kelsey.mackall, Author at A Dabbled Dwelling

How I Gave My Teen a Beautiful Closet Makeover

February 8, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

A year and a half ago I gave my teenager a cozy, gorgeous bedroom with lots of plants and a slat accent wall. Her bedroom is still amazing but the closet left something to be desired. She was in desperate need of some organization for her clothes, makeup, and jewelry. I found ModularClosets.com and knew that they would be the perfect fit for a teen closet makeover.

Modular Closet Makeover

The Modular Closets team was so helpful with planning the closet system for my teen’s closet make over. I sent them dimensions and gave them an idea of what I wanted, and they provided me with a plan that was exactly what I was looking for. They sent me mock ups and an estimate and it was very reasonable. I had my mood board and I couldn’t wait to get started!

Price breakdown of modular closet system

Mood board for teen closet makeover, blue walls, chandelier, and modular closet system.

Let’s Make Over the Closet.

This teen closet makeover has been so exciting. I started by taking out all of the old closet shelves and hanging bars. Then I touched up drywall blemishes with spackle before painting the entire space, trim included, a gorgeous, dusty, blue color. Next I began to assemble and hang the modular system by screwing it into the studs.

A woman uses a pry bar and mallet to remove trim from a closet wall

Woman and toddler assemble a modular closet system

But How Do I Hang The System by Myself?

When I was hanging the different sections of the system I did it by myself. I’m sure you can imagine, I’m not able to hold the piece up while screwing it into the studs. After measuring I would screw a scrap 2×4 to the wall to set the back of one section on. The piece of the system would rest on it while I was able to secure it to the wall. Once the piece was hung I removed the 2×4 and filled the holes with spackle and touched up the paint. It’s an easy hack that helps with hanging cabinets as well!

Woman hangs section of a modular closet system in a blue painted closet.

Woman screws modular closet system into the studs of a blue painted closet.

The Best Part of Any Closet Makeover

After the system was in place, I got to start on my favorite part of the closet makeover. Styling! My teen is a little bougie, so I included a velvet ottoman and a dramatic chandelier. I included stylish storage boxes and baskets, plus velvet hangers. I am so thrilled with the way this closet turned out. It’s beautiful while also being very functional. My teen is in love with her finished closet.

Woman hangs chandelier in a blue painted closet

Finished closet remodel, blue walls, white modular system, and a chandelier

How to DIY Built In Bunkbeds

January 31, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

It was so exciting to make over my middle daughter’s room. I had big plans to DIY built in bunkbeds. I would love if my two youngest daughters could share this room when the littlest is old enough. We already had a bunkbed frame in the room that we were using. My plans included utilizing that frame as a base for the DIY built in bunkbeds.

The Process for Built In Bunkbeds

I was given a bunkbed frame a while back and my daughter had been using it. She has been waiting for her room to be redone, so I wanted it to be something special. First, I made sure the frame was level before I screwed it into the studs. Once it was secured well to the wall I began to build a frame for the bottom bunk. I built a rectangle in the size for a full sized mattress out of 2x4s. Then added cross supports to hold the mattress while allowing it to breathe.

I wanted to include some shelf space on the bottom bunk and make them look truly built in. For the bottom I built a little frame for a shelf to go between the mattress and the bed frame. I added extra framing at the top to close in one end a bit to make it more cozy. Next I started on the stairs by putting stair stringers against the wall and the bed. Once those were in I added the treads and then the risers. At this point it’s almost done!

Time for paint! I have three daughters so the obvious choice in paint color here is… PINK. My trusty Wagner Pro paint sprayer has never let me down. I suited up and sprayed the built in bunkbed pink. The paint sprayer gives it a very smooth and clean finish. After paint I built a railing and sealed it, I love the way that little bit of natural wood looks with the paint. Then I used caulk to bring it all together. It gives the whole thing a seamless and built in look.

Woman sprays pink paint onto bunkbed frame

And Done

When it was all said and done the only thing left was to make sure the mattresses fit! I held my breath as I put them in and they fit like a glove. It was so exciting to finish this project and then style and decorate the rest of her room. She loves her new bed and is so excited about her bedroom.

How To Refinish Your Tub and Tile With Paint

January 19, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

We live in a 1970’s fixer upper and there is so much potential in this house. At some point the previous owners updated the finishes in the house but I think they did it in the late 90’s or early 2000’s. Cue a lot of dark and dingy looking tile and paint. When renovating spaces, it can get expensive very quickly, so I wanted to update the tub and tile surround as inexpensively as possible in my daughters’ bathroom.

An Inexpensive DIY Tub Update

I began the renovations on my daughters’ bathroom and initially was only going to renovate the vanity area. Well, when you give a mouse a cookie, Kelsey updates the tub and tile surround. Rustoleum makes a tub and tile refinishing kit that is about $50 instead of $$$ for new tile. This is a great way to refinish your tub and tile with paint, and I was so excited to try it!

It’s a good idea to clean the tile well before you paint to make sure that the paint adheres well. You can use a scrub brush or scouring pad with any bathroom cleaner to make sure to get all the gunk off the tile. Once that is done prep the area by covering and taping off anything that you don’t want to get painted. Then you’ll use a foam roller and a brush to paint the tile. The paint was runnier than I expected and I realized partway in that I needed a respirator or I was going to be high as a kite from paint fumes.

Another thing I realized partway through is that the paint eats the foam rollers! I made sure to change the foam roller often to avoid getting foam in the paint. After the first coat I was still a little skeptical, but once the second coat was on I was convinced!

The Finished Product

It’s done and I love the way it turned out! The tile looks so clean and the whole room looks and feels bigger. There is always a gamble when my projects snowball, but I am so happy I went with this one. The girls’ bathroom is finally done. Click here to see the whole thing.