Table of contents for Summer 2020 in Do It Yourself

FROM THE EDITOR Inspiration and energy always hit me like a creative tidal wave this time of year. Suddenly the days are just long enough, the weather just warm enough, and I feel ready to tackle the upgrades and updates I’ve been adding to my to-do list for months. (BTW, I recently digitized all my list-making with the free app AnyList. It’s been a lifesaver! Give it a try if you’re always losing or rewriting those paper lists.) My top DIY priority? Curb appeal projects that I can finish in a weekend. In fact, I want to do all the front-door facelifts featured in “Oh, Hello, Yellow” (page 58), including the custom doormat and the mod hanging planters. I’m even testing sunny paint hues for my front door! And…

THE MAKER: CHRISTI JOHNSON This textile artist melds style and history with her sustainable fabric brand, Mixed Color. Q: What’s your favorite aspect of making embroidery? A: I love developing the designs and choosing the colors. A lot of the time, the colors will really dictate the design. Sometimes I’ll change the design based on the colors that I’ve selected after I’ve drawn it. I love that embroidery is this combination of drawing on clothes; it’s basically painting with threads. Q: What inspires the creation of your patterns? A: Translating a story into an image is always really fun. Also, I love working with vintage clothes because they kind of have a life of their own that they’ve already lived. When sitting with the pieces of clothing, they tend to…

MAKE IT RUNNER & PLACE MATS MATERIALS • Oilcloth (we used 1 yard for 18×54-inch runner and 1 yard for four 12×18-inch place mats)• Thin cotton (we used 1 yard for 18×54-inch runner and 1 yard for four 12×18-inch place mats)• Straight pins• L square or ruler• Tailor’s pencil or chalk• Sewing machine• Coordinating thread• Iron• Fringe Step 1 Lay out 1-yard pieces of oilcloth and cotton combinations with right sides together. Pin around edges (A). Step 2 Measure size for mats and/or runner, adding 1 inch to width and length of each for seam allowance (B) (our finished runner is 18×54 inches and each place mat is 12×18 inches). Mark measurements (C) and pin inside marks. Cut out shapes with the two fabrics pinned together. Step 3 Stitch…

MAKE IT SPOOL TABLE BOOKSHELF MATERIALS • Cable spool• Sander (optional)• Four locking casters• Drill/driver• Paintbrush• Primer and paint• Bookends• ½-inch screws• Glass top (cut to fit the dimensions of your table) Step 1 Comb local vintage shops or eBay for wood cable spools. (You may also find them at home improvement stores.) Ours was 32 inches in diameter and about 16 inches tall. Sand the spool, if necessary, to eliminate any rough patches or irregular edges. Step 2 Choose which side you’d like to use as the top of your table. Turn the spool over and evenly space four casters around the bottom, attaching according to caster manufacturer instructions. Step 3 Prime the table. When dry, paint the spool your desired color (you may need multiple coats); let dry.…

STACK ‘EM UP This tower of plants might look complex, but it’s actually made up of premade crates stacked on top of one another, opposite. Purchase your crates, secure them together with vertical side pieces and connectors, and stain to make your own wall of edible plants. ITALIAN FLAIR Consider themes for your container gardens. These crates are filled with the makings of a tasty Italian dish. We included rosemary, cherry tomatoes, miniature eggplant, and several leafy herbs perfect for sauces. Curly (versus flat-leaf) parsley billows over the edge, above. MAKE IT CRATE PLANTER MATERIALS • Three 8-foot 1×4 cedar boards for vertical side pieces• Chop saw• Eight 18×12½×9½-inch wood crates• Drill• Thirty 5/16×2-inch galvanized hex bolts• Thirty 5/16-inch galvanized washers• Thirty 5/16-inch galvanized nuts• Twenty-four 2½-inch galvanized deck…

