I know I’ve not been that great at showing photos of our house like I said I would. Part of it is because I want to wait until everything is done and unpacked before I show it. But at this rate, that may never happen. Ever.
So here we go. If your name is Nester like my sister, then you can move into an already cute house and nest it all up and show photos of that and everyone ooo’s and ahhh’s because you are just that good at the nesting. If your name is Nester’s sister like mine is, then you have to go out and find a house built in 1963 and take before photos so that your after photos look that much better.
Take this, for example. This is what the office looked like when we walked through the house for the first time. It also looked like this when we closed on the house because we are lunatics and let the previous owner leave all the trash to keep the price down.
I stood on the built-in desk for this one. Yes, that is an old copy machine. And no, of course it doesn’t work.
Here it is a bit more cleaned up. What I haven’t told you yet is that this office is actually the laundry room. But they were using it only as an office. Where did they wash their clothes, you ask?
In the kitchen, of course. Right next to the fridge. Duh. The after photos of that will come later. Apparently the woman who lived here before me had magic clothes that never got dirty. How else could she avoid having piles of dirty laundry on the kitchen floor? Besides, I would end up pouring marinade in the washer and downy on the chicken. But that’s just me.
The first thing we knew we had to do was hook up the washer and dryer back in the laundry room. When the house was built, that was the purpose of that room and someone along the way turned it into an office. The plumbing was already there just waiting to be used again.
Remember the 1963 orange cabinets?
All was did was paint them. We didn’t even replace the old hardware, as there are 21 knobs and pulls in there and it just isn’t a priority. I don’t even think they look that bad now that the cabinets are white.
I originally considered taking out the built-in desk. But once I saw it painted, I changed my mind. It’s so handy!
Notice I took some time to mistreat the window with my $10 fabric, a handful of upholstery tacks and some sage advice from the Nester. Speaking of sage, the wall color is Svelte Sage from Sherwin Williams in case you were wondering. Here’s one last look at the before…And the after.
Now I can fold my laundry while listening to Billie Holiday and checking my email. All I need is one more arm. Or two.
That looks so great! Wow! I love the cabinets painted white. I love it all! I have a laundry “closet” and an office “closet,” so I’m totally jealous of you…in the best way possible, of course!
)
Fantastic! It’s amazing what a few coats of paint can do. The white and sage really make the hardwood look beautiful.
When we were looking at houseplans for the home we’re building now, I remember a few of them had a room called the “Command Center.”
That’s what you have there! Laundry folding, email checking, bill paying, paper sorting…
Great job!
this nester will trade houses with you any day of the week. shucks, i’ll trade my whole house just for your downstairs. better yet, just for the yard!
heart your yard!
that room is every woman’s dream! you need a mini fridge that is hidden that has dove bars and iced coffees in it!
Well what can I say, except it runs in the family. If that is your laundry room (great American invention by the way, wish Dutch houses had room for that) I can’t wait to see the rest of the house.
(Found your site through your sister’s and have been following you for some time now. Thanks for all your great posts).
That is a gorgeous office/laundry room. I’m jealous too. The previous owners made ours a laundry room/bathroom. Pbbbt.
What kind of a fruitcake puts her washer/dryer next to her stove? That’s insane.
Love the curled feet on your stool.
Wow, what a make-over! It looks so beautiful. Incidentally, I just bought 5 gallons of Svelte Sage to use in my Mom and Dad’s house. My mom is not a “nester”, and asks me to choose all of her paint colors. I LOVE this color! I was secretly testing it in her house because I’ve never used it. But I can see now that it will definitely look wonderful.
Hey! Now if that room were mine I probably wouldn’t be able to open the door because of all the laundry on the floor. But that gives me an idea maybe if I move my computer in my laundry room I would actually do my laundry, but realistically I would probably just have my dirty clothes in the office. No hope for me
Oh EMILY!!!!!!! I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again…I love your new old house. Amazing what a little paint and thought can do to transform a room. And WHY would someone WANT to have a W/D in their kitchen. I’m with you on the dirty laundry thing. Apparently there are laundry rooms out there that don’t look like mine?
Thanks for sharing…love it!
