kelsey.mackall, Author at A Dabbled Dwelling

I Wanted to DIY a Potting Bench

December 29, 2023 by kelsey.mackall

My front porch needed some love, and a potting bench was the perfect solution. I knew I could build one and give it an extra special touch. Some wood and a mosaic tile top came together nicely to create a beautiful addition to my porch.

How to Build a DIY Potting Bench

This project is a very good one to start with. It’s a simple build with just 2x4s, a plywood top, and 1x4s for trim. I started by building the table legs with 2x4s. To attach them I used my Kreg Jig to drill holes for pocket screws but that is not necessary for this build. I used additional 2x4s for the sides and to give additional structure and support to the potting bench. I added 1x4s around the table top and along the top of the bench to give it a more finished look. When I attached the trim with my nail gun I left a little space on the table top to slide in the plywood top and get it ready for paint.

I painted it a beautiful dark green and then added a tile mosaic to it with construction adhesive. After I attached the tile I used a dark grout with a tile float to grout the spaces in the mosaic. When adding grout it’s important to add enough to fill in all of the spaces. After that use a damp sponge to clean the excess grout off of the tile.

Finished!

Now that the potting bench is finished it is an amazing a beautiful addition to my porch. As an added bonus it holds my plants and provides a space for me to care for them. Click here to see the video of this build.

How to Make a DIY Fluted Coffee Table

December 29, 2023 by kelsey.mackall

I have a habit of liking and wanting things that are not super budget friendly. When there is something I want that is cost prohibitive I try to find a way to make it instead. This happened recently, I found a fluted coffee table and couldn’t stomach the cost, so I found a way to build one.

How to DIY a Fluted Coffee Table

I built myself a fluted coffee table with scrap wood and PVC pipe. It really was so easy. Once I gathered my PVC pipe I glued it together in a circle using construction adhesive. Then I laid out my scrap wood and made a circle jig using a board nailed to the center of the wood with my router attached to the other end. Using the circle jig, I hopped around in a circle all day lowering the router with each pass until I had cut two circles out of the scrap wood. I used construction adhesive to glue the two circles together and added screws for extra hold. Then I used Bondo to give the edge of the table a finished look. The Bondo is fiberglass so it is much stronger and more durable than regular wood filler. It is able to be sanded and painted just like wood filler. Once the Bondo was applied I sanded the edges and primed the PVC for paint. I attached the PVC to the table top by using the construction adhesive again. Then I painted the whole thing a nice neutral color to be a beautiful addition to our game room.

Woman holds PVC pipe to create fluted table base

Bondo is being added to edges of table top.

The DIY Fluted Coffee Table Finished

I love the way that the coffee table looks. It makes me so happy to create something that I wanted and learn new things in the process. I had so much fun creating a circle jig and trying out the Bondo. The table fits the space so well and is exactly what I was wanting. Click here to watch my video of the step by step making of this coffee table.

Fluted coffee table looks amazing in the game room

DIY Built In Shelves for the Living Room

December 29, 2023 by kelsey.mackall

We recently moved to a new house with paneling and built in shelving in the living room. I was so excited for the potential of those built in shelves, but I wasn’t thrilled with the look of the original shelves. The shelves were oddly placed and prone to looking cluttered. I wanted a cleaner, more cohesive look.

The Easiest Built In Shelves Ever

I had some red oak boards that were going to be perfect for this project. The wood is so warm and the color is just beautiful. My plan was to use a 1×6 for the shelf and a 1×4 to trim out the front. First things first, I cut my wood to size with my miter saw using straight edges.

Next I took the wood I cut into the house and set it on the 1x2s that I had screwed into the wall studs at my desired height. I used my nail gun to attach the boards to the supports, and then again to attach the 1x4s to the front of the shelf. The 1×4 on the front acts as a trim and gives the shelf a more finished look.

Woman puts board on shelf supports on wall

Built In Shelf Success

I absolutely love how these built in shelves turned out. They have a classic look and really finish off that wall of the living room. I styled them with my favorite decor and the room looks so much more complete and whole. Adding shelves is a super easy and fast fix for any room! Click here to see me build these shelves as part of my fireplace makeover.