DIY Blog - A Dabbled Dwelling

Week 1 of the Jeffrey Court Renovation Challenge

October 6, 2021 by kelsey.mackall

Its week 1 of the Jeffrey Court Renovation Challenge and I’m so excited to announce that I am a finalist for season 6! If you’re unfamiliar, this event challenges DIYers on to create a space using the incredible Jeffrey Court tile brand in 6 weeks. The winner, chosen by fan vote, will get a $5,000 prize! I think its safe to say all the participants have their eye on that title, me included!

You saw me tackle my master bathroom shower in the Spring, but this time I’m going even bigger. I’m not just tiling a shower, I’m tiling an entire bathroom. What bathroom, you ask? Well, the only bathroom left in this house!

The Plan

For the Jeffrey Court Renovation Challenge I am going to be completely remodeling our upstairs/kid’s bathroom. In the past I’ve done a few quick fix DIYs but now I have the opportunity to make some big changes! I’ve spent a lot of time staring at these walls, trying to decide what I want to do. Ultimately… were gutting it! The only thing staying is the tub!

Below, you’ll find my mood board for this project that was inspired by this Jeffrey Court “Morning Mist” blue glass tile. Everything else was built on that, including 2 more Jeffrey Court tiles for the shower and bathroom floor. I think with the blue and white, some gold fixtures and wood shelving will bring in that natural element. Then, I love to mix in patterns, especially in a kid’s space. So I have my eye on some floral wallpaper as well. It will be fun to see how these plans evolve as the renovation moves forward.

The Bathroom Before

Before we start the Jeffrey Court Renovation Challenge, let’s take a “before” look at the bathroom we’re tackling. The color palette is already similar to my mood board but the overall look is going to be more elevated. The DIYs I’ve accomplished here already were: painting the walls and vanity, bead-board, framing the builder-grade mirror, and painted tile. As much as I’ve loved my painted tile, it was always meant to be a temporary solution. I’m much more excited to replace it with an updated style from Jeffrey Court!

Bathroom before week 1 demolition with beige vanity, wood framed mirror, and painted floor.

bead-board wall with towel hooks to the right of bathroom vanity

bathroom angle to the left with doorway to toilet and shower

shower and tub combo with off white square tile and beige striped shower curtain

Demo – Week 1 Progress

As with any major renovation, we started with demolition (my husband’s favorite part). This involved removing the vanity, shower tile, and even a wall!

Because this bathroom is divided into 2 areas, (the sink and the shower/toilet) it feels pretty choppy. While this set up can be beneficial for shared bathroom situations, I find it to feel closed-off and be harder to clean. With this renovation we decided to remove the adjoining wall to open the bathroom up into one big space. We actually considered removing the unused linen closet as well. However we found ductwork behind the wall that we decided not to touch. We did find some mold on the drywall behind the shower tile. Which is why its important to always use cement board under tile instead!

One thing we did NOT expect to find was a family of cockroaches also behind the shower tile (AHHH!). Since this room is above the garage, they seemed to have found a home in a warm, moist area. We called an exterminator to come out and treat the area immediately. We totally had the “heebie-jeebies” for the rest of the day!

woman works on bathroom demolition with sledge hammer overhead in doorway and a plaid flannel tied around her waist. — Dividing wall/doorway that we removed

woman sits on bathtub edge after demolition with wall studs and insulation exposed — After drywall and shower tile was removed

door way drywall and shower tile removed

bathtub filled with demoed tile and drywall

bathroom with vanity removed — Vanity removed

Whats Next?

At the end of week 1 we decided to wait on removing the floor tile so we had a sound surface to walk on. Demoing that and the remaining wall studs of the adjoining wall are our priority moving forward. We also plan to put up the cement board in the shower and on the floor next week in preparation for tile. Some little things to tackle are framing a shower niche, moving some electrical, as well as some plumbing. We hope you follow along on this adventure with us either here, or on Instagram!