I LOVE THE OFFICE/LAUNDRY! It’s is so warm and inviting… it might even make me want to do laundry – okay, maybe not, but at least while I had to do it I could listen to music or look at pictures or something. Great room – and a great post!
Oh, I am so jealous. This looks awesome! I would love to do laundry in there! Just be careful not to get that floor wet! LOL
Love it! I love the white cabinets and the sage walls, which both make the floors look even nicer! Your little lamp and Believe sign are so cute. And I love the mistreatment–did you hang it high?
I would so not get any laundry done in there!
Love the transformation. Don’t sell yourself short…you too have have great decorating skill like The Nester. It must be a family thing. Isn’t it amazing what paint can do to a room. It’s the foundation to everything. You can blog while doing laundry…multi-tasking!! Twin
Wow!! What a great space. I love the cabinets painted!
It’s so absolutely fabulous, I am trying hard not to covet.
Enjoy the nicest laundry space I’ve EVER seen!
A agree, don’t sell yourself too short ’cause you can definitely hold your own when it comes to decorating!! I love the laundry room! The cabinets really pop against the great wall color. Can I come do laundry at your house? LOL
Fold laundry and check email at the same time, every girls dream! LOL
You did a FABULOUS job!! It is adorable and functional; couldn’t ask for more. You will enjoy it immensely.
Lisa Q
It is so funny that you have exactly the same cabinets in your laundry room that I have in mine. But I wish our previous owners had carried the wood floor into our laundry room. I have yellow and green linoleum in my room still. Yuck.
Wow! I love what you’ve done with the room! You’ve really transformed it. You should submit your before and after photos (once you’re done with the house) to Better Homes and Gardens or Southern Living magazine when they have their contest every year. You might even win something! I wish my laundry room was that big and decorated so cute. You’re lucky to have a built-in desk with all that storage for your office and even a window! Good thing you didn’t tear out the counter! I’m looking forward to seeing more rooms that you re-do. You and your sister are very talented.
Kelly
I love it!! That hardware looks fine in there, and I love the fact that you can do laundry and blog in the same room!!
That is an incredible overhaul! You are so talented. Who knew that a laundry room could look so warm and inviting! I wish I had 1/10 of your talent.
beautiful,
just beautiful!
How wonderful that you can also sit there and watch the kiddos play in the yard! I also love the windowed door that closes the room up. DO you just glance in there as you walk by and grin? A special little room just for you!
this post reminded me, I have clothes sitting in the dryer…ugh!! they are probably all wrinkled now… wish I had music to listen too while I folded!
Love the laundry room. There is so much ROOM in there! Mine is tiny and I’m always tripping over dirty laundry! I love the colors you chose. Well done.
Can I ask ~ what is in the frame propped against the wall by the bulletin board (after picture)? Is it upholstered? Is it another bulletin board?
It looks fabulous! I want to move right in. I’m seriously impressed by how much you’ve done on your house already. We’ve been in ours over 5 years & we are finally *almost* (not quite) getting it where we want it to be.
That looks like the ideal multi-tasking room! Just add a shade to the glass door, and it would become your little hideout from the kiddos! You’ve done a beautiful job.
this turned out lovely! i really like the idea of having the office and the laundry that close together!
Great job! I love before and afters. And that is a serious make over in your “Command Center”. Painting cupboards is hard work; I did that to my old kitchen and it was ridiculous! But a cheap improvement ($ wise, not time wise!)
Hi! I’ve never left a msg. on your blog but love reading it (and your sisters)! It looks so great and cozy in there! Love it!
Meg
“marinade in the washer and downy on the chicken”
That line had me laughing out loud. I would do the same thing! Maybe the previous owner was British? I’ve noticed washing machines in kitchens in all the HGTV shows made in Britain.
Anyway, your laundry room/office is gorgeous! That desk looks so much better white, and I love the glass top. You and The Nester definitely have the same genes.
That turned out perfect! My laundry room is right next to my computer too, yet the laundry never seems to get done and the blogging does. Ah well. Doesn’t your back ever hurt sitting on a stool?
And I loved your marinade/Downy comment. Genius
!
OH you did a great job… it’s so elegant! Your pics are inspiring because one day my husb and I will have to buy a home with ugly cabinets and washers and dryers in wierd places… this will help me be creative and hopeful instead of tearful! Your blog is great! Show more before and after pics!
