diy Archives - Page 5 of 9 - A Dabbled Dwelling

How to Install Floating Shelves to Dress Up Any Room

July 30, 2024 by Kristen Larsen

A while back I created a plant propagation clock and it was so much fun! Unfortunately I found myself needing to switch it out. My toddler insisted on using the propagation tubes as drink shooters. It just wasn’t prudent to leave the clock up with her having access to the glass and small magnets. I decided it would be best if I tied the breakfast nook into the kitchen. When I renovated the kitchen I installed white oak floating shelves on either side of the sink. They are so gorgeous in my kitchen and I wanted something just as gorgeous in the breakfast nook.

Install Floating Shelves to Bring the Breakfast Nook and Kitchen Together

I ended up ordering the same shelves that I have in the kitchen to hang in the breakfast nook. Ultrashelf has these amazing white oak shelves (I chose the color antique oak). One of the things I love about these shelves is that they are super sturdy, easy to install, and beautiful.

Ultrashelf sends the shelves with everything you need, shelf, bracket, and hardware. Luckily when my shelves were centered on the wall I was able to use wood screws to install the brackets on the studs. I used my stud finder to find the studs and then my stud buddy to mark the studs while I was screwing the bracket to the wall.

Woman hangs shelf brackets using a stud buddy and drill

In the instance that I couldn’t sink the screws into a stud I used a good quality drywall anchor to secure the bracket to the wall. Once I was confident that the bracket was installed securely I simply slipped the shelf onto the bracket and was done. So simple and such a quick install.

The Most Gorgeous Shelves

These shelves are showstoppers. They really are so stunning and so easy to install. Once they were up I couldn’t wait to add my favorite plant babies and decor. Thankfully, these babies don’t drink my decor. This location is perfect for plants because it gets plenty of indirect sunlight. I love the way that the breakfast nook shelves are tied in with the kitchen now. Ultrashelf make the best shelves for locations where you really want them to last.

Make Your Room Feel Bigger By Removing Useless Soffits

July 30, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

Old houses always seem to have those ugly, bulky soffits. Sometimes they conceal plumbing, electrical, or ductwork, but sometimes they are completely useless. I have had a few that I’ve had to leave as is. And I’ve had some where I had to reroute plumbing or ductwork to be able to remove the soffit. In my recent, and ongoing, remodel of my primary bathroom a big goal was to remove the soffit that ran the length of the room.

The Act of Removing The Soffit

This bathroom was so dated it was taken down to the studs. I started by pulling all of the drywall off of the walls. When that was done I turned my attention to the soffit. I always start with the soffit by cutting a hole in the soffit. Then I take a peek inside to see what it could be hiding. Luck was on my side with this one, there was nothing concealed inside that I would need to move. Since I didn’t need to move anything I took my hammer and prybar to the soffit and began to pull it down. For some reason, the soffit was so offended at being removed, that it took pieces of the ceiling down with it.

Woman in a white shirt with safety glasses uses a hammer to demolish a soffit

Woman in a white shirt with safety glasses uses a hammer to demolish the frame of a soffit

Eventually, the drywall had been removed and I started on the frame of the soffit. I easily removed it after a few whacks with the hammer and some tugging. I got that entire section clear and turned my attention to the shower for a bit. A hurricane blew through shortly after I finished tiling the shower. Hurricane Beryl roared by and knocked out my power for a week. What better time to work on electrical and drywall than when you don’t have power.

What To Do After Removing the Useless Soffit?

With the soffit gone the drywall was free to go to the ceiling. The ceiling was also able to be smooth all the way to the wall. I brought in my sheets of drywall and started to hang them. The corner is the best place to start. I lined up the first sheet of drywall and screwed it into the studs. Then I continued along the wall and ceiling hanging drywall by screwing it into the studs. Hanging it on the ceiling really takes two people. You need extra hands to hold the sheet of drywall up and screw it in. Sometimes a section of wall will need a smaller sheet of drywall. In that case I used my drywall saw to cut the drywall to the measurement.

Woman in a pink top hangs drywall in the dark

Man and woman stand on ladder and hold a sheet of drywall to the ceiling.

I usually hang all of the drywall and then use pre-mixed joint compound and drywall tape to tape the drywall. Using a drywall knife I add some joint compound to the seam and then add the tape and some more joint compound to the tape. I go over the tape a few times to make sure it is nice and smooth, although usually there is some sanding involved in drywall work when the joint compound is dry. Once it dries I prefer to wet sand using a damp sponge to get a smooth finish on the drywall. This wall is going to have tile so there is no need for texture.

It Feels More Open Without the Soffit

I am so glad that I was able to remove this soffit without any fanfare. Rerouting plumbing and ductwork is the worst. The wall looks so much cleaner without the soffit. Also, the bathroom feels so much bigger and more open. I love to update the look of my house and get rid of useless additions. Removing the soffit is a really easy way to elevate a space and make a room feel more modern. Follow along to see the progress of my bathroom remodel here.

Check Out This New Tile System That Gets Installed With Glue

June 29, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

I have done so many projects in this house, but I’m so excited to finally be renovating my primary bathroom. Other projects have taken priority because this bathroom was a full gut job. I needed to make sure I was ready to be without my bathroom for weeks. When I planned out the shower, I discovered a new tile system. These tiles are so cool and so easy to install.

Cool New Tile System That Installs with Glue

I started the bathroom renovation with demo. The whole bathroom was taken down to the studs and good riddance to the outdated tile in the shower. Once the shower was taken down to the studs I finished the walls in the shower with cement board. The cement board gets taped and mudded just like drywall and then painted with Red Guard to keep the walls waterproof. After the Red Guard was dry I could start tiling. Usually tile needs mortar to adhere to the wall and grout to fill the gaps. This new tile by Palisade is so cool. It’s made of PVC and is installed using glue! The Palisade tile is waterproof and mold and mildew resistant.

It is super easy to install. Just put glue on the back and a bead of silicone along the edges. Then fit it into the tongue and groove of the surrounding tiles. Rinse and repeat. The silicone bead along the edges seals the seams and keeps them waterproof. You can even score and snap the tiles to size, but I preferred to use my jigsaw. The tile goes up so quickly and so easily. They even make inserts for niches in the walls. Those install the same way, glue and silicone.

Woman is excited to show off new Palisade PVC tile

This Tile is Amazing

I am so in love with this tile. It went up so easily and so quickly. The look is so timeless and classic. I’m excited to update this bathroom and Palisade made tiling the shower super easy and fast. In addition to going up easily there was no waiting for mortar to dry before being able to finish the shower. I love the way it looks, it is so fresh and clean. Follow along to see how my bathroom turns out!