I’ve been sitting on this before-and-after for a long time because there was a give-away tie-in I wanted to do, but I never had a give-away item… until today!
Sadly, the give-away didn’t come by way of a super cool sponsor contacting me like A Cup of Jo or Young House Love… but it’s exciting nonetheless! I received a $50 gift card to Target from work, and decided to share it with one lucky reader… but first, my organized laundry closet (and there is a tie-in to the give-away so pay attention)!
The before picture was from before I even bought my condo. There was one (very large) shelf over the washer and dryer that was so cumbersome. After I got the stackable washer/dryer, my laundry closet looked like this:
er, not much better… it was like that for a looooong time.
But then I went to the Container Store and got a fancy elfa shelf system and now it looks like this:
You like? I do, and here’s why:
- For some reason, I don’t have a hall closet in my little place, so there was no practical place to store the vacuum (especially when I had a roommate). Now, I can wheel that baby in and out of the laundry closet with ease
- There’s a little rod where I can air dry my delicates
- Every single shelf is easily accesible
- It can hold a ton of stuff – including a bunch of super-sized items from Costco
- I can store the laundry baskets on the floor below the shelfs
- The top shelf stores SIXTEEN rolls of paper towels! SIXTEEN!*
- I installed the whole system by myself!
*there is only 12 in this picture, but it can hold SIXTEEN… I promise.
Now… on to the give-away!
Here’s how to enter my first-ever give-away:
- prize: One $50 gift card to my favorite store, Target (with a chance to double it!)
- to enter: Comment on this post and check back at 12:00pm PST on Friday, May 21st
- giveaway closes: Thursday, May 20th at 8pm PST
- bonus question: Throw in your guess at how many unique (paper towels = 1) Costco products there are in the “after” photo for a chance to DOUBLE the gift card to $100! (I’m throwing in that extra $50 just because I think it would be cool if somebody guessed correctly)
You might be wondering why this give-away is open for so long… good question! I’m giving you time to share the opportunity to win $50 to Target with all your friends. You’re welcome. (seriously, I have no idea how this is going to play out and I’d like more than a handful of comments)
Some (less fun) details:
- One entry per e-mail address is permitted.
- The winner will be selected using random.org (using a method similar to this) and announced on Friday, May 21st.
- Prize can only be shipped to an address in the United States
Totally ruining my chances of winning by being the first to comment ;P
I LOVE the container store elfa system, seriously, I have it in my kitchen, my hall closet, and my bathroom! … and some day soon, my bedroom closet
maybe even the office if we get around to it… totally awesome and impressive on how you installed the system yourself! Did you design it yourself as well or have one of the design specialists help you?
Here is my guess for your Costco items:
15 separate items +12 paper towel rolls = 27 items (estimate)
oh gosh – I meant to specify “unique” products from Costco! I updated it now though. Thanks Laura!
Well I’ve been meaning to post here for a while because I have become a big fan of your blog. So no better time than now! You have great tips, and I have used at least a few of them now. I think I will attempt your dad’s nutella strawberries for mother’s day dessert. As far as your extremely organized laundry closet, I’m counting 12 unique Costco products.
Next blog suggestion: you getting a new boxer puppy! Seriously, Laila has become well too adapted to being the baby and needs another to irritate her.
Echoing Jesse’s comments above, I’ve also become a big fan of your blog and have shared it with quite a few friends. My favorite post is “dad gifts”, so sweet.
This post is particularly inspiring, as I have a pantry area that is in need of a reorg. I’ve been using a big Ikea bookshelf for most items, but now I see possibilities galore at the Container Store.
I think I see 3 unique Costco products (or, 14 if we’re counting each paper towel roll individually). I may be way off since I don’t shop much at Costco, not enough space! But maybe after the pending closet reorg, I’ll be able to go there more often.
Hope you get lots of comments!
Very nice! I wish my washer and dryer weren’t in our dungeon of a basement. Maybe someday I’ll be able to spruce it up too!
Thanks for a fab giveaway! I count 7 unique costco items taking into account paper towels are just 1 item.
I spy 3 items uniquely from Costco. I have like a 20 year old washer/dryer unit. But it still washes and dries. Though I’m digging yours.
