Saturday, March 10, 2012

Inside My Back Door


As I have said so many times before, the farmhouse has evolved over the last 12 years. When a need becomes apparent, changes are made.


Originally. the back porch was completely rotted off the house. To look inside the farmhouse before I purchased it, I had to step up on a concrete block to reach the door.



A new screened-in back porch was added.



As time went by and other projects continued, it became apparent that the newly constructed porch would serve me better as an entrance to the house and also a much needed mud room. (sometimes called a utility room/laundry room).

I divided the space in half and made a small nook on one side for two chairs and a small (no big-screen in this house) TV.


Checkered floors have always been part of my home decorating whenever possible. So when I found these squares for a $1.00 each, I knew it would be perfect for this space.


To make it seem more like a entry way (or foyer), I made a skirt to cover the washer and dryer when not in use. I glued on Velcro hook and loop strips just at the top edge of the two machines. Then I sewed the other side of the strip to the back of the skirt.


To give me a smooth work space, I purchased a formica kitchen counter top at Home Depot, the local home improvement store. I simply sat it on top of both machines.


The color scheme was decided with this vintage "paint by number" painting I found at a thrift store.


And old wooden ironing board, that I covered with fabric, makes a place for message reminders. The rabbit is pinned on for this month. It is easily changed out for each season or holiday I want to remember.


This is the under-side of the vintage ironing board.


I used the brown and white dot ironing board material as a trim for the washer skirt.


A folk art wooden box, I painted some years ago, sits on top of a cabinet that holds my washing supplies. The cabinet came in a box. After assembling the cabinet, I sat it on the washer, climbed on a ladder, and screwed it to the back wall.


Since it is a mud room/wash room, keeping the country theme, I'm using a metal wash tub as a place to store my mucking boots and dirty gardening gloves.


Miniature houses, I painted a few years ago, look nice on the a shelf above the washer/dryer.





It's good to be flexible when working with a 90 year old house.
Do you like the choice I made in giving up the porch for this back entry?

Meggie Mac

24 comments:

  1. I do love it! Thanks for the tour!!!

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    1. Thanks, Michelle, for becoming my newest follower. I see, by checking out your blog "Live with Lou", that you love vintage....and sewing machines.

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  2. So many wonderful ideas there Meggie. It is a practical and very stylish use of space. Your painted houses and box are lovely and as soon as I can find an old wooden ironing board I shall be shamelessly copying your notice board idea!

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    1. I wish you were here today. I know where we could purchase an ironing board, just like mine, for $15.00!

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  3. It looks great Meggie, I really love it!

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    1. Thanks, Anne....I'm headed you way to read your latest post. Love the new header! Looks like you are in the greenhouse too...

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  4. GORGEOUS!! I have the same vintage ironing board and I use it as a table at my rotary clothesline to hold my basket of wet clothes and my pins when I'm hanging clothes on the line... :)

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    1. That is nice that you can use it standing up....my farmhouse rooms are so small, I had to use my in another way. I call my spaces "nooks".

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  5. Very creative, Meggie! I really like your painting and using the tub for the muddy/dirty stuff.

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    1. Hi Janet...the good thing about the tub is when it gets too dirty, I can take it outside and spray the water hose on it.

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  6. Your home is just beautiful Meggie - I love the inventive and original way you use things. My washer has a skirt at long last- photos of the kitchen coming very soon!

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    1. Hello Scarlet...I'm watching your blog each day hoping to see more of your kitchen. I think you are very inventive too!

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  7. Hi Meggie, thanks for the comment over on my blog.My neat little bee hive composter was a wedding anniversary present from Tony and I did put it in one of my posts.(not sure which one but its one of the gardening ones, maybe january/february).It isnt big but we only have a small garden, unlike yours-not that I am jealous in any way!!!!!

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    1. Thanks, Anne...I'll take a look for your composter post. There will come the day when I will cut back to smaller. I'm already drawing many flowers in closer to the farmhouse.

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  8. Yes, Yes Yes, I love it all - such precious ideas! My fave is the ironing board, bulletin board....never seen that before but it is a fantastic idea. You are awesome, my friend! One question...do you ever sleep? And do you have some kind of help to keep that farm of yours up? I hope you do!!!!

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    1. Your life is busier than mine. You still have a family to take of. And to answer your question about help...yes, I have a hired handyman that works 3 hours a week with me. Also, the big carpentry jobs are hired out to someone who has been doing this for several years. In the early days for the work I couldn't do, I hired help. But, there has never been anyone fulltime....except me! I do most of it, including riding the big tractor.

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  9. I love your miniatures houses; I love houses in any shapes. Time for me to start a collection ?

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    1. Hi Rachel....I think you should try to paint some too. You understand country decorating and folk art painting is a very simple style of painting. Just base coat and then put in shadows and highlights...

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  10. Meggie, your house is so beautiful! I love the ironing board and little houses, how talented you are xxx

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    1. I love the way you've created a theme in your entry hall.
      Oh, and the expression on your cat's face, as it views the rainy weather, is priceless!

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    2. Hi Linda...you are the first to notice Smoky on the porch. Thanks for taking a look at my blog...

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    3. Hi Emma...I wish I had more time to paint. I may do a post to show some of my paintings. I have loved decorating since I was a child.

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  11. hello Meggie, I just came over from Scarlets blog. I enjoyed looking at posts of how you restored and decorated your home, as we have a similar project on our hands here in England.
    Nice to meet you!

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    1. Thanks, Kath, for stopping by...it seems we all are trying to thrift wherever possible to get our projects done. I'll take a look at your blog today. I'm so proud of all the work Scarlet has done on her kitchen!

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