OUTDOOR FURNITURE IDEAS WANT TO ADD DIY FLAIR TO YOUR FRESH-AIR SPACES? TRY YOUR HAND AT THESE 18 EASY FURNITURE BUILDS. BHG.COM/OUTDOORFURNITURE BUILD A RAILING PLANTER Create crafty curb appeal with this planter that attaches directly to your railings. BHG.com/Railing MAKE AN OUTDOOR MOVIE SCREEN Turn your backyard into your own theater (just BYO snacks!) with this DIY movie screen. BHG.com/MovieScreen PAINT METAL FURNITURE Think your metal furniture is on its last legs? Think again with these tips on restoring tired, rusty furniture! BHG.com/PaintMetal…

BIG DREAMS, SMALL STEPS Handy Girls, my head is in the clouds, dreaming up ways to make my home more functional, fun, and fresh. To get closer to those dreams, I’m taking small steps to fix things so I can create a more beautiful, welcoming home. Here’s what’s on my list. Handy Girl ORDERING ONLINE DURING OUR LAST BATHROOM RENO, WE ORDERED SEVERAL BIG-TICKET ITEMS. WE SHOPPED LOCALLY FOR SOME ITEMS, BUT FOR OTHERS, WE CHOSE ONLINE OPTIONS TO GET EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED. HERE’S WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU CLICK “BUY.” Measure, measure, measure. Read all the specs carefully and thoroughly. How big is the box? How big is the item, inside and out? Does that measurement include its feet? The worst thing is to be ready to install…

BRINGING THE INDOORS OUT The small shed in Michelle Adams’ Michigan backyard, above right, isn’t just a spot to stash garden implements—“it’s become my favorite little hangout,” she says. Ordered at Home Depot and customized to her specifications, the Tuff Shed structure includes windows, a skylight, and paint that matches the main house. Michelle outfitted the interior, above, with pegboard (to hang tools), a trestle table crafted of IKEA parts, and a vintage wire Bertoia chair scored for $20 at an antiques market. The shed can serve as an office or a shady spot for Rufus the pup as Michelle works in the garden. “DON’T GET ME WRONG,” SAYS MICHELLE ADAMS. “I HAD A LOVELY LIFE AND AN AMAZING CAREER IN NEW YORK.” She was the editor in chief…

LIGHT THE NIGHT A DIY cabana provides the destination. How you trick it out brings the atmosphere. If relaxing with a glass of wine after a long day is your idea of perfect, take a load off under the soft glow of pretty paper lanterns, opposite. To get this eclectic look, select lanterns in a variety of sizes, colors, patterns, and textures, and place a battery-operated LED tea light in each one. Up the comfort level for you and your guests with large floor cushions, cozy outdoor blankets, and citronella candles. MAKE IT WINDOW WELL CABANA MATERIALS • Sixteen 8-foot lengths of 2×6 cedar• Three 8-foot lengths of 2×8 cedar• Two 8-foot lengths of 2×2 cedar• Miter or circular saw• Drill• Kreg Jig• Exterior wood glue• Clamps• 1½-inch Kreg Blue-Kote…

TINY HOUSE LOVE Karen and Doug Zimmerman (above left) built a shed in their Iowa backyard. Karen—inspired by Pinterest and her love of projects—dressed the shed with classic cottage details, including real cedar shakes, a teal front door, window boxes, a mailbox, and a front porch with seating and plants. “I GUESS I WAS BORED AND NEEDED A PROJECT,” KAREN ZIMMERMAN, A SELF-DIAGNOSED “TINY HOUSE FREAK,” SAYS OF HER BACKYARD SHED. “I love decorating and many of the projects in my fixer-upper bungalow were done.” The Altoona, Iowa, resident’s stay-busy attitude landed an 8×14-foot shed in her backyard. Karen personalized a stock building plan and hired a builder. “I wanted the roof to be more pitched and I wanted an overhang over the front door, like a house,” she…

