Table of contents for Fall 2018 in Do It Yourself

On your mark …. Get set …. Redecorate! What can you accomplish in a single day? A heckuva lot—if this time-focused issue of Do It Yourself is any indication. Simply pick your project, gather the right supplies, and go! If you can find a few hours this evening or weekend, we’ve got a project you’re going to love. Cast a lightweight concrete lampshade or bench base in a few hours (“Take a Seat,” page 98). Build one of three cozy outdoor fire pits in an afternoon (“Fire Side,” page 62). Customize a sheet of plywood into five different headboards before bedtime (“ZZZs, Please,” page 68). And fill in any remaining free time with one of a half dozen clever pillow upgrades (“Identity Swap,” page 58). So clear your calendar,…

HEXAGON PLANTER All it takes is six even pieces of wood and some angled cuts to make this stunning cedar planter, opposite and right. For the small planter, using a compound miter saw, cut six pieces of cedar wood to 6 3–8 inches wide and 7 inches tall. (For the large planter, cut six boards to 8½ inches wide and 7 inches tall.) Cut each side at a 30-degree angle. Glue sides together using wood glue for exterior use (such as Titebond III). Wipe away excess glue with a damp cloth and let dry (A). Apply three coats of spar urethane with a bristle brush, allowing appropriate drying time and lightly sanding between coats. Planters are designed to fit around a plant that is already in a pot. We…

1 CORNER PUNCH Soften the sharp edges of your metal projects using a corner punch made for thin metal. 2 HOLE PUNCH To add fun accents or convenient mounting holes to a project, rely on this tool. 3 SAFETY GLASSES Always wear safety glasses when cutting and sanding metal to prevent wayward shards from injuring your eyes. 4 FLATTENING TOOL Don’t lose your grip while working with sheet metal; use this seamer to bend and flatten pieces. 5 METAL CUTTING SHEARS These shears are made for cutting thin sheet metal and are great for detail work. 6 GLOVES Protect your hands from cuts by wearing safety gloves when handling sheet metal. 7 RIGHT-HANDED SNIPS Green-handle snips are designed to help right-handed folks make straight cuts, or for making clockwise…

Nostalgia meets new technology with the Fuji Instax Square. This hybrid digital and instant camera lets you edit and choose your favorite photos before printing in a retro shape. No more guessing light settings or taking redos for blinks! Instax SQ10 Camera, $229; instax.com Show off unframed photos with peel-and-stick holders. Phantom photo display clips, $15 for 6; umbra.com 1. One of the sharpest helpers in the shed, the hori hori gardening tool is a combination twine cutter, knife, trowel, and saw. This indispensable multitasker will streamline fall chores. Hori Hori Classic, $30; barebonesliving.com 2. Settle in with this bookbinding kit and create a one-of-a-kind journal to fill with sketches, paintings, or musings. Kit includes paper, needle, thread, and instructions to make one 4-inch book. Anselm Bookbinding Kit, $22;…

SAVE VS. SPLURGE “Save on big things and splurge on small things,” Chris says. Julia chimes in, “Labor is a place where you can save a lot. We saved so much on our tile floor because we installed it ourselves.” They splurge on things that are personal treasures—cookware and knives for Chris, custom curtains and art for Julia. DON’T SWEAT THE SCRATCH & DENT “I love the look of worn leather,” Julia says. “I felt good investing in our living room chairs because they will stand the test of time and look better as years go on. We choose things that will look better with age—organic materials like wood, leather, and unlacquered brass—so we don’t worry about it, just let it patinate.” PRIORITY: ORGANIZE “We get a lot of…

1 CHECK CODES Before making or buying a fire pit, determine local regulations governing fire pits, open burning, and fuel types (see “Pick Your Fuel” on page 67 for options). 2 SITE RIGHT Locate a fire pit at least 15 feet away from any structure, tree, shrub, and other flammable objects. 3 WATCH WEATHER Avoid lighting a fire in windy or dry conditions; choose a calm and damp day instead. Place a screen lid on a fire pit to contain sparks. 4 START SMART Never use flammable liquids (gasoline, charcoal lighter, kerosene, and such) to light or relight a fire. Dry, seasoned wood burns best.…

