Archives for July 2024

How to Install Floating Shelves to Dress Up Any Room

July 30, 2024 by Kristen Larsen

A while back I created a plant propagation clock and it was so much fun! Unfortunately I found myself needing to switch it out. My toddler insisted on using the propagation tubes as drink shooters. It just wasn’t prudent to leave the clock up with her having access to the glass and small magnets. I decided it would be best if I tied the breakfast nook into the kitchen. When I renovated the kitchen I installed white oak floating shelves on either side of the sink. They are so gorgeous in my kitchen and I wanted something just as gorgeous in the breakfast nook.

Install Floating Shelves to Bring the Breakfast Nook and Kitchen Together

I ended up ordering the same shelves that I have in the kitchen to hang in the breakfast nook. Ultrashelf has these amazing white oak shelves (I chose the color antique oak). One of the things I love about these shelves is that they are super sturdy, easy to install, and beautiful.

Ultrashelf sends the shelves with everything you need, shelf, bracket, and hardware. Luckily when my shelves were centered on the wall I was able to use wood screws to install the brackets on the studs. I used my stud finder to find the studs and then my stud buddy to mark the studs while I was screwing the bracket to the wall.

Woman hangs shelf brackets using a stud buddy and drill

In the instance that I couldn’t sink the screws into a stud I used a good quality drywall anchor to secure the bracket to the wall. Once I was confident that the bracket was installed securely I simply slipped the shelf onto the bracket and was done. So simple and such a quick install.

The Most Gorgeous Shelves

These shelves are showstoppers. They really are so stunning and so easy to install. Once they were up I couldn’t wait to add my favorite plant babies and decor. Thankfully, these babies don’t drink my decor. This location is perfect for plants because it gets plenty of indirect sunlight. I love the way that the breakfast nook shelves are tied in with the kitchen now. Ultrashelf make the best shelves for locations where you really want them to last.

Make Your Room Feel Bigger By Removing Useless Soffits

July 30, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

Old houses always seem to have those ugly, bulky soffits. Sometimes they conceal plumbing, electrical, or ductwork, but sometimes they are completely useless. I have had a few that I’ve had to leave as is. And I’ve had some where I had to reroute plumbing or ductwork to be able to remove the soffit. In my recent, and ongoing, remodel of my primary bathroom a big goal was to remove the soffit that ran the length of the room.

The Act of Removing The Soffit

This bathroom was so dated it was taken down to the studs. I started by pulling all of the drywall off of the walls. When that was done I turned my attention to the soffit. I always start with the soffit by cutting a hole in the soffit. Then I take a peek inside to see what it could be hiding. Luck was on my side with this one, there was nothing concealed inside that I would need to move. Since I didn’t need to move anything I took my hammer and prybar to the soffit and began to pull it down. For some reason, the soffit was so offended at being removed, that it took pieces of the ceiling down with it.

Woman in a white shirt with safety glasses uses a hammer to demolish a soffit

Woman in a white shirt with safety glasses uses a hammer to demolish the frame of a soffit

Eventually, the drywall had been removed and I started on the frame of the soffit. I easily removed it after a few whacks with the hammer and some tugging. I got that entire section clear and turned my attention to the shower for a bit. A hurricane blew through shortly after I finished tiling the shower. Hurricane Beryl roared by and knocked out my power for a week. What better time to work on electrical and drywall than when you don’t have power.

What To Do After Removing the Useless Soffit?

With the soffit gone the drywall was free to go to the ceiling. The ceiling was also able to be smooth all the way to the wall. I brought in my sheets of drywall and started to hang them. The corner is the best place to start. I lined up the first sheet of drywall and screwed it into the studs. Then I continued along the wall and ceiling hanging drywall by screwing it into the studs. Hanging it on the ceiling really takes two people. You need extra hands to hold the sheet of drywall up and screw it in. Sometimes a section of wall will need a smaller sheet of drywall. In that case I used my drywall saw to cut the drywall to the measurement.

Woman in a pink top hangs drywall in the dark

Man and woman stand on ladder and hold a sheet of drywall to the ceiling.

I usually hang all of the drywall and then use pre-mixed joint compound and drywall tape to tape the drywall. Using a drywall knife I add some joint compound to the seam and then add the tape and some more joint compound to the tape. I go over the tape a few times to make sure it is nice and smooth, although usually there is some sanding involved in drywall work when the joint compound is dry. Once it dries I prefer to wet sand using a damp sponge to get a smooth finish on the drywall. This wall is going to have tile so there is no need for texture.