GET TO KNOW RESIN The mix of epoxy resin and hardener creates a magical, hard-as-nails finish over almost any material. Though resin is easy to use, prep is key—have your supplies and work space ready before the first mix. Cover the floors and worktable of a dust-free room or garage (ideally 65°F–70°F) with heavy-duty plastic. Wear old clothes and latex gloves, and use disposable cups and stir sticks for easy cleanup. Have a level on hand for flat projects such as artwork, this photo, so the resin spreads evenly. With your space prepared, it’s time to play, starting with simple projects like coasters and glossy artwork. A resin kit covers multiple projects, so you’ll have enough to perfect the technique. MAKING WAVES Resin mix, a clean artist canvas (ours is…

STRIKE A CORD Add a unique design to your walls with colorful cords, opposite. Use a pencil and a level to mark spots for the knobs (we used front-mount ceramic drawer pulls) 2 inches apart in vertical lines. For a 90-degree corner, first mark the location of the knob for the bottom line, then measure up 2 inches and over 2 inches (toward the inside of the angle) and mark again. Repeat for each line. Install the knobs. Run the cord (we used about 12 feet of ¼-inch Para-Max cord for each line) along the pattern, wrapping it around each knob and leaving the ends free. To keep long expanses of cord from sagging, pin in place with a brass nail. To finish the ends, secure the cord in clear…

Attract attention with modern magnetic memos that spell fun for your space. Available in multiple colors and styles, these soft, flexible fonts will get your message across. Magnetic Letters and Board, from $20; thetypesetco.com 1. Instant retro photos! No need to carry a bulky camera around to take those nostalgic square photos. This photo lab lets you print pictures straight from your phone. Polaroid Lab, $129; us.polaroidoriginals.com 2. The dynamic duo is at it again, this time tackling all things creative. Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, hosts of the hit show Making It, guide you through 25 projects sprinkled with punny quips to have you laughing while you craft. The Making It Guide to Crafting book, $25; abramsbooks.com 3. Staying grounded was never easier. Sleek recycled-plastic anchors tether your…

MAKE AN ENTRANCE Fresh paint and thoughtful accents add instant character to a home’s exterior, this photo. Start underfoot with a whimsical welcome stenciled on a plain coir doormat, opposite. Print letters onto cardstock and cut out. Spray back of letters with adhesive and press letters to the mat. Apply paint to the top of mat, around the letters. We used a stencil brush and latex paint, but spray paint would make this project even easier! Let dry and remove letters. DO IT BETTER THIS VERTICAL PLANTER IS GREAT FOR AN HERB GARDEN, BUT IF PRIVACY IS YOUR GOAL, CHOOSE DENSE PLANTINGS THAT GROW TALL TO FILL THE ENTIRE FRAME. ADD TRAILING PLANTS TO FURTHER OBSCURE THE VIEW. MAKE IT HANGING PLANTER MATERIALS • 3 plastic window box planters•…

IF THERE WAS A DO-IT-YOURSELF HALL OF FAME, JODI AND JASON MOCKABEE WOULD BE SHOO-INS ON THE BALLOT. Though the couple had little experience with home remodeling, they set out on the mother of all DIY feats: renovating an entire home on a strict $15,000 and in a mere two weeks. Plus we’re talking a rundown ranch home nestled in the heart of the Sierra Nevada foothills. With shag carpet and exposed cinder-block walls, it was a house plenty of people would (and did!) give a hard pass. But the Mockabees, left, saw potential where others saw a past-its-prime disaster. It had a nice open floor plan and some hip midcentury details like a steep-pitched ceiling with original rafters. The large rooms and natural light were especially appealing to these…

FIND CLICKABLE LINKS TO ALL THESE SOURCES IN THE DIGITAL EDITION OF THIS ISSUE. BHGSPECIALS.ZINIO.COM [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. ON THE COVER Table base Finnvard, tabletop Linnmon—IKEA; ikea.com. Basket with handles similar available as Round Handwoven Wicker Basket by Wholestory—Amazon; amazon.com. Chair vintage, similar available as Iseminger by Orren Ellis—Wayfair; 877/929-3247; wayfair.com. TRY IT: RESIN PAGES 6–13 THROUGHOUT Casting resins used in these projects:…