PICK & CHOOSE CUTTING THREE 8-FOOT 4×4 POSTS WILL GIVE YOU ENOUGH BLOCKS TO MAKE THIS QUEEN-SIZE HEADBOARD PLUS 50 TO 60 EXTRA PIECES TO USE IN CREATING YOUR OWN FANCIFUL PATTERNS OR A LARGER DESIGN. MAKE IT BLOCK HEADBOARD MATERIALS • Two or three 4×4 8-foot fir posts • Chop saw • 150-grit sandpaper • 1 quart clear stain • Shallow container • ½-inch medium-density fiberboard (MDF), 4×8 feet • Construction adhesive (we used Liquid Nails Fuze*It) • 1×3 6-foot pine board • Wood glue • 2-inch screws Step 1 Cut the posts into 1-inch-thick slices. Your artistic vision determines whether you’ll need two or three 4×4 posts for a queen-size headboard. If you want the grain in all the slices to be similar, discard any with knots…

STRING ART Add yarn embellishments to basic pillows for a dash of color and texture, this photo. Start with neatly pressed pillow covers. Use white chalk (we used a Chaco Liner that draws fine lines of chalk powder with a tiny metal wheel) and a ruler to draw a pattern of straight lines on the pillowcase. To apply yarn, the easiest option is using a needle felting machine, similar to a sewing machine and available at most crafts stores. Thread the machine with desired yarn and carefully follow the chalk lines, being sure to work on only the front layer of the pillow cover. To hide the yarn ends, turn pillow cover inside out and stitch ½ inch from the edge (this method does not work on the zippered…

POWER POUNCING KEEP STENCILED COLORS DISTINCT: USE A DIFFERENT DISPOSABLE SPONGE POUNCER FOR EACH PAINT YOU USE IN YOUR DESIGN. STENCIL STYLE A stenciled pattern adds pops of personality to a lackluster rug, above. Purchase a stencil from a crafts store, or create your own using graph paper and an acetate stencil sheet. Sketch your design on the graph paper and lay it on the stencil sheet, then tape both to a cutting mat. Carefully cut out the design using a crafts knife. Before you reach for paint, tape off sections of the rug to plan the overall pattern and placement of your stencils. Starting at one corner, attach your stencil to the rug with tape. Dab on chalk-finish paint (A) with a disposable sponge pouncer and carefully remove…

1 WASHI WOW Outline a few dresser drawers, wrap a frame, or stripe a flowerpot with this easy-on/easy-off accent. 2 GO-GO GALLERY Clamp kid art (or small prints, pages from art books, wallpaper samples) in wooden pants hangers. Dangle from hooks to create an easy-swap installation, above. 3 HAUTE HANDLES Dab a metallic wax like Rub ‘n Buff onto blah hardware and rub with a rag until your knobs shine anew. 4 LIGHT BRIGHT Both matte and lacquered are hot finishes right now. Try either by spray-painting a lamp base or light fixture with high-gloss or ultra-flat spray paint, available at most home centers.…

ROPE IT IN Featuring minimalistic designs splashed with bold color, Closed Mondays offers baskets, planters, trays, totes, and more through its online store. All made by hand and available in multiple sizes, the rope vessels receive a double-dipped paint job or thread detailing in cheery hues. Discover all the fun and functional creations at weareclosedonmondays.com. MAKE IT ROPE BOWL MATERIALS • Sewing machine • Rope Bowl Kit (available at weareclosedonmondays.com) lncluded in kit: • 10 feet of solid braid cotton rope • 1 denim needle • 1 spool of white thread • Pins • Paintbrush • Two sample pots of paint in desired color Step 1 Set up your sewing machine for a zigzag stitch with 1.5 length, 3.5 width, and thread tension at 2.5. Form a small coil…

