Monday, March 22, 2010

Sprucing Up the Garage

We recently added a mud room to our house. I designed it and my husband and father in law made it happen. I love it, and will share it with you soon. We live in a tall, skinny townhome and our front door is actually on the 2nd level of the house. We have quite the set of concrete stairs leading to that front door.  And I was always terrified that I was going to fall down them when I was pregnant and later when I carried my son up and down them. Once my son started walking and insisting on doing everything on his own, we started entering the house through the garage, which leads to the basement, in an effort to avoid those dreadful stairs. This new habit led to the creation of the mudroom...which has led to the sprucing up of the garage. Everyone now enters our home through the garage and into the basement...so I wanted them to be greeted with something more appealing than this:

( I almost forgot to take before pics--bad blogger!--that's why the ladder is there...I had just started painting.)

Now our guests are greeted with this:

It doesn't really look like it in the photos, but let me assure you that I painted those walls! I used left over paint from our living room and kitchen (Benjamin Moore's Dunmore Cream). I still have more painting to do. (Can you spot where it ends?)
The shelves were once in a closet and were moved to the garage.
The galvanized buckets were purchased several summers ago for ice and drinks at a party. I added the numbers using peel-and-stick chalkboard paper I had in my stash. I printed out the numbers, taped them to the chalkboard paper and cut the out. Easy peasey.
I also already had the watering cans...I just spraypainted the larger one black with a silver spout. And who doesn't grow flowers in their garage?!? The other pot is holding a stash of twine.

I love seeing all of our boots lined up ready for use at the first sign of a rain cloud!

We hung the curtains--which are drop cloths--last fall all across the width of the garage to hide our storage area. We have shelves full of stuff, stuff and more stuff behind there. I still need to iron those drop cloths!

I painted the door black and added the white vinyl house number, which I purchased from the fabulous Shelley at Wonderfully Wordy. And I found the L rug on clearance at a Marshal's that was closing for under $10!

I think our guests will appreciate entering our home much more now...I know I do!And here's a little sneaky peek into the mudroom! I promise to show you more soon.


Where do you enter your home? The traditional front door, the garage, or somewhere else?

This post is part of "DIY Day" at A Soft Place to Land and "Get Your Craft On" and Today's Creative Blog.



22 comments:

Wendy said...

Can't wait to see your mudroom! Looks great! I love the boots all lined up! so many great ideas in one post!
Wendy

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Jessi, there is no way I would even show our garage area. That looks so nice and organized. We had ours really clean one year and then we trash it back up.

Clean Mama said...

I love this door - this is awesome! I am a huge fan of vinyl decals, too! Lots of great tips in one post. I'll be back :)

Jacinda Vandenberg said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I love your garage update-once it gets a little warmer around here I think I might copy you by painting our door black too, if you don't mind. ;-) Lookin' good!

Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence said...

That is a great spruce up--would love to have you share this Thursday at my linky party. Thanks for your kind blog comments.

Melanie said...

I can't wait to see the mudroom! Loved what I saw through the opened door. I like the boots lined up too:) Makes me smile!

Stephenie from Decorating Addiction said...

Wow! What a transformation! I am so glad you stopped by today because I meant to join your site the first time I discovered it and didn't. I did now! I really like your style.

In fact, I went out and purchased burlap this weekend for my Easter table runner! Thanks for the inspiration.

Es said...

I love the buckets and the way you used them. What a great way to give them another purpose instead of sitting around til the next party!

Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming said...

This looks fabulous! I love what you did with the galvanized buckets they are awesome! So inviting! You did a great job!

Megandvd@Beauty in the Attempt said...

I LOVE the numbers!!!!! I have wanted them on my front door since the beginning of HGTV's Rate My Space! Might have to copy that idea. :) I anticipate seeing the mudroom. :)


Cheers!
e

Kelli said...

Very nice...and welcoming. I love the buckets!

Unknown said...

So clean and organized. Good job!

Emily said...

Wow, that looks great! I need to do this. I love those buckets.

Simply Sara said...

Oh my!
My garage needs you to come and rescue it from the land of ugly please :)
You did a fabulous job! I love the painted door and the cute numbers on it.

Anonymous said...

You have just inspired me to do a bit of Spring cleaning! Oh how my house has been neglected lately. Now I am ready to organize, organize, organize. Thanks!

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

Everything looks great! I've spent 2 days cleaning out my garage, and I'm still not done.
Thanks for visiting and commenting on my candlesticks.
gail

Katie said...

I just love it! I need to do that especially considering that is really the only door I use. Thanks for the nice comment on my mantel!

Jess @ Frugal with a Flourish said...

Very nice - love the numbers on the large buckets! We come in through the garage - it only makes sense you should make that door look nice! Thanks for stopping by the other day!

Kimba said...

Very nice! I've been planning to do something similar to our garage. I'm inspired to get in gear. Nice job!

Sabrina said...

Turned out great and a much nicer look for guests...AND YOU!! I'm hoping to give our garage an overhaul as soon as the weather warms up!

Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking said...

LOVE a black door. Thanks for sharing at the POPP.

House of Smiths said...

LOVE the transformation!
Looks awesome! The numbers look great!!!
Definitely more welcoming!
Shelley Smith