Table of contents for Summer 2018 in Do It Yourself

Your humble porch, patio, deck, or yard is actually untapped living space that you can reclaim just as you would any other room—by updating its surfaces, furniture, lighting, and accessories. And since this is Do It Yourself, you won’t have to hire a construction crew or spend a fortune. We packed this issue with outdoor projects to suit every skill level, budget, and timeline. Our cover story (“The Living Is Easy,” page 66) shows you how to create a fun outdoor dining room in an afternoon. Homeowner Joseph Wanek’s transformation of a decrepit screened patio into a three-season living room (“Screen Time,” page 36) is thrilling because he approached it as a series of weekend projects that you can replicate and customize. And when you’re ready for a big…

1 WATER LETTUCE A floating plant with roots hanging beneath a rosette of soft, light green foliage. Zones 10–11 2 ROYAL BLUE PICKEREL RUSH Grows 2–3 feet tall and features intense blue flowers in summer. Zones 5–9 3 CARDINAL FLOWER Offers mahogany foliage contrasting with spikes of bright red flowers in late summer. Butterflies and hummingbirds love it. Zones 5–9 4 BLUE FLAG IRIS Grows 18–24 inches tall and has pale violet-blue blooms in early to midsummer. The swordlike foliage is deer-resistant and looks good all season. Zones 4–9 5 CANNA ‘AUSTRALIA’ Reaches 3–4 feet tall and features burgundy foliage and crimson flowers. Deerresistant. Zones 7–10 (or store corms in cool storage over winter) 6 UMBRELLA PALM Features expansive fronds atop 3-foot-tall stems. Zones 8–10 7 CORKSCREW RUSH Grows…

A MODEST MIDCENTURY HOME IN DES MOINES CHECKED ALL THE BOXES FOR NEW HOMEOWNER JOSEPH WANEK… EXCEPT FOR THE SAD SCREENED PATIO ON THE BACK OF THE HOUSE. “The 1970s screen framing was rotting, and the concrete floor was dirty and neglected,” Joseph says. With the goal of gaining bonus space for entertaining friends, he brainstormed budget-friendly solutions for rehabbing the covered patio. While rescreening the structure seemed daunting, removing the screens and leaving the patio open to the bugs was not an acceptable option. Plus Joseph and his boyfriend, Nick, wanted a secure space for their cat, Julio, to enjoy fresh air. With the discovery of a screen system that could be customized to fit the space and that they could install themselves, the patio was fashioned into…

MAKE IT CONCRETE BLOCK BAR MATERIALS • 16 full cement blocks • 2 half cement blocks • Concrete glue • Three 1×6 cedar boards, 8 feet • Tape • Saw • Tape measure • Screws • Drill • Two 1×3 cedar boards, 8 feet • Sandpaper • Paintbrush • Water-base paint in desired color Step 1 For the concrete block base, lay out the two legs of your bar using the diagrams, right (as seen from overhead). Adhere each layer using concrete glue. Step 2 For the bar top, stack and tape together the three 1×6 boards so the edges are even on one end, then cut about ½ inch from the other end so they are cleanly cut to the same length. Cut the boards to span the…

PAPERED PERSONALITY Revive a tired dresser using wallpaper with a print, pattern, or texture you love. Begin by removing knobs, sanding the dresser, and wiping off any residual dust with a damp cloth. Prime and paint the dresser (A); let dry. Lay the wallpaper on a flat surface with the pattern side up. Place the top drawer on the wallpaper. Using a utility knife, cut the wallpaper around the front panel of the drawer (B). Repeat for all remaining drawers, making sure to line up the top of each drawer where the wallpaper was just cut. (This keeps a continuous flow of the wallpaper pattern across all drawer fronts.) Spray adhesive on the drawer front and attach the wallpaper piece, smoothing out any air bubbles (C). Continue this process…

