Spray paint finger

October 23, 2008

Does anyone have a cure for the pain of spray painting? I have spray painted SO MANY THINGS over the past five days, I've lost count. I even had to sleep with a heating pad wrapped around my arm one night. 

So I was trying not to spend any money last weekend, so I figured I'd do a few things in our laundry/mud room. A few things turned into about 25, but I'm so pleased with how it turned out. 

About a year ago, I had added the black beadboard to the room. I loved the black and yellow combo, so I kept going with that. This is some of the before:

I took the wire shelving down, bought a piece of MDF (for less than $5) and had it cut to size. 

I painted it black, and used iron shelf brackets (that I already had -- the were cream, now they're black) to put the shelf up:

I found two more canvas storage cubes a few weeks ago on sale at Target, and put all the odds and ends in those. I found a black and white ribbon that I loved, but the white was a little too stark. 

I actually soaked it in tea and yellow food coloring and it did the trick! Here they are all dressed up!: (By the way, the little white trash can is for the lint from the dryer. I don't know what I'd do without it there!)

The art is another poster from Hobby Lobby that was only $5! I cut them up and framed them:

I'm going to change this one out with the larger frames like up above once I get another mat made. I love the look of lamps in the laundry room, but for more than FOUR years, I've thought didn't have enough outlets. Duh, once I looked, I had plenty to work with. 

I got the lamp at Goodwill for $6! (It had a price tag of $49 on the bottom, NOT kidding!!) I covered the shade with $1 fabric. I also got the tray for a buck. 

Spray painted that too. Poor finger! I got the little ceramic container for $3 at a consignment shop, painted that:

I LOVE how it looks with just the lamp on! So cozy!

I like having a towel near the washer, so I found a little $1 tray thingy at Goodwill, spray painted it, (shocking!) added fabric to the middle, and a cute knob at the bottom:

My favorite part of the redo was another consignment find -- the area next to the door was so bare, and I couldn't decide what I wanted there. 

I thought, maybe a clock, maybe a chalkboard...and at the consignment shop today...I found this that's both!: 

I will probably add some magnetic paint that I already have to it soon, and then another chalkboard layer. Loooove it!

Here are a few other views of the room -- my Ballard Designs rug that is just perfect and was less than $40 (I got this awhile back):

I got the idea for the table for between the washer and dryer from a friend. 

All it took was wood I already had, cut to size for the top and bottom, 1 x 2 wood cut to size for the legs, and brackets to hold it together. Then I painted the top and added the fabric to the front. I can use it for storage underneath!:

DIY table between washer and dryer

I added the new hardware the folding doors a long time ago. 

They were brass before but now I love them:

The bench was from Overstock.com a couple years ago. The baskets hide the shoes perfectly:

I found little clothespins at Hobby Lobby:

I love the laundry room quote in vinyl, so cute! It makes the whole room:

The hooks keep everything out of the way, and the little organizer by the door makes it so I HAVE to open and sort the mail as soon as I get in the door:

Soon I want to continue the black beadboard behind the washer and dryer (I was way too lazy to do it before) and add chunky black crown molding:

black and yellow laundry room

I will be sure to show you all when I do it! 

Here are some of the items I used, before spray paint. The topiary thing is the black towel holder now:

Oh, and I'm NOT spray painting another thing for a long time!

**This tool really helps alleviate the pain of spray painting

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Comments

  1. Who knew a laundry room could be SO ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!!!!!

    Wow.


    Hi, I'm Kara and I'm ob-sessed with that black beadboard.

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  2. Wow! That is absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to have a laundry room so I can do such great work on it. Great job!

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  3. O.K. Little Miss Thrifty Decor Chick, you are making me so sick with this gorgeous laundry room. My laundry room is sooooo NOT gorgeous and now I want it to be!!! Everything you did is just awesome! I love the lamp on the tray. Like you said, it is just so cozy. I love to turn my lamps on at night. Now I am going to have to put one in the laundry room.. Well, I've gotta go and look at your pictures about 10 more times before I can move on to another blog. You are my decorating hero tonight!

