We’ve been looking for ways to show how anyone can quickly tackle a DIY project in their home. And this powder room makeover does exactly that! In this post we are going to break down exactly what we did each day, all the sources we have, and any DIY tips and tricks we have to make this weekend update a reality for you too! And honestly, it all comes down to planning and prepping before project start. So take a look at the day-to-day break-down and stick to it…that’s what will make your project a success! Let’s get started.
In order to ensure this project happened in a weekend we had all materials sourced and on site prior to starting the project. This is a major timesaver when it comes to a project on a time crunch. Not having to leave to grab materials allows you to continue to crunch down on the project without distractions from the outside world.
We also planned each step by the minute, which meant we didn’t waste any time. For instance, once the shiplap was all installed and brad nail holes were filled, we put all of the trim and door on saw horses and painted them. This allowed time for the hole filler to dry prior to sanding, while allowing time for paint. It is this type of planning where we find efficiencies with time, and it makes any project run smooth.
Day 1 – Friday Night
Demo bathroom
Paint bathroom walls
Start shiplap wall
Day 2 – Saturday
Finish shiplap wall
Fill all holes
Paint trim, door casing and door
Sand shiplap holes
Paint shiplap
Install trim, door casing and door
Fill trim and door casing holes
Touch-up trim and door casing
Day 3 – Sunday
Install vanity top, faucet, tissue holder, towel bar, vanity hardware and mirror
This space is one of those showstoppers packed with a whole lot of WOWS, especially when you look at the the before and afters. Our overall goal here was to create a bright clean neutral retreat for our clients to love spending quality time in together from early morning coffees together to late night cocktails. We have two custom built-ins that feature both a coffee bar and bourbon bar on opposite sides. I played with neutral tones and layers and layers of texture to create an inviting neutral space.
Let’s start by taking a quick walk down memory lane, because everyone needs a solid before and after.
BeforeBefore
Before
Here we are now!
I broke this room into 4 separate locations to help tackle the massive size and still provide an over all cohesive look. First, we started with the concrete items in the space: bed, dresser, chairs and nightstand, in other words all the big items that are going to take up space. From there I broke the room up by the areas: bedding, sitting, entertainment and entryway. On the bed wall we created a textured board and batten pattern that frames the bed. We used Sherwin Williams Functional Gray to create a beautifully warm and inviting feature wall, while not screaming accent wall.
Then we built out the bedding area. This head board was a dream come true with the tufted fabric and height to create a more dramatic look. From there I found these nightstands to compliment the height fo the headboard. I love how they have a wider width yet have open space at the bottom to prevent them from feeling to heavy in the space. For the actual bedding I went with this white textured duvet cover and layered it with the oatmeal quilt, pillows and double textured poofs. The simplicity of the bed helps allow all the features in this area to stand out. And can we talk about this rug!!! Because it not only feels amazing but absolutely pulls the entire space together.
Across from the bed we placed this stunning dresser, which we spent some quality time hunting for. We just had to find that perfect one. To make the dresser function better for our clients we changed out the hardware. This made it easy to use. Plus, I love the contrast it provides with the piece. I styled the dresser on both sides to give a nice balance to the television on the wall.
Along with window wall we created a set of custom built-ins framing out the window. Each built-in shelving unit has custom lighting that of course is smart lighting. From there we created a coffee bar with mug storage, a matte white Keurig and coffee pod storage. On the opposite side we created a bourbon bar with a decanter and tasting glasses. Between the built-ins these amazing comfortable chairs and small end table create the perfect space to kick back and enjoy a beverage a read.
On the opposite wall we created the perfect black and white travel gallery. At the moment we’ve got a mix of both images that came from the set as well as ones our clients have taken on their own travel journeys. The goal for this space is to provide a beautiful styled memory wall from all their travels together. Above the gallery wall we went with this light to help create a rad mood and below we refinished our clients grandmothers hope chest to give it new life!
Having a fan in this space was an absolute must. This one has a simple modern look and we went with white to have it blend in with the room more than stand out and draw attention to it. We then paired the fan with an amazing faux wood beam.
I love how all elements of this massive master bedroom have come together. Below is a full list of all the sources inside the space.
