Wednesday, October 9, 2013

One Room Challenge - My Laundry Room Inspiration


Thanks for stopping by to check out my progress. I hope that you tuned in to the launch of the One Room Challenge this past Wednesday and plan to follow along with the makeover of my beastly laundry room into a blue and white Chinoiserie beauty. The inspiration board above gives you an idea of the direction I am headed. These photos below are rooms that are inspiring me as I fine tune my plans.  The painter and electrician were here this past week and the wallpaper hanger is about to arrive. Let the games begin!

Black and white floor with blue and white and Chinoiserie

Another black and white floor with blue and white and Chinoiserie

Miles Redd - Ikea striped rugs sewn together as a runner

Overlapping rugs as a runner

Lots of blue and white Chinese porcelain and I love the symmetry (and the pooch)

I like this style table and the idea of stools

A palette of all blue and white and Chinoiserie

Blue and white in bold patterns and Chinoiserie

A beautiful soft blue and white palette
My Tibetan Spaniel Isabella (Izzy) did a very good job supervising the painter and the electrician and both jobs were done to her satisfaction. She is the watch dog in chief.




These lights were installed and they look great.


Now for the big news. I really wanted the Brunschwig & Fils "Ironing Bored" wallpaper and needed about 14 rolls because of the large room, high ceilings and huge repeat, about $1,500 worth. I was skulking about on eBay a while ago and someone was selling 18 brand new rolls of it for $150. Yes, you read that right. This will even make Linda, the Queen of Craigslist, envious. My wallpaper hanger starts prepping the walls today and I am so excited to see the paper go up.


I am also shopping this week for a new washer and dryer. I read the serial numbers off my old Maytags and checked online and found out they are from June of 1983 - 30 years old! After lots of research, I have decided on a Whirlpool Duet front loading washer and dryer in white.

It's a funny thing with me and white. I am not a white fan at all when it comes to cars, wall color, decor, or clothes. But I only like white sheets, towels, woodwork, kitchen appliances, and washers and dryers. I saved a Washington Post interview with the interior designer Draza Stamenich who did this laundry room that is my inspiration and here is what he had to say about laundry rooms and the subject of colors for washer and dryers - it's worth a read -




D.C. Design House 2009 - A Little Luxury as You Launder

Thursday, April 16, 2009
Laundry would not seem like a chore if you were washing clothes in a space dressed with hand-painted wallpaper, custom storage and a designer chandelier.

Draza Stamenich, the young McLean designer who created the show-house laundry room in a minuscule space tucked off the kitchen, says it's time to upgrade life's everyday doings in these grim economic times. "Today the luxury is going to be the things we do at home," Stamenich says.
You may notice the GE front-loading washer and dryer in old-fashioned white. ("The colored ones are tacky for some reason," he says. "Only get stainless steel or white. These are modern and special in their own way.") But the key element in this room is the Gracie wallpaper, a nature scene with intricately painted birds, butterflies, branches and flowers. Calling it wallpaper underplays its beauty, Stamenich says. He describes it as artwork.
Whatever you call it, it's flanked by two floor-to-ceiling white wall cabinets designed by Capitol Closet Design. Stamenich ordered aviary wire online and used it on the cabinet doors. Polished beige travertine tile makes a solid surface for folding laundry.
Enough with the high-end details. Here's an upgrade you can easily emulate: "Get a beautiful jar and a scoop from the Container Store," and fill the jar with detergent powder, Stamenich says. Or buy two glass jars and fill the second one with dryer sheets.
Now that's a room I could spend time in.

Liz Seymour, Washington Post Writer

Next week I hope to show you the room wallpapered and the new washer and dryer. Then my fun begins with the workers gone and the house to myself and I can start decorating. A big thank you to my Chinoiserie Chic sponsors and supporters for providing pieces for my room you will be seeing soon -


Now go check out what my partners in crime have been up to this week - 

Chinoiserie Chic  - that’s me!


31 comments:

  1. Yes, I believe Linda will be envious, that is an unbelievable deal! The wallpaper is stunning and you would never get me out of that laundry room....clothes so clean and folded just perfectly!

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  2. Such fun things going on in this room! You have totally inspired me to redo my laundry room next!

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  3. Wow - 30 years old! Do you have to replace the washer and dryer? Appliances nowadays just aren't made to last, unlike the ones in the past.

