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DIY laundry room folding table

3/17/2010

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I know it has been awhile since I blogged, I guess I just needed some downtime.  I have been working on a lot of projects and after the 4 days of rain we had a lovely spring day here today.  I even started to do my garden cleanup.  
As for the kitchen, it has been moving along quite nicely. We finally got the washer and dryer to the basement and got in the cabinets. We did have one measuring snafu where we forgot to account for the crown molding when purchasing the upper cabinets, so we got them all up then realized that there would only be 13" of space between the top of the counter and the bottom of the cabinet. Not enough space for the appliances that are going to live in this area! So back I went to get smaller cabinets.  
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Laying in bed, not able to make my brain stop, that night I came up  with a great idea for the 39" cabinets that were too big.  I decided to use them to make a folding (for clothes) table for over the washer and dryer.
The next day I headed to the hardware store and my favorite Hillside employee Tom helped me find the perfect small casters.  I attached 4 casters to the bottom of each cabinet and voila... rolling bookcases (with cabinet doors where desired).  I flanked the washer and dryer with the cabinets, and as my front loading machines are not on pedestals the cabinets were the perfect height to start off and the casters added about an inch and a half. The cabinets also happened to each be 30" wide, a little wider than the depth of the washer and dryer. I really just love when things work out. I measured the width of the washer + dryer + two 12" deep cabinets and guess what... it was 80 inches. I ask you what comes 30" by 80" in a standard size??? Any guesses???
A DOOR! Then I happened to look in an area of our basement where the previous owner left all the old screens and a folding door, not perfect, but it was the right size and available so I made it work.
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I needed a little cleaning and a brace in the middle.  Then I removed the knobs and started to upholster it!
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1. I laid out my 3 yards of fabric (good side to the floor) 
2. Then a layer of batting
3. a layer of 1.5" soft foam, cut about an inch and a half larger than the door.
4. Door on top!
Using my handy staple gun and 1/2" staples, I pulled the batting tight and stapled it to the door.
Starting in the center of one side I started to staple the fabric, working out to each edge. I also made sure to pull the fabric tight on the opposite sides so as not to have any wrinkles or loose areas. 
The corners were a bit tricky, you just have to get the fabric in the right place and then staple.  After I finished stapling I trimmed all the extra fabric and batting.  Then I decided to back it with burlap.
With the door still on the floor I laid one edge of the burlap on the edge of the door, overlapping by about an inch and a half.  then I put a few staples in to secure it in place.
I then took it down stairs lined it up on top of the cabinets, and attached it with screws going up into the door from the top of the cabinet.

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Now I have plenty of storage for laundry supplies and the table top is at the perfect height, I don't even have to bend over to fold.  I fold and sort all the laundry then challenge the children to take their piles up and put them away (let's see who can do it first!). They don't mind the two flights of stairs! Now i just need the rest of the room to match my sunny new folding table, but that is a project for next fall.
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    About Vallery...

    I live outside of Boston with my husband, two children, and dog. For the past 8 years I have been working with clients to help them make their home dreams a reality. From helping to build homes from the ground up to helping round out already finished spaces, I listen to my clinets and let their vision guide our process. I have always been a creative person planning spaces and working to make them function better. After completing the Residential Interiors program at Boston Architectural College I learned how to combine my love for funcion and flow with my eye for color, scale, and balance. As a graduate of New York University's Stern School of Business, I understand project planning and budget management. My experience working with clients, contractors, and architects helps to coordinate and streamline the home building and renovation process, helping my clients to have the home they dream of with less of the stress that comes with building and decision making.

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