I have no clue about the bonus question, but I’ll sayyyy…5. Love the before and after pictures! They give me much needed inspiration for my own place.
That is incredible!! I wish my room was that organized!
I will guess 7
Wow what an awesome giveaway and I love how your laundry closet turned out! I wish my laundry room was that organized!
I will guess 8 on the paper towels
Can I redo my guess? I say 12 unique costco items please!
Plus, quick question, where did you get your ironing board? It looks like the perfect size for a small 1 bed 1 bath like mine with limited closet space
I dream of owning a home that is 50 percent closets. Until then… can you please come to my house and help organize. My home is so small that I can’t even see how to fix it. I have considered storing papertowels and extra tp in my fireplace that I never used. But that can’t be the answer, can it? Also, I am curious what type of tools you think I should have in my home for projects like this? I want to be prepared.
I recently moved and went from a teeny tiny closet that I shared with my bf to a super wonderful walk-in closet that I have all to myself. Strangely enough, with all that space I still managed to make a mess out of it. Would love to do something like this with my space!
I’m going to guess 10 Costco Items
Looks great! I’m going to guess 4 items.
ms(dot)verymarried(at)gmail(dot)com
Hope i win!
Ah, Ha! What a great idea. I’ve been rolling the vacuum to the garage and I can now see that by moving a shelf up a little, I can nose that baby in and store it with the other cleaning stuff!
I think there are sixteen Costco products in your closet! Keep these ideas coming. I love your blog!
I love what you did! I hate my laundry area to and it looks EXACTLY like your before picture. What I hate the most is that my husband and I are both 5 ft 1…and cant reach a blasted thing so it becomes storage. I have never thought of the stackable option! GREAT idea!
I am guessing 12 items!
thanks
Too fun! It is always a fabulous feeling to be organized and FINALLY accomplish something.
I think there are 16 Unique items from Costco!
Great giveaway choice!! I LOVE Target!! And since I’m pregnant…I could really make this work for some maternity clothes that I am in desperate need for – haha!
jamieandandre at bellsouth dot net
I need to organize my laundry room! I’ll say 16 unique costco products.
Great giveaway!
And your laundry closet looks fantastic! Yay organization!
Wow! What a transformation! Looks WONDERFUL!
oops! Combine this with my previous entry please!
I forgot to guess on the bonus question! I’m so sorry!!
I’m guessing 14?
I love those before and after pictures! You’re welcome to reorganize my laundry area anytime!
My bonus question guess is 9 Costco items (I love Costco!!)
Love this giveaway. I’ve had a my eye on $50 worth of dishes for quite some time. Thanks for the opportunity! bowtiesnbutterflies@live.com
I’m guessing 14 things from Costco.
How fun, hope I win!
I’m guessing 27 items from costco!
It looks great. I need to organize my laundry room too. I would guess you have 25 Costco products.
Your re-do looks great! Thank you for the chance to win.
20 Costo items ??? fingers crossed
Great giveaway!! Thanks!!
My guess is 11 items!
Thanks so much for the chance! LOVE what you did with the closet!!! I’m going to guess 4 items unique to Costco.
Great job on the makeover! I wish I had the talent to do this with mine.
I guess 12 items could probably hold 16 though
13!! Tis my lucky number. You are the cutest person on the planet, Jeannie.
Awesome! Mine is in the basement and not nearly as nice looking!!
jessicajonnie at gmail dot com
I’m loving this giveaway! I’m also gonna guess that there are 22 Costco items. =)
Ok….am feeling the need to do some big organizing now! I am going to go with 23 costco items!
You have inspired me to get off the computer and go organize my laundry room right now! It looks great! Thanks!
I’m guessing 7. This looks so organized, I wish I was that organized.
Costco rocks!
I’m guessing 5 items.
You are too clever!!! I love the after picture. It is amazing how you got so much stuff in such a small place! My guess is 17 unique products from Costco.
Wow that looks great! It is amazing what you can do with just $50.00 for Target! I love their stuff, very clever use of the shelves. Looks so much better! Good Job!!
Sweetmelbelle31@yahoo dot com
Bonus Question:
I guess 16 unique costco products!