METAL 101 DECORATIVE ALUMINUM SHEETS ARE OFTEN USED AS RADIATOR COVERS. THEY ARE LIGHTWEIGHT AND CAN BE CUT BY HAND, AND THEY WON’T RUST. STEEL SHEET METAL IS USUALLY HEAVIER AND WILL RUST. ITS BEST TO LOOK FOR THE LIGHTEST GAUGE IF YOU PLAN TO CUT IT WITH SNIPS OR SHEERS. KEY DETAILS Add visual interest and functionality to the side of your nightstand with patinaed sheet metal, above. First measure and cut sheet metal to fit. Sand the piece and brush on a coat of white vinegar; let sit for two hours. Mix 16 ounces hydrogen peroxide, 2 ounces white vinegar, and ½ tablespoon salt, and brush the liquid onto the dry metal (A). Wait for a reaction. When you like the look, rinse the metal with water.…

DEAR HANDY GIRL, We had an almost unbearable heat wave last year—resulting in an almost unbearable water bill from watering. What can I do to trim it? DEAR READER, I feel your pain, really, but I’m here to say it’s not as hard as you think to cut your outdoor water use in measurable ways and still have a beautiful yard. Some ideas are old-school and some involve a tool or two. Here’s how: 1 WATCH THE SUN. If you’re watering when the sun is high, you’re losing moisture to evaporation. Instead, water before 6 a.m. or after the sun sets. Timers that hook directly to an outdoor faucet are helpful for this. 2 GET A RAIN GAUGE. My parents always had one—a basic plastic type—and my mom dutifully…

MAKE IT WRITE IDEA To fashion a family calendar, roll chalkboard paint over the hardboard backing from an inexpensive poster frame. Draw a grid with paint pens and a straightedge, then reassemble and hang it alongside a bin of chalk markers. HACK IT FLIP IT GOOD Turn an old water bed headboard upside-down (and give it a fresh coat of paint!) to transform it into an all-in-one drop zone. Assign each family member a cubby or two for bags and shoes. A custom cushion on the shelf-turned-seat offers an easy space for putting on shoes stowed below. HACK IT POWER UP A dollar-store office organizer becomes a budget-friendly charging station for phones and tablets when turned on its side. Drill holes large enough to run cords through, and position…

Typography Pillow Get wordy with this personalized quote pillow. Purchase a lightly patterned or solid-color pillow that will be a simple background for your wording. Remove the pillow form. Print your desired saying onto inkjet transfer paper, making sure to reverse the design before printing. Lay pillowcase on a hard, heat-resistant surface and iron to remove wrinkles. Trim around the quote on transfer paper and lay image-side down on pillow, piecing as needed. Follow paper manufacturer’s instructions to iron the image onto the pillowcase. Insert pillow form. Stamped Pillow An old rolling pin makes for a clever stamping tool in this patterned technique. Remove pillow form from a purchased pillow and insert cardboard. Cut leaf or other desired shapes from self-adhesive foam sheets—you will need three layers of each…

RELAX Kick back on casual outdoor seating that’s comfy as well as weather-resistant. Folding Adirondack chairs and camp stools offer portability and easy storage. Extend the life of these low-cost wooden seats with colorful exterior stain/sealer or spar urethane. REFRESH Fill thermoses with hot drinks, such as cocoa or cider, and keep the beverages steamy ’til served. Line wooden berry baskets with cloth napkins and fill with ingredients for s’mores or assorted snacks. Roast marshmallows on long metal skewers with fireproof handles. GET COMFY Create coziness with cushy pillows and snuggly blankets. Be sure to keep these flammable materials safely away from flames and sparks. A large crate can serve double duty to tote items outdoors, then flipped over to function as a fireside table.…

