Thrift Store Find: Needlepoint Art

This past week I found this stunning needlepoint at the thrift store. I love this piece because the roses just seem to pop, and I feel like smelling them. I was also drawn to this piece because of the stunning blue vase. I love this colour blue and I am thinking of using the same colour in an upcoming upholstery project.

I do not think that it is a secret that I absolutely love, love, love embroidery and other needlework pieces. I collect vintage pieces, but I am also happy to see new works popping up each day and becoming popular again. If you will like to try your hand at some needlework, you can try making a piece with patterns from designers such as Anna Maria Horner and Heather Bailey. There are also lots of patterns to choose from on sites such as Etsy. You can also try my free embroidery pattern.

I want to take this opportunity to answer a question that I have recently received, about how I choose my embroidery or needlework pieces.

When I come across a piece at the thrift store or antique market, there are a few things that I consider before purchasing:

• Do I love it? - If I see a piece and instantly fall in-love, then chances are it is coming home. I must love the design.
• Consistency of the stitches - Sometimes you come across a piece that was perhaps done by someone who was new to needlework and you can see some of the errors they made. The most common error I have observed is where the stitching is not uniform or consistent.
• Wear and tear - Broken stitches and faded areas are two significant reasons I may not buy a piece. Yellowing of the fabric or stains are also things I look out for.
• Condition of the frame - If it is a framed piece, then I look at the condition of the frame to decide if this is a piece that I will have to re-frame. If it is a frame with an unusual shape or size, then I consider how difficult it would be to re-frame the piece or to use the work in a different way.
• Usability - Do I have a place for it or can I learn from the pattern? Buying a piece just for the sake of collecting is not generally something I do (although, my husband may disagree). So it is important to me to have a home for it. Having said this, I sometime purchase vintage pieces for the pattern with the hope of learning how to re-create a particular design.

There are so many way you can incorporate these little gems into your decor, and nothing says handmade like a beautiful piece of needlework! I hope this post is helpful the next time you go shopping for embroidery or needlepoint art.

Do you have any tips that you will like to share?

DIY Artwork

I think that art is very personal and means different things to each person. The possibilities are endless when it comes to finding art or creating art for your home. Recently I have been exploring some DIY art ideas as past of the Home Decorating Challenge. In my quest to find interesting art pieces for the gallery walls I am designing, I have decided to explore several options.

I have seen some wonderful "dictionary art" pieces and I really love the idea of combining beautiful images with the written word. I love the look and wanted to try some of my own. However, I really hate the idea of destroying a book, so I decided to copy some words from the dictionary and place them together to make my own dictionary page.

After copying the words I had to trim around the edges and then placed them together to create a new page. I then copied the new page onto a sheet of vintage scrapbook paper, which has a beautiful aged look. I had to cut my scrapbook sheets down to an 8 ½ x 11inch sheet, and used my laser printer.

The image I used is a vintage coral print, which I found online several years ago. I did a few small edits in Photoshop and printed on top of the words. There are a few other ideas that I will like to try, and I will include a couple coloured vintage prints. For my other pieces, I will also play with a combination of words that are connected to the image and will also play with some other elements. This project can easily be done with other types of copy, so I will explore some other options as well.

I hope that my project has inspired you to try making some DIY artwork.

Home Decorating Challenge: Gallery Wall {Part 1}

The thrift store can be a great place to find frames for a gallery wall. Look for different shapes and sizes to make a unique display. Here are some frames I found at the thrift store ranging from $2.99 to $12.99.

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I have always loved gallery walls and have always had a gallery wall in my home. Since moving into my current home four years ago, I have been thinking of designing a gallery wall with images that are meaningful to my husband and I. I also want to do something different from what I have done in the past and it has taken me some time to decide on exactly what that will be.

The first task has been to organize hundreds of family pictures spanning four generations. I am carefully selecting images from each generation and will be making copies of the images for the gallery wall. I have been collecting frames and putting together a collection that I think will work well together. Most of the frames I have collected so far are thrift store finds. Some of the frames will require a facelift, and I have not decided if I will paint a few of them in white.

I have gathering some great gallery wall ideas on my home style and diy home decor pinterest boards. Some of my favourites are here, here and here (includes tips).

