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christine nickerson design

architecture | design | diy

April 13, 2022

How to Remove Existing Window and Door Trim: One Room Challenge Week 2

Here we are already at week 2 of the One Room Challenge!  This week I started demo in the Mudroom to remove our existing door trim and floor tile.  To see where the design is headed, you can check out…

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Hi, I’m Christine!

I'm a wife, mom, and architect, who loves all things creative. I am always dreaming up 10 DIY projects at a time, and now making them happen to turn our builder-grade home into one filled with character! I hope to inspire you to create a home you love, too!

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Even though I already posted a reel reveal of this Even though I already posted a reel reveal of this space…I couldn’t help but to also share this DIY coffered ceiling reveal in photo form!  Are you team reels or team photos?! 

Swipe to see more views and details of this space, my original design rendering, and the “before” of this room! (Also swipe to see how I have not yet mastered photo reveal posing 😅). I think this ceiling might be one of my favorite upgrades that I’ve made to our “builder-grade” home yet- or, it’s at least tied with those transom windows that we added a couple of years ago!

Also, don’t forget that you can check out the other Dream Room contestants’ room transformations on @wearewoodgrain’s page, and vote for your favorite! 😊
DIY Coffered Ceiling Reveal! 🎉 It’s reveal da DIY Coffered Ceiling Reveal! 🎉 It’s reveal day for my Dream Room Glow Up with @wearewoodgrain and I couldn’t be more excited to share this space!  A big thank you to Woodgrain for providing all of the primed pine moulding to make this project possible- from the 1x4s, 1x6s, and crown moulding for the ceiling, to that beautiful chair rail that adds a little something special to the walls in this room too! 

I love taking on projects that I’ve never tried before, and this ceiling was no exception!  It was a ton of work and long days, but I learned so much along the way.  Being able to enjoy this room with my family now, and hearing my kids say that they want to learn to build too, has made it all worth it!

I hope you enjoyed following along in stories (there’s a highlight saved if you missed anything!) and thank you for all of the support on this project!  If you had one room in your home that you could “glow up,” what would you add to it- an accent ceiling, or an accent wall?

Also- don’t forget to head over to @wearewoodgrain ‘s page to check out the other three rooms that were part of this year’s competition and vote for your favorite!
A quick recap of how many different steps went int A quick recap of how many different steps went into the first few weeks of building this DIY coffered ceiling as part of @wearewoodgrain’s Dream Room Glow Up competition!  I’ve made a lot more progress over the past week beyond what you see here + the photos I shared last week, and I’ll be sharing it all in stories soon!  If you missed anything so far and want to catch up, you can check out my “Dream Room” story highlight.  Only a few weeks left to go before this ceiling is done, so be sure to follow along to see it all come together!  Is there a room in your house where you’d put a coffered ceiling?!
DIY coffered ceiling progress!! We are 3 weeks int DIY coffered ceiling progress!! We are 3 weeks into @wearewoodgrain ‘s Dream Room Glow Up competition, and I’m so excited about the progress in our dining room! 

If you swipe to the end you’ll see a section sketch of what these beams will eventually look like- right now they’re complete through step 2, and I’m already loving how the bottom of these beams look with the primed pine from @wearewoodgrain!  With the framework for this coffered ceiling in place, I’m even more excited for the next steps of adding the 1x4s and crown molding (also provided by @wearewoodgrain!) to each of these 9 sections of the ceiling.  Swipe to see more views of the progress, my design rendering, the “before” of this room, and that section sketch.

Have you been following along in stories as I share the whole process?! If you’ve missed anything, it’s all saved to my “Dream Room” highlight!  Also I’d love to hear what you think so far!  I’m so grateful to @wearewoodgrain for providing the materials for this project.  This is my first coffered ceiling build and I have loved learning and trying something new, and sharing it will all of you.  I hope it inspires you to build something in your own home that you’ve been wanting to try!
Have you heard about @wearewoodgrain ‘s Dream Ro Have you heard about @wearewoodgrain ‘s Dream Room Glow Up competition?! 

I’m so excited to have been selected as a contestant to transform our dining room with molding that was provided by @wearewoodgrain!

Over the next 6 weeks my biggest project in this room is going to be building a coffered ceiling- a project that I have never done before, and am super excited to tackle!  To prep I’ve done tons of YouTube research, designed (and re-designed) this ceiling in @autodesk Revit, done a lot of sketching, thinking, and more sketching, and mostly cleared the dining room out so that I have a clean slate and plenty of space to work!

