Many bloggers are participating in Frugal February.
I am unable to join in due to the renovations in The Humble Bungalow.
It's so exciting to see the changes as they transform this space.
There is a new back door and window to brighten up what once was a dark and dingy laundry room.
Mr. HB is the main man on the job.
There are dry wallers, plumbers and electricians and soon there will be a tile expert on the job.
What is my role you might ask?
I am the sweeper/cleaner/cook.
I have been catering to Mr. HB's culinary desires to keep him happy and motivated!
(so far it's working)
So looking forward to the painting and decorating stage...
when I will weald a brush and go shopping for towels and trinkets to fluff up the space and add my personal touch.
back door
laundry area
Mr. HB's tool and The Hostess's tool
(a lowly broom)
bathroom
wall detail
hallway wall
looking from the guest room down the hall to the laundry area
left is the door to the bathroom
Mr. HB is working very hard on these improvements.
Thanks honey!
We are using Benjamin Moore "Simply White" on the ceiling and walls.
Flooring in the bathroom will be white subway tile with a black accent,
charcoal grey tile will be laid in the hall and laundry areas
in floor heating throughout the space.
We have ordered a quartz slab for the laundry room counter top.
(quite a splurge)
Mr. HB is going to construct a cabinet under the window in the laundry room for storage.
In our Bungalow storage is rare as hen's teeth.
There will be a new washer and dryer
I am thinking of the new steam Maytag series in white.
Anyone care to share their thoughts or experiences with the newer washer and dryers on the market these days?
My current set were the first HE series by Frigidaire and they have performed well and given us great service.
My goodness the weekend's almost here...
we'll be busy here on the homefront
tell me all of your lovely plans.
Hostess
XO
48 comments:
Always MIele in our family, they last for ( almost ) ever.
You are so lucky to be married to a handy man, mine can barely change a lightbulb!
Was there a before picture of the downstairs ever? I had no idea what a big operation has taken place at your house!
What I now see, looks fine. You will be so pleased with the extra space.
All the fun, the detailing yet ahead of you: ). Just keep it simple!
Btw, I have never heard of Frugal February, hah- a good idea.
We have a Dropless January over here ( no alcohol ).
Looks like it is going to be a wonderful place to launder . Have you got your painting wardrobe and coordinating lipsticks laid out in preparation? I love the beadboard half walls too , I have it wherever I can in my home , the last place was around the kitchen island and in the main bathroom. Today will be cauliflower and bisque and homemade cheese scones . I have a french apple cake that is so good . I will forward the recipe to you for that , it is the new family favourite for dessert. Donna
My only opinion on washer/dryer is that I cant stand front loading washers! I know they are all the rage but we actually got rid of the one that came with the house and bought a top loader.
My basement reno is coming along too - I should take some pics as well. I can't wait to see yours all finished!
i love all the changes leslie. it is so bright! you will love simply white as your color. my whole house is dipped in it. it's bright and creamy at the same time. cannot wait to see it all finished.
Like Tabitha Miele goods here....have never heard of Maytag but sounds interesting.
Underfloor heating is the best, does the door lead out to the garden?
Thought the bungalow was all on one floor.
Can't wait to see it finished....best part choosing the accessories. Ida
What a wonderful renovation, thanks for sharing with us.
I have a Bosch dryer and an LG washer. My Bosch washer conked out after a year and then it couldn't be fixed, thank goodness I had purchased the extended warranty. I'll never buy another Bosch. I was without a washer for 2 months while I fought for my $ back, I had 4 kids living at home at the time!
Miele I would recommend, but only because I have a dishwasher by Miele and I love it.
I'm a Maytag girl - solid good reliability. Don't know about the steam feature, but it's sure to be amazing. Can't wait to see your finished laundry area.
I bought Maytag about 5 years ago and I have not really liked the washer ever. My Mother had Maytag and when the washer quit the repair man told her that Maytag was no longer the best to buy. I know I won't buy them again. Mother bought Bosch and she loves them, but any appliance now days can be a crap shoot on reliablity.
