Note to self: I might be in need of a new exterior shot of our house…this is slightly dated and taken when the Lace Cascade climber (rose) was not in bloom.  Still, you get the idea of what the front of our house looks like.

We have lived in our home for 33 years.  Hard to believe that I’ve lived in this house longer than in any home I’ve ever lived in, even though I was in the same home from preschool through high school.  Hmmm, don’t do the math on this, okay?

Anyway, anyone one who has owned or rented a house understands that things age and break, or they break for no reason!  Just about the time you think everything has been upgraded and looks great, something will gasp for its last breath, and die.  A couple months ago it was our washing machine.

The good news is that the old machine lasted 12 years without a single repair call.  So we decided rather than calling for a repair man we’d simply shop for a more energy efficient model and start fresh.  The state of California is offering a rebate for energy- efficient appliances, so this helped with the sticker shock.  {If  you’re interested we bought an LG top loader and after 2 months of use, I love it}

The point of this post…I want to share some dream laundry rooms with you.  Our 1968-built tract house happens to relegate the washer and dryer to the garage.  I’m sure to some of you that’s like saying we have outdoor plumbing! {I guess technically the garage could be considered “outdoor”} It’s always been okay for me since it keeps the hot air from the dryer in the garage during the warmer months, and our house is a single story so it’s not much work to haul the laundry out to the garage to wash and dry our clothing and linens. I’m always looking for the silver lining in any less-than-ideal situation. 🙂

I want to start with a laundry room makeover that made me wish Mr. B. and I were more handy than either of us are!

Jenna Sue Laundry Room Reveal  —  if you love before and after stories, you’re in for a treat.

Isn’t this dazzling?  If you read the list of what she and her Mister did to accomplish this, you’ll be even more impressed.  Love the barn door!

If I had an actual indoor laundry room I’d be tempted to get a front loading machine and put a smooth surface across the top.  This example (below) is great and with an utility sink centered between the washer and dryer, you’d have everything you need.

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The beauty of this laundry room is it does double-duty as a mud room.  I like the fresh flowers to soften the tedium that laundry day can sometimes be.

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I’m guessing a large family lives here…why else would you want two washers and two dryers?  Still, such a pretty room with the wall sconces and fresh plants.  I could love laundry-day in this space.

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From my first visit to my friend’s house on Bainbridge Island (Linda), I have loved the idea of a stacked washer and dryer.  Such a space saver and in this instance, the black and white contrast is very pretty.

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If your indoor laundry room was somewhat out in the open, this would be a cool idea. Cupboard doors designed to accommodate/hide the washer and dryer.

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This would be essential if I had the option of a utility sink in a laundry room. The sink has jets so that you can do delicates in a controlled washing arrangement. How great is that?!

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The last thing I wanted to share with you on laundry day is this clever way to dispense your liquid laundry soap.  If you buy your liquid laundry detergent from the big box stores, you know it’s a little like weight lifting to put detergent in your washer.  This would make things not only look pretty, but you can save weight lifting for the gym!

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Do you enjoy doing laundry?  What about ironing? It would take more than a pretty room to get me to the place where I could state without perjury that “I love to iron”