There’s a reason why all of those house tour posts never showed our laundry room: it’s a huge mess!
I figured, if I’m going to stick with my commitment to live clean with non-toxic, sustainable products from the Made to Matter, Handpicked by TargetTM collection, I should do it in a (clean) laundry room that makes me want to spend a little time in there. There is a skylight, after all!
So in addition to stocking up on recycled paper towels and high efficiency laundry detergent from Seventh Generation and method, I’ve been bringing home lots of storage boxes and baskets, poring over inspirational (aspirational) images of laundry rooms on Pinterest, hunting down the perfect peg rail, and replacing dingy plastic scrub brushes with pretty wood ones. (You know, so I’ll use them more.)
Here’s what it looks like now. In my wildest dreams, we’d move all of the hookups so that the washer and dryer are stacked on the back wall; we’d get a tankless water heater to save on space; and that water softener would go somewhere else to free up the corner. Then we’d have someone come in and build custom cabinetry. But realistically, I think a little paint, a little purging, and a lot of reorganizing will go a long way.
What do you think about the grey for the cabinets? I’m leaning toward a very pale, cool grey (like the one on the upper right) at the moment, but it will probably be a last-minute call.
As for what’s inside, we’re cleaning up our act. I think we’ve moved that bleach with us at least twice, but we never use it. I think I have it because my mom did. (Sort of like my iron.)
This post is sponsored by Target. The Made To Matter line has been handpicked by Target to bring you brands that make things better for your you, your family, and the place we all call home.
Heading into balmy August (it’s right around the corner!), here are five easy summer hat styles to keep the sun out of your eyes on warm afternoons in the park, on the beach, on vacation, or in your own backyard.
These Ecuadorian hats are made with tremendous care, woven from the leaves of the toquilla palm at night-time only, to protect the material from the sweat of the workers making them. The hats have a long and colorful history that includes cameos from Teddy Roosevelt (who wore one while visiting the Panama Canal), and a slew of stars from both past and present, including Ernest Hemingway, Jon Hamm, and Diane Kruger.
Did you know that the bowler hat—and not what we recognize as the traditional cowboy hat—is what was known as the “hat the won the West”? It wasn’t until the 1860s, when John Batterson Stetson created the very first cowboy hat, that the modern iteration was born. (For inspiration on keeping cowboy hats current, visit Refinery29, here.)
Elegant and ultra-feminine, the wide-brim floppy hat is perfect for days when there’s not a cloud in the sky. Wear one with a dress and sandals (or just a bathing suit or a beach cover-up) for instant polish.
Traditionally a men’s hat, the boater is made of stiff straw and comes encircled in ribbon. Best known in the past as a political accessory or as part of school uniforms, the boater has been making a unisex fashion comeback as of late—Forever21, Urban Outfitters, and ASOS have all thrown their respective hats (sorry, couldn’t help it) in the ring.
Baseball caps date back to the mid 1800s, and were designed to shield players’ eyes from harsh sunlight. They’re still worn on the field today, but non-athletes can get in on the fun, too, with patterns and prints and a variety of textures (chambray or straw in the summer, wool or felt in the winter).
I used to write posts marking each month in Hudson’s first year, with photos of him on the same couch. My intention was to switch to every six months, but it’s been two years. So this one is extremely long. I thought about editing it, but instead I’m just posting with the caveat that you might just want to look at the photos and leaving the reading (and re-reading) to me and his dad.
Happy Birthday, Hudson! You can officially call yourself three, now.
