Hey guys! Yeah, I’m changing my schedule a bit- again- but it’s totally for a good reason! I’m doing the $100 room challenge, sponsored by Erin from Lemons, Lavender, & Laundry!
I am so excited for this challenge! But wait, I guess I should explain a little more about it.
Know how I did the One Room Challenge (see my entry-turned-library here)? That was 6 weeks and no real budget. The $100 challenge is one month, and $100 for the entire space. Crazy, right? It truly is a challenge. I’m anxious- and a little nervous- to see how I can stretch my wings a bit creatively to make this work!
If you’re new to the $100 challenge, please check out Erin’s post about how it was born, and how it has grown exponentially since she started it!
So welcome to anyone new to Avenue Laurel! I’m an RN and mom of two boys by day, and a design/DIY enthusiast/blogger by night. Check out my “Behind the Avenue” page for more about me and this little blog 🙂
Okay, on to the space!
A thrown-together space before
I’ve had our tiny laundry room/half-bath on my list to redo for awhile. It’s one of only two baths in our house, and the one right off of the mudroom, so it gets tons of traffic. Unfortunately, I haven’t done much to it since we moved in a little over two years ago:
The space started with some rooster/floral themed wallpaper before. Once we removed it, I just slapped on some leftover navy paint from when our mudroom had the navy and white stripes and some aqua paint on the baseboards.
Added the antique mirror (which is totally gonna stay!) and called it a day.
The problem is, a total lack of storage and style. Yes, I know it’s pitiful that our guests see this whenever they use the bathroom.
Don’t those wire shelves hurt your eyes?
$100 challenge- the plan
To make this work, I’m going to be using a lot of leftover stuff. I need to do this anyway- Michael practically begs me to use leftover paint whenever I start a new space- and I’m vowing to use up what we have. Finally, my propensity to overbuy supplies will pay off!
So here’s the plan.
Dark gray paint on the ceiling. Yes, it’ll probably make it feel a little smaller, but the undeniable style it will add will be worth it. I have this leftover from the ceiling in our master bedroom and I still love it!
I’m going to continue the wainscoting treatment from the mudroom into this room. I should have enough lumber left over to make this work.
Paint the walls and wainscoting white with leftover paint.
Add open wood shelving above the washer/dryer- I have enough scrap wood to make this work. This will give me folding space on the washer, and get all of the messy supplies up and out of immediate sight.
And, that wall will also get tiled with leftover subway tile from the kitchen.
What I really, really want is this wallpaper treatment above the wainscoting:
but it’s out of the budget. So I’m going to try my hand at Cricuting some pink pineapple decals to use instead. I can get the vinyl pretty cheap, so it will be a budget friendly alternative to buying wallpaper.
And finally, I’m going to do a simple DIY treatment to the light fixture, which isn’t too terrible, just to add some style.
One of the good things about such a small space is that leftovers can go a long way in it 🙂
Let’s do this!
So literally the day after I figured out my design plan for this space, I read this article in Domino about what their design editors want to see gone in 2018. Guess what’s on the list? Pineapples and pink, which had me ROFL. Ah well, at least here on Avenue Laurel, pineapples and pink will always be relevant 😉
I’m super excited to get started! I know the before pictures don’t look awful (nothing that some pretty baskets can’t handle, right?) but this room is tired, dingy, screaming for organization, and ready for a redo. I’m ready to mark it off of my list!
Thanks so much for following along, and thanks Erin for hosting this challenge! Be sure to check out the other amazing bloggers who are also part of this challenge!
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I think your bathroom is already pretty. 🙂 I love the navy and pink and gold. Have you considered stenciling your pineapples instead? Those articles about what’s in and out are infuriating. Apparently people hate open shelving too, but I’ll love it forever. Because I’m lazy and it makes putting dishes away a breeze.
Can’t wait to see your new space.
Aww, thanks Emy! Stenciling is a great idea- I might just end up doing that! And- yes! I love my open shelving too! I wish I could rip out all of my uppers in my kitchen for open shelving! So much easier!
I love the idea on DIYing your own stencil with the Cricut! I can’t wait to see what you do here!
Thanks so much Maria! I’m hopeful that it turns out like I’m picturing in my head 😉
So I love everything you do and I am completely loving that wallpaper. You can definitely do something cool with a stencil or vinyl and who cares what trends should be out. It will look so awesome! And just FYI. If you ever decide to toss that mirror, I’m just down the road and would take it off your hands! Ha! I can see why that one is staying. You’ve got so many great ideas and I’m so excited to follow along with you!
Aww, thanks so much Melissa! Yeah, I try not to pay too much attention to the trends, mostly because everyone says something different! We’ve definitely got to get together soon!
Here’s to overbuying supplies! I can’t wait to see what you do in here, especially with that shelf and light fixture!
I definitely have a problem overbuying supplies- I’m always so worried that I will run out in the middle of a project, and obviously not too good at calculating what I need 😉 I’m excited to see how your space turns out as well! Thanks for stopping by!
I love all of your plans! And I say, go with pineapples and pink if that’s what makes your heart go pitter-patter! ♥
Thanks so much Leigh! I’m excited to get started! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Welcome to the challenge! So excited you are joining! This space looks perfect for a $100 makeover. And I think you just gotta do you, whether pink and pineapples are out or not 🙂 Good luck. Can’t wait to see what you decide to do!
Thanks so much Erin, I am excited! Yup, the pink pineapples are definitely happening! Thanks so much for hosting the challenge!
CAN”T WAIT to see the ceiling painted!! Love what I’m hearing about what you are going to do to your space!
Thanks Ashley! I am excited to see how it all turns out! And congrats on your big news! 🙂
I love what you have planned and that mirror is so cool! I’m glad it’s staying!
Thanks so much Tracy! I inherited the mirror from my grandparents, and it’s one of my favorite pieces! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Beth,
I think your bathroom is pretty nice as is but I totally get wanting to make a change. It’s funny how that happens. One day we love it and the next, UGHHH. Looking forward to your pink and gray pairing. Sounds super interesting.
Hi Patti, you totally get me! 🙂 It really is in need of a refresh and some serious organization! That wire shelf makes my eyes twitch whenever I see it!
I’m super excited to see how your decals turn out – I’m thinking of doing something similar in my daughter’s bedroom soon! I LOVE the pink pineapple idea – I’m really looking forward to following along on this one!
Thanks Kim! I hope they turn out like I’m picturing- if not, out comes the stencil! I’m excited to follow along with your living room as well- love your eclectic design plan!
I’m so excited to see how you transform this room! It sounds like it’s going to be bright and fun. I’m heading over to read the article about decor trends that we won’t see in 2018, and I’ll see how many I’ve violated too!
Ha! As I read through it I think I’ve violated, or plan to violate, pretty much every one on the list. Oh well, we will survive, I’m sure! Can’t wait to see how your “middle room” turns out!
Can’t wait to see what you do! I’m doing a bathroom for this challenge too! Can’t wait!
Thanks Stacey! I’m excited to follow along with you! Bathrooms seem to be great spaces for this challenge!
I think pineapples will be around for a while longer! This seems like it’s going to be quite a transformation, I cannot lie, I like the navy! Especially with the gold mirror. Can’t wait to see how everything goes! I overbuy on supplies too;)
Thanks Wendy! I liked the navy for awhile too! But it just bugs me that it doesn’t flow with the new design of the adjoining mudroom. But I’m probably being neurotic 🙂 And finally overbuying supplies is paying off! Thanks so much for stopping by!