At Home With Kelsey Mackall

It has been a whirlwind of a renovation season with so many unique designs, challenges, and stunning reveals, in Season 6 of the Renovation Challenge.

We were so proud to welcome Wagner for the first time and FrogTape returning for their fifth season with us. Each DIYer successfully transformed their space in only six weeks, and the fans voted one winner for the season, Kelsey Mackall.

We sat down with Kelsey to discuss why she wanted to participate, her design inspiration, and the one thing she wished she had done differently. Join us in this exclusive Q+A with Kelsey to close out the year.

From always following along and voting for others in the season’s past, Kelsey finally decided to give it a try and join the Renovation Challenge.

Q: What made you decide to apply for the Fall Renovation Challenge?

A: This Challenge has been on my DIY bucket list for some time, and when I finally started my blog, I thought, “Why not? We still have one last bathroom to renovate.” And I’m so glad I gave it a shot.

Q: What were your initial thoughts when you heard you were accepted into the Renovation Challenge?

A: I was ecstatic about it! It was great to meet so many other amazing DIYers who joined, and we all really connected with each other. It was so great to have a group to go through this experience with. They’ve become friends.

Q: How was your experience during the Challenge?

A: At first, six weeks seemed like a lot of time and fun with so much demo we had to do. Then, halfway through, we realized we still had so much to do and weren’t sure we could get it all done. I did most of this renovation solo with only a little help from my husband and kids.

I don’t know that I would have added so much detail and design if not for the Renovation Challenge. I really wanted to stand out with what I was doing. It was great to have 13 other designers going through this with me, and that was encouraging to help keep me going.

Q: Tell us about your design and why you chose your shared kids’ bathroom.

A: Oh, I must have done and redone my mood board for this bathroom a million times before submitting. I usually did neutrals and wanted something that would stand out more, and using colored tile was what I thought would do just that.

Q: Let’s talk inspiration. Where did you start, and how did your design come together?

A: I knew right away I wanted to do something with the colored tile trend. I picked the tile first to inspire the rest of my design. Once I saw the Morning Mist glass tile with subtle color and reflection, I wanted to couple it with a patterned tile to create a fun and whimsical look for the kid’s bathroom. These were the most fun to install.

Q: What was your biggest challenge to overcome during your renovation?

A: I think it was week four or five with the deadline coming up, and I didn’t want to go back to Home Depot for mortar, and I used some that I had laying around that was grey, and you can totally tell it isn’t the same as the rest of the shower. I was so frustrated with myself for this mistake that I could have avoided it. My husband was so sweet and stepped in to give me a break and redo the shower tile. Removing it and all. It wasn’t the biggest mistake I could have made, but I rushed and paid the price.

I was also able to make up some lost time with the paint sprayer Wagner provided all of us. Without that, I would still be painting the new vanity with all the smaller nooks and crannies.

Q: Your renovation turned out stunning. Congrats on that and winning Season 6; with that, would you ever consider joining the Renovation Challenge again?

A: I loved connecting with all the viewers and other participants and working with the brands. I might have said no if you had asked me during the six-week challenge. But, once your renovation is done and you take a step back to look at everything you’ve accomplished, it’s that feeling that makes DIY so addicting, so yes, I would definitely do it again.

Bonus Advice from Kelsey

Tiling isn’t about skill. It’s about the detail. Take your time, as tiling isn’t as hard as you might think it is. Every tiling mistake I’ve ever made has been because I was rushing.

Interested in participating in the challenge? Apply today to join the Spring Renovation Challenge Season 7.