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  4. I am loving the direction you are taking in this room! Can't wait to see more!
    -Shelley

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  5. $150 dollars?! These things NEVER happen to me. Can't wait to see that gorgeous paper in all of it's fabulous and affordable glory. Jealous to the max.

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  6. That was an incredible wallpaper find/bargain - wow! We have the Whirlpool Duet washer and just replaced our 40 yr old dryer w/the Duet dryer. Both in white - love them.

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  7. That wallpaper find is the steal of the century!! Well done!

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  8. So lucky & smart, Beth! This laundry room is going to be the so chic, gorgeous inspiration!

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  9. The wallpaper must have been divine intervention! What are the odds? Your laundry room is going to be awesome.

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  10. amazing score with the paper! I love your inspiration. I'm just jealous that your laundry room is so big.

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  11. The design gods were smiling on you...what an amazing bargain. Can't wait until next week's update.

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  12. Beth, you're going to love your new Duets. I've been enjoying them for 6 years now and no complaints! I'm stunned at your CL score and I'm looking forward to seeing it installed. Thank you for sharing you love of chinoiserie!
    Sharon
    @novaraway

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  13. This is going to be so fabulous!!! What a deal on the wallpaper...Amazing. Did Izzy get any paint on her while supervising?

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  14. I can't wait to see this!!! Gorgeous:-). The wallpaper is a screamer!!! Xoxo, K

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  15. Dear lord, this is going to be the most amazing laundry room in the history of all mankind.

    $150????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

    Wow.

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  16. I cant believe you found all that wallpaper for 150! Shoot, you must of died!

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  17. You got yourself the deal of the century! You can't even get that price for 18 roll of regular wallpapers. Looking forward to see your wallpapered room next week, I know it's going to be fabulous!

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  18. Oh my goodness your ebay find is crazy great. Just goes to show what can happen if you know where to look! This laundry room is going to be the most beautiful anywhere!

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  19. Now...THAT'S the way to use e-bay!! Diligence!! I'm so pleased for you. We found our designer shingles on e-bay and saved several thousand dollars! Can't wait to see your room! franki

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  20. Izzy is a doll! Love your direction! This will be a very chic laundry room!

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  21. Beth, that wallpaper was truly a treasure to find at that price. I ♥♥♥ every thing you are doing in your new laundry room, it will be stunning and you are making me want to do mine. Love a black and white checked floor and that is on my radar for my laundry room too. Can't wait to see it all come to fruition, I feel inspired, Thank you,
    Kathysue

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  22. Oh, wow! I'm green with envy over your wallpaper find, what a deal!!! I absolutely CANNOT WAIT to see how your laundry room turns out!!

    XOXO,
    The Glam Pad

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  23. Wait???? HOw does that happen??? B & F paper on EBAY! SOOOO lucky! good for you I absolutely love this!

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  24. This is going to be the most glamouros laundry room ever! That was quite a find with the wallpaper. I do love Ebay! Can't wait to monitor the progress!

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  25. No Way! I can not believe you found that wallpaper for so cheap! Unbelievable. You scored girl:) I am a white appliance girl also.

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  26. Fantastic score on the wallpaper! I must warn you against the Whirlpool duet--I replaced my 2 yr. old top of the line duet last summer. The drum went & the estimate to replace was $1400. The manufacturer's warranty is only for 1year, so you may want to get additional coverage.

    I replaced the Whirlpool with a Samsung from Lowe's with a 4yr. warranty & so far so good :)

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  27. I am making the rounds late, today. Yes, I am totally jealous of your Ebay score! I must have been away that week, because I would have bid against you. Izzy needs some coveralls and a hat. Ditto on the white washer & dryer.

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  28. Our sad laundry room is only one of the places on my "to do" list. I'll enjoy being inspired by what you do!
    alison g.

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  29. Hey Beth send a little of the wallpaper mojo my way. Haven't purchased (or decided on for that matter) my kitchen paper yet. Great score!!

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  30. WHAT! you got that wallpaper for $150! omg. I can't believe it! I can't wait to see it! holy cow!

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  31. We are so excited to see your project transform. How amazing are 18 rolls of Brunschwig & Fils wallpaper at a fraction of the cost. Love the the Washington Post article, thanks for sharing. Isabella is darling!

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