Are you excited to see this ceiling come together?! Be sure to follow along in stories for this whole project and leave any questions you have below!
This was on my “last 5% of the project” list f This was on my “last 5% of the project” list for a while!

These angle restriction clips are made specifically for the @blum_usa clip top hinges I used on these DIY cabinet doors, and they limit the door to an 86 degree opening.  I ordered a pack of them from Amazon and added one to each hinge.  I even have a couple leftover that I’ll be using for the custom powder room vanity I’m building next! 

Such a quick and easy fix, and now I’m one step closer to calling this desk 100% finished!  Though really, is anything ever 100% done when you DIY it?  I’m starting to regret not incorporating an outlet into this desk top and also already rethinking the paint color in this room 😂🤦🏼‍♀️ What do you think, should I try to add desktop outlets?! 

I hope you found this helpful if you’re building doors close to a wall like I did, or that it gives you that extra motivation to finish those last 5% of things on your project list!
Part 3 is here! Some more details and tips on the Part 3 is here!  Some more details and tips on these door hinges:
 
The hinges I used on these DIY cabinet doors are the @blum_usa soft close, inset, clip top hinges for face frame cabinets.  They come in a variety of styles, so if you’re looking for the right hinge for your project you’ll want to consider:
 
-Are your cabinets frameless or do they have a face frame?
-Are your doors inset or overlay?
-If overlay, how much is the overlay (partial or full)?
 
The clip top made these so easy to install, and they’re adjustable in 3 directions (up/down, side to side, and front/back) so you can get the fit just right!
 
To install them I picked up this @milescrafttools EuroHingeJig, and that ALSO made the install of these so easy!  This jig is specifically for European-style concealed hinges like the ones I used on this project, and helps you get the right placement and depth for your hinge cup holes. 
 
The instructions for your hinge will tell you what offset you need, so always check those!  For these hinges, and a +/- 1/8” reveal around my inset cabinet doors, I set the knobs to a 5mm offset.  I also built a small mockup to practice/double check my settings when I used these hinges and jig for the first time, because testing out something new on scrap wood first never hurts!
 
What other questions do you have on these hinges?  Is 2023 going to be the year you build some DIY cabinet doors?  You can do it!!😊
My plan to finish this fireplace by LAST Christmas My plan to finish this fireplace by LAST Christmas didn’t quite work out 😅. But now that it’s done in time for the holidays this year, I couldn’t resist sharing this before and after (or I guess it’s really more a “during” and after)!

I have 4 new projects and counting already in the works for this upcoming year, and I can’t wait to share them with you after the holidays!  I’m so thankful for all of you who come along on these builds with me 🥰 Thank you for being here!! 

What’s on your “to-build” list for this upcoming year?  Let me know below if there’s a build you’re planning or one you’d like to take on but don’t know where to start!  Maybe I can help?!
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@heatnglofireplaces #fireplacemakeover #WomenWhoDIY #buildergradeupgrade
Sharing part 2! A few other tips for these DIY In Sharing part 2!  A few other tips for these DIY Inset Cabinet Doors:

⭐️Make sure that the wood you choose for your rails and stiles is as straight as possible!  I pick out my 1x3 poplar from @homedepot and check each piece for any bowing or cupping.  In stories I shared that one stile on one of my doors must’ve been a little bowed, and I didn’t realize it until I went to hang my door.  Luckily it worked out okay because of the cabinet latch hardware I chose, and the other door was nice and flat- but definitely keep this in mind when picking out your materials! 

⭐️If you have some scrap wood to spare, it’s helpful to cut test pieces!  I used a test 1x3 piece to dial in the dado blade width (and height) that I needed to cut the grooves for my MDF panel.  I also used this test piece first when it came to cutting the tenons, to make sure my blade was at the right height and I wasn’t going to accidentally remove too much material. 

⭐️Since my MDF was slightly thicker than 1/4”, I ended up running my pieces through the table saw twice, flipping them over for the second pass.  This made my groove just a little bit wider, and also centered it!  This isn’t necessary if your dado blade width is a good match for your center panel thickness, but it does have some benefits too.  The goal is for the center panel to be snug but not too tight.

Follow along for part 3 where I’ll share how I drilled for + installed the euro style inset cabinet door hinges!  I’ll also have a blog post up soon covering parts 1 & 2 if you prefer reading + photos over video 😊

Are you feeling ready to build some doors?!
Part 1 of How to Build DIY Inset Cabinet Doors: de Part 1 of How to Build DIY Inset Cabinet Doors: determining your dimensions + planning your cuts!