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  4. Just beautiful!! You did a great job!! Hugs, Terrie

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  5. That looks Great!! I didn't know that a laundry room could have such a soft romantic vibe!

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  6. Holy cow! That is a huge laundry room makeover. It looks gorgeous! :-)

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  7. Great re-vamp of all of your thrifty finds, and be-a-ut-i-ful laundry room. It actually makes me want to go in there and DO laundry! :o)

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  8. Love your laundry room makeover! Wear a plastic glove next time to prevent spray paint finger!

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  9. I'm not sure if I've commented on your blog or not. If not... I've meant to!

    I have the same problem you do with spray painting things black. My husband finally told me to take a break before I spray paint our whole house black.

    But... I like black and it's so much cheaper than buying more decor.

    Your laundry room looks fabulous!

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  10. My husband and I are sitting here looking at your post and saying what we should do to ours. We already agreed to start working on it tomorrow. I will post pics. Your's looks awesome.

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  11. wow, my laundry room is clearly mistreated! and by the way.....they make these little handle gadgets that hook onto the spray paint bottle that allows you to use your whole hand rather than just a finger. (i have NO idea what their called and hope the description makes any sense at all). they are only like a buck or two. i think i got mine at walmart but i am sure any hardware store would have one. it is a lifesaver!

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  12. Once you realize all of the things you can spray paint... it becomes a sick addiction! This is one of the most beautiful laundry rooms I have ever seen! ALMOST makes me want to do laundry...Nahh, but I would totally hang out in there!

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  13. That room is too beautiful to be a laundry. I'm sooo impressed.

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  14. What a great laundry room. Great color combination.

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  15. Wow, I am impressed! Clearly I am in need of revamping my laundry area after seeing these pictures.

    As far as the problem with spray painting, have you seen the "gun" like trigger that you can put on the spray can. I don't know what the proper term for it is, I'll have to see if I can find mine and take a picture. They are less than a few dollars and you squeeze the trigger which holds the spray can nozzle down. Way better than holding it down with your finger!

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  16. I LOVE THIS!!! And YES there is a cure for the SPRAY PAINTING!!!! There is an attachment that you can put onto your cans of spray that you can use like a spray gun instead of using your finger all the time... it takes the pain away! It is great!!!! I can't remember where I got it... Walmart, Home Depot, just can't remember, it is just awesome and I use it all the time when I am doing large projects!!!!!
    xoxoxo Yvette
    Sending this to all my little girls to inspire them!!

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  17. How great is that room! I love the yellow and black together. But I am a little jealous I wish I had a laundry room!

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  18. This is the most elegant laundry room I have ever seen. Lovely!

    Gretchen

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  19. That is seriously one of the cutest laundry rooms I have ever seen! Great job!!

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  20. You have the most awesome laundry room ever! Have you put it on RMS yet? Talk about turning "trash" into treasure!

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  21. WOW......and I just say WOW!!?
    you did an awesome job! I wish I had a laundry room! - our are in our basement.

    I love the colors!! Hope your finger is feeling better soon, so you can show us some more great ideas!

    ~Tidymom

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  22. Oh my goodness this is fantastic. I especially love the beadboard. I love that your re-purposed all of your accessories.

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  23. Oh, my goodness can I go thrifting and then hang out and spray paint things with you- So SUPER cute!!!!
    Your talent at taking things that are icky ugly and making them awesome is inspiring! Please keep on sharing!

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  24. I LOVE all your projects! I love spray painting stuff, too, and absolutely know what you're talking about with your whole arm hurting. If I ever have carpal tunnel, that will probably be the cause! But you need to get one of these and you'll be able to keep on spraying!

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  25. I am in love with that laundry room!!! I'm so inspired. It is shaped exactly like mine. Beautiful. Thank you :)

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  26. Wow how kewl is that laundry/mud room. I love it...so creative and you know we do all kinds of stuff on canvas and paper, but how many of us did it in our homes...I used to...painted so many walls, but here I haven't...you have inspired me to make a change...thanks!!!

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  27. I don't think I could do laundry in there..I would mess it up! Who knew a little spray paint could make things sooooo gorgeous!!!