We hope you enjoyed this reveal as much as we enjoyed creating it. Much
It’s hard to believe that we are already here, our final reveal of a modern farmhouse entryway. I think that is something I love so much about the One Room Challenge…it takes the whole renovation process and turns it into one big whirlwind fast, quick and then the next thing you know it’s over. With that being said we are beyond excited to show you all the fun things we’ve jam packed into this space.
But first, if you are finding us for the first time from the One Room Challenge, welcome! We are Danielle and Michael Gutelli, a husband and wife team and the faces, creators and business owners of Clark + Aldine. We are based in a small town in Michigan nestled between Detroit and Ann Arbor! On our site you’ll find all kinds of DIY project tips and tricks, our client projects, and bits and pieces of our everyday lifestyle including travel, food and family things! We hope you hang out with us and find some inspiration!
Now let’s get into it. If you missed out and need to catch up on the weeks leading up to todays post, make sure to check them out.
Just a tiny difference…right! It’s hard to believe that is even the same space. We are proud to present to you our Otter + Howell One Room Challenge Modern Farmhouse Entryway. This space is jam packed with function, purpose and all the things you need to make your life that much better. Today we get to walk you though each element of the room and why we did all the things. And don’t you worry I’ve got you hooked up with all the sources linked at the very bottom of the post!
Let’s talk about this mudroom!!!! First I think everyone needs a mudroom in their life, period. It makes your life just that much more functional. We both love finding nooks and spaces inside everyones home to create just that. In this project we were fortunate enough to have an entire room to build out the perfect mudroom. It’s full of options for storage, thanks to Michael’s double shelving design for additional baskets! I found both baskets at Target!
You know, Target has become my favorite passing time. Just me and my thoughts strolling the aisles. The wire ones are going to be perfect for things you need to actually see, while the coiled rope baskets are exactly what’s need for basically anything you don’t want to look at all the time! I love how the two different textures play off each other in design and everyday function. It’s a win win for sure.
For the bottom of the mudroom we left the cubbies open. Each cubby perfectly fits these dog beds, allowing for the beds to be moved to any part of the mudroom area. I also love that multiple shoes can fit into the space and taller boots fit perfectly under the bench as well. You know, since we live in Michigan where the weather swings in any direction it pleases day by day. So if you aren’t gushing over the mudroom yet, you now can create it on your own as well! Here is the link to How to build your own mudroom! And as always Michael is available for any questions you have.
Since we made custom dog bed nooks inside the mudroom it only seemed natural to include a custom dog door, to keep those cute little pups inside when our clients aren’t home. For this door we used a vintage barn door that we cut in half. When we found the door it was slightly too big, so Michael cut it to size using his table saw. We also added these adorable dog bowls to the space. The hammered copper metal just elevates them to a whole new level and if they’re going to be out all the time they might as well be beautiful too!
Knowing the space gets a whole lot of traffic making the most out of it was essential in our planning process. Right next to the mudroom we create a household command center! What I love about this space is it houses everything you could need to help keep your life organized, on time, and of course you’ve probably already guessed it, but yes I’ll say it again FUNCTIONAL! Are you seeing a trend here yet?!?
Having a monthly calendar is key to staying on track and knowing just what is going on in your life. Yes, something you can actually see that isn’t in your phone. We love this one from Circle and Square Decor. Not only is it eye catching but it is a fully custom acrylic calendar. Plus, it works with dry erase makers! So naturally we needed a bin for all the colors. This one from Amazon fit nicely into our display. Knowing how much paper comes with mail and kids we went with 3 wall organizers. And because of this location, right off the garage, we added a key rack. Who wants to spend 15 minutes looking for where you last left your keys! Oh and to add to that we hung this clock to help keep everyone running on time….or at least closer to on time! Now if you want the full breakdown for the command center you can head over here! We’ve got all the steps broken down to your dream walls come true!
The last space here is the laundry room area. This one is what we like to call Pinterest Perfect with all the good detailing to make doing laundry not so bad…if that’s a thing. The first goal for this area was to create a beautiful folding table over the top of the front load washer and dryers. You guys can get all the details on how we made that happen right here!!! From there we wanted to create an easy sorting system for all the laundry because no one wants dirty clothing hanging out in their entryway!
We built these laundry basket nooks for easy in and out access, sorting, and storage on the side of the laundry machines. Michael built the shelving unit custom to fit these laundry baskets. Although you could customize the nooks to fit any basket you want! Along the other side we went with cubbies for the dogs or just more additional storage space. To give some added texture to this side of the room I found these seagrass baskets that I love! I felt the seagrass and gray really pulled this side of the room in with the mudroom!