Sweetmelbelle31@yahoo dot com
My guy is a total control freak about the house he built with his own two hands and putting holes in the walls freaks him out. I got a few prints hung up 2 yrs ago and that is all I’ve managed so far but I’ve been nagging hard to get our reasonably sized laundry room organized. Right now it just has the one long shelf, about 12″ wide, over the washer and dryer and about a month ago I got a wheelable drawer unit and stuck it between the dryer and the chest freezer but there is SO much more that could be done if I could install a system like yours. If I start the job he will run in and finish it if only to make sure I do it right so I should just go buy one of those systems and go for it!! I’m going with 10 unique Costco items. I can’t see all the KS labels so it IS a guess.
I recently reorganized my laundry room too – go us! It looks great!
I’m going to guess 32 Costco items on those shelves. Fingers crossed!
My answer is 12.
It looks great! I think there are 14 unique Costco items in there.
Thanks for the chance to win!
–Liza
ejm6x (at) yahoo (dot) com
how fun! love target! I am guessing u started with 12 and there is 8 left?
Nice job! My guess is 5 items.
thanks so much!
17 items!
I hate my laundry room! I need to find a way to make it more useful too!
Ooh, I love the before and after pics! The set up looks AWESOME, great way to maximize a small space. Thanks for the chance to win!
As for my guess is 14 products?
Getting organized feels good! I would love to organize my laundry area… but that won’t be happening until the basement gets a little more finished.
Thanks! 19!
I love Target too! I’m there at least once a week, if not more.
And I guess that there are 12 unique products from Costco.
This is a great transformation! You really made that small closet a great space! I’m going to guess 4 unique Costco items.
judyscraps at verizon dot net
I love Target! Thanks for the giveaway. My guess is 30.
amandarwest at gmaildotcom
I too LOVE Target! Your laundry room turned out so great!!! Mine could use an organization re-do. I’d like to hear more about the system you bought from Container Store.
My guess is that there are 16 bulk items.
My guess is 26.
What a great makeover and giveaway prize! My guess is 13 items.
Hmm… Im guessing theres 4 unique costco items. and wow your laundry room’s so organized.
moonless9t@yahoo.com
Nice system! I like it.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I’m thinking 24.
13cls13@gmail.com
Wish I looked that organized!! Great work!! I am guessing 17 unique Costco products (my lucky number!!)
Nice makeover and thanks for the giveaway
My guess is 26 items.
I just found your fun blog. I need to do some laundry room organization too…thanks for the motivation! I’ve never been there, but I am going to guess 10 Costco items.
Hi! I love seeing the pictures. Thanks for a great giveaway! My guess is 12 items.
I just recently did my first giveaway, too, it’s so exciting isn’t it?
I’ll guess 15 unique Costco products.
Come to my house, please! This is perfect! Love using the vertical space!
I think there are 26 costco products!
I love new laundry room! Job well done Jeannie! I’m going with lucky number 18!!
what a wonderful giveaway. thank you so much!
guess- 13
23 or 21 if you don’t count the iron and vacuum- both could be from costco.
cjsime007 at gmail dot com
Gret job on the closet, I definitely need to work on mine. The one place in the apt that stays messy.
Julie102794@gmail.com
im guessing 17…?
Wow, I wish my laundry room looked that organized!
Hmm..3 is my guess
I really like your shelving…even though my laundry is in the basement and has more room to spread out, I really wish I had some cool organizy stuff because now I just have all my BJ’s stuff lying around any which way down there! Also really like your stackables.
I’m going to guess 11 products.
Great way to get organized!
Your organizational skills are impressive! I’m going to guess 9 Costco products.
Oh..I’d love to win this.
nordstromemily(at)hotmail(dot)com
My Guess is 31. Unless you are counting the paper towels as 1 unit. Then it would be 22.
nordstromemily(at)hotmail(dot)com
great giveaway
I guess 26
breejeep @ hotmail.com
I’d like a chance to win! Who doesn’t love Target?
Fourteen Costco items?
Good for you for getting organized! I know that takes a lot of time & mental effort! I’m guessing 17 Costco items.
Ooh! We love Target and Costco! I think I see 8 rolls of Kirkland paper towels, 1 box of Kirkland Crystal Clear Cutlery; what *may* be a package of Kirkland disposable plates behind the cutlery, and I can’t tell if those are soaps between the Charmin and the vacuum
Oh, and do I see Kirkland brand bleach under the light bulbs?
