Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Steampunk Laundry Room Reveal!

It's done! IT'S DONE!! My creation, it is done! Mwuah-ha-ha-haaaa!

I'll post details and quasi-tutorials for a lot of this later, but for now, let us bask in the dimly lit, poorly photographed glory of my new laundry room/pantry:

 Bask, you fools! BASK!!

 :D




Our water heater is now a faux steam boiler, and the tangle of water lines and electrical cords that used to drape across the walls are hidden away inside those big black pipes:


 
 
Made from a $4 wall clock and an antique gas lamp valve from my junk box. The rusty metal paint job has been my labor of love for the past two afternoons - and I feel like it needs more, so it's probably not done yet.

The left side of the room:
The shelf brackets are made with lead plumbing pipes. The second black box on the wall is covering more water lines, shut-off valves, and electrical wires.

The hinged door allows us easy access to the shut-off valves and surge protector.

 Both "metal" boxes are flimsy wood panels that easily lift away from the wall. John did a stellar job on them, don't you think?

Some things I couldn't hide or theme, but I guess the cat genie & vacuum prove this really IS a functioning laundry room and pantry. Heh.

The right side of the room:
Would you believe I've had that wall art tucked away in a closet for years? They're actually big stickers, so there's no frame to bonk the barn door when it opens. (If you missed it, you can see my tutorial for building your own sliding barn door here.)

The hooks are for my mop, broom, and duster, but my current ones are too ugly to photograph - and if you think I'm buying all new cleaning equipment just to match the theme of my room, then you are absolutely correct. :D I just haven't found the new ones to buy yet. (Next project: steampunk a Swiffer.)

This room redo gave us so much extra storage I actually got to re-shuffle most of the house's closets to free up room elsewhere, plus I *still* have an empty bin up top and room behind the barn door.


This shelf may look just decorative, but it's actually valuable storage; everything here was in my "brass box" of junk and bits I plan to use for future projects.


Up top are some recent antiquing spoils:

I fell in love with that vintage band hat a few weeks ago, and determined that I will someday build an entire costume around it. (I WILL.) 'Til then, though, it's nice to have a place to display it. It's sitting on a leftover bronze vase from my closet, and the little lamp is an ice skating lamp, I think. (None of this stuff is expensive, btw; the lamp was my biggest splurge at around $20.)

In fact, everything here except the basket and bins is from my storage closet, so even decorating helped me free up space!

 The fabric bins were about $5 each from Walmart, and the big metal ones were more like $20 each (ouch) from Home Goods:

K, one last photo, and then I'm off to play hooky. It's a gorgeous day, the sun is shining, the breeze is breezy, and - oh yeah - Bioshock Infinite just came out. :D



I hope you guys liked all the pics! More later!

 ******

UPDATE: To all of you disappointed in my non-steampunk-ified washer and dryer: I KNOW. I'm metaphorically nudging John in the ribs with every comment. Ha! My original plan DID involve painting/covering them like the water heater, but since they're older and may be replaced soon that took a back seat to the more permanent parts of the room. Now that you guys are putting the pressure on, though, maybe I'll convince John to let me at 'em with some rivets and copper paint after all. ;)

68 comments:

  1. Gorgeous! I'm pretty jealous that you've got Bioshock Infinite. I preordered from Amazon, just to get the extra content and it hasn't even shipped yet. Sigh

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  2. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. I want to copy you in every way. Also, as a total band nerd, I adore that you have a shako up there!! Wohooo!!

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    1. Thank you! I was checking to see if anyone beat me to mentioning it.

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  3. *Sigh* I was hoping for a steampunk washer and dryer. Oh well, the rest looks great! ;)

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  4. If that's a vintage marching band hat, then you just called me old, heehee. Ours had a silver bird on the front, tho, and of course the "dead chicken" feather duster on top. ;-)

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  5. It looks so decorative and beautiful! And I *so* want to see a steam-punked Swiffer!

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  6. I am so surprised that the washer/drier aren't steampunked even the tiniest bit!

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  7. Jen, it looks great! Can't wait til you steampunk your washer and dryer. :)

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  8. LOVE the shelf brackets! I never would have thought of that but it is so simple and creative. Plus, it can be used for non-steampunk rooms (ie a basement). Great job, as always!

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  9. In case you ever get the urge to do something FABOO with your washer and dryer, head over to the Off Beat Home blog for instructions on how to paint your washer and dryer. :D I'm in no way affiliated with them but when I saw your amazing laundry room redo and knowing your love of decorating, I immediately thought of this tutorial.

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  10. How awesome is that ! I love how you keep your juicer in the laundry- that is where ours is too.

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  11. Awesome! I love the "metal" boxes - fabulous idea! And my hubby is playing Bioshock right now. Totally awesome as always!

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  12. 1) Sariah, you are a sweet nerd for knowing the term "shako". Yay! 2) Somebody remind me what the ceiling tiles are called and where I get them, please? I want the ones that cover popcorn ceilings.

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  13. Spectacular! Are you going to steampunk the washer and dryer? Something similar to the water heater? You two are just amazing with a little paint and ingenuity.

    bluepepper28@yahoo.com

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  14. "Steampunk a Swiffer" had my snorting with giggles.