On top of the fold table we wanted to have easy access to laundry pods and dryer sheets. We used these two Anchor Heritage Glass Jars in gallon and 1/2 gallon size. The large round basket next to them gets to house laundry detergent and sprays to help keep the folding counter clear of clutter and ascetically pleasing for everyone passing through! Above the folding table we made a space for a clothes hanging bar for all those items that just can’t be dried. This is where we added in another layer of metal too. The two upper cabinets are from Home Depot and we added this Emtek hardware to give them a richer feel. We also added crown molding around the entire space to tie everything in together.
The last decision made in this space was a rug. The reason we saved this for last was to help give us an idea of exactly how big we wanted to go and how we could add a whole new layer of dimention, personality and texture into the space. This rug from Overstock literally made me jump up and down when I found it. Not only does it give all kinds of happy vibes looking at it, the rug perfectly marries our client’s kitchen space with the entryway! They have a stunning navy blue island that can be seen just outside this space. We ended up going with a 5×7 rug to help fill the space and create a stunning focal point between the laundry room and mudroom area! We are seriously in love with how this space all came together. And I am pretty sure I could post about 100 more pictures to give you that idea. But we will leave you with this, a full list of all the items we’ve sourced. Please reach out if we missed something you are looking for!
OH, and one last thing! Don’t forget to check out all the other AMAZING participants in this seasons One Room Challenge. Simply click the picture and we’ll link you right there!
This One Room Challenge has allowed us to put a whole lot of function into one space. This week we are going to break down how we created a family command center. And don’t you worry we’ve got all the shoppable links you’ll need to re-create this bad boy in your home too!
But before we get there make sure to check out each week of this project in case you aren’t up to speed on this wild transformation!
To build a command center, wall organization, daily system…whatever you want to call it, you need to start with your largest item and build off that. For this command center we startedwith a calendar. Our client Tiffani fell in love with this one for all the right reasons! She loved the look it created on the wall plus the fact there is extra space to write upcoming events was a major win for her! From there we knew they needed to have storage for both mail and kids work that comes home from school. These wall hanging mail organizers were the perfect fit. Once we received them we decided they would be better stained, so we used this Golden Oak stain from the bench and the folding table to create a more polished look.
Since this area is directly off the garage having an area to store keys was important. This one from Amazon was a win as it’s magnetic, ensuring they keys won’t be swinging like crazy. We also love that it has a small ledge that can be used for markers or glasses. Next to the calendar we spray painted this cork board gold! This is the perfect spot to hang up any invitations or reminders you just don’t want to forget about! Fun fact – Tiffani was so obsessed with the idea of a gold corkboard that she beat us to it and painted it herself! We gotta say she killed it…and she is officially hired!
So that’s it for week 5! We have a big full reveal coming your way next week and you DO NOT want to miss it!
Home is something so precious to us. It’s where we get to live, experience life and be truly us, together. Celebrating big life moments and caring for each other in times of need all happens at home. It’s where we are happy, comfortable and motivated to do bigger and better things. Home is our key to who we are and what we love.
Earlier this month we got asked to participate in the Home is The Key campaign with Habitat for Humanity. We immediately knew this was a campaign we wanted to be a part of. Something to support the better good for us as humans. We believe so strongly in their purpose, and what they stand for. Ensuring everyone has a safe home is so important, and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with thisorganization to spread the word this spring. This is a sponsored post on behalf of Habitat for Humanity’s Home Is The Key campaignand its corporate partners. Thank you for continue to push us all to do better, be better!
The Home is The Key campaign is Habitat for Humanity’s national cause campaign to address the nation’s rising affordable housing crisis and generate support and overall knowledge about this crisis. In full transparency Michael and I weren’t fully aware of all these facts prior to joining forces with Habitat and their partners. We now see more than ever why we need to do what we can to make a true difference in peoples lives, outside of the day to day work we do with Clark + Aldine. So let’s start with some facts that completely shocked us.
Did you know:
There is not a single state in the U.S. where a person working a full time at the federal minimum wage can afford the local fair market rent for a two bedroom apartment.