I do a lot of sketching when I plan out my builds, and I hope this helps guide you through the planning process if you’re looking to build some doors like this too!  This was my first time building cabinet doors using this method, and I’m overall really happy with how they turned out!

Follow along for parts 2 & 3 where I’ll share the process for cutting + assembling all of these pieces, and then how I drilled for + installed the door hinges!

Have you ever built doors before, or is it something you’ve been wanting to try?  I do my best to share as much info as I can about these builds because I really want you to feel like you can tackle these projects also!! Let me know if you find these tutorials helpful + any other questions you have!
Have you ever built with pocket-hole screws?!  If Have you ever built with pocket-hole screws?!  If you have, I’d love to hear what you’ve built before!  And if you haven’t yet but you’ve been wanting to try, I hope these tips are helpful!  I purchased my @masscawoodworking pocket-hole jig two years ago after watching a carpenter on YouTube build wainscoting using pocket hole screws.  I thought the process was so fascinating, and I just really wanted to try it and learn a new skill- and that is how I built the blue wainscoting in my son’s nursery that you see in this reel! 

Two main considerations when choosing the right screw for your project:

1. Material type:  Coarse thread screws are for plywoods and softwoods (like pine), and fine thread screws are for hardwoods (like oak).  I’ve been using the coarse-thread screws to build my plywood cabinet boxes, and fine thread screws on my poplar face frames.  Even though poplar is technically considered a hardwood, it’s not as dense as other hardwoods like oak or maple.  I’ve recently read that some woodworkers prefer to use coarse-thread screws with poplar, but I haven’t tried it out for myself yet- I will on my next build and let you know how it goes!

2. Material thickness- you can find charts online for what length screw you need depending on your material thickness.  I build mostly with ¾” thick plywood and poplar, so I go through a lot of 1-¼” screws!

I have more built-in/cabinet projects coming up soon, so follow along if you want to see what I build next!  As usual I have too many different project ideas at once, so I might need your help picking which one I tackle first 😂
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#womenwhodiy #pocketholes
Do you prioritize the more practical projects or t Do you prioritize the more practical projects or the more fun projects first? 😂 

I have plans for a custom DIY sink cabinet in the powder room eventually, but first I was so excited to build these tall storage cabinets for my desk! (So, I guess this build was kind of a practical one too?!) 

I actually finished this desk (well, to 95%!) last month, and have now been sharing the whole step by step process in stories!  You can check out my highlights for anything you’ve missed and follow along to see the face frame, crown molding, drawers, doors, and hardware come together!
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#WomenWhoDIY #cabinetmaking #buildergradeupgrade
One of the first projects I committed to in our bu One of the first projects I committed to in our builder-grade home was upgrading ALL of our MDF trim to something with more character!  After a lot of online searching and talking with local pros, I decided to have our trim milled locally out of poplar.  The beaded 1x4 was a profile they stocked, and the backband was a custom profile.  Sometimes you’ll see a similar door and window casing “build-up” as 3 separate pieces, rather than 2 like this trim.  I wanted to have less pieces to assemble, which is why I opted for the custom backband and 2-piece trim profile!  The pros and cons of this decision?
 
Pros:
-2 pieces makes for quicker assembly
-Less wood filler and caulk
-I was able to custom order lengths of 8’, 12’, and 16’ to reduce waste.  I made a spreadsheet with all of our windows and doors listed to determine what lengths of wood I needed and minimize overage + keep costs lower!
 
Cons:
-Not primed – I definitely underestimated the time it would take to sand, prime, and re-sand all of this trim!
 
There are definitely trade-offs!  If I could do it again? ….I would probably try to find a profile I liked that was already primed.  I love our local supplier, I just don’t love sanding 😅 If you’re looking for some beautiful, classic options/inspiration to upgrade the trim in your home, I’d definitely recommend checking out Windsor One, Kuiken Brothers, or SAW molding!
 

Is upgrading the trim in your home something you’ve ever considered?  What style of trim do you like best?  I personally love the simplicity of craftsman trim, but our home is a center-hall colonial style on the exterior and in plan, so I wanted to stay true to that style with the trim!
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#buildergradeupgrade #womenwhodiy
These are the two methods I use for cutting down p These are the two methods I use for cutting down plywood to make cabinets and other built-ins!

There are other options too, like a track saw or guides that you can attach to your circular saw- these are just the two that work for me with the tools that I have!

