laundry room turned workspace.

as I was editing the "before" pictures for this post, Rowan was sitting next to me looking on.  "mom," he says.  "our house was broken."  haha, yes, it kinda was!  but that's not saying it wasn't anything we (um, Gary and my dad) couldn't fix!  how about we start by tearing apart this awful laundry room!  wait, I can't even call it a room.  maybe more of a-- what would I describe it as?  a closet?  yeah, that's what it was.  A CLOSET.  and all I knew is that I sure wasn't going to do laundry for twelve people in A CLOSET.  not that I haven't dealt with itty bitty laundry rooms before, you know, the kind where you have to back up in order to get out, but A CLOSET?  located smack dab in the middle of the hallway no less?  could you imagine?  I mean, picture piles of clothes littering the floor with kids hurdling over them to get to their bedrooms (you know they would), and so pretty soon you've got dirty clothes mixed with clean clothes and oh my goodness gracious sakes alive.  you might as well put me in a straight jacket and haul me off to the funny farm, because that just sounds like an absolute nightmare.

fortunately, Gary agreed with me on this issue wholeheartedly, so phew!  no funny farm.  yet.           

BEFORE: notice Gary carefully jotting down notes.  "so," he says.  "let me get this straight.  basically, all I have to do is tear apart the frame, haul the old washer out, cap off the plumbing, put up sheet rock, patch the holes, rip out those shelves, paint, put new flooring in, add a light switch, and change out the ceiling light?"  um, yeah.  guess that's *basically* about it.  cringe.  but you know what, though?  I was continually amazed at all the stuff he knew how to do!  incredibly talented, this guy.  I mean, I know how to work a screwdriver does that count?       

AFTER: ah, a much better use of that "closet", wouldn't you say?  uh huh, yep.  sure is!  wow, you guys are so agreeable!  fortunately, I already had the desk (from IKEA), and amazingly enough, it happened to fit perfectly in that space.  the kids have been using this nook to do their homework, and occasionally I'll sit here to edit pictures.  or stare blankly at the wall.  as you can see, I haven't gotten too far on filling up those yellow bookcases. 

so, there you have it!  good-bye laundry closet, hello clean, fresh workspace! 

-jessica