WE’RE HOOKED! CLEAN WHITE HOOKS HELP THE BACKSPLASH FEEL MODERN RATHER THAN INDUSTRIAL. THESE HOOKS (AVAILABLE) AT STAPLES.COM) SECURELY SNAP INTO PLACE. BACK IT UP Increase your kitchen’s storage capacity with pegboard. Apply it as backsplash, add it to the inside of cabinet doors, or hang a piece in the pantry. For our backsplash, this photo, we used polypropylene pegboard, which is durable and water-resistant. Use a table saw or circular saw to cut 24×48-inch panels of DuraBoard Polypropylene Pegboard (available at homedepot.com) to fit the backsplash area, piecing as needed. Hang with a DuraHook Pegboard Mounting and Spacer Kit, and caulk the edges if needed. GRID GOALS Pegboard goes sleek and modern with these acrylic wall panels (available at staples.com). Create a custom entryway by mixing and matching…

1. PICK A POM Whip up pom-poms in no time with these gadgets, available in a variety of sizes so you can make poms the perfect size for your project. Clover Pom-Pom Maker, Large, $8 for two; clover-usa.com 2. MAKE THE CUT This handy tool can cut through multiple layers of felt, paper, fabric, even vinyl! Comfort Loop Rotary Cutter, 45mm, $14; fiskars.com 3. ADD FLAIR For the heavy-duty crafter, this embellisher machine is a must. Complete with yarn and ribbon guides to keep from tangling. Baby Lock Embellisher, $999; babylock.com for retailers near you…

[P] Paint Color Because of the magazine printing process, paint colors depicted on our pages might vary slightly from manufacturers’ colors. Use paint color names or numbers, when provided, as a starting point. To get a color as it appears in the magazine, take the page to a paint retailer for matching. [T] To the Trade Contact a design professional to find more information about this product or service. COVER Headboard paint Naval SW6244—The Sherwin-Williams Co.; sherwin-williams.com [P]. Dye for yellow cord Golden Yellow—Rit Dye; ritdye.com. Side tables, white-and-blue comforter—HomeGoods; homegoods.com. Yellow comforter, decorative pillows—Target; target.com. TRY IT: WOOD GRAIN PAGES 8–15 Throughout Wood—contact local home building suppliers. Pages 8–9 Wood sealant Helmsman Spar Urethane in Clear Satin—Minwax; minwax.com. Page 10 Green stain Cactus 70, yellow stain French Oak…

CABINET HARDWARE Follow these simple steps to replace old cabinet hardware with new pretties. BHG.com/Hardware NEW LIGHT FIXTURE Installing a basic light fixture is easier than you think. BHG.com/LightInstall NAILHEAD TRIM Plain-Jane upholstered furniture gets a speedy upgrade with nailhead trim. BHG.com/NailheadTrim WINDOW BOXES Don’t leave out your home’s exterior! Dress it up with these modern window boxes. BHG.com/WindowBoxes LEARN HOW TO CREATE A GALLERY WALL AS GORGEOUS AS THIS ONE AT BHG.COM/GALLERYWALL…

Q: Is there a reason you are you closed on Mondays? A: I’ve never been able to thrive in a nine-to-five corporate situation, so I wanted to make a shift in the 40-hour work week. It’s amazing how great it is to have one extra day to be home or take care of personal stuff. I’m still working 40 hours a week, but this is a better balance for my life. Q: Where do you find inspiration? A: I go on Pinterest to see what other people are making, but then I take everything I’ve pulled from there and try to go in a different direction. I also like to look around thrift stores or the dollar store; sometimes they have really weird stuff there that can inspire a…

DECORATIVE ALUMINUM Often used as radiator covers, these sheets come in many patterns and finishes (gold, copper, silver). They’re lightweight and can be cut by hand with snips or metal shears. Aluminum isn’t magnetic and doesn’t rust, but it can be distressed to remove the shine. STEEL These sheets are heavier than aluminum. They are magnetic and will rust or achieve an aged patina. For most decorative projects, you’ll want to choose the lightest gauge possible to make it easier to cut with snips or shears (heavy-gauge steel requires power tools for cutting).…

REPLACE THE WEATHER STRIPPING ON A DOOR. It’s a good idea, no matter the season, to help prevent lost air from inside to out. CAULK A TUB. You’ll help stop water from making its way behind a tub and creating a bigger problem—mold. TURN YOUR CEILING FAN TO THE RIGHT DIRECTION. In summer, the flow should be pushing the air down to create a breeze; in winter it should be the opposite. FIX A HOLE IN A SCREEN. Cut a new piece that’s about ½ inch wider on all sides than the hole, and insert it into the spot.…

