bathroom renovation Archives - Page 2 of 3

Easy Tile Install For a Gorgeous Bathroom Backsplash

July 30, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

A few weeks ago I tore my bathroom down to the studs. The bathroom was dated and old, because it was updated in the early 2000s. I finished the shower renovation using the Palisade click and lock tile system and it’s gorgeous. After finishing the shower I had a spot of trouble getting the bathtub in and then I tiled the floor. Once I got that done Hurricane Beryl came through and knocked out my power for a week. I put myself on a deadline with this bathroom and desperately needed to get the walls ready for the backsplash tile asap. So I worked in the dark to get the electrical done and the drywall up.

A Gorgeous Bathroom Backsplash With Peel and Stick Mussel Bound

I tore the bathroom down to the studs in order to move some outlets and light fixtures. There was also some plumbing to move, and a soffit to destroy. Thankfully the soffit didn’t hide any electric or plumbing so it was easy enough to remove. Hurricane Beryl did me no favors leaving me without power for a week, so I was stuck installing drywall in the dark. But I did it and go the backsplash area ready for tile! I have tiled several walls and floors, and I’ve used a few different methods of tiling.

Woman in pink shirt uses a drill to hang drywall in the dark

One of my favorite ways to tile backsplashes is to use MusselBound tile adhesive. MusselBound is a roll of super strong double sided sticky paper. I know it sounds sketchy, but it is really super strong. It’s so strong I actually stuck my baby to it once! I really love MusselBound for its ease of use and how fast the tiling goes.

Woman in pink shirt sits holding hands out to baby hanging on a wall in a box

Using MusselBound To Make Any Tile Peel and Stick

I start with a clean wall and work in sections. Spread the MusselBound in sheets in the section you’re working on. I usually start by peeling the back side and sticking it to the wall and then I peel the front side as I go. With the MusselBound on the wall, I stick the tiles on it. For this tile job I chose not to use spacers. The tile I used has slight variations that give it a more organic look and I wanted them to sit against one another.

Woman in blue top sticks musselbound to a wall

Woman in blue top hangs tiles on wall using musselbound

I continue tiling, exposing the sticky MusselBound when I am ready to put tile on it. When I get to spots that need a partial tile I use my sliding wet saw to cut the tiles to the size and shape I need. When using MusselBound the tiles need to be 100% dry so cutting them with a wet saw slows down the process a little. In some cases, cuts can be made ahead of time, allowing plenty of time for the tiles to dry before use. When I tiled my kitchen backsplash with MusselBound, I actually dried the tiles in my oven set to a super low temperature. Once all of the tile is up, it’s time for grout.

Finish It Off With Grout

Grouting is such a satisfying process. I use pre-mixed grout. You can use a tile float to get grout in the spaces, but I prefer to use my hands. After grouting all of the grout lines you use a wet sponge and go over the tiles to remove excess grout. Sometimes it takes a few passes to get all of the extra grout and haze off the tile. Once the grout is done, I always like to caulk the edges. Caulk finishes off the seams and seals the corners. Make sure to use silicone caulk made for bathrooms and kitchens.

The Most Gorgeous Bathroom Backsplash With MusselBound

I always love when I finish a project and this one feels even more sweet. This project has been a long time coming and I have really enjoyed planning it. The backsplash is beautiful and provides a perfect accent to my bathroom. I chose Zellige tiles in {} from Lowe’s and I couldn’t be more happy with how it all came together. The pros of using MusselBound are: ease of use, tiling speed, no waiting for mortar to dry before grout, and beginner friendly. There are few cons to using it. Once tile is on, it can be difficult to take it off and adjust. MusselBound is also a bit more expensive per square foot than using traditional mortar. I’ve loved using it for the projects that I have and will always recommend it as an option. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the bathroom shakes out. Follow along for the rest of my bathroom projects here!

I Easily Added a DIY Arch to My Bathroom

June 29, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

I am finally remodeling my primary bathroom! This is a super exciting project because I have just been waiting for the chance to do it. I had very big plans for this space including new vanities, classic decor choices, a window to bring some natural light, and best of all, an arched doorway for my shower. Arches can be such a classy and easy element to make any space feel so glam.

