One evening my lovely bride (who just finished painting our laundry cabinets) showed me a picture of this new concept of a washer/dryer stand. The only thing she said I needed to include is that this was not her idea and to give credit to Sausha at Show & Tell for the inspiration. Now keep in mind our washer/dryer came with the upgraded lower drawers (??), however I know not to stand in the way of progress. I also know that Christa’s love language is acts of service, so when I build something for her, it’s a big deal. I’ve given up on giving her flowers, mushy cards, and romancing her. All she really needs is for me to help her build and fix stuff. And I’m okay with it. She never discourages a tool purchase.
So, one morning I decided that a distraction from work was in order, and off to the hardware store I went, with inspiration photo in hand.
I will take this opportune moment to point out how handy a full sized vehicle is for spouses addicted to home improvement with incredible creative talents.
I set up shop on the rear patio with my miter saw, circular saw, and compressor powered nail gun, and things came together pretty quick. This is the desert, though, so it was hardly ideal.
An unbalanced washer (a high probability in a house with four women) is nothing to mess around with, so I made sure the entire base was good and stable.
A few hours later (did I mention how hot it was?) I had the entire stand built, and just like the picture, I might add. I was hoping my bride wouldn’t notice that the trim I purchased was smaller than the inspiration photo, but she has a sharp eye, and I should have known better. (In my defense, it was the only thing available.)
She still liked it, and also helpfully pointed out that it would be great if the three baskets could slide out as one piece. I couldn’t deny it was a good idea, so I used the leftover plywood and added three drawer slides to make it work.
The end result turned out quite nice. We opted for a tallish version to not only accomodate taller baskets, but also to avoid bending over to do laundry. The stand makes the room feel more open and clean. The baskets bring in texture and warmth, and are very organized and easily accessible. (I’m an architect, so I had to add these words to my vocabulary long ago, in case you were concerned.)
I must tell you that if you do this, please be sure to measure twice and cut once so that the baskets you choose will fit perfectly. (Christa got these on clearance at Target.)
So you want your husband to make you one to make one yourself? Here is how it came together. (Show & Tell had a great tutorial, too, which you should check out.)
Materials: 4″x4″x8′ wood post, (2) 6″x1″x8′ trim board, (6) 2″x2″x8′ furring, (1) 1/4″ thick 4′x8′ premium plywood, (2) 1/2″ thick 4′x8′ middle grade plywood, a handful of wood screws, and (8) small “L” brackets.
I selected middle quality wood, but in retrospect a higher grade would have been better. We are all about saving money so that mindset ruled the moment. At least I avoided all the wood that had crooks, cups, and bows.
The small crown trim squares had to be precision miter cut and glued to the 4×4 posts. If I nailed them they would have split so wood glue was easy enough and set up quickly with our 130 degree temperature. Because of the rounded edges, it was difficult to judge the exact size and not all the sides were exactly the same (due to shrinkage, a term you won’t hear me mention much of), so I found myself making a slightly longer pieces and then cutting it specific to fit.
The slide-out feature was pretty simple, using leftover 1/4″ plywood and three drawer slides. My sweetheart primed and painted it in the same color as the laundry cabinets and I put it all back together.
Until the next project,
Linking to
Looks so great!
It looks amazing!! Thanks for the tutorial Mr. Romeo!
I LOVE it! You did a fabulous job. And my husband is going to really resent you.
wow, i wish my romeo could build something like that! i don't think he can even build anything out of duct tape and cardboard though.
LOVE! And I love the 'love languages' reference. Our Sunday school did that study too, and it is no surprise that this fellow furniture-addict also responds to 'acts of service'. Thanks for all the details!
AWESOME tutorial!!! i had seen this on show and tell and you did a WONDERFUL job, Romeo
thanks for the detailed description and drawings!!!! WOW!!!! Christa is very lucky to have you 
This is absolutely FABULOUS…thanks for sharing! After 20 years of marriage, I've just learned to live with the fact my husband isn't handy! hahaha
Amazing! Good job Kevin (aka Romeo). Handy hubbys are nothing but wonderful. This is beautiful and yet very functional. All of the extra details really make it a piece of furniture instead of a shelf to hold washer / dryer. Well done. You are probably going to get some orders for these you know!
Cheers from Melanie @ The Frosted Gardner
Gosh, Kevin, what a phenomenal result! The addition of the drawer slides was genious. You look like a true warrior in the second picture.
I was O.K. with my set of factory drawer risers until I saw this post. Problem is my husband doesn't even know what a miter saw looks like.
Lori
P.S. My eyebrows did raise when I read your descriptives of "open…clean…texture… and warmth" and laughed out loud when I read your follow up parenthetical.
OMGosh, that turned out great. I have the front load washer dryer and bought the stand/drawers to go underneath. Yours is sooo much nicer and waaay better eye candy. Love the basket idea.Great job.
Holy crapballs! This is amazing! I love it!!
Beautiful – absolutely beautiful!! I am in the middle of a laundry room redo and I love yours. So pretty!
You did a great job on the risers.
xoxo
Jen
Wow! Love it! DH is supposed to be building this for me close to Christmas….I can't wait! Love the real baskets – that adds a whole level of class to the idea!
Such a wonderful tutorial on a smart option! I love the outcome of yours. The white against the dark rustic baskets is magic.
SNS sidebar attention coming your way!
Donna
Great idea! Thanks for posting the tutorial. And for giving us handy girls
a tutorial!
Brittany
http://www.prettyhandygirl.com
This tutorial is EXCELLENT! I've been planning on making one of these for my laundry room, and your tutorial and the plans for it are just excellent. And I love that you added a pull out tray with baskets attached. Brazilliant! I'm bookmarking this because it's great.
