kelsey.mackall, Author at A Dabbled Dwelling

Update Your Dingy Granite With a Super Easy Kit

March 16, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

It was time to update my downstairs half bath. The house is overwhelmingly brown, since it was updated sometime in the early 2000’s and was totally not my style. This half bathroom had dark walls and super dingy brown granite countertops. With the room being so small, it felt even tighter with the dark color on the walls and the brown cabinets and countertops. I set out to makeover the bathroom, but I really wanted to keep the budget for this bathroom low to allocate my resources to more important projects.

Woman stands in front of old granite countertop

The Dwil Kit Makes it Super Easy to Update Your Granite

The Dwil Paint Kit comes with everything you need to paint your granite! It has the paint, brush, roller, plastic, and even the tape. I started by taping off the area that I wanted to paint. After that I draped plastic to protect the cabinet and added the hardener to the paint and stirred according to the directions. I used the included brush to cut in the edges and around the sink, then the roller to paint the rest of the counter. The paint is self leveling and dries pretty quickly, so apply thin coats and you can repeat in two hours. I did four coats, and then let it cure for 24 hours.

Woman tapes edges of countertop to prep for paint

Woman painting edges and corners of tile

So, How Did It Turn Out?

I love it! It looks great and dried into a super durable hard finish. This paint kit was amazing and I would 100% use it again. It has everything you need and comes in different colors. I have used other tub and tile paint kits and this one made the whole process so much easier. Painted tile has always worked well for me, and I am so glad that this painted granite turned out so nicely. It opens up a whole world of DIY possibilities for doing projects on a budget! See me paint the granite here.

Gorgeous bathroom vanity with moody green tile backsplash

I Created a Beautiful and Functional Clock

February 24, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

My breakfast nook got a makeover! In any space art is a must and I knew I needed a piece that would make a big statement. I love plants and am so excited about my idea for a big new clock. Finding a way to incorporate plants into a clock was definitely one of my more fun and exciting ideas.

A Router and Some Tubes

I started with some scrap wood and used my router to cut a circle. With a board nailed in the middle and the router on the end, it worked as a jig to cut a perfect circle. Routers are so multifunctional, I don’t know how I lived without mine! I took my circle inside and used super glue to glue small gold magnets in the hour positions on my circle. Then I glued the same magnets to propagation tubes that I got on Amazon. I hung the circle on the wall and added wall clock hands to the center. Once there was water in the tubes I added clippings of plants to propagate and stuck the tubes to the magnets on the circle.

A woman uses a router to cut a perfect circle out of wood.

A woman glues tiny magnets to a wooden circle

A woman glues magnets to small glass test tubes

Attaching test tube with magnet to wood circle with magnet

Best Clock Ever

This clock was one of my better ideas, if I do say so myself. It was so easy to make and it is such a unique piece in my house. I love to create things for my home because they are usually one of a kind! It turned out so cute and it gives me a space to help my baby plants grow! Who doesn’t love plants? And what better way to have a lot of different options of plants to have in the future!

From Blah to Beautiful: A Harlequin Floor Changed My Balcony

February 16, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

I chose my house for its balcony that runs the length of it. The idea of relaxing on the balcony in the afternoon was so exciting. Only problem, the balcony was feeling pretty neglected. I’m obsessed with harlequin patterns and really wanted to include a painted harlequin floor on my balcony.

How Did I Paint the Harlequin Floor?

The previous owner, in an attempt to keep their cats in, hung screen curtains along the whole balcony. Those had to go, and already the whole area feels cleaner. For the paint I started out by cleaning the floors as well as I could and then taped off the diamond pattern. What I thought would take one hour actually took me four!!! Once they were taped off I painted the whole floor the base color, a gorgeous neutral tan. Painting the base color before the accent color helps ensure clean crisp lines. After that was dry I painted the alternating diamonds white and then pulled up the tape.

Woman with toddler on her back tapes pattern on floor

Woman with toddler paints squares on floor

Painted Floor Success!

Once I pulled up the tape I was so thrilled to see that it turned out beautifully! The lines are crisp and clean and the colors are so soothing. I added the cutest plant decor including self watering pots in rings on a wooden frame that I made. I got the cutest rocking chairs and little table to give myself a place to sit and drink my coffee, reflect on the day, or just escape the chaos that is sometimes going on inside the house. This balcony is just asking to be used now. It’s another beautiful, serene space full of plants and soothing colors.