Laundry Closet Upgrade

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It was just a few short weeks after moving into our new condo that I fell in love with efla storage.  If you remember we expanded the pantry by installing some baskets on the back of the door.  We had been toying with the idea of doing something similar on the back of the laundry closet door, but just haven’t gotten around to it.  The dryer sheets, Shout and detergent just sit on the floor in front of the washer/dryer units or the AC unit, which share a closet.  I’m in no way saying bending over to pick up the items needed is beyond my physical capability, but honestly it’s just annoying to have them down there.

On Sunday we made a trip to the Container Store and LUCKY for us there is a sale on elfa products going on!  It was all the justification we needed to purchase storage for the laundry closet.  One of the sales reps was kind enough to walk around with us and make a number of suggestions.  Unfortunately many of the products just wouldn’t work for us … our laundry area isn’t big enough.  We are fortunate to live in the city and have a w/d in the unit!

In the end we ended up with the same product as we had purchased for our pantry.  The one exception being the sale rep suggested we get a media rack to hold our detergent.  This was an excellent call!  The media rack is just wide enough to actually fit the Costco size detergent I always insist on purchasing. =)

What we purchased:

First we held the mounting bar up and marked where the holes were.  Then we double checked it was level.

Next the husband drilled starter holes for the top and bottom of the bar, attached the screws and then ensured it was level again.  Then we made “starter” holes for the rest of the screws.

With the bar installed all we had to do was slip on the baskets and the project was complete!

Now we have a one-stop-shop for all thing laundry related.  There is even a bit of space on the bottom two racks for storing additional things.  I’m sure it won’t take me long to find something to put there LOL.  Maybe the cleaning supplies we use the most … actually that would probably be perfect.

I’m loving the change and decided to do a load of laundry just to take advantage of the new storage — yes I know I am a dork.

Happy Home Improvements!!

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Mirror Mirror on the Wall

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Who’s the most excited of them all?!  Oh that would most definitely be me.  As I’ve shared (here and here) we’ve been doing some decor updating in the living/dining room as well as the hallway (here and well here too).  I’m not sure if I should qualify this area by the front door as the hallway or the living room, but either way we have a new mirror on the wall!

When we first move into our condo the electrical box was kind of sticking out like a sore thumb.  The dark gray contrast on the painters grade white paint was like BAM as soon as you walked in.  The plan was to find a painting or a mirror at some point to cover the box, however in the mean time we needed to make it less noticeable.  So while we were painting the living room and hallway the electrical box was also painted over.

Before:

Progress: Added a couple coats of primer on the electrical box.

I don’t have an after picture of the box painted … I’m a bad blogger, I know (hangs head in shame).  I always peruse the Joss & Main and consider buying all the great items they have.  Then one evening I found the Andretta Wall Mirror, which the husband agreed would be a go to hide the electrical box.  I waited too long and the item was no longer available … bummer!  A couple weeks later I happened upon the mirror again and decided I would purchase it as soon as the husband got home and confirmed he still liked the mirror.

Just a few days later the mirror arrived at our front door. I was shocked at how heavy the mirror was, but managed to carry it up the stairs and into the apartment.  The poor husband had barely walked through the door when I began asking (read nagging) him to hang the mirror.  Being the good natured guy he is out came the tool box and level and within no time the mirror was hanging on the wall.  =)

After:

Now I think a new chest/table with drawers for under the new mirror is needed and we will be done with this area of the apartment.  I’ve had that semicircle table since COLLEGE!  Although it has held up well, it is time for a change/upgrade.  Plus something with storage would come in handy for scarfs, gloves, sunglasses and other stuff of that nature.

For now though I am happy to have the electrical box covered and a mirror to double check my outfit/makeup as I walk out the door! LOL.

So what do you think of the new mirror?

Happy Decorating!!

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Impulse Buying – Updating the Living Room

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I’ve been on a bit of a buying binge.  For the most part they been pretty “small” thing, but they make SUCH a difference around the house.  The new tidbits are great additions to the condo decor and only make me want to buy more details for the house.  The husband has been joking that he might have to take the credit card away if I keep this up LOL.  All joking aside he has completely agreed with all my most recent purchases.