    It looks awesome as usual Jen. You'd be worth a fortune if taste in decor could be bottled and sold.

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  15. Fabulous! (there's nothing more to say!)

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  16. Don't get rid of your washer & dryer unless they aren't working! The new ones they make don't last. My set is 20 years old and still going strong, my friends have gone through as many as 2 of each in the last 10 years.

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  17. Superb! You did a great job - love the shelves and the water heater. What fun! It must be so delightful to go in for groceries or laundry now. When you get to steampunking your washer/dryer you could always paint the cat genie to look like a hot air balloon, right?!

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  18. You know, you could use printable magnets on your laundry machines. Just sayin'.

    I'm very jealous right now.

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  19. If anything I build/craft up turns out half as nice as the projects you create do, I will be a very happy camper. Bless me oh Gods of Craft, haha.

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  20. It is seriously gorgeous. I <3 you and John so much. Giant couples crush. Keep being awesome - as if you have any choice in the matter!

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  21. This is just. Totally. Freaking. Awesome.

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  22. Wow, that is FANTASTIC! do washers & dryers come in black these days? (we have a black stove & fridge.) if you get new ones, black seems like it would be a good base for antiquing/steampunking.

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  23. Holy cow, I'm stealing every idea here! I absolutely love the water heater & the pipe shelf supports & the cabinets & the sliding barn door- everything! And I just followed Marilyn's link above, and I'm totally painting our washer & dryer, maybe the fridge, the stove, the dishwasher... Can't wait to see your w/d if you do steam them up.

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  24. Wow, I love that water heater cover, it is such a clever idea!

    Do you like the cat genie? I was considering getting one but I hated the thought of it not working/eliminating odor.

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    1. The cat genie is a godsend about 98% of the time. A few times a year it fails to scoop everything properly, resulting in the most horrendous experience ever: a house filled with the smell of baking poo. GAH. Mere words cannot describe how bad it is - seriously. Happily that doesn't happen much, though, and this latest model almost never clogs, which is a big improvement over the last one. So all in all, I'd definitely recommend it. I could never go back to a regular litter box, and our cats love the thing - I think the freshly warmed litter is nice on their paws. :)

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    2. If I remember correctly (?) the cat genie needs water and electricity to run? We of four cats found a non-motorized alternative that to my thinking is almost as good as the genie. look up Omegapaw, it's like a standard litter box, but you never have to "scoop". Just roll it onto it's back, roll it back again, and pull out the drawer full of doodies. Freakin amazing IMHO. That and a little baking soda and you're good to go. We have 2 large boxes for 4 cats.

      http://www.omegapaw.com/products/roll-clean-litter-box.html

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  25. When you replace the washer/dryer, you should get front loaders. That way, you could make the windows look like portholes!

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  26. Awesome! My favorite part is the water heater re-design. Back when I lived with my parents, my bedroom was in the basement. Nice because it was large and I had privacy, not so nice because it contained a big ugly (metal) fuse box. So I started a fridge magnet collection. ^_^

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  27. You should be able to use contact paper to cover your washer and dryer then apply any paint and pieces to the paper. Then when it's time to sell them, you can peel everything off (or the buyer could decide).

    Unless you had old pipe fittings laying around or found some at an old shop, I'd be willing to bet those are iron and not lead.

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  28. Costume idea for that hat - you can be a Jager girl! http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080421

    Jagers and their hats.... and that sure is a fine hat you have!
    http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100519

    Totally works with the steampunk theme too!

    That or a steampunk windup drummer doll costume.
    -Jennyusagi

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  29. Fantastic job! Love the handles on the cupboard doors. I may have to steal this for my kitchen.

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  30. For brooms, you might want to check out Berea College's selections. They're made by work/study kids, all natural materials, not so much Steampunk as old timey. Nice construction details, though. https://bereacollegecrafts.com/shop/broom-making

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  31. *love* it :)
    Great job!
    ~erin kristine

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  32. What Andrea said! And I'll lay odds that you eventually steampunk the cat genie and vacuum too ;) I love EVERYTHING you did in that laundry, and serious cudos to John as well. BTW, that hat looks like something a Jager would love :D

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  33. I LOVE the laundry/pantry you've created! However, this is the first post I've ever thought "Jen, girl, you've gone too far. A steampunked Swiffer? For real?" You would think I'd know by now if you were kidding or totally serious. Your new room might make me love doing laundry, but nothing will ever make me love doing floors. If you are serious you've got to post pics because this is something I've gotta see.:-)

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  34. This looks great. :) Whenever you get around to replacing the washer and dryer, you should go with front-loading, glass-doored models. You could do some sort of porthole-esque thing with them. :)

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  35. I completely agree with another anonymous commenter. Jagger Girl would match that hat perfectly. At first I was thinking Steampunk colonial soldier, but jagger leaves so many more options. Beautiful laundry room by the way.

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  36. I'm sorry, but I'm jealous. I sure wish I had a laundry room (or a closet, for that matter) that I could decorate. Or even use, undecorated.

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  37. I want to see a picture of the repair man who is faced with your Water Heater...

