Okay, so, the "we" above actually refers to the team at Popular Mechanics, but the sentiment is the same - while the DIY approach can be enriching, challenging, creative, and often save you lots of money, it doesn't mean that everything goes perfectly the first… Continue Reading
As usual, Curbly's Clippings page is full of great inspiring images from all over the internet this week. Here's a quick roundup in case you missed it:
This abstract acyrlilic block with scrap wood suspended inside makes a striking sculpture.
Possibly the best use of a Pantone color guide that I've ever seen. Ok, definitely.
I tweeted this one already, but still, I love the use of turqoise in this kitchen (and… Continue Reading
It never ceases to amaze me how clever and creative people can be! Take this coat rack from JJ Evensen for example. I would have never thought to use old spoons as hooks! Attach them to some reclaimed wood and presto! Brilliance is born. (Check out more utensil accessories right here.)
Do you have any ideas for clever uses of common/unexpected household items? Share in the comments!
There are a few things that simply seem to belong on a bedside table: a lamp, alarm clock, perhaps a pair of glasses, and a few magazines or books. Then, once you add a few personal items (mine usually include a crossword puzzle or two and a glass of water), and there's not a lot of extra space for any accessories or "decor" items.
So, I wanted to make something to add a little bit of fun and style, but that doesn't take up too much prime nightstand real estate or interfere with the… Continue Reading
This, my friends, is a blank slate. It's also a slightly fuzzy picture (sorry about that) of a very large unfinished window in a room I would one day like to sleep in instead of living in a garage. Ah, wishful thinking. But daydreaming aside, something had to be done with this thing and after a week of painting I was so ready to break out the power… Continue Reading
It's equal parts rustic, modern, and cottage chic - but there's one thing this sliding barn door is not:… Continue Reading
As usual, there's a lot of great discussions going on in the Q&A section this month. Here's a quick roundup in case you haven't been paying attention:
Nidhi was wondering what to do with all the cardboard boxes she'd been hoarding. Her cry for help prompted some great responses, least of which was my suggestion:
Then Gilboonet chimed in with some professional… Continue Reading
A few weeks back the folks from Elmer's offered to send out some glue to sample and as I'm a fan of glue, I was more than happy to accept the offer. The glue under consideration was their Carpenter's WoodGlue Max, Carpenter's WoodGlue, Multi-purpose Glue-All and All-Purpose Glue-All Max. The first three have been recently reformulated, so testing was in… Continue Reading
Melamine-coated particleboard is an amazing resource for DIY projects: it's cheaper than plywood, as strong as MDF but less prone to warping, and comes with two finished sides that look way cleaner than painted sheet goods. It comes in large 4x8' sheets, or smaller, more usable sizes often sold in the shelving section. If you're okay with the white or black finish, it's the perfect material for custom storage and organizing tools.
Later today, I'll show you how I used melamine to create a custom, IKEA hacked desk, but first, I wanted to share a few tips for creating perfectly clean edges when you cut. Since melamine is a plastic resin, it's prone to chip and splinter. Luckily, there are a few easy tricks to get perfectly clean, factory-like edges. This technique also works well when repurposed old particle board furniture with laminate tops, such as inexpensive pieces sold at IKEA or discount stores, or the rows of furniture found in thrift stores and… Continue Reading
As far as unconventional Christmas trees go, this one takes the cake! Forget trying to DIY a giant plywood tannenbaum, keep things simple with an easy-to-make mini balsa wood… Continue Reading
Making your home a better place doesn't take a lot of money, and you should never let a lack of supplies or tools intimidate you from trying a home improvement project. Remember, you can always rent or borrow any special tools you might need (a drywall jack, for example, is one of those things you probably don't need to own, but comes in really, really handy when the time is right).
That said, having the right tool for the job can be… Continue Reading
This week, Curbly is giving away a Dremel Multimax oscillating tool kit, so we thought we'd try one out and share our thoughts. I've had a Dremel rotary tool for years, and even though I have a whole basement full of big, fancy power tools, I still reach for my Dremel for all sorts of tasks. So, I was excited to try out Dremel's new offering, the Multi-Max. Whereas the original Dremel is a high-speed rotary tool, meaning it spins around at… Continue Reading
We've repurposed discarded chairs by stripping, painting and reupholstering, but it never occurred to us to turn a mass-produced, discarded chair into a whittled down piece of sculptural art. Asked to upcycle an unvalued object for an article 'Hack It Better', London artist Karen Ryan continued her Whittle series with Chair No. 3. Here's what she started with before she got busy with her pen… Continue Reading
Who would have thought that 4" x 4" rotten fence posts could shape up and look so flippin' great? This repurposed bench project on ApartmentTherapy instantly snagged my attention. And to think I almost called a guy to haul away our old fence posts that are heaped on the wood… Continue Reading
This year, I wanted to bring some natural, but still contemporary, elements to my Thanksgiving table. I figured out how to create these adorable little place card holders from a small fallen branch, and I wanted something else round and wooden to coordinate. Coasters? No, not necessary. Wine glass charm indicators? Not quite. Serving utensils? Cool, but time consuming. And then...of course! Napkin rings. They're round, and just the right… Continue Reading
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