Wow! looks so great!
One question…Did you take the cabinet doors off to paint? Did you use a stripper and then a primer on them? I want to paint my cabinets…but can’t figure out how to do it.
Thanks for any advice you can give!
Susan
Pink Portugues Roses
Dear Nester’s Sister, I am in love with that room–especially the glass paneled door. It just makes it so quaint. Give yourself credit, girl! You’ve done an awesome job!
Oh, Emily! It’s absolutely gorgeous. I would be doing laundry all day, every day, if I had such a beautiful room!
Thanks for all the encouragement, guys. You make me feel like something has actually gotten done in here.
Jennifer P., you asked about the stool…I need to get a real chair with a back in there for sure. Honestly though, I have a laptop too. So I usually blog while watching SYTYCD on my DVR and lounging on my couch.
Amy Jo and Romantic Portuguese, you give me too much credit. Remember the painter who smells like cigarette smoke and biscuitville coffee? Yeah. He painted the cabs for me. But I picked the color, so there’s that. I was all “I want them white.” I do know though that he primed them first and then put many coats of paint over that. No stripping. No sanding. And he didn’t remove the doors. If it were my kitchen, I would have wanted to be more careful. But in here, no biggie.
Looks beautiful- so cozy and efficient- what more could you ask for?
Lovely. Simply lovely.
– Brandi
Awesome!! I’m so jealous! I would love to have an office/laundry room combo!!! I might actually get laundry done!! HAHA I could work on the computer (I don’t guess I should call blogging work!) LOL, turn around put the clothes in the dryer, and fold in between blogs!
It looks awesome! I seriously need to get that svelte sage….it’s great!!
I LOVE the window treatments! Great job!
Very nice Nester’s sister! I need to mistreat my window since you people say its easy. Everything looks so homey. Perfect little nook for blogging!
Love-Love-Love IT! Who wouldn’t want to do laundry in there! (Probably more bloggin’ would be goin’ on if it were my room!) Can’t wait to see the other transformations…YIPPEE!
WOW, that is fantastic! I literally am almost panting. No, I don’t mean “internet literally,” I mean, I am really in real life standing at the kitchen counter in front of my laptop, and my breath is all quick.
I am pathetic, yes. But that is an awesome makeover! WOW! Those floors are stunning, and white woodwork just makes that desk and those cabinets POP! You may not be the Nester, but we need to come up with a better name than “Nester’s Sister.” Like…
Amazing Decorating and Remodeling Queen Of Old Houses”
Hmm.. not long enough…
what you did is awesome!
i still can’t get over the washer and dryer in the kitchen?? now that was wierd…
so glad you kept the desk area…i don’t think you will be sad one minute…talk about multi-tasking!
can’t wait to see more!
that is gorgeous – I’m sooo jealous!
Emily!!! You go girl! It looks awesome. I am sooo jealous:)
I have indoor/outdoor carpet in my laundry room. ‘Nuff said. Yours is a dweam wivvinn a dweam (name that movie).
Wow! What a difference some paint and a few accessories make!
Now you have a cozy laundry room slash message/work center. (As I whisper to myself…It’s ok that your ugly, hot laundry area is in the garage. It’s ok.) 
It looks great!!!
You guys are just so darned talented. It looks great!
Way to cute and I’m way to jealous!!!
Excellent. It looks like it is in a magazine….
I love the office and Laundry room. I would give anything to have the laundry on the main floors. My laundry is in the basement.
Looks great!
That is one nice looking laundry room. You are so talented, and have such an eye for things. Thanks so much for coming to visit my blog and your sweet comments on my cabinets!
After seeing how great your cabinets look after painting them I had a strong desire to paint my cabinets, which led to a strong desire to paint my entire house
I hope my husband wasn’t planning on relaxing this summer.
WOW!! And I love the paint choice too!! Very cute.
ps Thanks for the nice comments on my blog today!!!
I can’t believe the difference – it looks fabulous!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Oh.my.star. OH MY STARS, I love it!! How brilliant to check your email while folding all of those piles of tiny clothes. Your new house has SUCH great bones.
Oh, and I have that same computer. LOVE IT!!