It Feels More Open Without the Soffit

I am so glad that I was able to remove this soffit without any fanfare. Rerouting plumbing and ductwork is the worst. The wall looks so much cleaner without the soffit. Also, the bathroom feels so much bigger and more open. I love to update the look of my house and get rid of useless additions. Removing the soffit is a really easy way to elevate a space and make a room feel more modern. Follow along to see the progress of my bathroom remodel here.

Easy Tile Install For a Gorgeous Bathroom Backsplash

July 30, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

A few weeks ago I tore my bathroom down to the studs. The bathroom was dated and old, because it was updated in the early 2000s. I finished the shower renovation using the Palisade click and lock tile system and it’s gorgeous. After finishing the shower I had a spot of trouble getting the bathtub in and then I tiled the floor. Once I got that done Hurricane Beryl came through and knocked out my power for a week. I put myself on a deadline with this bathroom and desperately needed to get the walls ready for the backsplash tile asap. So I worked in the dark to get the electrical done and the drywall up.

A Gorgeous Bathroom Backsplash With Peel and Stick Mussel Bound

I tore the bathroom down to the studs in order to move some outlets and light fixtures. There was also some plumbing to move, and a soffit to destroy. Thankfully the soffit didn’t hide any electric or plumbing so it was easy enough to remove. Hurricane Beryl did me no favors leaving me without power for a week, so I was stuck installing drywall in the dark. But I did it and go the backsplash area ready for tile! I have tiled several walls and floors, and I’ve used a few different methods of tiling.

Woman in pink shirt uses a drill to hang drywall in the dark

One of my favorite ways to tile backsplashes is to use MusselBound tile adhesive. MusselBound is a roll of super strong double sided sticky paper. I know it sounds sketchy, but it is really super strong. It’s so strong I actually stuck my baby to it once! I really love MusselBound for its ease of use and how fast the tiling goes.

Woman in pink shirt sits holding hands out to baby hanging on a wall in a box

Using MusselBound To Make Any Tile Peel and Stick

I start with a clean wall and work in sections. Spread the MusselBound in sheets in the section you’re working on. I usually start by peeling the back side and sticking it to the wall and then I peel the front side as I go. With the MusselBound on the wall, I stick the tiles on it. For this tile job I chose not to use spacers. The tile I used has slight variations that give it a more organic look and I wanted them to sit against one another.

Woman in blue top sticks musselbound to a wall

Woman in blue top hangs tiles on wall using musselbound

I continue tiling, exposing the sticky MusselBound when I am ready to put tile on it. When I get to spots that need a partial tile I use my sliding wet saw to cut the tiles to the size and shape I need. When using MusselBound the tiles need to be 100% dry so cutting them with a wet saw slows down the process a little. In some cases, cuts can be made ahead of time, allowing plenty of time for the tiles to dry before use. When I tiled my kitchen backsplash with MusselBound, I actually dried the tiles in my oven set to a super low temperature. Once all of the tile is up, it’s time for grout.

Finish It Off With Grout

Grouting is such a satisfying process. I use pre-mixed grout. You can use a tile float to get grout in the spaces, but I prefer to use my hands. After grouting all of the grout lines you use a wet sponge and go over the tiles to remove excess grout. Sometimes it takes a few passes to get all of the extra grout and haze off the tile. Once the grout is done, I always like to caulk the edges. Caulk finishes off the seams and seals the corners. Make sure to use silicone caulk made for bathrooms and kitchens.

The Most Gorgeous Bathroom Backsplash With MusselBound

I always love when I finish a project and this one feels even more sweet. This project has been a long time coming and I have really enjoyed planning it. The backsplash is beautiful and provides a perfect accent to my bathroom. I chose Zellige tiles in {} from Lowe’s and I couldn’t be more happy with how it all came together. The pros of using MusselBound are: ease of use, tiling speed, no waiting for mortar to dry before grout, and beginner friendly. There are few cons to using it. Once tile is on, it can be difficult to take it off and adjust. MusselBound is also a bit more expensive per square foot than using traditional mortar. I’ve loved using it for the projects that I have and will always recommend it as an option. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the bathroom shakes out. Follow along for the rest of my bathroom projects here!