DIY Blog - A Dabbled Dwelling

DIY Shower Remodel- Plus What Went Wrong!

June 11, 2021 by kelsey.mackall

newly remodeled shower with seamless glass and black hardware. Styled with black and white Turkish towels

Phew! This DIY shower remodel was my biggest and longest project yet! Why I decided 3 weeks postpartum was a good time to rip out a shower, I’ll never know, but DIYers have to have a little bit of crazy in them, right?

So here we are, 7 weeks later, and the shower is DONE! I never thought I’d get emotional over a corner of plumbing and tile but after all that work (LITERAL blood, sweat, and tears) I’m definitely having all the feelings. Theres just something about seeing a vision in your head come to life and using your OWN HANDS to achieve it.

Any big project is essentially just a bunch of small projects and steps, so lets talk about what went into making it happen. You can view the whole detailed process in my Instagram highlights but as usual, I don’t claim to be a professional and I urge you to do you own research before beginning any major project.

The DIY Shower Demo

My husband and I tackled ripping out our existing shower and a wall in just a few hours using only a hammer and pry bar (this is where that little bit of necessary crazy comes in). The wall between our shower and tub was a huge eyesore and the main source of our shower feeling small and dark.

Dark walled in shower BEFORE photo for DIY shower — I’m notorious for diving into a project without a proper BEFORE photo but you get the idea- its ugly.

Woman hammers holes in drywall during diy shower remodel — First order of business… This wall has got to GO!

man pulls tile and drywall away from wall studs during diy shower remodel

woman pulls tile and drywall away to reveal wall studs during diy shower remodel

plastic shower pan lifted to reveal subfloor and shower drain during diy shower remodel — Shower Pan Removal

shower down to the studs with plumbing and recently removed wall during diy shower remodel

The Preparation

One of the only things we hired out (aside from glass) was the shower pan. We paid a local plumber $350 to frame it, line in, install the drain, and pour concrete with appropriate sloping. We did run into an issue where our bathtub plumbing stuck out but rather than losing much needed space, we framed it in to create a small shaving foot ledge.

Next came framing out the shampoo niches with 2x4s, walling the shower with cement board, taping and mudding the cement board seams, and finally waterproofing with a paint-on membrane. I did lots of research to determine these to be the appropriate steps for building out a shower and preparing for tile.

newly installed shower pan with concrete and liner

cement board installed in new shower area during diy shower remodel

woman tapes cement board seams in shower during diy shower remodel

light blue waterproof membrane painted on top of cement board during diy shower remodel

The DIY Tiling

I had tiled before, but never at this scale. It took me about a week to tackle it all by myself and it was a pretty messy job. I find tiling to be simple. It’s less about skill and more about attention to detail. I feel without the distraction of my kids, I could have done an even better job on this DIY shower remodel but it was a huge accomplishment despite some minor imperfections.

I used an inexpensive wet saw and these large format porcelain marble tiles. One thing I wish I had taken the time to do was use a leveling system to get my tiles flush with one another where the walls were wonky. There was only a few spots this was an issue but its one of those things that can make a DIY look more professional. Continue reading to find out where things went majorly wrong…

woman uses wet tile saw with wet arms and large white tile

woman spreads thin set on wall to do DIY tiling during diy shower remodel

woman holding baby smiles at camera with half wall tiled behind her

woman tiles near ceiling and stands on tip toes during

different toned subway tiles create a shampoo niche in half way tiled shower during diy shower remodel — I used leftover tile from my bathroom surround to coordinate with the shower design

progress photo of shower tile with large white marble tiles and smiling DIYer during diy shower remodel

tile progress of half wall, shaving niche and shaving ledge. Unfinished shower floor — We used a manufactured stone for the ledge and shower curbing

woman adds white grout to marbled shower tile during diy shower remodel — Grouting

woman poses with matte black penny tile on new shower floor — Matte black penny tiles for my shower floor

So What Went Wrong?

It’s never truly a DIY without some drama right? Problem solving can be part of the fun! This however, was NOT fun. I had decided to use a pre-mixed thin set mortar because I thought it would be more convenient while tiling with kids and all the stopping and starting. The product came highly recommended and I didn’t think that I needed to research it further. Well because of the nature of pre-mixed mortars, my tiles weren’t drying. I gave it a day… then 2 days… then 5 and they were still sagging when spacers were removed. I knew something wasn’t right, my previous tile jobs dried within the hour, so I started reading reviews where I discovered hundreds of people having a similar problem.