6 Tips When Shopping for Thrift Store Frames:

• Shop with a plan; go to the store armed with an idea of what type and style frames will work best for your project.
• Look for pieces that have an interesting shape or detail.
• Choose pieces that can easily be refinished or painted in an alternate colour if desired.
• Frames that include matting are an added bonus, even if you do not use it for the given project they can be used for future projects.
• Examine each frame for damages or chips in the glass.
• Set a limit for yourself; go shopping with a budget in mind and stay with it.

Here is an article that provides some additional tips on thrift store shopping.

Do you like the frames I have collected? What do you think of gallery walls?

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Home Decorating Challenge - view other projects!

Christmas Arrangement

I love natural flowers and during the Christmas holidays I really love getting natural red and white poinsettias. However, this year I decided to go for the silk version, given that my little guy loves to dig plants up. I made a Poinsettia Christmas Wreath and decided I will also make a few small arrangements.

Over the weekend my husband and I made a trip to Ikea and I purchased a pair of their SKURAR candle holder, which I used as my containers. Creating the arrangement was super simple and only took a few minutes. I gathered a few stems of silk poinsettia (thrift store find) in your hand, tied them together at the base with some jute and cut the length of the stems to the height of the containers. I simply placed the small bouquet of flowers in each container and put them on display.

I hope that this has given you an idea for a quick and simple arrangement for the holidays.

DIY Poinsettia Christmas Wreath

I have had the same Christmas wreath for a few years now and I really wanted to make a change. The wreath I had was artificial greenery with pinecones, which over the years I would freshen-up with new ribbon and other embellishments. However, this year I wanted something different with more colour. I decided to make a poinsettia Christmas wreath that will be the focal point for my front door Christmas decorations.

I reused the grapevine wreath from my spring wreath and I combined two types of poinsettias along with some gold glittered poinsettias. I removed my spring flowers, cleaned up the grapevine and attached the poinsettias with hot glue. I started hot gluing the poinsettias from top centre and continued anti-clockwise. I alternated between the two types of poinsettias and added a bit of shimmer with two medium gold glittered poinsettias. Having the different textures in the poinsettias creates more dept and contrast and prevents them from merging into the same shade of red. The two gold glittered poinsettias were glued close together to match the volume of the larger blooms. I finished off the wreath by adding a few of the poinsettia leaves; which I think adds more interest.

5 Large satin poinsettias

5 Large velvet poinsettias

2 Medium gold glitter poinsettias

Poinsettia greenery

Grapevine wreath

Hot glue

Hot glue gun

I hope that this project will inspire you to make your own Christmas wreath. I have several other projects I am working on for Christmas that I hope to share with you before the holidays.

Wising you all the best with your holiday planning!

Home Decorating Challenge: Shopping for Home Décor Fabric

I love fabric and one of my favourite things to do is to go shopping for fabric. When my family and I travel to somewhere new, I am sure to look for a fabric store to see what they may have that is different. In the past few years, I have also been exploring a few online fabric stores and I have spent hours browsing through their web pages. However, I am a touch and feel kind of girl, so I always find myself wanting to see and feel the fabric prior to shopping. I prefer natural fabrics, but have found myself falling head over heel for a few synthetics. I am also in love with vintage prints and I have a growing collection of vintage fabric, mostly cotton sheets and pillowcases that I have found at thrift stores.

About two years ago I discovered Spoonflower and it has taken me way too long to look further into their services. I have visited the site and have looked thorough the wonderful collection of fabric. There is such a combination of styles and graphics that one can get lost in the endless possibilities. I am hoping to use their service to print my original fabric for one of the projects in the home decorating challenge. I have received a sample of their colours and swatches of their fabric, and I really like the weight and feel of the cotton. I am working on my design and I am excited to place an order.

In the lakeside "bedroom community" where I live, the choices for fabric stores are very limited. I use to live in Toronto, and I have to say that I miss the abundance of fabric stores. There are lots of wonderful fabric stores to choose from in Toronto and you can surely get lost in many of them. I try to plan my trips to Toronto and when I do make it there, I am like a little child at a toy store.

I have been shopping at some of these fabric shops with my mother and grandmother since I was a child. I can remember it being one of the most exciting parts of my summer visit from Trinidad. My mom would always stock up on a collection of great Caribbean friendly fabrics in Canada to take back to Trinidad, and have her dressmaker craft something for her. I would also get the chance to pick a few pieces for myself as well.

