Bridge Build

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I spent my first post-collegiate summer (2004) working for my cousin and mentor Douglas at DWL Designs in Kerhonkson, NY.  One of that summer’s projects was building a bridge over a brook.  Douglas’ design used pressure treated lumber for the framework and steps, and cedar for the decking.  The color contrast between these two woods is evident.  For hardware, we used 1/2″ diameter galvanized bolts, stainless screws and 3/16″ thick steel diamond plates.  The bridge is 6′ 6″ wide and spans 17′ across.  Along with property access, the bridge provides the owners with a meditative spot to enjoy the rippling sounds of the brook.  I look back at this project with pride, because even as an assistant to the designer, I can say I built a bridge – a phrase most people use only in terms of business relationships.

Bed Frame Build

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One of my favorite hobbies is scouting the neighborhood for discarded materials. If you have a will, some tools, and patience to sand the skin off of old lumber, you’ll rarely have to source materials from expensive building stores. I found this old lumber on West Street in Greenpoint during a gutting project. After hours of sanding, cutting and joining, I used a provincial color stain to get the warm tones, and finished the bed frame with a few coats of clear satin-based finish. The turn-on: built a bed frame for under $50. The turn-off: lost access to a power outlet behind the headboard.

Ladder for Scarves

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Let’s call this what it is…a glorified ladder not meant for human use, just scarves.  I bought a few beams of old Doug Fir from M. Fine Lumber. I know, it’s an atrocity to buy this stuff, it’s sitting in dumpsters everywhere. Once I cut my two beams to 80″ and sanded them down, I clamped them together to drill the holes.  I used a 1″ spade drill bit to make 8 holes in each beam and then constructed the ladder using old broom sticks cut down to 28″ .  Round dowels are key, as anything with edges will easily rip the fabric when the scarf is pulled off.  Figuring 3 scarves per dowel, it holds about 24 scarves and will bring color to any dull looking corner, but more important, it keeps the iron at bay. The turn-on: scarves at the ready to complete the outfit. The turn-off: takes up 9 sq ft of floor space.