That virtually nowhere in the United States can a full-time employee earring minimum wage afford a one bedroom apartment. In fact, even two jobs with minimum wage cannot rent a two bedroom apartment is 34 states and the District of Columbia.
Nearly 19 million U.S. households pay half or more of their income on a place to live.
In fact, today, 1 in 6 families pay half or more of their income on their rent or mortgage and often are choosing betokening paying for housing or nutritious food, reliable transportation or even life-saving medication.
This is wild to think about. But it is a reality for FAR too many families here in the United States. Can you even imagine not knowing where you might go to sleep for the night, let alone if your children will be safe and warm. It takes the support of people like us who care deeply about this issue to make all the difference.
Everyone deserves a decent shelter to thrive in. Strong and stable homes help to build communities in which are strong and stable. Without an opportunity to own an affordable home this eliminates the barriers to a better, healthier lifestyle. With a little bit of help we all have the ability and potential to stand on our own. Habitate Homes help put families on a new path. A few more quick facts for ya’ll, Habitat does not give away houses. In fact, future homeowners put in a significant amount of time, sweat, and equity in the process. They then pay an affordable mortgage with their home. Future homeowners also receive financial education and training to actually help them succeed and lead them on the right path. There are many ways that we can help and support Habitat. Your finical support, your voice and you time can change the lives of families in your own community and ones around the world.
There is not a single state in the U.S. where a person working a full time at the federal minimum wage can afford the local fair market rent for a two bedroom apartment.
So now that you’ve got all the facts, here’s all the important information of just exactly how you can get involved too. Habitat for Humanity has made this beyond easy you guys: you can donate, shop and share!
Shop to Support: Chico’s FAS: Donate in-store or online at any of the Chico’s FAS brandsmentioned below:
Chico’s: Every sale of a Signature Slub Tee Shirt from April 1 – May 31 will support Habitat, as well as $5 from the sale of each gift card over $25 in value, up to $100,000.
Soma Intimates: From April 1 – May 31, Soma will donate $5 from the sale of each gift card over $25 in value, up to $50,000.
At Home: In addition to featuring Habitat as the register fundraising partner throughout April, At Home will donate $4.55 per coaster from the sale of select coaster sets that give back to Habitat, beginning in April until supplies last.
We’re back! And our website it working. If it wasn’t you wouldn’t be able to read this ????
What I love about this space so much is that it’s going to have multiple purposes and functions going on at the same time…and a whole lot of design. Michael and I worked together to really maximize every inch of the space to meet the needs of this growing family! If you haven’t had a chance to see where we started make sure to check out where we came from!
This week we’ve been busy working on the overall look and feel of the laundry room area. We wanted to create a space that allowed for as much function as possible without becoming overcrowded…you know, seeing as this space is going to be used as an entryway, mudroom/storage space, laundry room and command center. To start, we took the washer and dryer off the pedestals. By doing this you can actually see out the window! That’s a win in my book for sure, the more natural light the better. This also allowed us to plan and build a custom folding top…and it is massive! The next thing we did was center the washer and dryer in the window. From there, Michael sketched and built custom cabinets for either side to complete the space.
Knowing laundry can become a messy situation we designed one cabinet to house 3 laundry baskets. We used these baskets, simple and perfect. On the other side, we went with these seagrass wicker baskets for additional storage.
Michael is going to break down for you how he built these, incase you’re looking to create something like this for your laundry room at home!
STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO LAUNDRY BASKET STORAGE
So, for week 3 of this One Room Challenge I broke down my process for creating mudroom uppers and bases. And that process is essentially the same for any custom build I do…but I am going to share a couple key things to keep in mind as you plan a build for a specific space. Let’s take a laundry basket cabinet, for instance.
First, measure your space. Side to side, front to back and top to bottom. You want to ensure you have the proper clearance for your cabinet.
Once you have your dimensions nailed down, you then need to plan where each of your cabinet shelves will be placed. Using a standard laundry basket you should be able to fit 3 per cabinet. The first will sit on the floor, so only two shelves will be needed (3 if you add the cabinet top).
From there, reference my mudroom build post on the process for ripping down red oak plywood and attaching them together.
Once you have your cabinet put together, it is time for sanding and paint. You can roll or spray, depending on your situation. I actually rolled these because I built them on site and they turned out perfect. I also recommend that a coat of triple thick polyurethane be applied to extend the life of the paint seeing as there will be a lot of movement with the baskets.