Your reno looks like it will be wonderful when complete. Can I reserve Mr. HB for a reno in Kansas? (LOL)
How exciting! I loved renovating our kitchen/den area.
We bought new Maytag top loader washer and a dryer about 7 or 8 years ago and have not been happy with it- ever. The washer jumps and shakes and has fits all the time - moves all over the laundry room. I constantly have to push it back in its place. And it will get stuck on spin forever no matter how well I balance the load. My husband wants to replace the washer with a front loader - but I don't want to spend the money right now so we deal with it.
We have had someone out from Maytag to look at it no less than 7 times. And it still misbehaves. We will never buy Maytag washers again.
I think we will go with Kenmore next time. My FIL has Kenmore and is very happy with it.
Oops! I meant we have a front loader now - and don't like it - would like to buy a top loader. Got a bit turned around :)
I am with you...front loaders are a pain in the arse. If I ever want to soak something - I have to do it in the bathtub. And they make for unbalanced loads, too. Just my two cents!
A retired teacher friend has the Miele set. I have the Miele vacuum.
I know how fortunate I am having a handy husband.
I did post a few images of the scary bathroom way back and I think Mr. Hb has a few before snaps that he might share with me.
I do plan to keep things simple, uncluttered and zen like.
Oh I'll look forward to hearing about your taste test and I'd love that recipe for the apple cake Donna.
I currently have a front loader and was considering getting another with those pedestals so they are higher. Less bending when i am in my elderly years!
Suburban Princess do show us some pictures!
Having a dark upstairs which I cannot change has been an adjustment over the years and especially in winter when it is so dark outside.
I really craved white and now my dreams are coming true!
I'll do another post in a few months when everything has been completed.
I love everything about your cottage Janet.
The colours, the decor, your arrangements...all of it.
I mean that with all sincerity.
The door leads out to the patio at ground level and into the garden.
OK that's 2 votes for Miele so far....
Wow I think I am going to go out and s=look at Miele.
Goodness 2 months without a washer even without children would be a hardship on a mammoth scale for me...I cannot imagine how you made it through that patch!
I have never owned a Maytag. Some friends of ours know one of the original Maytag family descendents. He makes Maytag Blue Cheese and fabulous Port!
I think I'll check out consumer reports online and see what the experts have to say...
Mr. HB would need to be cloned if her were to pack up and make tracks to Kansas!
(I couldn't live without him)
I am so glad I asked the question.
We women know these machines and when they act up or perform badly we are the first to talk.
It's going to look wonderful, Hostess. How exciting.
I'll chime here about washers and dryers - we've purchased two sets recently (one for the home we renovated up island, and another for the home that was rented) Both times we went with LG front loading washers. I really like them and find they are more gentle on my clothes as well as use less water.
Our previous set was Maytag, and they lasted 9 years. I was not impressed. I don't think the brand has the same quality as it formerly had.
This is so exciting! And from what you have shown us it looks wonderful. I love remodeling, it's so much fun.
What a worthwhile renovation you are doing. I truly believe that a good laundry room adds significantly to one's ease of living in a house. Light, good flooring and nice walls will make all the difference!
I have LG washer and dryer and am quite happy with them.
Oh how lovely it is all going to be and very exciting. Isn't it lovely to have a husband who likes DIY - they are very precious and need to be pampered with whatever they wish to keep them motivated ;-)
Looking forward to seeing more photographs later on and especially when you have finished "fluffing" !!X
It already looks lovely and bright. The quartz will give it that extra special touch and every time you pad through in bare feet you will thank yourself for the heated floors!
Someone is sending you a recipe for french apple cake? Oh, please post it!!
It looks really great. We just bought a new home and will be starting a renovation when escrow closes in April. Looking forward to it. I do need a new washer/dryer there, and all of these comments have helped and also confused me.
