Q&A Session: DIY Building Projects

In this weeks instalment of the Q&A Session, I will be asking Darryl about some of the more well-known and lesser known projects that he has done for our home. He has a huge role in bringing these projects to life, and in some cases the entire process of design to completion. I know he is in the zone on some project when he has a distant look on his face, and he is whispering numbers to himself. What exactly is going on in there I may never know.

Jodi: So what exactly is going on inside your head when you are working through a project?

Darryl: The best way to describe it would be something like the 3D modelling software (Solid Works, AutoCad, etc) that people use to design things. I have lost a lot of sleep to my brain working though 3D modelling and measurements for a project. What is more amazing is that I remember all the detail and measurements when it is done. I say “it”, because I feel like a spectator some times watching all this information fly around until it is done processing. The human brain is absolutely amazing at times. I have no other way to describe it, all I can say is that once I get to a commitment point with a project the “software” kicks in. It is relentless; it keeps going until the problem is solved. At the expense of a good night’s sleep at times.

Jodi: Weird. Moving on, what are your top 3 favourite projects in both the building experience and final result, and why?

Darryl: My number 3 choice would be the CN Rail coffee table. I really like the end result in terms of the look and how it functions for us. It was a great project, and rare for me, in that it was quite easy to do. Normally  I am building stuff from scratch, or doing major modifications to repurpose something to its new form. The only real challenge had been trying to find the arrangement of the boxes that worked best for us. What is great about using a pre-made element like the CN Filing Cabinet boxes is that you can arrange them in any configuration you can imagine. I have spoken to a couple that want to build something similar, but have them on wheels and in groups of two so the pieces can join to build one big table, or two smaller ones. I would also like to try building a desk with them. I would have built and styled my office differently if I knew about these. It would be difficult to try to add them in now….hmmm we’ll see.

My number two choice is the kitchen table that I built. We recently refinished it from its original condition to give it a different look. Being able to create the look of a harvest table that we wanted and build it from scratch was a fun challenge. It was also quite rewarding to get the look that we wanted at DIY prices. I am just not willing to pay anyone the kind of money that Harvest tables sell for. We left the boards that make up the table top in their natural condition for a while. It was quite easy to sand them down and refinish them when we where ready for a new look.

My favourite project so far is definitely the Outdoor Living Space that we created last year. Sorry to tease you all with a project that hasn’t been featured on here yet, I’m sure Jodi will highlight it when spring hits and we are out there again. The key elements are a huge table that I made out of Mahogany for next to nothing, and large cabinet unit that I repurposed into a kitchen countertop and sink, with a large bar fridge and cupboards below. Sitting over the eight foot long table is the worlds largest umbrella  And a cozy wicker sofa and seating area. With the exception of running hot water, we have a fully functional “great room” concept the leads straight into the yard. No single project has changed the way we live as much as this one. Add a comfy double hammock into the mix and you can see why we just don’t use our house that much in the summer. We found out that we entertained a lot more with such a great space to use. I am looking forward to this summer!

Jodi: Tell my readers where you get all of the great reclaimed wood you use in your projects.

Darryl: Most of that wood comes from building supply salvage yards. All of the mahogany comes in the form of dunnage boards. Left rough they have nice texture, once planed and sanded the wood is beautiful. It is really heavy though. I also buy reclaimed wood flooring and use it in a variety of ways. The kitchen table top is made from reclaimed fir wood flooring. I have also got some great barnwood boards, and other kinds of old siding boards. A salvage yard can be an interesting experience. Some of the items can be purchased and used as is. Some require some imagination. The raw materials (siding, hardwood, etc) require a lot of imagination find interesting end uses for it. The biggest challenge is when to leave the boards raw, when to sand and stain them, and when to paint them. I don’t like rules in general, and I don’t subscribe to the “don’t paint wood” camp, so that keeps me free to decide on the finish depending on the project. My belt sander and power planer have become my friends over the past few years (and projects).

Jodi: What is your take on Thrift Stores, Craigslist, etc?

Darryl: I think our culture subscribes to the “newer is better” consumerist trap more often than I would like. It makes for good shopping for the rest of us that can see value in what they have discarded. I love the challenge of taking something and either repurposing it, or finding a way to refinish it to give it a new life. I have been known to stop and pick up stuff that people have left out on the curb, and have jumped in a dumpster or two. It is also good knowing that every piece that I get from a thrift store or garage sale is one thing that won’t end up in a landfill. If they had a waiting period before you could buy furniture, I wonder if there would be less bad decisions made which could lead to less waste. That and not letting the average guy pick out furniture or design anything.

{Great Thrift Store Find}

Jodi: Do you ever get tired of doing DIY projects?

Darryl: Yes, but not enough to stop. I have found the key to sanity has been pacing. Too many projects at a time or in short succession leads to burnout and apathy. I love the sense of accomplishment in building something from scratch, to my own specifications. I like being able to get the look that we want at a fraction of the regular price because we did the work ourselves, and we found a way to use different materials to achieve the look. I usually have a moment with each project at the halfway point where I ask myself why I every tried to do this, “What were you thinking?” is common. Then after sucking it up and finishing I am always glad that I did the project. Can’t think of too many projects that didn’t have the WWYT moment.

Jodi: Once you start doing reno’s it is hard to stop. How do you control the urge? When do you know you are doing it for the right reasons?

Darryl: Well this has never been a contest, or keeping up with the Joneses or whatever. We bought our place brand new, our first house, and loved it. Then after a few years we started to develop actual sense of our preferred design styles. Ever since then we have been working each room to fit that vision, definitely a work in progress. And a fluid progress, things change and plans need to change. What is now the office and studio had several different usages over the years. The yard has seen the most change. Partly because our needs changed, but mostly because we didn’t really stop long enough to figure out what our needs were before we started doing stuff. My goal has always been to make our place the best possible version of itself, while still working to meet our family’s needs. There is also the added benefit of increasing the value of the place, especially because the cost of our renovations have been so much lower than you would normally pay. It is hard to stop though. I always have a new idea or plan for something, many of which will never see the light of day. Just the other day I dreamed up the idea of converting our fourth (and seldom used) bathroom in the basement into a full-sized laundry room; our current laundry “closet” gets the job done, barely. That project may or may not ever happen, but it is kinda fun to dream that stuff up. I don’t rush into those kind of things, so if we end up doing it I know it will have passed the criteria I have for these kind of projects.