Wall niche

A wall niche is not for every taste. I think it's because to display small collectibles is to reveal a certain personality trait. Some people just aren't that way, while others love the idea. And the available styles are also purely aesthetic. There's nothing structural about these things.

This location happens to be the intersection of the hallway and the front entry, so it was almost a given to have something as a visual focal point. The previous owner had a huge floor-to-ceiling mirror, which seemed rather vain. I think having the mirror backing in the niche is just about right.

I don't have a lot of little knick knacks to show. I just went online and ordered it because the trim seemed to somewhat match my door mouldings down the hall. Good enough. Easy enough, too.

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Wall niche cutout

Finding the perfect spot for the niche was not as easy as it should be. Although this in-wall unit fits well within the bay between two standard studs, the wall where I wanted it had too many studs! The blue tape indicates their locations. It's a good idea to tape up a paper mockup to view at all angles before cutting. Height matters, too. Factory recommended fastening was construction adhesive, but because I had two tight studs on either side, face nailing was the better solution here. I also removed a mid-wall blocking.

See finished niche.

So glad it's green

Slow hose for fifteen minutes every two weeks. That's what this particular tree likes -- at this particular location in my yard. The soil is so clayey and compacted that any more water would be too much, even during these hot dry weeks. I have not experimented with less water. Maybe I should. It was near drowning in its first winter here.

(Yep, my neighbor painted his hot tub roof light blue)

Pittosporum Tarata
a.k.a. Lemonwood