Dresser Turned Miter Saw Stand

September 20, 2021 by kelsey.mackall

As a frequent DIYer I use and abuse my miter saw. It takes up a big chunk of my garage work bench and delivers a constant snow of sawdust all over the area. When working on my bedroom makeover, fellow DIYer, Cara, told me there was a better way and made me promise to keep my old dresser as a future project. Inspired by her original Miter Saw Dresser Tutorial, I finally tackled it and my DIY life is forever changed! Thank you Cara! Read along for all the details on how this dresser turned miter saw stand!

HOW The Dresser Turned Miter Saw Stand

First, I had my husband help me flip this baby upside-down to add 3″ casters. I wanted to be able to roll this dresser towards the front of the garage for better sawdust ventilation. My husband joked that it was going to go flying down the driveway into a neighbors car so I made sure the wheels were able to lock.

Here, you can see WHY a miter saw stand is necessary. When cutting a large piece of wood, it doesn’t sit level on the saw’s surface. Typically I have to stack scraps under one end. The solution is to build up the surface of the dresser to create a level work top. I measured the height of my Ryobi sliding miter saw and subtracted the 1/2′ MDF I planned on using for my new surface. This gave me a measurement of 3″ and 1/8 to cut my supports.

After cutting some scrap 2x4s at 3″ and 1/8, I screwed them onto the top of the dresser. Then, I set my 1/2″ MDF on top, glued, and screwed down into the supports. Now I had a level work surface with my saw! You can see in the above images how my saw sits on the original dresser top. I decided to box it all in, knowing that leaving it open would just collect dust. I was in luck that a 1×5 board fit perfectly so I nailed that around the outsides. Then, ripped the same board down for the shorter/inside pieces that sit next to my saw.

Finally, I painted the dresser “Waterscape” by Sherwin Williams with my paint sprayer and added some fun little accessories! The pencil holders are PVC pipe that I sprayed gold. The sheets of paper are my project planning printables (FREE for blog subscribers). I have also linked my favorite safety glasses and dresser knobs below. This dresser turned miter saw stand has been so convenient and I love using something “pretty” to create more pretty things!

Simple Seasonal Styling (Fall)

September 13, 2021 by kelsey.mackall

Do you get overwhelmed trying to keep up with decor trends while the seasons are ever changing? Whether you’re the person digging through the attic for your pumpkins on September 1st or the person who rejects any sign of fall, seasonal decorating doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With these 3 simple seasonal styling steps you can make your home decor make a smooth transition to any season.

1. Choose Warmer (Or Cooler) Textiles

Since I’m decorating for fall I’m going to go warmer with my textiles like blankets and throw pillows. I like earthy tones for the fall season. If I was transitioning to spring or winter my desired color palette might be different. Heres an example of how the colors of my home change throughout the year. Some colors repeat but create a different vibe overall.

This fall I chose a muted green throw pillow to pair with this burnt orange fringe one. I like when color, pattern, and texture defines the season rather than actual words like “ITS FALL YALL”. Below are my favorite textiles right now…

2. Swap Out Stems and Greenery

This is another easy and affordable way to transform your home for the season. I’ve collected a variety of stems over the years so I usually have a nice little selection stashed away. I put florals and greenery out for the spring and summer (eucalyptus is my favorite). Then, in the fall and winter I make the switch for things like branches, berries, and pampas.

3. Add a Festive Element

This is where I like to add that little touch of holiday. For fall, I love a good pumpkin. Especially because they are offered in so many different styles, colors, and textures. My favorites this year are the wooden and woven ones!

Just like that your home can make that seasonal switch! You can see how I used these 3 simple seasonal styling steps in my living room to go from spring to fall. I hope this helps you simplify your seasonal decor instead of feeling overwhelmed. Using this guide also narrows down the items you shop for or store.

Want more Fall Finds? Hop over to my friend Amy’s blog post where she rounds up her favorite fall decor items!