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  38. That is amazing. We just moved into a newer house (2005 build) and are working on giving it some personality. Our first step was tiling the master bathroom shower. I'd never thought of doing much with the laundry room, but now I think it could be fun to slap a coat of paint on the wall and hang some art.
    I can't wait to see it once you've steampunked the washer and dryer.

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  39. Love it!
    Maybe if you get a new washer/dryer combo you can get a black set, which, while not steam-punky, would still blend in well. (You want to be careful what you do to them, I suspect some companies would void the warranty just because they're idiots.)

    I must show my husband!

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  40. As someone currently at work in Waterville, Maine the gauge on your faux steam boiler makes me giddy!

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  41. Please don't be annoyed at my posting a correction - this is strictly in case you want to know, but the band hat is called a Shako (college marching band ftw).

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  42. Wow! *So* awesome! And I'll add to the pressure to steampunk the appliances! That was what I thought of, too! And you might as well do the cat genie while you're at it! LOL!

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  43. So clever! Thoroughly enjoyed the watching the transformation.

    I want those metal Home Goods boxes.

    Enjoy your day,
    Karla in CA.

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  44. Yes, yes yes! Steampunkify the washer and dryer too! And the cat box! :D And the vacuum! (which would be really neat... I'm an envisioning it as one of those diabolical weapons from Girl Genius).

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  45. Forget rivets & paint...go to the local print shop, the one that advertises vehicle and boat wraps. You can create custom vinyl skins for your machines. I have a friend who creates a TARDIS wrap for their fridge...

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  46. OMG the water heater! this is incredible. =) thanks for sharing!

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  47. Get. Out.
    Shut the front door.
    Buy me biscuit.
    And hire a horse.
    It looks FANTASTIC.

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  48. Wow. And I love RevAnne's idea about the vinyl wrap!
    So, that "band" hat looks more like a USMA West Point cadet parade hat - minus the shako - than a marching band. That's some good deal if you got it for less than $20!

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  49. Yeah it looks awesome! Jen, I am always afraid that if I damage/change something it will loose value because someone else will not like it. Thank you for showing me that it really only matters if I like it and enjoy it. You are an inspiration! Love your courage!

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  50. Wonderful! Well done! It almost makes me want to do laundry.

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  51. Love love love the room! Man, if I had money, I'd pay you to come do mine!

    And on an odd note, you're the only person I know who has a cat genie. Would it be a worthy purchase?

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  52. http://pinterest.com/pin/171770173259578095/

    Above is a cure for your vacuum issue. I'm pretty sure you could do something awesome to the cat genie, but that might freak out the cats.
    :)

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  53. 'steampunk a swiffer' *giggity*

    I use an ostrich feather duster - great for getting those pesky cat hairs, and when spent gets a second life as cat toy in my home. The heads are replacable, so you could decorate the handle, and display the replacement on your band hat?

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  54. I love all the detail in the room. Please post how John got that finish on the cabinets when you get a chance. Thanks.

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  55. I have a whole tutorial on how we did the cabinets - including the finish - right here. Hope that helps!

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  56. Hi Jen,

    If you want something better than a Swiffer and also environmentally friendly (Swiffers cause way too much landfill), try this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Enviroproducts-203433-E-cloth-Mop-Set/dp/B003WKSTJY/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kh_6/279-2128286-0788115

    You can also steam-punk it up rather easily. In fact, you could make your own with some copper tubing and a bit of ply-wood, some pressure clamps and some appropriately coloured microfiber cloths. Swiffer is a good concept, but finding something you can use in the same way without throwing the cloth out each time is a more ecological idea. Just think how much you'd save on just no longer buying disposable cloths?!?

    If you spray a bit of furniture polish on your dry rag it will pick up every little bit of dust and dirt just like Swiffer, then switch to a wet rag and get the dirt and smudges with just a bit of water (add vinegar to the water for stubborn messes). If you prefer the smell of a nice lemon cleaner then add the peels from 2-3 lemons into a jar with 2 cups water and 1 cup white vinegar. Use that to clean and you won't have to worry about adding chemical products to the water table as well. Just these two small changes can save you over $20 per month if you use Swiffer quite regularly. It'll cost you a lot more to make your own "Swiffer" than to buy one, but for you that equates to hours of fun and steamy accessories for your pantry!

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  57. I LOVE this room. The pipe shelf-brackets are brilliant and I totally covet your water heater "case"! It's totally Steampunk but has so much usable, practical space. Nice job.

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  58. Was just wondering if you decided to steam punk the washer and dryer?

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    1. Decided? Yes. Accomplished? Not so much. ;)

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  59. Oh Jen! This room is awesome! I bet you smile every time you walk into it. As a former bando-commando, I love the hat. I know I'm late to this commenting party, but I had to say that I've seen weird vacuum covers made to make your vacuum look like a creepy doll (I suppose they're not creep to everyone.Dolls just weird me out. But I loved your creepy doll mobile! It's just that regular dolls look just as creepy to me.*Shiver*). Anyway, I wonder if you could sew some sort of steam punk character for a vacuum cover? Just my weird random though.

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