Washing Out The Negative
The Journey
Think of a time when you had to do something that you were dreading. The task or activity might be something that was necessary because of cleanliness; your desire to stretch out of your comfort zone; or even a work, school, or medical need.
In my group of friends and family, I’m known as the “lunch” girl. Many tasks can seem overwhelming, especially with constant pain and fatigue as my standard state of being. But lunch . . . there’s just something about it that seems possible. It’s long enough to have a good conversation but short enough to enjoy even on a down day. No wonder why it’s my go-to social activity.
So, what does lunch have to do with anything? It’s not that big of deal, right?! For people that struggle getting out and creating meaningful interactions, it is a huge deal. It can make rough times seem a little more enjoyable.
These bonds encourage, give strength, and foster positive outlooks.
Often, I call my mom and we reminisce about our time at John’s Hopkins Hospital. Let me tell you! There were a lot of tests, procedures, and surgeries that were difficult and painful. And, yet I smile just thinking about my time in Baltimore. Between testing my mom and I (through a recommendation of another patient) visited historic, Fells Point. The charm and shops mixed with good food and conversation would have never been part of my story if I wouldn’t have been undergoing so many medical procedures. And, when my tests and doctor’s appointments were spread out for a few days, we even got to visit family from Pennsylvania and enjoy the hospitality of one of my mom’s dear friends . Both of which were uplifting and calming.
I know that times of struggle can drain you. It can be difficult to refill your cup of positivity. It may feel like tasks empty more and more of who you are and what you want to be (where are my spoonie’s at?!!). I get it! However, I can’t and won’t allow myself to close my eyes to the joy that life has to offer. So, I sprinkle in some lunches, creative activities, and good conversations. What do you drizzle into your life to make mundane and unpleasant tasks a little sweeter?
Inspired Designs
What could be higher on the list of unpleasant tasks than laundry?! I have always been a “project” kind of person. I like to do something, complete it and move on. That . . . is . . . NOT . . . how . . . LAUNDRY . . . works. Especially in a family of 6. Add in a dog and we are constantly needing (while purposefully avoiding) to run loads.
Our laundry room, while not enticing anyone, did have some features going for it. It has a main floor location, a designated sink (which was, regrettably, often full of items), and some storage cabinets. It wasn’t really the laundry rooms fault for its poor state, the sad little thing. We just kept asking more from it than what it could give (seems awfully familiar to my life, ha-ha). This tiny little room was being asked to be a storage and cleaning closet, mudroom, and, oh yeah, a place to do laundry. The pressure seemed to be too much for this lifeless, hospital-resembling, room. Clearly, there was room for improvement but, ugh, fixing it up wasn’t exactly on our short-list. We were already in the process of getting hardwoods throughout the house and the laundry room floors weren’t being included or . . . so we thought!
We were packing up to leave our house for a few weeks to allow for a seamless install of the floors. As I finalized the list of items that I should have complete before vacating, the installers mentioned the removal of the washer, dryer, and sink. What? The laundry room floor was included?!!! Although this add-on increased the prep on our end, I was so excited to be catapulted into updating the space.
It’s always a balancing act when creating a design plan. What I want the space to look like teeters the design one way while the budget pulls it back another direction. It tends to be a lot of ups and downs (both emotionally and aesthetically) until there is a good balance.
To create a design plan, I generate a 3D rendering. This allows me to play with layout, color, and materials. In the laundry room, I was planning on using left over subway tile from the basement bathroom. However, despite extensive preparations, projects don’t always go as planned.
Our Hiccups:
- Leftover tile wasn’t enough for the space
- Washer and dryer allotment was too narrow
- Covid shutdowns created a shortage of washers and dryers
The first set back that we experienced was that the anticipated tile would not be enough to cover the needed square footage. The solution could have been to order more. That would be easy, right? But, no, in walks contestant number 2 . . . Mr. Washer Machine. Mr. Washer boasts a 28” waistline (27” is the norm in washer and dryers) and will not be available for a date for months. Not the ideal candidate for a project already in progress. However, Mr. Washer’s size is what made him so appealing. He could wriggle and clean like nobody’s business. Was he worth the wait? Yes and no.
I was willing to change the base cabinets to accommodate the larger size but waiting for months to pick him up was just not happening. So, I began calling appliance stores. There was only one set available and, although it was cheaper, it was a blue floor model. While on the phone, I quickly redesigned the space in my head to account for a slight color change. As blue is my favorite color, I felt confident that I could make it work. So, I told the salesperson I would take it.
With this one quick decision came a trickle of many other ones. When I say our laundry room was tight, I mean “to the inch” tight. So, adding another 2 inches to the washer and dryer width requirements meant reworking the layout as a whole. But, like I said, these units were well worth it.
To give extra space to the washer and dryer, I had to borrow from the sink area. It was a must that I keep the previously purchased farmhouse sink because of cost and necessity. We planned to wash our miniature golden doodle in the sink and, therefore, needed it to be as big as possible. So, the alterations came into play in regards to the sink base cabinet.
The sink would no longer sit into the cabinet but would, instead, rest on top. To accommodate the load, some extra supports were added to the new base.
When installing the cabinet bases, I made an additional alteration. It was a top priority for my husband that the washer and dryers be lifted to reduce back strain. Although we both wanted them raised, I also had to be able reach them. So, I cut the toe kick off of the bottom. This lowered the cabinets by 3″ and made it a better fit for both of us.
Without changing the base cabinets under each washer and dryer, I was able to gain the 2-3 extra inches of width that I needed. How you ask? With a butcher block countertop! This was definitely one of the easier accommodations.
Then, I sealed the wood to make it water resistant.
To complete the look, an acrylic-framed art print was hung. Lastly, baskets were integrated for added storage and clothing collection. This upgraded design definitely makes doing laundry much more enjoyable.
Now that it’s complete, I’m not sure who enjoys it more . . . Roman or me!
What project can you take on that would make mundane work a little more enjoyable?
Sara
Joy Finder, God Lover, Family Prioritizer, Story Teller, Illness Fighter, Maker, Creative Thinker, Designer, Plant Lover
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