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  28. Your laundry room is beautiful. I love yellow that is what color mine is.
    As for your spray-paint finger pain. I have some 800 mg. Tylenol that works for me in that situation. You might think about Aleve or some other pain med maybe one for joint pain. They do sell at Home Depot and I think Wal-Mart a spray paint thing that goes on the top of the can to spray easy. It is almost like a gun top. It is great for people who spray a lot. GUILTY here!
    Your blog is so much fun and loving all the great pictures of your creativity. Hugs, Bobbi Jo-AZ

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  29. I love your laundry room!
    Wanna come over and work on mine?

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  30. Thanks SO much ladies!! I JUST got home from the store where I got MORE spray paint and I wish I would have known about that gun thingy!! I may have to go back today. That little contraption will definitely save my arm...I thank you!! :)

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  31. Wow, that turned out SO great!!

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  32. I am so envious. Green is not my best color!

    I am so inspired too. We've only done small things in our house over the past 2 years. It's well over time to get creative around here.

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  33. OMG! I have two of the topiary things in my garage sale box. I so need to make the cute holder that you made! I love your laundry room. I wish mine wasn't in the creepy basement.

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  34. What a beautiful room! I absolutely love all the colors. Was your Laundry room quote vinyl, or did you paint it? I seriously need to spruce up mine. I love the lamp in there. I found spray paint triggers you put on top of the spray paint at home depot. I did my daughters whole bed and my hand wasn't even sore. It is right next to the spray paint for like two dollars. Thank you for sharing and have a great day!

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  35. SEE???? I told you that you need to live next door to me!!! Oh my goodness, I've never seen a more gorgeous laundry room! It's adorable.

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  36. OH.MY.GOSH! This room is simply adorable. If I had this laundry room, I'd for sure be doing laundry every day.

    You crack me up with your spray paint addiction. And at the same time, I aspire to be just like you.

    Please do show more of your creations. I love reading about them.


    Tiff

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  37. LOVE IT! You are one of my new favorite blogs! The bright yellow and black contrast is so great! I have a question though... my little laundry room is SO dusty and linty that the thought of black in there makes me want to cry! Do you have to dust a lot or do you not have a lint problem? At any rate - it's just gorgeous! Thanks for sharing and keep 'em coming!

    jilljones43@msn.com

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  38. ooo la la. I would totally do my laundry every day if I had your laundry room. Great job!

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  39. I honestly did not want this post to end. I love laundry room makeovers!

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  40. I have NEVER seen a cuter laundry room!

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  41. GORGEOUS laundry room! Love it! Great creative ideas to repurpose items.

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  42. Wow looks great! You have the vision. You need a spray grip. It looks like this http://web.me.com/emilyj/Notions_on_Nesting/Blog/Entries/2008/8/23_Ode_to_Chalkboard_Paint.html
    Ok so that pictures is not the best, sorry.

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  43. Oh my between you and Shannon's laundry rooms I cannot WAIT to decorate my own some day! It is so nice :)

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  44. Okay...the first thing I thought about when reading the title to this post was "spray paint finger" set to the tune of "cat scratch fever"! HA!

    Secondly, I TOTALLY DIG THE YELLOW AND BLACK THEME! I'm originally from Iowa and will always be an Iowa Hawkeye fan...so your laundry room makes me proud!

    Thirdly, I really wish I could do something like this in my laundry room...to bad where I live that's not possible! Our "basement" is more like a cave! YECH! I'll just have to live my laundry room dreams through you...ahhhhhhhh!

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  45. Okay, I am going crazy right now!! Really, I can't even breathe I am so excited to see this!!! Okay, I am breathing now...I have been wanting to put black beadboard in our guest bath for years and have never done it. You are a genius and one that gets it done!!! I LOVE THIS MUDROOM!
    ♥Jen

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  46. I am coming out of lurker mode to say hello. I think you are adorable. Love your way about you - can feel your personality thru your writing. You're fun! Love your little projects. You are way better than me because you actually DO your projects (unlike me). Can't wait to read more of your "stuff". =)

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  47. That is the most georgeous laundry room I have ever seen. Deana

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  48. I love your laundry room!!! Thanks for stopping by my blog and asking about my crystal pendants. I would love to make you one!! I sent you an email...