The library table (as the husband calls it) from his bachelor days is definitely on its last leg.  This side table has held up well and successfully made it through three or four moves.  The table has a number of sharpie pen “paint touch ups” and kind of rocks if you even slightly touch it.

Around Christmas time I was browsing Overstock.com and came upon a black table I thought would be the perfect replacement.  With my 10% off coupon in hand I convinced the husband we “needed” the table.  Like so many other pieces of furniture we own it came dissembled and the husband was responsible for putting together our new table.  It didn’t take him too long despite assembling the legs backwards on his first attempt. :)

The next day I went ahead and took some after pictures.  I really like the curves and character of the new table.  The fact that it doesn’t shake when I pick up the photo album is a bonus hahaha!

The new table also has an extra level of storage at the bottom.  The only problem with that shelf is it seems to collect dust and dog hair. Maybe that means I need to vacuum more … hmmmm ;)

Have you done any impulsing buying lately for your place?

Happy Decorating!

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Quick Tip – Defrosting Meat

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More often than not I am rushing around the house in the morning getting ready for work.  The morning routine includes all the normal things one normally does plus walking the dog and making lunches for me and the hubby.  Despite being in the kitchen doing the lunches I often forget to take meat out of the freezer and put it in the refrigerator.  Does that ever happen to you?  Forget to take the chicken, beef, pork or fish out of the freezer to properly prepare for dinner that evening?  Since I make this mistake often I will sometimes go to the store on the way home from work and purchase what I need.  Other times I get home and slap the meat on the counter and pray it defrosts quickly so I won’t have to nuke it.  For some reason defrosting in the microwave seems to always “pre”cook the meat, which I don’t find appealing.

Recently my mother-in-law taught me a great tip for defrosting meat quickly …. place the meat on a metal cookie sheet.

Source

I’m not really sure why this works, but it does so I’m not going to fight it!  Next time you forget to take dinner out of the freezer in the morning to thaw go ahead and slap it on a metal sheet pan.  Wait a little while and flip the meat.  The quick defrosting time will definitely not disappoint.  What’s your tip for defrosting meat quickly?

Happy Cooking!

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Calling the Guest Bath a Wrap!

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It is no surprise our guest bathroom is the first to be completed.  It was the first room we painted, purchased an accessory for and probably the smallest “area” within the house.  Before we moved into the condo my mother took me shopping at Home Goods for the VERY FIRST time ever!  Can I just say I love that store?!  I purchased a little vase and fake flower arrangement I thought would be perfect for the back of the toilet seat.  It was the first accessory for our new place and a first for the bathroom as well.  The bathroom came together slowly, but when we hung the final picture behind the toilet and the guest bathroom project was officially a wrap.

A few weeks after painting the bathroom I finally went to Bed Bath and Beyond to purchase a shower curtain and bath mat.  We had guests (my family) coming into town and we couldn’t very well have them shower without a curtain or mat!  While my family was in town us girls went on a little shopping trip.  We went to Pier 1 Imports and purchased the balcony furniture, but before that we hit up Home Goods.  At Home Goods we found the bathroom accessories!  Slowly but surely the bathroom was coming together.

The Son of Man painting like so many other things was sitting in our spare bedroom waiting for us to find  the perfect place for it in the new house.  In our first apartment together it hung in the living room and in our second apartment in the hallway near the front door.  Now it has found a home in the second bathroom!  The green apple ties in perfectly with the light green paint.

All we had left to do was find some painting or picture for behind the toilet seat above the little fake flower arrangement.  After we hung the hallway pictures the husband and I decided to purchase the another picture frame from Amazon for the bathroom.  My husband actually made the suggestion as to which picture should populate the new frame.  I was well, pleasantly surprised!!  He suggested we use a picture of Sophi, our dog, from our engagement session.  She looks so cute and happy in the picture.  I used PhotoShop to turn the colored picture to black and white.  Uploaded the picture to Shutterfly, ordered and a few days later we were in business.

So the guest bathroom if officially decorated!  BUT here’s the things as I started writing this last paragraph I realized there were other things needed for the bathroom … seriously decorating never seems to be really finished.  So what else could we possibly need you might ask?  New towels that match our new fancy bathroom.  Towels are at the bottom of my home shopping list, therefore I still feel comfortable saying the bathroom is a wrap!

What was the first room you finished decorating in your place?

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