I've been wanting to replace my big ugly plastic Rubbermaid laundry basket for awhile. I've been looking for a wicker one that I could paint but they all seemed so cheap looking to me. Then I found this very sturdy one at a thrift store. It was perfect for the project I had in mind.
I used the same painting technique I showed you yesterday but used blue paint before I did the whitewash over it. I originally wanted to make a removable cover that folded over the top with the lace hanging on it but it was so much harder than I imagined because the basket is tapered at the bottom. I struggled with it for awhile and finally gave up and gathered the top and hot glued it in. For the inside base of the basket I covered a piece of cardboard with batting and fabric and hot glued that in. I still really wanted to add the lace so I just hand sewed it on in a few places around the basket. It didn't turn out as great as I had imagined but it's still better than the ugly plastic basket...unless you are a 15 year old girl who asks why we can't just have a plastic one like everyone else!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Laundry Basket Makeover
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67 comments:
The basket is lovely - and the daughter's comment did give me a chuckle - such a typical teenage comment - but trust me, she will probably change once she is all grown up and on her own. My oldest did - she used to make little comments about my decorating - now her house looks better than mine. LOL!
Debbie
You can't have a plastic one like everyone else because this one is SOOO much better! Great job!
I didn't realize how tacky my plastic laundry basket was till I saw your beautiful wicker make- over.... I am adding wicker laundry basket to the list of things to look for!!! I hope I can find a pretty blue paint.
When I visit your site I always think to myself how creative you are. Your laundry basket and the picnic basket are gorgeous. You definitely have the eye for transforming things.
Your laundry basket turned out so cute, I would hate to put dirty clothes in it, lol. The picnic basket is adorable too, especially the way you have it displayed with the china on top. You sure have the knack for decorating.
In an earlier blog you mentioned you were going to try the nutri system diet, if you've started it, what do you think about it?
Ginger
Great transformation, the basket turn out very pretty. It's does little details, like a simple laundry basket that makes a house look homey. Love to visit you daily, is like taking my daily vitamin.
You really should publish your own magazine about creative & thrifty decorating. However, HAVING to create as opposed to WANTING to create could really be a drag I imagine. Love your ideas!
;-) Brown-Eyes (aka Bo)
Now that is a project that you could remake and sell. I'm sure many women would jump at the chance to buy that. So cute, romantic and different.
Maybe you could Velcro the material in rather then glue it. That way it's washable.
Hugs,
Joanne
Some day she will appreciate all you do to make a home and she will also appreciate that it is OK to be different and not be like every one else. As teenagers it is so important to be like everyone else to fit in and then as adults we all want to differentiate ourselves.
Janet
Great job.
I hate when I in-vision something and can't make it happen. I guess I am not clever enough.
That's funny about Lauren and her comment. Only out of the mouths of babe's came that one.
Ciao
Lovely~
I've made removeable inserts for those baskets. It is time consuming but you can do it. I start with the basket upside down-- and make a cover for the outside. I use cheapo fabric because this will eventually become the pattern. (crazy, but thats how I do it) Once the piece is pinned then sewed together.... I turn it inside out and set it inside the basket then I "pin it smaller" making darts, marking places to cut etc. Takes some patience, but eventually it all comes together. Once the whole thing is resewn and fitting nicely-- I take it all apart and use the fabric as a "pattern" using some fabulous fabric!
I had a good laugh at your daughters comment! I used a tall plastic laundry hamper for the frame of a miniature tree house I'm working on. Maybe she is wanting to make something out of it? lol
~Cheryl
That's the prettiest laundry basket I've seen! You are just pretty darn cool, ya know that? I'm glad I found your blog :)
Naturally, Cindy, you've managed to come up with yet another real winner! (Please tell me they're not all winners and that you just don't show us the uglies!) I absolutely adore what you did! My dogs would tear that gorgeous lace off of that basket and play lets-see-who-can-jerk-this-baby-the-hardest and it would end up in shreds!