    Leslie

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  49. Amazing laundry room! I love it! I also love your blog. You are so creative & I love all your thrifty finds and ideas! I am adding you to my favorites! Patti

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  50. Love it!! And I cna safely say that after all my halloween decorations, I had a cramp in my finger too. It's a serious injury :)

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  51. I wasn't going to comment because there are already 56 ahead of me, but I can't resist because this is such a stunning makeover. I'm sure doing laundry now is so much more pleasant. Amazing job!!! Just so beautiful.
    M.L.

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  52. You come over to my blog and leave one sentence and you're going to get a whole paragraph from me!! I'm with TARDEVIL - did you put your laundry room on RMS??? Surely with all your creativity you can find a category for it?? It is great!! I will admit my laundry room is painted and organized, but not nearly with as much style as yours - I'll admit nothing in my house has as much style as yours!! The only thing I'm creative enough to spray paint is my wicker furniture every spring!! And, it goes either light green or dark green - wohoo!!
    Great job and thanks for visiting me.
    Lynette

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  53. AWESOME! Love that black spray paint - it covers a multitude of sin, doesn't it? Lovely Laundry Room! Thank you for sharing all the lovely pics.

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  54. I LOVE that, my walls are pretty close in color and my washer/dryer are blue. I have thought of putting some black in there. I will have to work on that one:)

    I have spray paint finger right now too.

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  55. Your new laundry looks awesome!! I love all of the black pieces! I especially LOVE the beadboard. So cute! I love everything!

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  56. You did good!!! So where did you find your $1 fabric for your shade? I'm dying to do the same thing for my girls bathroom!

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  57. WOW!! If my laundry room looked even half that great, I'd be a happy gal!!

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  58. Get out!!

    That's the best laundry room evah!!!

    Mine is just sad. And dusty. And linty. And sad.

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  59. Your laundry room is charming! And very functional, which is also important! :) I'm sure you mind laundry less now that you have a super cute space to do it in!

    My laundry is dusty, cluttered, disorganized....and in the garage. Oh well. Maybe some day!

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  60. Why does everyone else have such pretty laundry rooms? And mine is crap. We rent, so I can't take the cabinets that overpower the room down and the litter box is in there...tried moving it to the garage & the stupid cat just did his thing in bathroom.

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  61. I love it...I so need a laundry room makeover...it's actually 'on the list' lol...we'll see when it gets done though...

    I need more hooks in my life...it's now coat season and my Family Room (where we enter the home from the garage) looks trashed already...and we have hooks and a bench and baskets and it's just not enough...need massive intervention in there!

    Bella :)
    PS: Love the black and yellow combo, love love love it!!! Wonderful job!!!

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  62. I came here looking for curtain ideas and I just fell in LOVE with your laundry room. Mine has been a thorn in my side. It's a good size but not pleasant. AH! I LOVE YOU!

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  63. OK! The Bub's Grandma is here!! I should NOT be up this late doing this when the Bubster is going to be coming to Grandma & Grandpa's house tomorrow! I need to get rested and geared up! We're just thankful he gets to come over after the woefully sad fall last weekend:( Tell Dadda that we will watch him like a hawk! But... the reason I'm up this late is that I'm now addicted to your blog!! Of course, I started out on the Bubba blog (which is, of course, my fave) but this is going to keep me up at night because I'm a thrifty mama at heart! We brag about you all the time to everyone who will listen, but you've outdone yourself... you are soooooooo clever and creative! My next project will have to be my laundry room... I have some ideas I'll tell you about soon!

    Grandma LA

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  64. I have laundry room envy. Gorgeous! I love spray paint, too!

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  65. I don't know how I missed this before, but just have to say - WOW - I love this laundry room! I'd been wanting to go with a black/yellow theme (I have a black rug I want to use in there) but I couldn't figure out how to pull it all together.

    Thanks for the inspiration!

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  66. I love it! What a beautiful laundry room. Makes me wish I had a laundry room to decorate. Great job!

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  67. Such a cute laundry room. Can you come decorate mine? :-)

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  68. okay i found something you will love. 2 bucks, a spray paint trigger. no joke. no more spray paint finger!!!!