A DIY Arch is Easier Than it Seems

I started with demo of the shower and the rest of the bathroom. I took that shower down to the studs. Then I added new framing in the doorway. The framing was built out from the wall a little to provide some shape for the arch. Once the door was framed I searched for the perfect window to add to the shower. Imagine my surprise when I found the perfect window on Facebook Marketplace! My husband and I installed the window and it is so nice having some natural light in the bathroom.

Woman shows off new window by sitting on the sill

I moved on to starting the arch. Using my jigsaw I cut an arch out of particle board and attached it to the framing that I had already installed. This arch was used for the front of the doorway, I added some blocking to it for stability using cut 2x4s. The other side of the doorway was created with an arch I cut out of cement board since it was inside the shower. That was attached to the framing and blocking.

Woman measure cement board for an arch in a shower

Woman installs cement board inside shower

With the skeleton of the arch up I needed to finish it with drywall on the parts that didn’t get cements board. For the front I just cut an arch out of drywall. Then I screwed that into the blocking and 2x4s, then taped and mudded it. On the inside of the arch I used drywall. I added relief cuts to the drywall for the top so that it would bend with the curve of the arch. The cement board and inside of the arch was painted with Red Guard to help make it waterproof. After the Red Guard the inside was plastered using drywall mud.

Not Quite Done, But I’m in Love

I’m still mid renovation on the bathroom, so the shower isn’t quite done. This arch was so easy to create, I love the look it gives the shower and the timeless feel of it. I can’t wait to get the bathroom finished and add a gorgeous glass door to my shower. Follow along to see how the bathroom turns out!

Jeffrey Court Renovation Challenge- Week 3

October 20, 2021 by kelsey.mackall

Week 3 of the Jeffrey Court Renovation challenge has been a pivotal week in our remodel. Perhaps the most exciting… the tile came! Delivered on a giant heavy pallet, I ripped open boxes as quickly as I could to touch and feel the tiles I had selected online. Can you tell I’m excited? I chose 3 different tiles for this space. The Balancing Act Mosaic for the floor, the Morning Mist Blue glass subway tile for behind the sink, and the Subarbs White Picket Marble for the shower. Can 3 totally different tiles come together seamlessly? I sure hope so!

Posting with all my Jeffrey Court tile for the renovation challenge!

Tiling

We got started tiling the floor right away. I figured this might be the hardest/biggest area to tile and we had never done a floor before. It was our hope to have at least one finished surface to continue the renovation on. Laying the full tiles went very quickly, however, making all the cuts was the most time consuming. The detailed cuts lasted into the next day… or two. I was fortunate to have my husband helping and we often call him the “Tetris King”. I’ve said in the past that tiling is a lot more about attention to detail than it is skill!

Check out the last time I tiled here!

The Vanity

Needing a tile break, I decided to start working on the vanity. As you saw during demo we removed the existing vanity and needed to replace it with something. Because this bathroom design is so tile-heavy, I thought an old dresser would give it a softer touch. We came across this bright yellow piece on Facebook Marketplace and knew it would be perfect. It felt feminine and vintage enough to compliment the geometric patterns in the floor tile.

I chose an emerald green color called “Trellis Vine” my Behr. This will give my mainly white bathroom design a pop of boldness and fun. Wagner Spray Tech was kind enough to send challenge participants a Flexio 3500 paint sprayer which was the perfect tool to use on this vanity. The sprayer was simple to set up, use, and clean. Of course it was raining the day I set out to paint so I had to lay paper all around my garage. I was impressed that the Flexio 3500 had minimal overspray which allowed me to do this!

Finally, I decided to keep the original dresser hardware and spray paint them gold. Typically I replace this sort of thing for something more modern but I thought they were so unique and charming. However, once the vanity was in the bathroom I felt the ornate hardware was competing with the geometric floor tile- Giving me major “Wizard of Oz” vibes. Ultimately I decided to order some simpler/modern style pulls.

original dresser vanity in bright yellow

Wagner paint sprayer with freshly painted green dresser vanity

overhead view of finished vanity with the original hardware

green vanity with gold hardware fitting snuggly in bathroom with geometric floor tile

With the Jeffrey Court Renovation Challenge now being halfway over, its feeling like we still have a long way to go. I vacillate between worrying we aren’t going to finish by the deadline and being excited at what’s to come. Decorative items like a faucets, rugs, and a shower curtain were delivered this week which gives me a bit of energy to see design elements coming together. One way or another we WILL make it happen even though there is a LONG to do list to get through in the next few weeks of the challenge.