Monday, November 1, 2010

The Monkeys Have Been Set Free ....

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween !!  We had a weekend full of fun festivities.  And, yes, we decided to "rock" the Snooki/The Situation look (from MTV's Jersey Shore).  Yo!  Actually, it was fun to wear a wig that is my natural hair color (almost makes me miss being a dark, dark brunette).


Annn-eeee-way ... so, recently, I decided it was time to free the monkeys from our mudroom so that they could go back into their natural habitat (lol). 

BEFORE:  I really did love the red monkey wallpaper that was in there for about 4 years, but, honestly, it always made the room appear a bit dark, and it really limited me in my decorative accessories.


I was greatly inspired by incredibly talented Kim at The Twice Remembered Cottage ... she added beadboard to her dining room (fabulous), and I knew that this was the look I wanted in our mudroom.   And, as many of you know I've been on a lighten and brighten kick lately, so you shouldn't be surprised that I "attacked" this room and turned it into this:


We (meaning our neighbor) added beadboard and 4" wide pine molding (both chair and base) to mimick more of a "farmhouse" look.  I then painted  the walls SW Antique White. 

BEFORE:  Monkey and palms ev.er.ree.where!


AFTER:  Yay(!), lighter and brighter:


In keeping with the farmhouse feel I was going for, our friend removed the basic door casings and added the wider 4" pine molding ... love it:


I found this fun vintage sign at Michaels and placed a plain black frame around it.  I am waiting on a few oversized, metal wall laundry pins from Ballard's to go on this wall, too.


The area beside my washer/dryer remains my little grand central station, as far as calendar, invites, etc., goes.  We had the black granite (that once sat on our kitchen island) cut down and placed here instead:




Above the cabinets, I placed a few fall pretties:


On the wall by the door leading to the garage, I placed this fun chalkboard (from Home Goods) that has cute little knobs ... love how rustic it is.  And, of course, I couldn't wait to break out my chalk paint markers:


On the wall opposite the washer/dryer, I added a coat rack (from Lowes), a picture ledge from Home Goods (that I painted white), along with some fun black picture frames!  Actually, I found the frames as part of a boxed set at Belk's (50% off ... score)!  They are super lightweight, and you simply hang them on the wall with Command Post Strips (that were also included):


I opted to place a few frames on the picture ledge since I love the layered look:


A coupla "Fall" pillows sit on the black bench below, which also serves as perfect storage for stinky shoes (lol):


And, lastly, no mudroom is complete without a clothes bin embellished with a little chalkboard (which I couldn't help but to add a goofy title to ... yes, I'm a doof), along with some ca-ute Spiderman pj's hanging out:


We're still tweaking this room.  I really am enjoying the change!
Thanks for stopping by,

46 comments:

  1. What funny Halloween costumes...LOVE it! Your fall and Thanksgiving ready decor looks amazing...so pretty! I really like that chalkboard hooks and festive pillows!

    Liesl :)

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  2. It looks great, Becca! I love the wall color and the beadboard! It is definitely light and bright.

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  3. What a great transformation! I am loving the bead board and the paint colors but mostly all the little details like the coat rack/sign and the funny sign on the clothes bin! You need to come over and help me brighten up the room I call the dungeon!!

    Happy November!

    XO,
    Jane

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  4. LOVE IT!!!! Oh Snooki, would you mind very much if I just completely copied this??? :-) I have been debating for 2 years whether or not to wallpaper or paint my mud room and you just swayed me over to the paint side! The beadboard is perfect and would totally work in my space as well. Isn't imitation the sincerest form of flattery? :-) You are WAY inspiring, my friend!
    Vanessa
    P.S. You know how to rock the Jershey Shore look!

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  5. I meant to say Jersey Shore!! I've got blogging brain! :-)

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  6. Snooki -- ha ha ha! You guys look great! I love the change to your laundry room. It's like a breath of fresh air. I adore beautiful laundry rooms - but always wonder where on earth do you hang your mops and brooms? In the garage, I assume....I have always been afraid to use so many different paint colors throughout my home, but Becca you make it look so seamless. I love it!

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  7. Hi Becca! Goodness you all look funny and great all in one. Fun!

    I love your laaundry room! You always amaze with your visions and the way you just go ahead with them. Gorgeous, gorgeous job! The wainscotting and light paint color look fabulous in the room. It looks twice the size. I'll bet doing laundry is a wonderful thing now. Love the coat rack too.

    Happy week! ~Melissa :)

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  8. Your laundry room makes me swoon! I have been trying to plot and plan how to put a work station in our micro hall of a laundry room! I love the light and bright. It is just beautiful!

    Big ol' fist pump to you, girl!!!

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  9. First off, I love your whole washroom makeover. Now I know what to do with the rest of the bead board I have left over from our Island redo. Secondly, I am totally digging the snooky look on you! I have to tell you, my niece in law who is in her late 20's did Snooky for Halloween too, right down to the orange tan and beaded glasses but I had no idea who Snooky was until I asked the Mr. (LOL!) I have heard of the "Situation" though! I really need to get with it! Great costumes, yall look so cute! :)

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  10. Becca, what a great job on that mud room/laundry room. So much better. I love bead board. Wish I could get the man to do that in mine. I do have to repaint mine, too. Too dark yellow and I can't stand it. So glad you will be joining the party.

