry rooms if it’s an actual space dedicated to laundry instead of just sitting in the middle of the- which is the direction you’re heading in! I’ve recently been spoiled by our 2nd floor laundry “closet”. Oooh baby. I still don’t do laundry as often as I should, but boy do I LOVE not toting laundry baskets up flights of stairs.
Nice work on figuring the pics and blog out! Additionally, lol at the sneaky pic of the W&D in the mirror! You guys are awesome at what you do!
i love the thought of a basement to do laundrey in!! i love your bathroom cabinet and sink and vanity-so cute!
Wow! You tell those boys they did a great job! Our laundry is in the basement, too. And while it’s not ideal it’s much better than taking over half your bathroom. I’d say this was a great move, Katie! *high5*
Hi!! I hate to be weird, but I came across your blog a few weeks ago and I’m hooked! Yayy for Bower Power! 🙂
Anyways, my house has a basement laundry room and that was one of the convincing factors in choosing this house. I love it– all of the messy laundry stuff is hidden in the basement. I think you made the right choice!
Happy Blogging!
Okay, so I don’t have “laundry in the basement” experience to weigh in on……. but I do have “walk my clothes 3 blocks down the street to creepy laundry mat, then hang clothes on bicycles in the living room to dry, for the entire first year of marriage” experience.
So heck yeah I’d go down to the basement to do laundry; I wouldn’t even mind going across the street to the neighbors;-)
-Steph
I think it depends on the house and the basement. If the basement was finished, I don’t htink I would mind. We have a small dungeon for a basement so my first priority was getting the washer and dryer the heck OUT of there. I would have hated going down there in the dampness. We moved it to a small closet-type area on the 2nd floor and I love it.
So, short story long – I think that you are fine if your basement is not a dungeon.
Yay for you and us…now explain how ya did it…It is always sooo nice to see big pics!
Ooooh, you are going to love the extra space. Big YES to the cabinet!
Ooh, that cabinet will look fabulous made over and popped into that space.
My laundry is in the cellar. I have to bring clothes down two flights of stairs to wash, up three flights of stairs to hang and then down a flight of stairs to put away once dry. And I manage to survive somehow ;o)
Coming your way: millions of laundry room and bathroom inspiration pics! I’ll send them via You Send It.
If we had a basement, I would love for the laundry to be down there. Especially with a laundry shoot- they seem so fun! Our laundry is on the first floor, so if I already have to walk down 1 flight of stairs. I think another flight would be no biggie. Plus, if the alternative to a basement laundry setup is bathroom laundry, I think most buyers would take the basement setup anyday.
I’m with you on how crappy it is to have the laundry in the bathroom. Our main bath also has a laundry closet and I hate it. While my ideal would be to have a main floor laundry, our new house didn’t have the option, so once built, we’ll be going down to the basement. But despite lugging it up and down stairs ( I’m thinking of it as exercise), the biggest plus is that a whole room dedicated to all things laundry is much easier than trying to air dry stuff on the bathroom counters, towel bars and shower curtain rod.
Ok, you are a crack up…hit your knees while you pee…you’re too much!
I am jealous yours looks clutter free….thats okay though…just wait..one day my laundry room will have it going ON! LOL
Hey Ya’ll,
So what I am hearing is that the basement laundry isn’t NECESSARILY a deal-breaker. It depends on how much laundry you gotta do and how much room you got to do it in. Good to know.
Also good to know: that I will no longer fear that guests will see panties inadvertantly left in the “laundry room” – eeK! That is, unless I want them to see 😉
XO – Katie
Katie, Do you have a ball park figure of how much the plumbing would cost if a professional (not related) was doing the work? I love this idea and can’t wait to see the final outcome!
Hi Ashley,
I am no pro but my guesstimate would be around $300 plus the cost of supplies if you were paying for a master plumber to run a couple new lines and a new drain that is for laundry only. Don’t forget you would also need a new electrical outlet for your dryer…so that would probably be an additional $100 depending on how accessible or closely located your electrical box is to your new dryer. Hope this helps!
XO – KB