kelsey.mackall, Author at A Dabbled Dwelling

How I Made A DIY Wine Rack for Elegant Storage

May 31, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

Recently I began a new project by tearing out the ancient wet bar in my 1970’s fixer upper. The wet bar was not functional for my family. We never used it so I took it out to create a butler pantry/wine bar area. I removed the half wall dividing the wet bar from the living room. This made the whole space a wide hall with a lot of storage including cabinets and a wine fridge. The space was really coming together but I needed a little extra storage.

Woman tears drywall out of space intended for a DIY wine rack

Enter DIY Wine Storage

This space had cabinets and a counter in it already and a counter top wine rack is the perfect addition. I cut out a space in the sheet rock to allow a little more depth in the wine rack. Then I utilized a sheet of standard half inch plywood to build the wine rack. I measured the height and depth of my space to determine the measurement of the sides and back of the wine rack. Once I figured out how wide I wanted it I cut the top and bottom to that length.

I decided that I wanted the shelves to slant for a more unique look. So I cut them a little bit longer. Use the Pythagorean theorem, A squared plus B squared equals C squared, to figure out the necessary length. Then I mitered the edges at 22.5 degrees. The side and top pieces were glued and then I secured them together using my nail gun. I fit the shelves in and glued then nail them into their positions also.

When the wine rack was built I fit it into the designated space on the countertop. Plywood always look unfinished on the edges but I was prepared for that. This edge banding is a wood veneer that just irons on. The best part is that it comes in several different wood finishes. For this project I chose the red oak finish to go with the shelves that I installed next to the wine rack. I ironed the edge banding on and then I was done!

Woman lifts DIY wine rack into place on counter top.

Woman irons wood banding onto raw plywood edges.

A Beautiful DIY Wine Rack

It’s done and it’s amazing. I love the way it looks and the amount of storage it offers. The whole space is turning out beautifully and the DIY wine rack really adds some charm. It is an elegant option for storing wine in my new wine bar/butler pantry.

How to Easily Paint Paned Windows

May 30, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

Sometimes older houses have outdated design elements and sometimes they have a lot of charm. My 1970’s house is no exception. I am doing away with the parts of the house that don’t fit my style or function, but trying to maintain the more charming design elements that I can. Most of the windows are new, but the door to the patio off the primary bedroom has a paned window in dire need of an update. Paned windows are windows that have a grid and this one is on the outside of the window. As you can imagine, that seems like a lot of work to paint. But no fear, masking liquid to the rescue!

It’s So Easy to Paint Paned Windows!

Masking liquid really makes painting paned windows super easy and really satisfying! One can of the masking liquid goes a long way and you can easily paint the windows in your house with it.. The first step is to just paint the glass of the window panes with the masking liquid. Take care to not get the masking liquid everywhere but it’s not big deal if a little bit of it gets on the grid lines.

Woman in blue shirt is painting masking liquid on windows

Let the masking liquid dry, and once it’s dry you can paint the frame and the grid lines without worrying about getting paint on the windows. For this door I wanted gold hardware to match the rest of the hardware in the room, but that stuff is pricey. I decided for the time being that I would spray paint the existing door hardware and cross my fingers. Once everything was spray painted I painted the door and grid lines with my preferred paint.

Simple as that. When finished painting use the utility knife the score the edges and peel it off. Enjoy the ASMR of cleanly peeling the masking liquid off the window. Breathe in the satisfaction, it’s amazing.

Woman uses utility knife to score masking liquid

Easiest Project Ever

The finished product looks so nice. I was able to maintain an older design element while updating it. This door matches the other doors and it was so simple to do. Masking liquid is one of my favorite DIY hacks, it’s perfect for painting those pesky windows. Click for more of my primary bedroom updates!

Woman in black dress admires painted door and Roman shade on window

Upgrade Your Windows by Adding New Window Sills and Trim

April 30, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

My primary bedroom was looking boring and left me wanting. I replaced the flooring to match the rest of the house, trimmed the doors, repainted, and changed some decor. But I still wasn’t feeling right about the windows. I felt like they were super bare and I really wanted a way to dress them up without window treatments.

New Window Sills and Trim Are Easier Than You Think

I decided to frame my windows to help them have more dimension and to appear bigger. In order to start with a blank slate I used a knife to cut the caulk around the windowsills and apron (the piece of moulding under the window sill). Then I used a pry bar to remove them from the wall. I like to use the same boards for window trim that I use for door trim. Usually I go with pre-primed pine and I use 1x4s for the sides and the apron. I opt for a 1×5 across the top with a 1×2 laying flat on top of that. For the window sill I use an additional 1×5.

Woman scores caulk to remove window sill

Woman uses pry bar and hammer to remove window sill

I measure the windows and cut the trim pieces accordingly. For the top and bottom pieces I make sure to account for the 1x4s on the sides and add that to the length I cut the board. When cutting the window sill I use my jigsaw to cut out the corners where the window sill will extend past the corner in the front. When everything is cut I start putting up the trim using my nail gun. Even the window sill gets nailed down so it is secure. Then I caulk all of the seams where wood meets wood and where wood meets the wall. It gives it a seamless finish. I fill the nail holes with wood filler so that it can be sanded smooth for paint. I painted these window frames a creamy contrast to the walls, White Mocha by Behr.

Window Sills and Trim Make All the Difference

The end result is stunning. Framing the windows gave them a larger appearance and a much more finished look. They now match the door frames that I also updated the same way. I am so happy with this project and even happier that it’s a quick and relatively inexpensive update.