Brenda
Cindy
Using this to do laundry would certainly pick up my spirits--so dainty!
Hey, I have an idea for ya, have that 15 year old girl do the laundry and she will then appreciate a bit of beauty added to the mundane task of doing the laundry :)
It looks FABULOUS!
I did one for my niece with a pink/white gingham to match her new baby's nursery. I used eyelet around the edge, but it got in the way of the handles. Do you find the lace gets in the way? Or how did you do that part of the basket, around the handles?
That is such a wonderful transformation Cindy! I love how you see something and know right where you're going with it.
And that picnic basket is amazing too! You always come up with the neatest things. Thank you for sharing your ideas.
So beautiful; that white lace really makes it pop.
Sher's comment is hysterical. If your Lauren doesn't do the laundry already, that may work. My Lauren, now 24, is amazed at how much her tastes have come around to match mine. Funny how that works. Both of your basket projects are great. All I can say is you have great thrift shops! By the way, I'm giving you the "I Love Your Blog" award. I'm sure you've been given this numerous times. But, I've never given one. Check my blog out for how to pass it on.
Cindy ~
I think It turned out great. Love the lace.
Lisa
www.palepinkandroses.com
Very, very pretty. It looks great!
I've gotta invest in a wicker basket soon! Thanks for the inspiration.
I love the lace that you used! Very cute!
~~Liz~~
Nicely done! That coat of whitewash really gives it that added touch. I too, chuckled at Lauren's comment. Have a great day!
Karin
I love hot glue guns. Your basket is very pretty and vintage looking. The white around is great. Just wait..your daughter will be doing the same projects when she is a Mom.
When I was Lauren's age I used to get mad at my Mom when she would buy vases and candlesticks and such for the house. I would tell her we had to many "knick-knacks" already. I really thought of decorations as CLUTTER! I thought it was tacky!! haha...I guess I was a minimalist back then.
But now, I wish I could go through her house and have a little "shopping trip". I know one day Lauren will appreciate your great taste and creativity.
Oh it's beautiful, Cindy! My daughter would probably have said the same thing, and then appropriated the basket to hold the overflow of clothing in her pig-sty of a room... ;0)
xoxo,
Mary
Why be like everyone else when you can have such a beautiful laundry basket? It really looks great. I have a basket just like that. Now you've got me thinking I need to paint it. When my son was a baby, I put a pillow in the bottom of it and used it as a little bassinet. Now, we use it for his laundry.
I bought 2 of those baskets years ago at wal-mart for, I think, $3.00 @ NEVER thought of fixing them up. Not sure I will even now. but I will certainly consider the picnic basket if I find one.
What a great make-over. I'll bet you will enjoy laundry more now. We have a nice wicker basket with lining in the trunk of our car to put groceries and stuff in. I got the idea from my daughter. I used to have a plastic basket in there, but the wicker one is much nicer.
Have a nice day.
Charlotte
Simply beautiful Cindy!! Love the color and the lace :)
Hugs,
Amy
Great project! Yes, the plastic baskets don't have the elegance that wicker baskets do. I did purchase some light green (green like your picnic basket) ones from Walmart for the sun room and those aren't too bad. But when it comes to the bedroom, the plastic seems out of place.
What a beautiful basket! I would almost look forward to doing laundry if I had one a pretty as that! Thanks for sharing another wonderful project :) ~ xoxo ~ Joy
Love the lace on the basket! My daughter wondered why I HAD to use the old wooden ironing board and not a metal one like everyone else.lol. I told her because the height was JUST RIGHT.Laurie
Darling idea!
Come by when you get a minute and check something out...I thought it was really cool and wanted to share! Part I & II!
Cheers!
