My rookie mistake. thoughts?

5 years ago

So, one of the last things I need to do is put storage back in the laundry room. All we ever had was a big bi-fold closet with a basic coated metal shelf + rail. It was never organized. We tore out the closet and patched the walls & ceiling and decided to find cabinets to replace and improve what we had. I really couldn’t justify the cost of custom cabinets, so I tried finding stock or special order cabinets. I decided I could live without a coat closet in there, but I needed a tall cabinet for long items like brooms and ironing board, etc. All the cabinets I was finding do not have those tall compartments in the tall units.

Except one - it was something at Home Depot online. I ordered two tall pantry units and a base for the sink and a recycling center. Basic white shaker. I assumed I could maybe paint them something fun if I wanted to later. I realized now that they’re sitting in the garage waiting for install that they are thermal foil laminate, not painted. I’m feeling really stupid for not catching that. I guess it’s not a deal breaker that they’re white and have to stay that way, but more generally I’m just wondering if these are too low quality for my LR. I don’t know - do I just keep them and allow that I may replace them in 5 years and call it even, or keep looking? My brain is really in a circular dilemma over this stupid issue. First-world problems, right?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
5 years ago
How tall are they and how tall is your ceiling please?
Therese N
Original Author
5 years ago
We have 8ft ceilings and got 90”, why?
Related Professionals
Orange County Kitchen Remodelers · Utica Bathroom Remodelers · Fort Smith Custom Closet Designers · Omaha Interior Designers & Decorators · Bartlesville Home Remodeling · Augusta Home Remodeling · Traverse City Home Remodeling · Stockton Home Remodeling · Bronx Home Remodeling · Frederick Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Binghamton Bathroom Remodelers · Birmingham Cabinets & Cabinetry · Lafayette Cabinets & Cabinetry · Vineland Cabinets & Cabinetry · Lincoln Cabinets & Cabinetry
Cavimum
5 years ago
I personally would not worry about it since this is a laundry room. If I was house-shopping, thermofoil cabinets in the laundry room would not be a deal breaker, while it would in the kitchen. JMO
apple_pie_order
5 years ago
Are they still returnable? Try moving a tall one into the laundry room. Open and close the doors several times every day for a week (put clean towels, paper towels or something else lightweight and non-damaging in them). If you dislike them after a week, you will not grow to like them in the future and you can return them, put them to use in the garage, or give them away.
Therese N
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
As an aside, I am really surprised at how lacking the industry is in outfitting laundry/utility rooms, especially since they've been brought out of the basement now for at least three decades! Europe has really nice cabinet systems, but nothing here in the USA. I was looking for 3-4 functions in cabinetry - Wardrobe to replace the coat closet, Pantry storage for all the junk, and a sink base for the new laundry tub, and possibly some kind of pedestals for the W/D. I didn't think I was asking for all that much. There are really only two choices, kitchen cabinets or closet organizers, and they never play nice with each other. Nothing that matches the other. I gave up on the pedestal and wardrobe, but then found that the pantry cabinets are not tall enough inside. Usually the fixed shelf is a 60/40 type of config., and nothing with enough room for long handled brooms, etc. I really cannot afford custom cabinets, and frankly it doesn't make a ton of sense to put that kind of money into a room like that. So, for anyone in the industry who might be reading this - for the love of god, please do something! I cant be the only one who finds this frustrating. I mean look at these. Granted I think modern eurpoean kitchens (IKEA, et al) aren't quite as great as the sturdy wooden kind we're used to, but for laundry/utility rooms, these are brilliant! https://german-kitchens-cardiff.co.uk/utility-rooms-by-schuller/