To install, slide into place and anchor with a couple screws. I screwed these in at an angle into the baseboard, lightly gripping the subfloor. They aren’t going anywhere!
On top of the our storage we created a massive folding table! Complete with these adorable glass jars, one large and one small for laundry pods and dryer sheeting storage and display! We also installed two upper cabinets and crown molding to completely tie the two sides of the room together. Next week we are going to be tackling how to create a command center and build a custom dog door or baby gate, which ever better suits your needs!
Love what you see here…don’t forget to check out all the other rad One Room Challenge participants and their designs. Click the image below for even more inspiration!
Here we are in full swing of this project…and Michael and I are out of town! We’re on our annual family vacation in Florida, but don’t you worry because we planned ahead. Spending quality time with our family is an essential part of who we are and travel is a MUST in our world.
In order to keep all the things moving we had to put detailed plans in place, including the One Room Challenge. What we did not plan for was a severe 72 hour outage on our website. Fortunately we have an awesome team of support and were able to troubleshoot and identify ways in which we can make things more secure and streamlined. So there’s that.
Before we go any further make sure you check out our week 1 project introduction and week 2 where we show all the before pics before the hammers started swinging. Then you can jump into this weeks project…how we built a custom mudroom for the space.
This mudroom is about to be a show stopper and it isn’t even finished yet! We are beyond excited with how this space is coming together. With two little girls and parents who love shoes we knew this space needed to be extra functional for all their awesome things! This is why we built a custom mudroom with extra storage for everyone. The upper is two tiered with storage for shoes, hats, gloves and mittens, any any seasonal rotational items their heart desires. The lower bench will have two built in dog bed nooks along with additional shoe storage on both sides!
Michael will breakdown the entire process for you and all the things he did to make this space that much more functional for everyone involved!
HOW TO BUILD A CUSTOM MUDROOM
Hey there! Hope you’re all enjoying our One Room Challenge project thus far. This space happens to be my favorite we’ve created to date, not only because it turned out absolutely stunning, but because it was designed with function to the inch. The more purposeful a build is the happier it makes me. I never thought of myself as a custom builder (of furniture or built-ins) but the more I’m pushed and the more I perfect my craft the more I love it.
Before I go any further on my process I have to throw a huge shout out and thank you to two people who got me out of my comfort zone. Rob Tomlinson and Adam Weekley are two distinctly different makers, but equally as talented and supportive of others in the industry. So dudes, thank you! And keep pushing the boundaries!
MATERIALS LIST
4 x 8 Red Oak Plywood (or premium plywood of choice)
1 x 4 red oak (or premium wood of choice)
1 x 2 red oak (or high density fiberboard)
Crown Molding (profile of choice or one that matches your existing space)
Nickel Gap Primed Shiplap
1.25” 18 guage brad nails
2” gold construction screws
150 grit sandpaper
220 grit sandpaper
Paint (color and sheen of choice – we always prefer Sherwin Williams Emerald Interior Satin)
Matte Polyurethane
TOOLS NEEDED
Table Saw
Miter Saw
Brad Nailer
Impact Driver
Rotary Sander
Paint Brush
Stain Brush
Foam Brush
As with any project Danielle and I start by taking measurements and sourcing storage components for the space. We’ve received a ton of questions regarding the size of this space – it is approximately 8′ x 8′. For this project we used these baskets for the top layer and these baskets for the bottom layer. This allows me to design a built-in to spec and utilize every inch. I sketch out all of my builds on my iPad Pro…no fancy software here. While I’m nerdy on the tech front I am old school when it comes to sketch and see this as the perfect marriage of two sides. Prep has always been key, especially for the projects where I built on-site at client homes. Now we have converted our garage to a workshop which is convenient, but means we have to be extremely accurate when taking measurements.
Next up is materials selection. I construct nearly all of my builds with sanded red oak plywood. It’s a premium product that is sturdy and has an amazing grain that really stands out when painted. I rip down solid red oak to use as the face of the built-ins, which I secure using a pin nailer. I have used MDF casing in the past, and while it works well, it has no grain. Just depends on the space.