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  11. Cute costumes ;) REALLY like the new laundry room and how bright it is. I'm a big fan of red and had red walls once in my foyer but the reveal really shows how dark it was before with the red wallpaper. Now it looks fresh and inspiring place to do your P.U. laundry ;) Thanks for sharing, fondly, Roberta
    http://con-tain-it.typepad.com

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  12. Ohkay I love the costumes. I hate to admit it but I love that show!!! Love love the laundry room. I'm afraid to tell you that I have leopard wallpaper in my upstairs bathroom. I've been wondering on weather or not to rip it down now after looking at your new room I know I need to go for it!!!

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  13. it looks absolutely lovely! It must be a great new breath of fresh air when you walk in to hte house!

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  14. Your too funny Becca or should I say Snookie?

    I love your mudroom transformation. I like the lighter look you have going on. I too tend to lean to the darker colors.

    Thanks for sharing :D

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  15. becca~just stumbled on your blog. love the mudroom! great inspirtations on your site. i want to rip and tear my whole house and you have inspired me! i don't think my hubby will be as supportive:(
    i will be back...xo cindy

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  16. I love that wallpaper too, but really like how much lighter your room looks now, it looks gorgeous. I'd love to get creative in my laundry room, it's about the only room I haven't decorated yet! One day soon ;-)

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  17. Wow gorgeous mudroom! I love your style so I'm your newest follower :) Great costumes, too, btw!

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  18. Love the redo!!! The wallpaper is really cute & fun but I can see where you would get tired of looking at it everyday. I just love the new look!

    BTW - You look great with dark hair!!

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  19. Wow! I might actually do laundry in a room that awesome! It turned out lovely!

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  20. LOVE THE CHANGE! it looks great!

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  21. Love this post! Yo! Wasup? You and your main squeeze look so adorable dressed up for Halloween!! I have to say, I really like the dark hair on you. You wear it well! =)

    WOW, what a great transformation in your laundry room. I love the bead board and now your space looks LARGER for some reason....maybe lightening it up did the trick. I like all the cute accessories too! Honestly, I don't know where you find the time to beautify your home the way you do. I sure could bottle that energy of yours! ;) Thanks for sharing....love, love, love it! ~Liz

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  22. Hi Becca,

    wow! Another Before/After post.You've been super-busy. I much prefer this brighter, lighter look...although the monkeys were pretty cute!

    Sarahx

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  23. That is an awesome makeover of your laundry room, Becca. I love the lighter colors (though I have to admit I was in love with the monkeys at one time myself. LOL). Very well done.

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  24. Hey! This looks awesome! Just wondering did you paint over the wallpaper or did you have to take it down? Love those frames. They look just like Pottery Barn! What a bargain!

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  25. Becca, thanks so much for linking and I forgot to tell you I love those clothespins too at Ballard's. I was thinking of getting them too. I am surprised that they aren't very expensive at all.

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  26. Becca, the mud room makeover looks terrific. It definitely lightened everything up. You did a great job! ~ Sarah
    PS
    Thanks for the visit. Hope to see you again.

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  27. You look great as snooki!!! I jst went dark myself! It's growing on me.

    Love this redo!!! You decorate so beautiful!

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  28. I love it! So pretty and bright now. I'm thinking of changing out our door frame trim like you did. Love the look!

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  29. This is just wonderful girl...I did the beadboard in my laundry room in July and really do love it, so clean looking and goes well with all my antique laundry items...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

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  30. I love how you are lightening up your whole house! It looks great! Also love how you're still using some neutral and brown tones mixed in with the whites and creams. Looks gorgeous!

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  31. FABULOUS - I'm so in love with your laundry room. I think I'll do something very similar in mine. LOVE IT!!!

    :)
    ButterYum

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  32. Your makeover looks outstanding...love that beadboard!!!

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  33. The monkeys were nice, but so bright and cheery now!

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  34. Nice mudroom makeover! Mine is yellow too.
    ~ Julie

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  35. great room! I wish I had some where to put bead board... I am sure there is someplace...I just love the look of it! wonderful job and cute sign, I do wish however the laundry fairy were real and she would take over my laundry room.

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  36. Wonderful mud room! Who wouldn't want to be in there now. Love your signs..

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  37. What an awesome make-over Becca. Everything about the mudroom looks GREAT!

    Have a wonderful weekend.
    Gail

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  38. Such a wonderful job. Although that was fun wall paper.

    I'd love to have you join my weekly meme, Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  39. Great job...what a transformation! I love it. Every little detail. That door is amazing too! Oh and your costumes are so fun:)

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  40. Great changes! I love the picture ledges with hooks. You did a great job putting it all together.

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  41. You definitely went light and bright. Such a different look. I like both looks. It is fun to see the wide difference. Thank you for sharing.

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  42. Get out. ok - so you know i'm running to HG tomorrow to see if i can find those picture ledges - right?? thanks for stopping by tonight - i hope to have this entry of mine moving to completion station by this weekend. LOVE your mudroom/laundry room - it's very pretty.

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  43. Hey girl! Thanks so much for linking this up to the party! Seeing it again made me all dreamy and inspired about my plans for my own mud room makeover! :-)
    Vanessa

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  44. Fantastic....

    All the best,
    Kathy :)

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  45. It looks so cute in there! I love all the white and bright!

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  46. What a great transformation!! Beautiful!

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I appreciate your comments!