Pre-mixed doesn’t work well with waterproof membranes, large format tiles, or porcelain because of its need for air flow. All 3 of those factors were not allowing enough air to get to my tiles. Traditional mix-yourself mortar has cement properties so it only needs to CURE rather than DRY. I realized I had no other choice but to pull down all the tiles, scrape off the thin set, and start over with the correct kind. Luckily I had only tiles 1.25 walls when I realized my mistake but I was out a day of work and $50. Still, with a DIY shower remodel like this, it wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. It was messy and humbling but it was fixable.

bottom 2 rows of tile pulled away from wall — Row by row I scraped off the bad thin set and replaced

middle 3 rows of tile pulled away from wall with mortar remnants during diy shower remodel mishap

woman wipes face wearing oversized minion t-shirt and no pants, covered in mortar and water during diy shower remodel — I had given up on clothes (and pants) during this mess haha

The DIY Shower Reveal

In the end it was all worth it. This had been a project I was itching to do since the day we moved in. I felt silly getting a bit teary eyed over a shower but it felt so good to have accomplished this and to finally have the bathroom I always wanted. This was my most expensive project but some saving and the insurance claim from the pipe burst helped. Glass was by far the most expensive part. Keep reading for the budget break down.

angle of bathroom with black closet door, gold picture frame, and bathtub tile with different gray tones

shower door open to show porcelain marble tile, black faucet and rain shower head

straight on shot of shower with vanity reflecting behind it

Shower door open to show black penny tile floor and diy shaving ledge

The DIY Shower Remodel Budget

Cement Board: $50
Professional Shower Pan Install: $350
Waterproof Membrane: $50
Tile (Wall and Floor): $250
Tiling Supplies (Mortar, Shluter Edging, Spacers): $150
Grout and Caulk: $50
Custom Shower Glass: $1600

Total: Approximately $2500

Shop The Images Here.

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This Bedroom Makeover Gave Me My Home Birth

May 13, 2021 by kelsey.mackall

So how did this gifted bedroom makeover come to be? One of my most defining moments of this year wasn’t all the major DIYs I pulled off pregnant, in fact, it wasn’t one of my own DIYs at all. My most defining moment was a pipe burst. Or as my followers recognize- THE pipe burst.

THE Pipe Burst

In February 2021 Texas experienced an unprecedented freeze and snow. Which caused unprepared homes to experience pipe bursts and major flooding. Ours included.

The very day I had planned on removing carpet and giving my bedroom a pre-baby update, water came pouring from the ceiling. Then, from the weight of the sopping wet sheet rock, that ceiling came crashing down. Water and insulation everywhere.

bedroom with ceiling falling on top of bed and insulation everywhere

bench tipped over onto ground surrounded by white insulation

exposed ceiling rafters where sheet rock fell

It wasn’t just that my project plans were ruined but in the very room I was planning a home birth… In 6 weeks. I helplessly stared at the damage and cried. The family frantically ran around me trying to contain the mess. My husband assured me everything was going to be okay. My dad offered me solutions via phone. And I simply cried.

Now if you know me, I’m pretty tough. I don’t let much get me down. But in that moment I felt absolute defeat. Not only was I feeling the weight of the end of my pregnancy, but my home, my bedroom, my sacred space, was ruined. A home birth had been important to me, especially in the midst of a pandemic. Having my home turned upside-down would have been traumatic for any nesting pregnant woman.

The Construction

A few days later we had contractors tear the room down to the studs and demo other effected areas of the house. This included all our laminate flooring and 1ft of drywall around most of the bottom floor. I cried more.

bedroom ripped down to the studs and subfloor after flood damage

family colors on subfloor in empty bedroom. husband, pregnant wife, and 2 daughters get ready for a room makeover — Trying to make the best of things by letting the kids color on the subfloor

But then something amazing happened. My community (YOU) showed up for me. A gofundme alleviated the financial burden of our insurance deductible. The outpouring of love and support turned my sad tears into happy ones. I didn’t feel deserving at all considering so many people around Texas experienced a similar tragedy. Grateful for the generosity, I came to terms with the room likely not being ready for a home birth. I was too pregnant and lacking the time and man power to complete it. Not to mention almost all our belongings and furniture in the bedroom needed to be replaced. I knew I’d be lucky to have finished walls and floors in 6 weeks because contractors and insurance were so backed up. So we put a mattress in the playroom upstairs and buckled up for weeks of construction.

empty bedroom with freshly painted white walls and new flooring to be prepped for a bedroom makeover — One week before my due date

The Gifted Makeover

Just as I had accepted the change in my birth plans, two incredible women and fellow DIYers, came to my rescue. Cara (@neverskipbrunch) and Jessie (@eyeinthedetail) were Instagrammers that I looked up to and learned from so when they reached out offering to take on this bedroom makeover project I just about fell over. They designed the entire space, lined up sponsors to fund it, booked flights, and showed up for a room makeover just DAYS before my due date.

Now that experience in itself was an absolute dream. Meeting, observing, and working with DIYers I admired. They worked tirelessly to pull it off in just 4 days! (You can follow that adventure in my Instagram highlights.) Not only did I end up with an insanely beautiful bedroom makeover but Cara and Jessie gave me something so priceless by allowing me the opportunity to move back into my own space and experience the home birth I longed for. They gave me peace.