With the workshop up and running this next phase is even more convenient. I begin by ripping down all of my plywood for the sides, backs and shelves needed. Once I have them all I clean the workshop space, and fire up my Festool Domino. The domino is my new favorite tool that allows me to join every piece together with wooden dowels and locking connectors. And if we’re adding adjustable shelves I will pre-drill hole sets with my Festool Router. Just picture putting together Ikea furniture, but way stronger and easier to use…it’s like that. This is also the time where I would build the bench top. I primarily use oak for this as well, but stain instead of paint. To be continued below.
Once everything is prepped I dry fit the pieces together. No glue, just plug and play to ensure we’re 100% accurate on the cuts and placements. If we’re good to go I prepare myself for hours upon hours of sanding. This process is an absolute must and can make or break a build. I always sand while components are dry fit, and then do a final pass or two when they are apart. NEVER skip out on the sanding needs…the final result will be well worth it.
With a fully smooth surface it is time for paint. Since I don’t have a paint booth (or even a makeshift one at this point) I cover all of my surfaces with paint cloths and plastic wrap. Note that plastic wrap is NOT good to use on floors as any overspray (if you use a sprayer) will stay wet for quite some time. And if you’re working in a tight space that means stepping in wet paint…no good. I will do a post on using a sprayer to paint in the near future, but for now just know it’s paint time.
After the paint is applied I will begin the staining process. I first start with my sanded oak top and get a wet Terry cloth to wipe down the entire surface and edge. This is called “water popping” and it pulls out the grain after sanding. The grain is where the stair settles in and shows those deep colors. Trust me on this process…it’s essential.
The last step upon paint and stain completion is install. Again, I will do a full install post soon…but a couple of notes. Always come with paint and a brush as touch ups may be needed. This is also the time where I add any trim molding to give that permanent built-in look. Once the bench top is set I polyurethane the top (typically twice) with a triple thick poly (see what I did there)?!?
More to come as Michael mentioned, but for now here is this awesome mudroom transformation. Come back to see us next week for week 4 of the One Room Challenge.
And if you’re local and want to add some function to your space, give us a call. We’d be happy to build a custom mudroom for you too!
Be sure to check out all of the awesome guests participating the the One Room Challenge…there are some seriously talented people and amazing spaces!
Here we go with week two, otherwise known as Michael’s favorite week because it’s the time for demo and project planning. In this week’s post we are going to break down our entire project timeline so you can reference it when tackling your own mudroom/laundry room area in a short period of time.
Week 1 – Design concept, space and project planning, sourcing and purchasing items for the space to ensure everything arrives on time!
Week 2 – Demo, new flooring install, drywall (including mud, tape and sanding).
Week 3 – Molding and mudroom build and install (base and door casing, bench, uppers and shiplap), caulk, sand and paint. Install hooks and place baskets.
Week 4 – Laundry room build (side cabinets and folding table top above washer and dryer). Sand, paint, stain and poly.
Week 5 – Command Center instillation and finish up any details left throughout the space.
Week 6 – Any finishing touches that need to happen will happen this week. We will style the space, lay the rug and hang any finishing touches we just haven’t got to yet.
Our overall goal for this space is to make it as open and functional as possible. Currently the space is broken up by two sides – the mudroom area with a closet that our clients are using for storage of random things throughout their house, and the other side is for their laundry room. With two little kids, two dogs and two working parents this space gets a ton of use. At it’s current stage it has become a dumping ground for all the things and barely functional.
Inside the mudroom we will incorporate dog beds, lots and lots of hooks, plus more storage! We are then going to transform the other side of the room into a full functioning laundry room. Also on the Mudroom side we’ll be adding a command center equiped with everyday essentials to make sure life runs smoothly. Such things will include a calendar, paperwork storage (kids), key hanger, pin board and clock to make sure everything runs on time!
This week we ran into our first challenge. Our goal is to make the space as open as possible, and that means taking out the closet. As with any project you just don’t know what you’re going to find when you start busting into walls. For us that meant finding some unexpected HVAC….not part of our plan, at all. Fortunately for us we found that the HVAC inside the wall was running to absolutely nothing! We were able to open up the space and get a clean slate.
We cannot wait to show you the full progress after this week. The change is about to be insane!
Wow! We’re back again for another One Room Challenge. Probably one of my favorite times of the year. I love how this challenge forces us to focus on one room and accomplish all the things in that one space in under 6 weeks! I also love how this brings this rad community together and I get to become inspired all over the place while I watch magic happen in homes.