Allison @ House of Hepworths
I really love the molding detail. We have our washer and dryer stacked but there is a deep freezer next to them. I think something like this might work under it! You can never have too much storage.
Hi! Found your site through….shoot, I can't remember now! I love it though, and i"m your newest follower! I LOVE laundry room makeovers and can't wait to take over the one in my boyfriend's house. He has no idea what's coming. lol We were just priming the basement last night and he kept saying "don't worry about doing too good a job on the laundry room, it's just a laundry room" Just a laundry room?!?! I'm convinced that this is the reason people hate doing laundry. lol
Great tutorial! I just wish I had a pretty washer and dryer like those.
I. love. these! I remember seeing the ones at show & tell and thinking they were great… but the idea for the drawer slider and securing the 3 baskets? Brilliaaaaaant! Filing this away in my "must do" section (once I get my front loaders, sniff sniff…)
Dear Romeo, If things don't work out between you and Christa… Ha ha, it looks wonderful – kudos to you both
.
"All she really needs is for me to help her build and fix stuff. And I'm okay with it. I never need an excuse to buy tools."
You are a very wise man, Romeo. Funny too. Great tutorial.
That's awesome! Thank you for sharing!! -Your newest follower
Such a great idea & I love your baskets!
Genius! Thank you… LOVE the one piece slide for all the baskets. That really makes it for me.
Please tell Romeo that he did a great job! I've seen photos of these on other blogs, but yours looks the best because of the beautiful detail work. Thanks for sharing!
Warmly, Michelle
i got a ton of hits from your blog, so i came over to check it out – and i love your risers!! I especially love your baskets – at the time i couldnt find any cute baskets for mine and i wanted to start my project right away! and i just havent taken the time to look for them now that its done – thats how it always goes
I also love your drawer pullout, wouldnt work in my space due to lack of room, but its a great idea.
And your husbands drawings are just what i needed!!! i get so many emails daily about the "specifics" of my riser, so if you dont mind i am going to link up your blog in a post that i do in the next couple of days
Sorry about the long comment, my computer wouldnt let me just email you through your profile!
Thanks!!
That is such a great idea! If I had a front-loading washer and dryer I would definitely have my husband whip one of these up! Maybe down the road…
Thanks for sharing!
wow very nice! Instead of screwing the baskets to the lower shelf I wonder if heavy duty velcro might serve the same purpose but still allow them to be removable? great job!
What a great idea – it turned out fabulous! Definitely something I want when we redo our laundry room. Thanks for sharing! Great tutorial too!
Roeshel
I was going to have my cabinet maker build me a riser with 2 drawers but I like your idea so much more! The baskets do add warmth and charm. Thanks for sharing not only this fabulous idea, but the actual blue prints too!
Thank you so much
Nancy
funwithnancy.blogspot.com
Thanks so much for posting this. This was the inspiration for pedestal my husband just built for me! Thanks for including the plans & the tutorial. It made it so much easier for me to show him what I wanted!
Check out the post here: (I linked backed to you)
http://sustainablychicdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/09/laundry-room-redo.html
Thanks again! I LOVE my new pedestal!
I just saw this post on Finding Fabulous and I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your tutorial. You are a very good writer and very precise in your tutorial, and quiet funny I might add. It is an awesome job you did, it looks so professional, even with the heat you endured.
Wow your hubby did a fantastic job!! I wish I had front loaders so I could have my hubby make this pedestal for me! One day!
Fabulous project!!! I too saw this over at Finding Fabulous and just had to come over and check out your blog! Well done and I am now a follower for sure!!
Hugs
SueAnn
How awesome! Your huband did a great job!
I just followed you over from your comment on my antique table refinish. Not only do we share a love of tung oil, we share laundry risers too! I was planning to build mine and ran across Sausha's {love}. I finished my laundry room in July. I too repainted cabinets and also installed wainscoting {love}. If you havent seen it, heres the link…http://findingmyaloha.blogspot.com/2010/07/laundry-room-reveal.html
I too am an "acts of service" gal. So funny…I was literally just discussing the Five Love Languages with my neighbor a couple minutes ago.
Very nice…..I'm starting on mine this weekend!!! Washers are coming soon!! THANKS!
So glad you did this! I found it on Show and Tell and then when she linked to you, I got more excited. Now my husband can do this without so much frustration. I was wondering what the approximate cost is for the risers? Just a ballpark would be great. Thank yoU!
@ Carrie –
My husband just went to Home Depot and for all the materials it came about to be about $130…
thank you so much for this plan. my husband did not want to spend the obscene amount of money for the pedestals! our new washer and dryer arrives tomorrow and my husband is putting the finishing touches to this tonight! thank you so much!!!
I love the practicality and look! Saving the plans for an eventual upgrade. Thanks!
super-cool! Any suggestions for how to deal with an unlevel [basement] floor? I keep thinking I'll run across those screw feet that come on the bottom of the machines as a solution, but sadly not yet
I ran across Sausha's riser on Ana White's site, and then happened upon your site. Wow! All I can say is the baskets and the finish blew me away. I was oogling it last night when my hubby peeked over my shoulder, and even he was impressed (and trust me when I tell you that's not an easy thing to do). I'm heading to Orange today to pick up material and (fingers crossed) I'll have my own version of this complete by the first of next week. One question…the baskets from Tar-hay…what are their dimensions and do you find that they hold enough laundry?
Great Job!!! I absolutely love this piece! Especially the slide out baskets.
Wow: Kevin, great job. The drawer with slides below the (attached) baskets is genius. I started talking about a plan with my wife today and before I knew it she was searching the internet for plans and ideas (better than mine).Yours was the best for our application and will be started shortly. Thanks for the inspiration. Ron