Here is a list of some of my favourite places to go fabric shopping for home décor and other purposes:

1. Designer Fabric: I have been shopping at this store for as long as I can remember. There is no way that I can enter this store and not have difficulty leaving. I love every section of this store. Located in the heart of Parkdale just west of Dufferin on Queen. There is two floors of fabric to choose from and countless swatches that you can rent and take home to see what works prior to purchasing. If you visit Designer Fabric, do not forget to browse their trims and other notions.


2. Eurofab: There is a collection of home décor fabric, trims and other notions. The store is walking distance west of Spadina on Queen Street. Their focus is on high-end imported fabrics for home decorating. Provide them with an idea of what you are looking for and they can assist you in finding what you need for your home decorating project.


3. Fabricland: I am never disappointed by a trip to Fabricland. They have stores across Canada and there is generally some type of sale event. You can purchase a membership (which I have done); however, I find that I just keep an eye open for their sales and then shop till I drop. Most of the stores I have been to have an ample selection of home décor fabrics and trims. You may also find a selection of ready made drapery and bedding. They also sell Butterick, Simplicity, Vogue, McCalls, New Look and Burda sewing patterns. I have always found most of the staff friendly and willing to help.


4. King Textile: A friend introduced me to King Textiles about thirteen years ago and I have found some beautiful fabric from this supplier. They are located on Spadina just south of Queen Street and have three floors with thousands of fabric to choose from. Again it is one of those fabric stores that you can spend hours in and if your not carful may walk out with a lot more than what you were looking for.


5. MacFab Fabrics: I was introduced to MacFab Fabrics many years ago when they were located just west of Shaw Street. They have moved since and are now located east on Queen Street near Broadview. I really like the store location and find it easy to get to and a little less hectic that Queen West. The store carries a beautiful selection of high-end fabrics and has a wonderful selection of trims, buttons and other notions at the back of the store. MacFab Fabrics can also custom make home décor items.

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I have discovered a few online fabric shops that I really like. I have placed orders with several of them, but I suggest shopping around, compare prices and look at the cost of shipping:

Fabric.com
Hawthorne Threads
Joann
Nancy's Notions
Etsy

If I am looking for vintage fabric I find that the best sources for me are thrift stores, yard sales and antique markets. When I am shopping for vintage fabrics I really want to have an opportunity to see and feel the fabric and to examine the condition of the fabric.

Tips!

1. Collect a swatch when possible and place it along with your other decorative elements.
2. Purchase a little more fabric than you think you will need.
3. Get fabric from the same bolt where possible.
4. Give yourself time to shop around and compare your options, you may be surprised at what you may find.
5. Purchase family friendly fabrics that are easy to clean and wear well.

Home Decorating Challenge: Living Room Hardwood Floor

This is one of those long overdue projects that just had to get done. Earlier this year my husband Don and I purchased hardwood flooring for my sewing studio and we loved it so much that we decided to purchase more of the same flooring for the living room. Both rooms are on the ground floor of the house and they both had some very dated carpeting.

My husband successfully did the studio floor; but between time and the fear of not doing the job just right, we did not want to do the living room ourselves. We were also waiting for our little one to get a little older and to do his worst to the carpeting. The wood was sitting in our kitchen at one period in time and was stored in our front hall closet for most of the year. Our friend James is a professional carpenter and he offered to do the job, and this past week we finally found the time to get it done.

To make the process more manageable, my husband removed the carpet and underlay in sections. I have to say, it was actually very scary to see under the carpet when it was lifted. As a result, I am seriously thinking of putting hardwood on the second floor as well (we will see how that goes). 

My husband and I removed the carpet tack strips and underlay staples, followed by the baseboards. We are going to reuse the baseboards, so we were very carful when we removed them and they were numbered with a pencil to remember were they belong. With the sub floor prepped and cleaned we were excited to get things started.

We chose a 3/4 inch x 3 1/4 inch solid white oak in a beautiful toffee colour. It was a great deal from Home Depot and was one of their "special buy" items. This meant that we had to do a bit of hunting between stores to find the amount of wood we needed. We had to travel to an out of town store to pick up a majority of the boxes, as they were not willing to transfer them to the store that was closest to us. The price of the wood and how stunning it looks makes the hassle well worth it in the end. We even have some wood to spare that we are thinking of using in the home office.

The most time consuming part of the job was cutting the pieces to fit the curves in the room; however, our friend James did an amazing job.

It was difficult to match our oak staircase, so the floors are a bit darker; however, I think it works well together and is a wonderful change from the carpet. With the floor freshly finished, it is time to put our baseboards back on and to work on other elements of the room. We have a beautiful wool rug that we purchased from HomeSense to add to the room, and there will be several other exciting changes.