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  69. Girl, you just inspire me!!!! That is it, me and my can of spray paint are going hunting around my house to see what I can turn from ugh! into wow! Thanks for the tips, and the pictures!!

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  70. I love it! This girl is allll about organizing and this is awesome! Another great post for a Met Monday...you're inspiring! Susan

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  71. GOR-GEEEE-OUS laundry room.

    I just bought a $2 plastic spray paint can "gun" or holder at ACE hardware, and let me tell ya, it saves my aching pointer finger and is preventing the inevitable carpel tunnel syndrome from crippling my ability to SPRAY PAINT - woooo hooooo !

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  72. Love love LOVE this post! Our old farmhouse is a major work in progress and I have been looking for some ideas for (all the rooms) our mudroom/laundry room. Yours is just beautiful! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  73. My laundry room is covered in lint and is tiny and gross. And my over-the-washer wire racks have hundreds of crappy wire hangers hanging from them. And I can't even imagine how to paint in there because of the way the machines are wedged in. Makes me sad.

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  74. love it! i am seeing a lot of that little lamp-on-the-washer-on-a-tray thing and i don't get it. how does your lamp stay upright...and lit...during the spin cycle?

    pls advise! thanks!!!

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  75. Wowzers - that has to be the prettiest little dish of a laundry room I have ever seen! Even in my wildest dreams I wouldn't have thought a laundry room could look like that! You have some mad skillz! It's gotta be genetic and I am sure my DNA hasn't got it!

    Love what you do,
    Lisa-Jo

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  76. I love your laundry room! We (and by we, I mean, of course, me) just re-did ours! It really makes you feel pretty when doing laundry when your space is beautiful! Good job! Please feel free to check out mine. I would love some comments/advise! Thanks!

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  77. So *totally* cute! I love everything you've done here.

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  78. i loooove your wall brackets. i know you said you already had them, but im searching and searching for some similar. do you know where i could find some? (cute room, ps) if you have a lead where i can start searching, you can email lrburney@gmail.com. that would be lovely, thanks.

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  79. you are my new hero!!! I ADORE your laundry room. AMaZinG!!! I am now going to be a follower and am thrilled I found your site (through kelly's korner). I will have to post a before pic and want to do a laundry room makeover! WONDERFUL!

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  80. wow. I love your laundry room! Our laundry area is in the garage and I'm now wondering what I can do with that space to make it feel more like a room and less of a garage!

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  81. I love all the little details in your room! I've never seen such detail in a laundry room but I love love love it! I have to be honest, I may be copying you in the near future with my room. mine is currently red but the yellow is so much happier! love it thanks for the wonderful ideas. oh and I love spray paint too!

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  82. I love love LOVE your laundry room! Mine is yellow too and has a white wire shelf just like that and it's been driving me crazy that I can't decide how to fix it! Thanks for the inspiration!
    P.S. where did you get your vinyl words? (The Laundry Room)

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  83. This is the best laundry room in the world. Seriously. mine is naked in comparison!!

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  84. You're such an inspiration. Laundry room here I come.

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  85. Your laundry room is so inspiring! I love it!

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  86. I didn't read all of the other comments, so sorry if I'm behind. You can buy a handle that attatches to spray paint cans so that you don't get the ouchy finger from pressing the small button. I know Wal-Mart has them for $2-3 by the spray paint. You just pull the trigger.

    Also, where do you store your big laundry baskets when you aren't using them???

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  87. You are very creative and have a gift to see the end result! Can't wait to share this with my daughter who just bought her first house. BTW - you can purchase a little sprayer trigger at a home improvement store for a couple of dollars that attachs in place of the nozzle and has a squeeze trigger that uses your whole hand. Woks great and no more sore fingers.

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  88. This is a great list of ideas. I was trying to think of ideas to create a little comfort and design in my laundry closet-not as much space as you have here-and these are really cute ideas to branch from. Great job!

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If you have a specific question I will do my best to answer you back here!

You can find our paint colors and links to items at the "Our Home" tab at the top of my site.

THANKS so much for reading!