MAKE IT TILE STEPPING-STONES MATERIALS • Stone tile sealer • Sponge brush • 12-inch slate tile • Wire brush • 18-inch concrete stepping-stone • Marble mosaic tile • Thin-set mortar plus polymer • Mixing tub • Mortar trowel • 1/4×3/16-inch notched trowel • Sanded grout plus flexible admixture • Rubber grout trowel • Sponge Step 1 Brush sealer on slate tiles; let dry. Use a wire brush to clean the surface of concrete steppingstones to ensure mortar adhesion. Step 2 Measure and cut marble strips to edge the slate tile on the concrete square (A). Set marble strips off to the sides. Mix mortar to thick peanut butter consistency and apply it 1/8 inch thick on one corner of the concrete for the first two strips of marble tile;…

SAFE SLEUTHING Ask local businesses and at residential contractor sites for pallets they no longer need. Hunt the free stuff section on your local Craigslist. (Avoid supermarkets; their pallets may have food spills, stains, and smells.) The North American Pallet Recycling Network (palletbuyersguide.com) is a state-by-state guide to pallet providers. INSPECT THOROUGHLY For furniture projects, test whether the pallet can bear weight. Look for the IPPC logo and stamp to learn where an international pallet was built and how it was treated. Pallets marked HT (heat treatment), DB (debarked), or KD (kiln-dried) are likely safe to use for indoor building projects. Avoid pallets marked MB, which means the wood was treated with methyl bromide, a chemical that’s potentially toxic to humans. GO THE EASY ROUTE No time to scout…

ON THE COVER Concrete blocks, wood, paint—Lowe’s; lowes.com. Towels Sandira dish towel set—Anthropologie; 800/309-2500; anthropologie.com. Wood planter with herbs, cutting board, small bowl with carnations— Walmart Inc.; walmart.com. Black-and-white graphic rug Lappljung Ruta, clear glasses on bar Pokal—IKEA; ikea-usa.com. Ice bucket with lid Threshold double-wall stainless-steel ice bucket with tongs—Target Stores; 800/800-8800; target.com (product line varies). PATIO POND PLANTER PAGES 8–11 Exterior wood sealant—Thompson’s WaterSeal; thompsonswaterseal.com. Watertight sealant—Flex Seal; flexsealproducts.com. Fountain kit— SmartPond; smart-pond.com. WHAT TO DO WITH: TROPICAL MATERIALS PAGES 13–19 Buff-color woven place mat and runner, pink rug, bedding—HomeGoods; 800/614-4663; homegoods.com (product line varies). Natural woven charger, woven chair with ivory chair cushion, drum side table, glass-and-gold pineapple lamp—Pier 1 Imports; 800/245-4595; pier1.com. Tea-light holder on table Aqua Lotus Capiz Tealight Candleholder—World Market; 877/967-5362; worldmarket.com. Clear glass…

MAKE IT COCONUT PLANTER MATERIALS • Husked coconut (Coconuts found in grocery stores are usually husked.) • Hacksaw • Putty or butter knife • Drill • Masking tape • 6 pieces jute twine cut into 4–5-foot lengths • 6 wooden beads • Black marker Step 1 Crack a coconut or saw it in half. Cracking it, like we did, will give the planter a natural shape, while cutting the coconut will leave you with a more defined edge. Step 2 Place the two halves in a microwave and cook them for one to two minutes. Use a putty or butter knife to slice into the meat and dig it out. Step 3 Drill three holes evenly spaced around the edge of the coconut—this is where you’ll attach the twine.…

1. Storage and style combine in this sleek alternative to shelving. Strap Droog attaches to the wall with just two screws and stretches to securely hold anything from letters to shoes. Strap, $19 each; droog.com 2. Hand-lettering elevates the charm of any DIY project. This lay-flat book is brimming with font how-tos and step-by-step instructions to develop your skills and give your letters, cards, and crafts that little something extra. Hand-Lettering Ledger, $19; marykatemcdevitt.com 3. Ditch the plastic wrap and opt for a reusable solution. Bee’s Wrap sheets are infused with beeswax to hold their shape when wrapped around jars, fruit, or sandwiches. Easily clean with soap and cool water. Bee’s Wrap, from $6; beeswrap.com 4. Installing a security camera is now as easy a changing a lightbulb. This…