Tips!

1. Buy a little more flooring than what you think you will need
2. Clear the room as much as possible
3. Remove old carpeting or flooring down to the bare sub floor
4. Remove any staples from the carpet underlay and hammer down any upraised nails on the sub floor
5. Check the condition of your sub floor and address any problems
6. Clean things up with a broom and/or shop-vac
7. Note the direction of your joists under the sub floor and install the flooring perpendicular to the joists
8. Use a chalk line to ensure that your first row is completely straight
9. Wear hearing and eye protection
10. Consider having a professional do the job

Hardwood Flooring Reference:
www.hgtv.com/walls-doors-and-floors/10-stunning-hardwood-flooring-options/pictures/index.html

www.homedepot.ca/know-how/videos/how-to-install-hardwood-flooring

www.homedepot.ca/know-how/projects/installing-hardwood-flooring

www.wikihow.com/Install-a-Prefinished-Hardwood-Floor

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• White Oak solid hardwood flooring - Toffee Colour - 3/4 Inch x 3 1/4 Inch random length. Home Depot (similar product), approx. $3.15 per sq. ft.

If you are in the Toronto, Barrie or Muskoka area and you will like to find out more about James' carpentry services, please email me or message me on Facebook.

Home Decorating Challenge - view other projects!

Home Decorating Challenge

I have a new home challenge that I am truly excited about. With the winter months ahead, I could not think of a better way to spend the cold winter days than planning great decorating projects that I can sink my teeth into. So, I have come up with something that I think is super juicy and I hope that you will join me.

Earlier this year I did the "Home Organization Challenge," which has been wonderful, and my family and I have really benefitted from having things better organized. It was also such a treat to have so many of you joining me here on Crafted Spaces and on Facebook and Pinterest. However, at the end of the twelve weeks of decluttering and organizing I really felt like I needed to add some style and personality to each room. Well, I finally have the time and resources to do so and I hope that you will join me for a "Home Decorating Challenge."

Starting today, November 15, 2013 to March 31, 2014, I will be giving each room in my home new life. The challenge will follow a budget, it will be eco-friendly, and done creatively, while utilizing as many items that I already have on hand as possible. With some added elbow grease, I hope to transform each room into stylish but fun spaces that my family and I can enjoy. Along the way, I will share with you the projects I make and resources that I have found. The journey promises to be creative and fun, with a few thrifty finds along the way. I hope that you will be inspired by these projects and will try your own home decorating.

I am not an interior decorator, so I am not planning on delivering any advice as such. I am also not interested in "curating" objects in my home or following the latest trends. I am a designer, artist and maker and my approach to this process is going to be more organic. I prefer to have items that reflect the personalities and history of my family and I will choose colours and textures that make us feel happy and at home. I am hoping that this will be an exercise in how to decorate with items you love for those whom you love. This will be a non-decorators' guide to decorating.

Here is a little inspiration to get you thinking about what you will like to do:

Pinterest Boards
Home Style
DIY Home Decor
Creative Spaces
At Home

I will also share various resources including books and various web links.

Happy decorating!

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RESOURCES

Home Decorating Challenge: Shopping for Home Décor Fabric
Better Home and Gardens
Style at Home
House Beautiful
Spoonflower

UPDATE

Entryway - Fresh Paint
Living Room Hardwood Floor
Gallery Wall {Part 1}
Living Room Gallery Wall
Second Floor Gallery Wall
Pillow Covers
Light Fixtures
DIY Painted Dinning Set
DIY Shower Curtains
Upholstered Bench
Removing Wallpaper
DIY Shelves
DIY Desk
Studio Curtains
Seat Recovering
Laundry Room Curtains
DIY Artwork
Basement (Part I)
Basement (Part II)
Basement (Part III)

* There are more resources and updates to come, so visit us again!

Thrift Store Find: Milk Glass Collection

It has been several weeks since I have shared my thrift store finds with you guys. So today I just had to do a post to share my latest finds. I have been working on my collection of milk glass pieces and I have had some beautiful finds in the past few weeks.

Overall, I have been trying to focus my thrift store purchases on items that add to an existing collection. I have been building a collection of vintage picture frames, linens and table coverings; but my current goal is to put together a wonderful collection of milk glass pieces that I can use for Crafted Spaces Weddings.