Robyn
Hi Cindy,
Love your makeover and your recent treasures :) I also Love blue and I do have the new Country Living mag..I also like pink.. but Blue also pulls at my little decorating heart. Just love your posts and ideas. :)
Warmly, Deb
I 100% love your site !! I just started mine to keep everything in one place but I just wanted to let you know I borrowed a piece of a picture you took awhile back at a store over the bed it said vintage couture. I would LOVE to buy that sign. So I made it a piece of my site. Hope you dont mind. Keep your amazing post coming !!
Love the laundry basket look. Your daughter's comments were so cute. Just like Anouk's in Chocolat.... Why can't you wear black shoes like all the other mothers?.... haha... You Vianne, you.... Enjoy...
I love it...and if my black dog wouldn't INTENTIONALLY shed every black hair on that lace I would covet it. :-D
I just love how you know what you like and 'go for it'. I tend to waffle on color forever.
I love this too! Your daughter is so silly...why would she want a laundry basket that looks like anyone else's when you have one as gorgeous as this?
Kady
Great job!
Surely, that basket is only for the CLEAN laundry!! :)
M ^..^
Oh My Gosh! I love it. I like the way it's gathered around the inside. It looks so luxurious.
LOL about the plastic comment.
~elaine~
Love both of your basket projects. Great colors! Hmm, with a laundry basket like that the clothes might actually make it from my laundry room back to my bedroom, lol!
I think what you did with the basket is wonderful! I like the lace around it, too!
This is fabulous!
Hi Cindy, :-)
I love the baskets! they are very cute. Great work! keep it up. hehe
Melissa
Cindy,how lovely this basket looks, think I may be doing a makeover on my laundry basket... Hopefully if turns out every bit as good as yours I shall share it on my blog.
I surely hope you win the house Cindy..for selfish reasons here..LOL
I would just LOVE to see what/how you would decorate it..
You are so free with your decorating tips~ every so up lifting and encouraging on what one can do with even the littlest things..
Thank you
Kerrie :)
THat's pretty, love the color you chose, too :) Bella
i have a wicker laundry basket that was my husband's mother's. I would love to paint it, but I doubt he'd let me! Your's looks great.
Karen
Beautiful! My wicker laundry hamper just died...LOL...don't understand it, was only 27yrs old! Am looking for a replacement, and want to do this very project to it. Thank you for your constant inspiration!
Pippi
It is so cute, you always do such nice work!!
Hugs~Kelly
Uhh - yeah! Don't you just love teenagers! ha ha. You did a beautiful job Cindy!
Cindy
That is too cute! It would almost make me like doing the laundry, well almost :)
Hugs, Rhondi
That is really a great idea! And teenagers...gotta luv 'em.
The basket is so pretty. How do you find the time to do all this? I used to like my laundry basket but no more. I guess I'm shopping.
So cute!
I want to do one for my house as well.
hope I can find a big basket.
smiles,
Sandy
What a pretty laundry basket! I MIGHT even enjoy doing laundry if I make one of these....nah!
I also love your seashell wreath! I did a button frame for my daughter's graduation pic almost 10 yrs. ago now, & have NEVER done another ~ too many mishaps with that darn glue gun!!
Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
I would like to know where you purchaced the lace for the basket. I am haveing a hard time finding some nice lace.
cindy
Where do you buy your lace?
Hi Cindy, My mom gave me that lace, it's an old piece that was made for a pillowcase I believe. You may be able to find some on eBay, just do a search for "vintage lace".
where did you buy your lace
Just how precious is that basket! Oh my goodness I just love it. Poor daughter - someday perhaps she will understand. (at least that is how I reassure myself about my own children - LOL)
Cindy - I love your laundry basket! I also have a 15-year-old girl who has the same thoughts about why we just can't be like everyone else. I think whenever you get the chance, surround yourself with beauty. And it is beautiful!
It turned out beautifully.. your daughter will know sometime why this is better than plastic :)
*{not thinking about being green here .. just happy :) }
MMM gathered and glued. Now that is my sort of project. Planning on using it for a woven fruit bowl.
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