We have a very small eat-in kitchen and no dining room. There are two options for making the most of the space: custom seating and a custom table, built to maximize the utility of the room. Although the custom table is still in the works (an embarrassingly long project that I began about the same time as the custom seating and still haven't finished), the banquette has been … [Read more...] about How I Built A Banquette
Carpentry
A Built In Bookcase
How do you take a piece of furniture and make it better? Make it a built-in. It is the proverbial cherry on top. Built-ins fit the space perfectly, offering increased functionality and aesthetics. In a small home with limited square footage, every inch counts, even vertical space, so custom built furniture that maximizes utility that is also visually minimalist is perfect. The … [Read more...] about A Built In Bookcase
How I Built A Ground Level Freestanding Deck
So, you want to build a ground level deck. First, question: why build a deck? Is a patio perhaps more practical? After all, a patio will last a whole lot longer and require a lot less maintenance. Ah, but a patio involves more labor to install per square foot, especially if you’re starting with a less than optimal site. Deck or patio? I grappled with this question for, I … [Read more...] about How I Built A Ground Level Freestanding Deck
A Built In Desk For A Small Space
As a family of four living in 1200 square feet, we have no room for a dedicated office. Until March 2020, there hadn't been much need for an office since my wife and I both worked in NYC and we were only at our "weekend house" on - well - weekends. Somehow we had made do during COVID with both of us working from home in Connecticut. I often used our little guest cottage and … [Read more...] about A Built In Desk For A Small Space
A Shaker Peg Rail
Is there a better design choice for a simple organization system for the various items in your home that require hanging when not in active use? Shaker design is still commonly used in many modern woodworking and cabinetry applications. While building a Shaker cabinet face frame is perhaps out of reach for the average homeowner, building your own Shaker peg rail from scratch is … [Read more...] about A Shaker Peg Rail