I have several pieces that I have collected over the years, and my husband's grandmother gave me some lovely pieces when we got married. I will like to keep some of these pieces for personal use, so I have decided to invest in building a collection that I can use with clients. I have been doing research, and I have identified some must-have-pieces that will look stunning for a wedding.

Over the past few weeks I have found several bud vases and some larger vases that I think are very beautiful. There are several other pieces that I have my eyes on, including a couple cake stands. I will be sure to share with you how my collection is coming along. I currently have about forty pieces, and I hope to have some of my coveted pieces in the coming weeks.

What do you like collecting? Do you have a collection that you are building on?

Crafty Home Series

Last Wednesday I was happy to be back on Crafted Spaces Radio. The episode highlighted some of the things that are happening at Crafted Spaces, but it was also an introduction to our "Crafty Home" series.

Our recent Home Organization Challenge was so wonderful, and I was happy that so many of you joined us here on the blog, on Facebook and on Pinterest. With over ten thousand page views and thousands of Pinterest repins the response was extremely encouraging and really motivated me each week. Having a clean and organized home now means that there are lots of opportunities for adding creative touches. Adding a bit of personality, handmade accents, and a punch of colour is therefore the focus of this new series.

I am excited to start our "Crafty Home" series, because it means that I can transform each of the rooms in my home with handmade decorative elements that is reflective of my family and I.  Each week I will post my projects along with tutorials. I also have several Pinterest boards with tons of links to amazing DIY projects and sewing tutorials, which I hope will inspire you to create along with me.

If you are not the "make it" type, but you will like to find ways of adding handmade and crafty touches to your home or workspace, then do not leave just yet. During the series I will chat and share with you information about artisans, designers, stores and websites that you may want to check out for some crafty goodies. There are wonderful places to find "Crafty Home" accents and it is a great way to support crafters and makers.

The projects I will be featuring are great for your home, workplace or home away from home. If you also have a cottage, boat, mobile home or other place you occasionally call home; then join me in this creative transformation.

Inspiration
There are so many ideas and sources of inspiration, that sometimes it is difficult to narrow things down. I will like to share some of my Crafted Spaces Pinterest boards, which are bursting with ideas and projects that you may want to try. Creating an ideas board, can help with deciding what you will like to make and in some cases provide the resources on how to make it. It is also a great place to start when you are defining and refining your style.

DIY Projects
Crafty Ideas
Home Projects
Home Style
Sewing (includes many home decor sewing projects)

If you already have a "Crafty Home" and you will like to share with us some of the things you have done, please comment below or message me with your link(s).

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These links will be have been updated throughout the series.

Projects
Stained Wicker Baskets
Crafty Home Accents
Furniture Painting Tutorial
How to Make a Shower Curtain
Silk Screened Cushion Cover
How to Make a Pillow Insert
Vintage Needlepoint
DIY Magnetic Chalkboard


Crafted Spaces Radio
Repurposing Materials
Crafty Home Project Ideas
The Art of Thrifting
Finding Your Style
Crafty Home Inspiration

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This series will run until June 30, 2013. This is not a sponsored series, and I have purchased or made the products or items featured. The opinions expressed are my own and the links shared are unsolicited and is not in association with any third party.

Bulletin Board Makeover

I have been using this bulletin board in my son's room for several years now and it was due for a makeover. I was originally planning on using linen and I also considered using burlap, but I finally decided on a neutral colour outdoor fabric. I selected this fabric because it will hold up to daily use and will resist the sunlight from the nearby window.

Before I started covering the bulletin board, I braided three lengths of jute (remaining from the lampshade makeover project) and created a braided trim for around the edge of the board. I also sewed the edge of my fabric with my serger to prevent fraying and to give it a finished look. I then collected the rest of my supplies (as shown above) and a scissors was also needed (not shown).

The first step was to centre the bulletin board under the fabric and flatten it with my hands.

I then placed the first staple top centre, and placed additional staples on both sides of the initial staple. I continued working on alternate sides. The staples were placed approximately 1 1/2 inches apart and I flattened the fabric as I worked. I also stapled the fabric on the back of the board for a neat, tight finish.

The final touch was to hot glue the jute braiding around the inside edge of the board. I knotted one end to secure and glued the other end underneath this point. My son Matt wanted to help with the project, so he did some of the gluing.

The finished bulletin board still needs to be mounted on the wall or maybe it works well where it is right now. I think it looks a lot better than it did before. What do you think?