MEET THE MARCUMS Homeowner Julia Marcum holds 8-week-old Polly beside Chris with Faye on his knee and proud big sister Greta at their Idaho home. HE IS THE YOUNGEST OF EIGHT CHILDREN WHO SPENT SUMMERS HELPING THEIR DAD BUILD HOUSES. SHE COMES FROM A LONG LINE OF ARTISANS AND, SHE SAYS, INHERITED HER DIY WORK ETHIC FROM HER DAD. Together, Chris and Julia Marcum are the couple behind the Chris Loves Julia brand, an almost decade-old blog that has grown to include a podcast, a furniture line with Interior Define, and more on the horizon. “The blog was just to keep our families in the loop of what we were doing, but it turned into this story of how to fall in love with your home,” Julia says. “It’s…

MAKE IT FIRE BOWL MATERIALS • Metal snips • Chicken wire • 23-inch-diameter plastic bowl • Hot-glue gun + glue stick • 1½-inch diameter by 3-inch PVC pipe • Vegetable oil spray • 18-inch-diameter plastic bowl • 5-gallon bucket • 50-pound bag fast-setting concrete mix • Bricks • Sheet plastic • Metal file • Play sand • 13½-inch grill grate Step 1 Use metal snips to cut a 2×2-foot square of chicken wire. Press and fit the chicken wire inside the large bowl. Trim excess wire. Set aside the wire bowl, which will be used to reinforce the concrete fire bowl when it is formed. Step 2 Hot-glue the pipe to the inside center of the large bowl, to create a drainage hole when molding the fire bowl. Spray…

WOOD This traditional fuel for fire pits also offers versatility for cooking. Choose well-seasoned hardwoods (oak, hickory, ash) for maximum heat. On the flip side, burning wood increases air pollution and creates health hazards. Look for manufactured log alternatives to reduce air pollution and associated health hazards. GEL This gelled form of alcohol comes in a can and burns without fumes. It produces little smoke and less heat. A compact, single-can burner suits a tabletop on a deck or patio. Combine several cans with decorative stones to fill a more spacious bowl. GAS Eliminate smoke, sparks, and ash with a fire pit fueled by liquid propane (LP from a refillable tank) or natural gas (piped in from an existing line and installed by a pro). Although you’ll need to…

GRACE AND KENT MITCHELL HAVE NO SHORTAGE OF STORIES TO SHARE ABOUT RENOVATING THEIR HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD HOUSE. “By the time we bought it, the house was due for a bunch of updates,” Grace says. The roof had been damaged by hail, and the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC needed replacing. Despite the house’s shortcomings, they were charmed by the older neighborhood in Fort Worth, the large yard for their four children, and the architectural character: 9-foot ceilings, wide trim around doors and windows, and solid-wood doors and floors still in good shape. “We knew it would be quite the project, although we didn’t expect some of the calamities,” Grace says. Like the kids’ bathroom falling through the living room ceiling, exploding pipes, the city condemning the back porch, to name a…

1. This porcelain vase is simplicity at its finest. Colorful flowers or overflowing greenery pop against the chic black glaze. From $88; amyhamleyceramics.etsy.com 2. Hand-cut black leather and mod golden hands add a glamorous touch to telling time. $58 for 25 cm; roarcraft.etsy.com 3. Buttery brown (faux) leather brings a little warmth to the black felt and fabric patterns in these pillows. Mix in other textures in similar colorways for a standout pillowscape. 18×18-inch striped pattern, $40; 18×18-inch color-block, $45; posyandbelle.etsy.com 4. The minimalist vibe is strong in these sleek steel planters. The taller Tulameen stand accommodates an 8-inch pot (available as an add-on in the shop). Tulameen, $81, Tofino, $81; bluecaribouca.etsy.com 5. Show your style before guests step foot in your home with sleek house numbers. Available in…