Blank Slate Laundry/Office Budget Breakdown + Electrical Work

Thank you so much for the kind words of support and enthusiasm for the big Blank Slate Laundry/Office reveal. I think that everyone who initially voted to paint the room white went to the dark side with me when I changed my mind. Choosing Mount Etna felt like a gutsy move. Several of you worried about it feeling like a cave. I get that. However, with the large windows, adjacent breakfast nook, and white ceiling and trim, even on the gloomiest days, there is plenty of natural light.

Now that the project is complete, it’s budget breakdown time. Money is often a loaded subject, but I try not to shy away from talking about it on this blog. Understanding the cost of DIY and old home maintenance is key to planning projects, and I hope it is helpful.

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Cabinetry and Decor

• Cabinetry (5 cabinets units total) $527 – These units are 10% off at Lowe’s until June 3, 2019. Use your Lowe’s credit card to save an additional 5%.
• Drawer Pulls (eBay) & Knobs (Lowe’s) – $29
• Rolling Laundry Hamper $70
• Fabric for the Upper Cabinets (six yards) $72
• Soffit Lights (four at $27.13 ea.) $109
• Office Side Sconce $50 (currently only available in brushed nickel)
• Office Chair $70 (on sale at Office Depot)
• Clear Protective Floor Mat (not pictured) $30
• Plants $20
• National Park Posters (coupon codes) $105
• Curtain rods $50

Total: $1132

Supplies

• Paint $70
• Wood for the DIY Countertops $80
• Shoe Molding $35 (I reused all the baseboards.)
• Wood for Upper Cabinets, Soffit, and Shelf (We used some scrap.) $230

Total: $415

Electrical Work

I include this in the total as a reference, but it is really a maintenance item rather than a One Room Challenge item. We chose to take care of it during this project. Since we added on a couple of things (noted), it is difficult to parse out the exact laundry room/ office costs, but here is what we paid for:

• Inspect and terminate all knob and tube wiring (Five areas – 3 lights/2 outlets)
• Add electrical for soffit lighting including a switch/outlet combo
• Rewire office sconce and add a switch (We also did this on the opposite wall in the breakfast nook.
• Add two new outlets (one on a dedicated circuit to support a large space heater.)
• Hang soffit lights
• Repair outlets in the boy’s rooms. (unrelated)
• Repair front porch light/motion light switch (unrelated)

Total $1600

Grand Total:

• Cabinetry and Decor $1132
• Supplies $415

$1547 (without electrical work)

• Electrical $1600

Grand Total $3147 (including electrical work)

By far, this is not our most budget-friendly project, but I feel like we got a huge bang for our buck. The office side of the room is an entirely flexible space. We now have storage and more importantly, safe electrical wiring and fixtures on both sides. The budget included wiggle room for a few meaningful splurges too, like the national park posters and the Rifle Paper Co. fabric.

I always hesitate to ask this question, but how do the totals line up with your expectation? Does it make sense that we spent this much, or do you believe we were way out of line or even out of touch?

-Stacy