DIY Etched Glass Votives

I have been getting ready for Christmas, and candles are one of my most favourite ways to decorate. I decided to repurpose a pair of plain glass votives that I bought several months ago. After using the candles that originally came in the glass votives, I wanted to keep using them, rather than sending them off to the recycling bin.

Glass etching cream has a wonderful way of adding new life and a wonderful decorative touch to plain glass pieces. It can also be a perfect gift for the holidays. As fun as this project is, the etching cream can be dangerous to work with.  I therefore took a few safety precautions and I did the project in my laundry room (next to the sink and with the door open). I used two layers of craft paper on a board. This way I was close to the sink and had good ventilation. Another great location may be the kitchen, next to the sink with the windows open if possible.

Supplies:

• Glass Item
• Armour Etch Etching Cream
• Brush
• Stencil, Sticker or Vinyl Adhesive
• Rubber Gloves

First, I started by making sure my glass was clean. You can clean the surface of your glass by using rubbing alcohol, which works well for removing any residue. I then created my design by using a snowflake punch and vinyl adhesive. I peeled off the backing and pressing firmly to apply the snowflakes onto the glass. You can also use stickers or cut out a design. You will also want to make sure you do not have any loose ends or bubbles.

Next, wearing a pair of rubber gloves I applied the etching cream onto the glass very generously using a brush.

I let the etching cream sit on the glass for 10 minutes then washed it away under running water. You will want to refer to the instructions on your product for this part. I finished by drying the votives with a soft cloth.

*It is recommended to do this project close to a sink in a well-ventilated area and avoid contact with your skin by wearing log sleeves and rubber gloves. Please read the product instructions before use.

DIY Lampshade Makeover

This past weekend, I decided to give a makeover to the tired looking lampshade on my son's bedside lamp. The lamp is blue and the lampshade was blue and the room is blue (you get the picture).  I have been slowly making changes to his room and adding a few "big boy" touches since he turned ten years old this past summer. So needless to say, this is one of many things on a long list of things to do.

I decided to wrap the lampshade using a ball of jute twine that I had left over from a previous project. I have seen a lot of great lampshade makeovers, including the one featured here, which was done by Kim at Sand and Sisal. I also thought that the lampshade makeover at The Handmade Home, was super cute and so here I am.

BEFORE

I started off by carefully removing the piping from the top and bottom edge of the lampshade. I then placed a small bead of hot glue on the top edge of the lampshade (at the back seam). It was a bit tricky to get the right amount of hot glue initially, because I did not want large clumps of glue bleeding through the rows of twine. I found that it was helpful to run the tip of the glue gun over any hardened glue beads from the previous row. It was also helpful to hold my thumb on the end of each section as I made my way around the lampshade.

I wanted there to be tiny spaces, but was careful not to show too much of the blue fabric. In the end, I must say that I love the results. I especially love the texture, and the colour change was a welcomed addition. My son was not only happy to get his lamp back, but was also quite happy with his "new" lamp.

I did find the process a bit tiring, and it took a lot longer than I had anticipated finishing the project. I cannot say that I am going to be doing more of these any time soon, but I think it is a great way to breathe new life into an outdated lampshade.

I am debating if I should also do a lamp base makeover. What do you think?

At Home: Laundry Room Makeover

This past summer my husband and I decided to tackle several projects around our home. The laundry room was at the top of the list for several reasons; including the fact that we needed more storage space and the old plastic sink just had to go. This was a project we had started before, and did not get as far along with it as we had hoped. We had updated the appliances and reduced some clutter, which was just the tip of the ice burg. However, this time, I'm happy with the results and even though we can do with a few minor "homey" touches and a countertop over the machines, I'm happy with the results.

One of the things that was really important was having a sink that could handle my tie-dye projects and to have more storage to keep things neat and tidy. Another consideration was having a rack to hang a few items. We also wanted to brighten up the room and create a breezier feel.

We were really happy to get this wonderful sink. It is deep enough to handle my projects and the stainless steel is a major bonus. The unit includes the facet, sink and cabinetry.

Transformation

The room had two open shelves, which really did not work very well. We wanted everything to be contained and to maximize the space.

1. Removed the shelves and old sink.

2. Repaired the walls and followed by wiping, priming and painting.

3. Installation of the new sink and wall cabinets.

Finished Laundry Room!

This project features the following Crafty Idea project: Clothes Hook.