Sometime in between my last post in March 2022 and this most recent one, I built a 16' x 8' addition on our house. That is to say, I was one of several people involved in building the addition and ultimately did most of the work once the foundation and framing was done. I took lots of pictures along the way - and it has been a long way indeed - and some day I'll empty out onto … [Read more...] about A Clear Polycarbonate Shed Roof (and the right way to build a retaining wall)
Carpentry
How I Built A Banquette
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
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