I’m a big fan of Nester… and I live in her city…and she’s coming over to my house sometime this summer. I said that grand introduction to say this: I can’t believe that two women born from the same womb can both be so extremely gifted in decorating! It hardly seems fair except that both of you are so willing to share with those of us who are less domestically inclined and I, for one, am majorly appreciative.
Okay, the point here is that I hope you will share more pictures because you are a way cool decorator! P.S. Want to come with Nester when she visits? I could use all the help and decorating friends I can get!
Super transformation! Wow, never thought it would be so lovely in white myself, but then I’m a natural wood color lover. And then I started thinking about an old desk I have here, and thought about painting it white! Thanks for the inspiration!
Now that is being domestic in style! Beautiful!
Can’t wait to see what you do in the kitchen.
That room is so fabulous! Love it! Love it!
Wow, what a transformation. It is beautiful. We too have bought a much older not so cute house that little by little we will be transforming. Thanks to you and the nester I have tons of inspiration. Who would have know that a can of paint could do so much. I can’t imagine what they were thinking moving the laundry to the kitchen!?!?
Blessings,
Trixi
This looks GREAT!!! Fantastic job!
Wowza! I love it!
In our first home the washer and dryer were inexplicably in the kitchen, too. We didn’t have kids then, so there wasn’t as much laundry to do. I could never have it in the kitchen today with two kids and all the dirty clothes they generate!
Great job. I would love to work in a sunny space like that! -Julia
It looks fabulous! What a great room.
Susan
STUNNING!
Can you imagine the previous owners reaction if they could see it!
xo ~K
Just stopped by from your sisters site. The before and after pics together really show such a difference. It just looks so warm and inviting. You’ve inspired me to look at a few areas with new eyes. And you even have a window to look out of.
Aw geez, now I guess I have to add you to my Bloglines too. Looks like there are two Nestery, decorator types out there. And I guess I need to know what they both are doing at all times!
Has Design on a Dime called yet? Simply lovely and peaceful. My laundry room is a train wreck.
peace~elaine
Wow–that looks GREAT–I love it! The white cabinets are very cheerful. That looks like a great workspace!
Oooo!! It’s looks so nice!! I love how airy it looks and the desk is fantastic. I really want your fabric. It will match my room perfectly. Where must I go to find it??
Holy Schmoly! If that’s nothing big, then come do nothing big in my house!!! … Tee Hee… Downy on the chicken…. Thanks for a good afternoon laugh!
WOW, that looks awesome! What an incredible space to have.
Laura
That looks great! I am inspired to work on our playroom because it has a built-in desk and shelves that I think maybe some paint would help brighten that room! Thanks for the inspiration!
Bravo! Bravo (standing O)
I am most impressed! Can you AND NEster come and “fix” my house? (Smile.)
What a difference! Congrats on the great re-do. I’m adding you to my daily reading list. I just recently discovered your sister’s blog and yours is just as good. You’re both inspiring. “See” you soon.
Is the sage green color you painted the laundry room similar to the Tobacco Road color your sister used in her old house, I know she said that you couldn’t get the Tabacco Road color anymore, I just love that color too and am trying to find something similar to it, btw, the room turned out beautiful, just love it! Thanks Sharon
Oh my gosh, that is one AMAZING transformation! Great job!
I’ll oooh and aaaah over your laundry room any day! What a great transformation – a little paint can do wonders! It looks so cozy!
Wow, what a transformation. Love the new look. It feels so clean, and peaceful. I love the feel of a nice clean room. Almost makes me want to take on a new project in my house… ALMOST.
Wow, what a change! It looks beautiful!!
So what did you put in the kitchen in place of the washer and dryer?
Love the redo!
That’s sooo nice!! Do you now where I can get instructions for those fab curtains?? Thanks!!
Such a transformation! The white cabinets made all the difference in the world! Wonder what made past owners put washer/dryer in kitchen?
Great job!
that looks so awesome! You did such a good job!
Hey either way you have an office and you don’t have to fold clothes any longer in your casserole dish.
YAYYY
I have decided to take the plunge and paint my cabinets. What technique did you use and what color white do you think I should use with the green? Thanks for your insight.
I would love to know how the Nester made those curtains. I saw them in your kitchen too! I love them!!
Is it too hard to explain???
Your redo’s are beautiful!!!