Before we go any further, let me first welcome you if you are finding us for the first time. Now let me give you just a little bit of background information about us and then we can jump into our project for the next 6 weeks. Our names are Danielle + Michael Gutelli. We are based in a small downtown area in Michigan, nestled between Detroit and Ann Arbor. We are a husband and wife design, remodeling and styling team, and content creators. If you’re just dying to know more about us you can read here, and to get a better idea of what we do you can learn more here and here!
We are excited to be a part of this challenge again this year. This isn’t our first time around. You can check out our very first One Room Challenge with our Master Bedroom. The second One Room Challenge we participated in we tackled our Master Bathroom. And last year we created a kid friendly space in our Boys Shared Bedroom.
Master Bedroom BeforeMaster Bedroom AfterMaster Bathroom BeforeMaster Bathroom After
Master Bathroom AfterBoys Bedroom BeforeBoys Bedroom AfterBoys Bedroom After
This time around we are geeked to tackle a new space and one that is not in our own home! A huge thank you to Tiffani and Chris, our super rad clients, for letting us showcase their home. We are transforming a laundry room into a laundry room/mudroom area. To start any project we always start with inspiration from spaces that already have everything going on and the vibes we want to bring forward in the spaces we create.
To make this project more manageable for everyone involved we broke it up into three different spaces: Mudroom, Command Center and Laundry Room. We are also going to be adding in space for Tiffani and Chris’s two adorable dogs to hangout.
We’re looking forward to sharing this amazing transformation with you over the next 6 weeks! Until week 2, enjoy!
Paint is our absolute favorite way to transform the space without a ton of work or investment. But when it comes to small spaces we find that they tend to be the hardest to paint. So we are going to break it down for you and share all of the things you need to do before you get started, during the process and clean up!
First things first…pick a paint color.
Picking your paint color is the most important step of the process. Because, without a color you can’t really paint can you?!? We have a five step plan to picking the right color for each space.
Decide on a color family you want to paint the room. Having all pieces of the room available to look at is an important part because you want to see what shade looks good together. Plus it’s a lot easier to change a paint color vs a piece of furniture.
Go pick up paint swatches. This part can be overwhelming. But it really is important to pick up colors to bring home. We like to pick any where between 3-7 different shades of the color. Then we bring them home and look at them in the space we are going to paint. Please don’t pick your paint color out at the store…it will not look the same once you get home. ***Important tip – bring at least 3 of each color home. This way you can put them on different walls!
Place the swatches in your space. Bring them home and get them into the space you are going to paint. We like to lay the paint colors down together and see if we can immediately eliminate any. Most of the time I can, because as we said they never look the same in your home!
Number the paint swatches. Then tape the swatches on each wall of the room. We space them out so we can see the variations in color with different lighting.
Look at the paint in the morning, midday and at night because, you guessed it, each time of day can change what your paint looks like. We also like to look at the paint with the lights on and off. That’s because natural lighting vs your light bulbs give you a very different color look.
Prep the space
Paint prep can be time consuming, but you will be glad you took the time to do this part. A couple quick steps to get you a better end result.
Remove ALL electrical switch and outlet faceplates, air vents, air returns and accessories (such as toilet paper holders, towel bars and mirrors). You want to ensure you cover the entire surface.
Remove all nails and screws that may be hanging art or accessories on your wall. The holes will be easy to spot after you paint.
Fill any holes that you do not plan on using after you paint. We prefer Dry-Dex (better known as “the pink stuff”) that fills holes and is easy to sand once dry. It doesn’t take a lot, so be conservative with how much you use. Fun fact – the pink stuff turns white when it is dry and ready to sand…very little thinking involved here.
Wipe down the walls and vacuum. This will eliminate any debris or dust, and ensure that your tape (if needed) sticks well throughout the painting process.
Tape off your baseboards door/window casing and any permanent surfaces not being painted. If you use good painters tape, your cleanup will be minimum. And the more you clean, the better your tape will adhere to the surface. And once you’re done painting remove the tape immediately…yes, while the paint is still wet. This decreases the likeliness of paint sticking to the tape, requiring you to cut with a knife blade.
Painters tip – should any paint seep through the tape onto your flooring, simply take a knife blade and delicately scrape away. If it is still wet, a damp terry cloth will remove the paint without issue.
