October 2023
When buying our house in Florida, finding one with a pool was a must-have. Not having a separate dining room was easily overlooked. After two years, I was ready to try and make the space more inviting. Starting with some pretty little things in this simple corner makeover.
Walking into the kitchen every morning, I was met with a couple of big, blank walls. We added a clock to the space but felt out of place.
This project would be my first commitment to color. I wanted something brighter that would work well with plants – it hadn’t yet crossed my mind that this corner did not receive much natural light.
I wanted an arch. Our ceilings were low and there were straight edges everywhere. I needed something that was going to take away from the boxiness of the kitchen.
I have come to terms with decorating your home in a way that fits your family. Despite its fading popularity, I knew it would be right for the space.
Mental Health Takeaway
I had a new friend come over who lived in the same neighborhood. Always curious, she wanted a tour. As I guided her through each room – all 3 minutes of the tour – I remember that one of the last things she said was “You’re so funny about your white walls.” We were standing in the kitchen.
This project was an energy boost. A cheap and easy way to just start somewhere. Also, it gave us a place to keep our sweet girl (pictured below.)
Step 1. Clean, Outline, & tape.
This took a little extra planning, but since I was only attempting one arch, I wasn’t super overwhelmed
I wiped down the area using a wet towel and a small amount of soap.
Using a very official pencil and string, I made a small mark at the height I wanted the arch to extend, right where the two walls connect.
Next, going with my gut, I held the string to the corner of the room, about 2 feet below the initial mark.
I lightly dragged the pencil creating a full circle. I only needed to make a half circle, but It didn’t hurt to go all the way around.
Finally, I made a small mark where I had pressed my finger into the corner.
Using a level, I positioned one end to the mark in the corner and made a mark on the edge of the circle on both walls.
From those marks, I drew a line down to the baseboard on either side of the arch.
Taping was a little more time-consuming. There may be a faster way to do this, however, I found that this method gets the smoothest curve.
Starting with small tears of tape, usually only an inch or two, I started taping off the rounded edge of the arch.
I was careful to line these up as best as possible to avoid unsightly straight lines once the tape was removed.
This was the first time I used the caulk trick and to be honest, I was a little confused at first.
Up until this point, I had been working on perfecting a bead of caulk that could be spread evenly around trim and sinks.
To get the best line, you don’t need a bead of caulk, you need very little! I started by adding a small amount to my finger and smoothing it over the edge of the side of the tape that would be painted.
Be sure you are using a paint-friendly caulk – these are usually matte – not shiny and less sticky with the application. Also, keep a little bowl of water next to you for easy finger cleanup after a few wipes.
As caulk builds up on your finger, it becomes a pain to smooth out any lines, so try to avoid too much at once.
Step 2. Paint
Finally, I was able to paint. I was so excited for a small painting area! I had two coats done in the same day and there was even a good amount of dry time.
The edges came out perfect! No smudges or bleeding to be seen.
(I use this trick almost every time I paint now.)
The last step was to add some shelving and trinkets that I already owned but had never found a place for. After a little trial and error, I have found what brings me the most joy when looking over to the newly refreshed space.
It turned out to be the best spot for our sweet angel pup. She safely resides looking over the kitchen, her favorite place to be.