“WE HAD WATCHED WAY TOO MUCH HGTV. WE THOUGHT, WE’LL JUST REFINISH THE FLOORS AND PAINT THE WALLS—IT’LL BE EASY,” says homeowner Elizabeth Burns. When she and husband Brian inherited a circa-1901 house from Brian’s grandmother in a small North Carolina town, they were eager to roll up their sleeves, swing some sledgehammers, and shape it into their home. “That was not the case, unfortunately. We thought we were a lot handier than we actually were,” she says. But with the help of Jake Angi, a contractor and friend, the Burnses discovered all sorts of surprises lurking behind almost every wall. Some shockers were discouraging: extensive termite damage, for example, and plumbing and wiring that needed to be replaced. A few of the surprises made the couple smile. Beaded-board…

1 DWARF FOUNTAINGRASS A compact plant with lush green foliage and fluffy, buff-color plumes. It’s great for creating contrast in a small garden. 2 BLUE HEAVEN LITTLE BLUESTEM A narrow, upright plant that changes colors with the seasons (blue, pink, burgundy, and copper), and serves as a strong vertical accent. 3 CREEPING JUNIPER Can be used as a groundcover, spreading horizontally to hide bare patches. This aromatic shrub has a blue-green cast most of the year. 4 GOLDEN MOP CYPRESS With stringy leaves that hug the ground, it’s a great accent evergreen for terraced or sloped gardens. 5 BIRD’S NEST SPRUCE Has outward-curving, compact branches with dense, dark needles. It’s a low-maintenance, hardy accent plant. 6 MAIDEN GRASS Offers great height and color. Its green foliage turns bronze red…

“I HAD ALWAYS WANTED A GREENHOUSE MADE FROM WINDOWS,” JENNIFER OSWALD SAYS. “BUT MY HUSBAND, CHRIS, DIDN’T SEEM INTERESTED. THAT IS, UNTIL OUR DAUGHTER BECAME INTERESTED IN GARDENING.” So in spring 2017—as seedlings started by daughter, Aleira, and Jennifer blanketed surfaces in the dining room and kitchen—Chris got on board. The couple decided to locate the structure at the rear of their Carlisle, Pennsylvania, property beneath a honeysuckle tree. Jennifer took to Facebook Yard Sale and Craigslist sites searching for materials. Her first callout was answered by a woman who was replacing the wood-frame windows in her historic home. The seller sent a list of window sizes, which the couple used to determine the greenhouse layout. They bought $180 worth of windows and supplemented them with found windows, including…

A 1,700-SQUARE-FOOT, L-SHAPE PATIO OF CONCRETE SLABS AND RED PAVERS WRAPS A 750-SQUARE-FOOT STUCCO COTTAGE IN LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA. That’s the bare-bones foundation of what is now known as The Horticult Garden—a wonderland of plants, open-air rooms, and DIY projects built by blog creators and cohorts Chantal Aida Gordon and Ryan Benoit. Using common building materials such as dimensional lumber, chain, concrete blocks, casters, threaded rods, and a smattering of Craigslist scores, Ryan and Chantal created an outdoor kitchen, a dining area, and two living areas (one with a giant TV screen and one with a fireplace), all surrounded by one-of-a-kind plant installations that thrive in the microclimates created by the property’s three trees—a massive twisted feijoa that canopies almost the entire side yard, and a pair of citrus…

MAKE IT WATER GARDEN MATERIALS • Two 8-foot 1×12 cedar boards • 3/4-inch pressure-treated plywood • One 4-foot 1×2 • One 4-foot 1×3 • Wood glue • Clamps • Drill, screwdriver attachment, assorted bits • 15/8-inch × 7 star-drive stainless-steel trim screws •#2 Phillips drive 1¼-inch exterior screws • Waterproofing seal • Paintbrushes or sponges • Rubberized sealant Step 1 From 1×12 cedar, cut two 33-inch lengths for the side panels and three 16½-inch lengths for the ends and divider. Cut a 16½×31½-inch panel from plywood for the base. For the legs, cut four 12-inch lengths from 1×2 and four 12-inch lengths from 1×3. Step 2 To build the legs, glue and clamp a 1×3 to a 1×2 to form four L-shape corners. Allow glue to dry, then reinforce…