Great giveaway! I’m guessing 10 Costco items!
This is a great blog, full of tips and excellent advice. Love this post, and am thrilled to enter your 1st giveaway. I also love your post on “dad gifts”. On the bonus question, I’m guessing 11 unique COSCO products. Thanks!
please enter me ! (:
and i guess 22 costco items!
I love your reorganization! We’re hoping to do a similar revamp of our laundry closet.
My guess is 13 Costco products.
I think that 25 costco items can fit. This is a great giveaway.
OK, I’m inspired to look at each and every closet in the house and see how it can be improved. thanks!
My guess for your magnificently organized space is 22 unique items
Thanks for sharing your tips. I would love if you would visit my blog too- there is an Alice in Wonderland giveaway too!
wood-wings.blogspot.com
I guess 12 items!! It looks great!
i guess 12. great giveaway!
Thanks for the chance I’d love to win! I’m going to guess 6 Costco items.
Oh I’d love to win this…and I guess 14.
I’d like to enter to win!
Nice organization! I think there are 9 unique Costco items.
It must feel good to have, “a place for everything and everything in its place”!
My guess is 14 unique Costco products.
I’m loving how organized it looks now!! I don’t think we have a Container Store around here but I’ll have to check. I really like how that shelf offers a place for clothes to hang dry.
My guess is 19!
Great organization! My guess is 22
I love the re-do! Great job! And my guess is 4
I love your reorganization! I’m particularly jealous of your new appliances!
My guess is 13 unique Costco items!
Great Giveaway!! I’m guessing 21 CostCo products!
I *love* Target! My guess is 12 items. Thank you!
What a awesome giveaway!!!!
I am guessing 28
Wow, you are amazingly organized now! Thanks for sharing tips and pointers. Please enter me in the contest. I’m guessing 12 Costco products.
Love your Laundry space. I hope I win and I think you have 17 Costco items in the space
I love target. 50 dollars would go along way I hope I win!
annemolino at hotmail dot com
I am guessing you have 39 unique costo products
Oh Target. Savior to college students on a budget and a healthy alternative to Walmart for my soul.
Hmm hmm, I’d guess 22 costco products in your after picture.
(kaitmustwait@gmail.com)
Nice job on the the laundry organization, by the way. We did a similar thing with our pantry. Beautiful. I love versatile shelving.
I’m going to guess 30. Thanks for the fun giveaway and congratulations on your reorganization!
Ah! How great! I LOVE Target and I LOVE what you’ve done with your room! Perfection! And all by yourself?! How great are YOU! …as for your bonus question, I spy 2 items plus 12 paper towels = 14!? or maybe just 3 if you include the paper towels as 1! Great giveaway!
Thanks for the chance I love the organization I need to do that with mine
I guess 16 costco items
this is so great!
I guess 14! (counting each paper towel roll individually!
I love the after pic. My guess is 28.
What a great giveaway!!! I’m going to guess 10 unique items.
starlitefury@hotmail.com
I think they’re 4 products. And I hope to win!
Great job on the organizing. Inspiring. My guess is 19 costco products.
This is such a great giveaway! I think there are 7 unique Costco items in there
I guess 34 Costco items!
I think your laundry room makeover looks great! I am guessing 11 Costco items
wow what an awsome transition!!!!!! I loove this you know i believe every women spend a lot of time looking at the kitchen and the laundry room and working in there so yes!! it shoud be something eye pleasing and your after photo is juust that!!!! how convienint it must be!! and i bet every time you go to do laundry now you get a little smile and and a nice awww sigh lol I neeeeed to do this!!!! you have even got me thinking of putting up pictures of a beautiful island lol
ooo and if paper towels all of them equal 1 then i guess 19 buuuuut if the paper towels equal 12 then i guess 30 lol
Great pics! The after is awesome!
I am going to guess 9 unique Costco products
i guess 12 items and think this giveaway is awesome please email me if i win like the other blog owners do thanks!!!! your blog is awesome
Elfa is the best! I’m guessing 12 Costco products just because.
[...] big CONGRATULATIONS to Lynda M! Just for leaving a comment, she won a $50 gift card to Target (courtesy of my office). Lynda says [...]