Completed bedroom makeover. Newly furnished bedroom with denim colored wall covered in box trim, burnt orange throw pillows, leather ottomans at the foot of the bed, and white curtains by cushioned window seat

sunny window bench with cushion, throw pillow assortment, white curtains, and roman shades after bedroom makeover

The Home Birth

Baby Lennon made her appearance on Easter, April 4th, 2021. At home! And it was perfect. Suddenly what seemed like a tragedy 6 weeks prior, felt like a blessing. The stress fell away and we fell in love. I was able to hide out in my gorgeous new space to soak up all those sweet moments in her first days. In the end I wished I could have told the girl who cried while watching water pour from her ceiling, that everything was going to be okay and that so much good was coming. Scroll down to see some of the photos from our home birth.

newborn baby on bed with built in desk and window bench behind after home birth

mom and new baby on bed in front of box trim accent wall after home birth

mother and 2 daughters on bed smiling at new baby girl

mother and 2 daughters smiling at baby girl on window bench

mom holds baby wearing a long ruffle dress with her face hidden by hair

Shop the Bedroom HERE.

Check out the first BIG project I tackled after baby here.

DIY Concrete Countertops & Farmhouse Sink

April 23, 2021 by kelsey.mackall

Ahh the inevitable kitchen countertop project… We always knew the laminate would need to be updated but as with everything, our taste was bigger than our budget. Quartz, marble, and granite would have cost us thousands of dollars so we briefly considered a newer laminate. Ultimately we couldn’t get past the idea of wanting real stone if we were going to invest in this update. After lots of research, we landed on DIY concrete countertops. This gave us all the benefits of a stone but with the more reasonable price tag of a manufactured material! This project came in around $1500 for 40 square feet and they look incredible!

What makes this renovation so DIY friendly is the system from Z Counterform (#sponsored) that allows you to pour in place. We wouldn’t have been able to lift heavy concrete slabs into place. The Square Edge Z forms allowed us to mold them custom to our kitchen. Even better… they offer a WHITE concrete product!

before shot of tan speckled laminate countertops — Countertops BEFORE

The Process

After removing the old laminate, we installed 1/2 inch cement board as the base for our concrete board. Then we also installed the Z forms. These are easily cut with a miter saw and screwed into place. I did it 8 months pregnant! Next, we laid out the fiber reinforcement mesh. Then, covered our entire kitchen in plastic to prepare for pouring the concrete counters. For more details on installation, check out my Instagram highlights.

pregnant woman smiles and drills molds into counter top

husband and wife dance excitedly to prepare for diy concrete countertop pouring

DIY Concrete Countertop Supplies

Below is nearly everything we needed aside from the cement board and a couple tools. I provided measurements and a rough drawing of our kitchen layout to Z Counterform. Who then pulled together the list of supplies and appropriate quantities in our order.

invoice of supply list for concrete counter

The Farmhouse Sink

Perhaps the most impactful part of this project was updating the builder-grade drop in sink to a single basin Farmhouse sink. We used the Crosstown from Elkay (sponsored). This elevated the look of our kitchen and offered so much more functionality with how much usable space it offered. You can see how we formed our countertop molds around the sink for a custom undermount installation. The apron front even slipped right over the front of my cabinets so that I didn’t have to cut them.

cement board on top of cabinets as new countertop base

molds and tools on countertop base made of cement board

molds and mesh installed on countertop with man beginning to pour concrete for diy concrete counters

Now that’s one beautiful sink! You can see how it took our kitchen to a whole new level! If you’re a dish stacker like me, you can fit all your pots, pans in this giant sink. Before installation I even tested it by laying in it… and yes, I fit! It doesn’t take up more counter space than our drop-in sink did, however it offers more usable space with the depth and no divider. One of my favorite parts is the removeable grate. This allows me to rinse food debris down the drain without getting stuck around all my dishes. It also keeps the bottom of my sink from getting banged up or dirty. I couldn’t be happier with this Elkay product!

stainless steel farmhouse sink mounted under white countertops with industrial coil faucet

Woman smiles while using farmhouse sink wearing green plaid shirt

The Finish

After snapping off the edge forms to reveal a perfect square edge (video below), and then sanding the concrete countertops smooth (holy dust), I applied 3 coats of Z Aqua-Poxy to seal them. Because concrete is porous this allows our new counters to be protected and offers a glossy finish that is similar to traditional stone countertops. You can view more on this process over on Instagram.

Full kitchen shot with white diy concrete cabinets, white counters, gray floors, and wood accents like a basket light and shelving. Glass light fixtures hang above.

kitchen island with 1/3 butcher block top and decorative accents like wooden bowl and cutting board and plant

3 Month Update of our DIY Concrete Countertops

Now that I’ve had my DIY concrete countertops for a few months and have experienced cooking, cleaning, and day to day use on them, I’m happy to report that we are still in love! The epoxy finish makes them incredibly easy to clean, liquids don’t penetrate the seal, and we have not had any chipping or stains. I have been mindful of not putting hot pans directly on them but otherwise they seem to provide a ton of durability for my family of 5 and I would absolutely do it all over again! As with any DIY there are some imperfections, which just gives our counters character as if they were a natural stone. This was such a budget friendly solution to updating our countertops, made easy by Z Counterform. It was a pretty big project but absolutely worth it. The verdict is… DO IT!

If you liked my kitchen update, check out what we did in our master bathroom!