1. BRASS WATERING LANCE A professional-quality tool made for English parks, estates, and nurseries, the Haws all-brass lance is 24 inches long and features a shut-off toggle for adjustable water flow. The rose can be turned up or down as needed. $73; homedepot.com 2. ONE-TOUCH REVOLUTION SPRAY GUN Not any old garden-variety pistol, Dramm’s spray gun comes in six colors—Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Berry—and has nine spray patterns. $14; walmart.com. Brass live swivel, $17; amazon.com 3. RECTANGULAR SPRINKLER WITH ON/OFF FLOW CONTROL Fine-tune the water at the sprinkler, not the spigot, with this new sprinkler that has an on/off flow control on the tool. Customize the width and length of the spray by adjusting intuitive aqua-color parts. $28; gilmour.com 4. SMALL STATIONARY SPRINKLERS For a simple watering…

DEAR HANDY GIRL, My wood deck is in good shape structurally but could use a little love—it’s faded and doesn’t appear to be repelling water very well. I don’t know where to start. Help? DEAR READER, I’m glad your deck is sound; that’s half the battle. If you’re able to devote several hours over several days, you can reseal or restain your deck and have it looking almost new. Here’s what to do. 1 Lightly sand your deck. My favorite tool (so I’m not wrecking my hands and knees): a pole sander. Fine-grit sandpaper—about 80-grit—works well. If you see any loose screws, tighten them. 2 Clean it. Choose a warm day and scrub the deck with a deck-cleaning solution (follow the directions for application). Remove all furniture, and cover…

MAKE IT PIPE CHAIR MATERIALS • Four 23-inch-long cedar decking boards • Four 22-inch-long cedar decking boards • Two 9 3/4×2 1/4-inch cedar planks • Sandpaper • 2×2-inch by 3-foot steel angle • Reciprocating saw with new blade • Drill with 1/8-inch or 3/16-inch bit • Wood glue • 1 1/2-inch pan-head screws • Semitransparent deck stain • Bonding primer • Exterior spray paint • Sixteen 3/4-inch stainless-steel screws • Three 18-inch-long 31/4-inch diameter steel pipes • Seven 24-inch-long 31/4-inch diameter steel pipes • Allen wrench • Eight 90-degree angle connectors • 4 tee connectors • 1 1/4-inch exterior pan-head screws • Sixteen 1.-inch stainless-steel screws Step 1 Sand the faces and edges of the cedar planks until smooth. Cut the steel angle to 21 3/4 inches using a…

1. FLORIST HACK Flower sealant is a professional spray-on product to make fresh-cut blossoms last longer. Design Master Clear Life, $11; amazon.com 2. TAKE A SEAT Wood folding chairs are lightweight, long-lasting, and easy to dress up with paint or fabric. Winsome Folding Chairs, set of four, $78; hayneedle.com 3. WALK THIS WAY Use an outdoor-rated rug to anchor the party setup. Nirvana Gray/White Indoor/Outdoor Area Rug, starting at $44; wayfair.com 4. STAMP HAPPY We used this kitchen tool to stamp on the white pattern that dances across our hot pink tablecloth. OXO Good Grips Meat Chopper, $12; bedbathandbeyond.com (available online only) 5. HOLD ON Secure outdoor decor, such as tablecloths and furniture cushions, with powerful reclosable fasteners. They’re peel-and-stick and weather-resistant, and they maintain their hold with…

GATHER WINDOWS. Search Craigslist, visit salvage stores, and ask friends to keep an eye out for discarded windows. Opt for wood-frame windows whenever possible, as they are easiest to connect. Check wood windows for dry rot, which can cause leaking and affect longevity. MAKE IT WATERTIGHT. Reglaze glass panes and caulk window frames on both the front and back. Cover roof seams, peaks, and edges with metal flashing and flashing caps. MEASURE TWICE! With window and door sizes in mind, draw a blueprint that puzzles the elements into a sturdy structure. Employ plywood foundation panels and gables and 2×4s to round out your design. KEEP IT SIMPLE. Use 1½-inch exterior galvanized screws to attach windows atop the framework, instead of setting them inside a frame as you would when…

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