An extra tip:  As I’ve been learning about how to build cabinets, I came across the advice that “consistency is better than accuracy,” and it really stuck with me!  Yes you want to be accurate, but if your cut is a tiny bit off from the dimension you intended, just make sure that any other cuts of that size match! (A good example would be when you’re cutting multiple braces for the back of your cabinet, you want all of those to be the exact same width!). I like using the table saw when possible because it will give me a cut that is repeatable/exactly the same every time.  If you’re cutting a long piece of plywood down into multiple braces, set up a stop on your miter saw so that you can make repeat cuts that way also!

Save if you found this helpful and let me know what you’re currently building or would love to build!! Next up in stories is building my upper cabinets for the Mudroom desk and I can’t wait to share more of the process! 
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#WomenWhoDIY #cabinetmaking #buildergradeupgrade
Custom DIY desk features, part 2: charging drawer! Custom DIY desk features, part 2: charging drawer!

This charging drawer just might be my favorite part of this desk!  I even customized the drawer with a divider when I built it, so that devices can go on one side and charging cables can be organized on the other.  Next up I need to label those spare cables because I can never keep track of which cable goes to which device 😅 

Do you have a place in your home where you’d use of these drawer outlets?! (Outlet is from @dockingdrawer and I have it + my other charging drawer accessories linked on my LTK for anyone interested!)
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#chargingstation #dockingstation
How to Make a Clean Miter Joint for Interior Trim! How to Make a Clean Miter Joint for Interior Trim!
 
The first time I put up this new wood trim in our home, I found it tough to get a clean, flush join at my mitered corners- especially in places where the window jamb didn’t sit even with the drywall.  A quick google search of “how to make perfect miter joints for trim” led me to find YouTube tutorials for this awesome polyurethane hot melt adhesive, and now it’s my favorite way to install door and window trim! 
 
With this method you can assemble your trim on the ground before attaching it to your door or window, and it really does give you those (just about) perfect miter joints!  The adhesive does take 24 hours to cure to almost full strength, but it forms a strong bond even prior to that and I usually nail my trim up the same day (being careful not to stress the joint).
 
Have you ever tried or would you try this method for trim?  Leave any questions you have below!  Products are all in my Amazon shop under “tools” (link in bio) if you want to check them out!
Custom DIY desk features, part 1: printer cabinet Custom DIY desk features, part 1:  printer cabinet and pull-out tray! 

Have you been following along in stories as I designed and built this part of my new desk?! To me the best part of DIY is that you can make things totally custom to fit your wants and your space, and I’m so excited about the function and organization this cabinet is providing!

Do you already have or would you create a hideaway for your printer?  Or maybe another bulky electronic that you use every day but don’t necessarily want sitting out on your counter?!

Follow along to see what other custom features I built into my new desk in my Mudroom mini-office!
Fellow perfectionists, can you relate?! I sanded Fellow perfectionists, can you relate?!

I sanded and re-sanded, stained and re-stained this desk top, and still ended up with some blotchiness 🤦‍♀️ For a couple of days, all I could see were those imperfections.  But I’m working on reminding myself that nothing is ever perfect, and it doesn’t have to be!

Now that the lower part of the desk is (mostly) done, I’m working on building the upper cabinets!  I can’t wait to add even more storage and function to this space 🙌

Follow along to see it all come together and let me know what feature you would want to add if you were building a mini home-office desk!
That feeling of a sketch turning into reality neve That feeling of a sketch turning into reality never gets old! 🥰
 
It’s been about a year since I started the renovation of our builder-grade fireplace and upgraded our previous unit to this gorgeous @heatnglofireplaces gas fireplace!  It has been one of my favorite changes yet that I’ve made to our home and has really made the fireplace a focal point in our living room. 
 
I loved partnering with @heatnglofireplaces to share more about this fireplace transformation and other ways you can add coziness and character to a new construction home!  Check out the link in my bio to read the article and learn more about the beautiful fireplace options from Heat & Glo on their website. 
 
Do you have a fireplace in your home that could use some added character, or a place you’d like to add one?  A screen porch with an outdoor fireplace is still on my ‘dream home’ list!
Plywood cutting tip! The more teeth a blade has, Plywood cutting tip!  The more teeth a blade has, the cleaner your cut will be.  I swapped out the 18 teeth blade that came with my circular saw for this @diablo_tools 60 teeth ultra-finish blade, and it makes SUCH a difference when cutting down plywood for my cabinet builds!  No splintering of the plywood edges! 

Let me know any other plywood/cabinet building questions you have below, and follow along to see the rest of the custom desk I’m building come together!

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