Yes, lucky to have a DIY husband. When we were first together, I came home to a note that said "Many lightbulbs out, please call an electrician!" I had a great laugh over that.
Thank you Lorrie I'll add LG to my list.
Thank you!
It's quite the process when you take on a project like this one but much more fun when things start to come together.
I agree with you.
I think I'll want to spend more time in my laundry room!
Maybe I'll even take up ironing again!
Thank you for the LG suggestion too.
Thanks Sarah,
I have wanted to do this reno for many years and seeing that it is nearly done makes me so happy.
Stay tuned for those Post fluff images!
You sound pretty busy these days, exciting times!
I will post it when I receive the email from Donna.
Oh it will be so much warmer than the concrete, I can hardly wait!
OMG what a funny note!
Buying a new home is such an exciting time. What style is your home? I'd love to hear all about it.
I've been a fan of Whirlpool for a longtime. I have two front loads on pedestals, and it is so nice not to bend over!
The bead board project looks fantastic!
OHH OHHH I looove talking washing machines. Here in Australia I have the LG all in one steam washer and dryer, when I was in the US 3 years ago I saw them there too. I went looking for them in a frys to compare the price. I liked the first one so much I bought a second one and renovated my laundry to fit 2. They are fantastic. I can put my sheets or towels in and go to work, then come home to them all dry and ready to be folded and put away or kids uniforms in at night and they are washed and dried and ready to wear in the morning. There is not a stain I haven't been able to remove with this machine, it takes 10 kilograms in the wash , I live with a family who love to roll in the mud. I can highly recommend LG they suit my working lifestyle so well, I don't feel like a slave chained in my laundry!
I need to spruce up my bathrooms--ugly when we moved in 20 yrs ago--and can't wait to see what you do. Please share.
We bought our front loader washer & dryer at Home Depot (Amana Brand) and I love them. I especially like the hand wash option with the washer. We had a top loader washer at our old house and it would clunk around and never stay in one place...sooo annoying. Same thing with the dryer.
I'm interested to see how the white Benny Moore paint turns out, it is hard picking out a white paint colour that suits all types of lighting!
Oh how wonderful! Can't wait to see the finished product...it already looks so bright! I have LG washer and dryer and they are sooo dependable!
Oh how wonderful! Can't wait to see the finished product...it already looks so bright! I have LG washer and dryer and they are sooo dependable!
I guess those pedestals are pretty handy resulting in less back strain as we age.
It's a good thing as Martha would say!
Wow that LG sounds brilliant. I am really bad with stain removal so this is very encouraging!
To hear it from a mom with a family that loves to get dirty means so much!
We've been in our bungalow 30 years. It's taken us a long time to get to this project.
I'll post the after shots when we are finished.
Do you need to gut the bathrooms or could you give them a fresh coat of paint and be happier?
There are too many whites to choose from and I had to pick one.
We took the paint sample chips downstairs and walked around in different lighting and settled on this one. I hope it looks good when it's done!
I think the folks at LG would like to hear all these positive comments!
When one considers how much time we spend doing laundry I believe a pretty yet functional space is paramount. I'm working out of a makeshift room at the moment until the new laundry is built and it's starting to drive me nuts.
Add me to the Miele list Hostess. We purchased our current model less than a year ago so probably still early days but so far so good. I switched to a front loader (different brand, since died) ten years ago when severe water restrictions were enforced in Australia. I LOVE front loaders and am totally convinced they wash better and are kinder to garments. I never have to hand wash anything due to the delicates cycle and this is a real blessing after many years using a top loader.
Plus I should mention that my husband researches any product we buy (to my total frustration but he is an engineer so goes with the territory) for reliability and value!
Looking forward to seeing the finished renovations.
xx
I can identify with your frustration in the laundry room. We do spend hours doing laundry so it might as well be done in comfort!
Another happy Miele owner...so it sounds like Miele and LG are the top contenders.
If your clever husband did all that exhaustive research I will not need to:)
'Love the white, Hostess.
Sheree
Post a Comment