Choose the right paint supplies
Ok, so while new paint is the quickest and easiest way to immediately transform a space, it isn’t necessarily the cheapest. Choosing and investing in the right materials is essential…and for the most part, these are 1 time purchases or at the least very seldom. So do it right the first time around!
Paint. Your sheen is important, especially when dealing with a ceiling. When using any white shades we’ve become fans of painting the walls and ceiling the same color. This makes the space appear bigger – almost as if the ceiling does not exist. Suriously…it’s kind of trippy. Also really important is the quality of paint you buy. We’re huge fans of Sherwinn Williams. After the first experience, we’ll never not go with SW!
Drop cloths. You can never have enough. But ALWAYS be sure to shake them out after and prior to each paint project.
Roller. A good roller cover goes a long way. Don’t go the cheap route here.
Roller Cover. Also an essential product to spend a little more on. Whatever brand you choose, make sure to grab one with a 3/8 inch nap.
Brush. Begging to sound like broken records over here. But we’re advocates, and experienced, for spending a bit more on these products. We’ve unfortunately seen what cheap gets you…a lot more work in the end, that’s what.
HANDy Paint Cup. Sweet handy cups to carry along with you when you’re cutting the edges and along trim/ceilings. Like what we did there?
HANDy Paint Tray. This is a great item to have for future products. It has handles on both ends, which allows for easy carrying throughout your space. And it’s extremely solid and durable, while remaining light weight.
HANDy Paint Liner. Ok these are a game changer. With how often we paint, we simply cant imaging life without these trays. We use them then we toss them. And they come in packs of 3! At this point we’re stocked up knowing how many client and home projects we have coming up.
Tape. Another item we always have on hand. In fact these rolls can be found in many rooms of the house. And in our truck, Jeep and the trailer.
Patience. You can’t buy this, but without it you’re likely to fail. Just sayin…
Steps to paint
We’re not paint pros. But we’ve collectively painted approximately 225 spaces over the years, so we do know a thing or two. And while we too know that every pro and experienced painter has their process, we want to share ours.
Assuming you’ve prepped the space and have all of your supplies setup and ready to go, it’s time to get the flow. Music or a solid podcast do the trick for us – just depends on the vibe for the day. Don’t be afraid to turn the volume up a bit.
Stir your paint. We go 50 times clockwise, then 50 counterclockwise. It’s something Michael was taught growing up so it stuck.
Get your cup loaded up. Don’t go too crazy. Just pour enough to get started and go from there.
Start in one corner and begin cutting all of your edges and trim areas throughout the space. Work your way around until you have your first coat cut. We typically cut a space twice before we start rolling. 90% of our spaces require 2 coats so once we finish lap 2, we’re done with the brush. But those rooms with blue, green or red can require a bit more love…so don’t clean your brush too soon.
Load up your paint tray and get that roller soaked. Don’t be afraid too start slow. We find that the first couple passes take a bit longer. But once you get that roller soaked, it begins to keep more paint and you can cover more space with one fill.
When applying paint to the wall, do not just go with an “up and down strategy”. You want to work the paint in, so start with a “V” or “W” shape over a small area. Do that chosen shape a couple times and then work in the paint vertically. This allows the paint to spread and soak in seamlessly.
Two coats should do it. The 2nd should be applied thicker than the first, and will go on a lot smoother and cover more space. If you chose to go with one of those tricky colors just be prepared to spend more time and effort in getting that perfect surface.
PRO TIP – always put the lid back on your paint can and move it away from the vicinity in which paint work will be conducted. Trust us on this one.
Clean up
There’s not much to it with this step, so no need for a full breakdown. Remove all of your tape and scrape or wipe away any excess paint that may be left behind. Then remove, shake and fold your drop clothes, and clean out your tray/cup/brushes with warm water. No soap is really needed here, but extra time is necessary when cleaning your brush. We use our roller covers one time, then we toss. Some like to use them multiple times but we’ve found that once they are used and cleaned, the next times around don’t result in the best finish. Once all of your items are cleaned allow them time to air dry. As well as allow time for your surface to dry before you re-install any accessories, fixtures or art.
Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy the hard work and your new beautiful space. We hope this helps you in all of your painting endeavors. As always, drop us a line or leave a comment with any questions. And send us pictures of your finished spaces!!! We want to see all the paint!
