From unique accent walls to crazy automotive creations, these real-life projects are as interesting and inspiring as the DIYers who built them.
Backyard Oasis
Family time is important to Juan Zetino. He has served our country with numerous deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and Japan. So he wanted to build an oasis to reconnect with his family. “My inspiration came from reading The Family Handyman and other publications. It took me about six to eight months to complete this project, with planning being the most important aspect.” — Juan. Click here to check out more amazing photos of this backyard transformation.
Disappearing Bed
Reader Brandon Dempster is a magician (or at least a very clever DIYer)! He built this disappearing bed with bookshelf in his guest room. We can’t explain it any better—you just have to see it for yourself!
Watch this video to see a few of our all-time favorite reader projects:
Arts & Crafts End Table
Reader, Mike Gratzer, built this beautiful end table for his home. He followed the “Simple Rennie Mackintosh End Table” plans that from the December/January 2015 issue of The Family Handyman. Click here to see several more photos from Mike during the step-by-step process of building this table.
Solid Cedar Mailbox
Reader Todd Johnson needed to replace his mailbox, so he went to his local home center to get inspired. “I went ahead and started the project and then realized I should have taken some measurements. So I called an associate at the store to help me. Unfortunately, the measurements they gave me were incorrect, so my posts were too far apart. Instead of starting over, I decided to add the cedar boards to fill it in. I then stained it and finished it off with metal house numbers.” — Todd.
Here are step-by-step photos of how Todd created this project.
Cool Copper Cupola
Check out reader Bruno Bucci’s fantastic rendition of The Family Handyman’s How to Build a Cupola project, originally published in the July/August 1999 issue. Bruno customized the design with a copper top and a motorcycle weathervane. We must say, that’s really cool!Photo: Bruno Bucci
New Twist on a Classic Workbench
We love the look of the top that reader Charles Brown chose to use on his version of The Family Handyman’s Super Bench project, originally published in the September 2012 issue. Butcher block is very durable, and the backsplash addition will help to protect the wall in Charles’ shop when he’s working on a project!Photo: Charles Brown
Bright, Beautiful DIY Kitchen Remodel
Carlo Pelandini was never satisfied with the design of his kitchen. So he naively started a six-month renovation that resulted in a beautiful modern kitchen. Here are some amazing before and after photos of this project.
Outdoor Wood-Fired Oven
Inspired by foreign exchange students that his family hosted, reader John White built this professional-looking wood-fired oven in his backyard. Then he needed to learn how to bake!
Green Garage Storage
Reader Jeanne Waggoner is holding up the September 2016 issue of The Family Handyman. She’s also standing in front of the project featured on the cover. Jeanne’s husband Wilbur built the green storage unit in their garage, and it works magnificently at corralling boots, sneakers, jackets and more.Photo: Jeanne Waggoner
DIY Pine Accent Wall
Reader Jamey Heim cut and distressed the boards, and then his wife stained them with various weathered-wood colors. The result is a one-of-a-kind statement wall for their home.
Mobile Flip-Top Workbench
The Family Handyman reader Christopher Rings sent us photos and drawings of his incredible workbench. We just might need to build one of these for The Family Handyman shop, too. Check out Christopher’s amazing how-to photos and project illustrations here.
Right-Height Planter
This Patio Planter project, originally published in the April 2017 issue of The Family Handyman, is right at home on the sunny deck of reader Bob LaBelle. He built it for his wife, who you can see is an amazing gardener! They’ll be eating fresh veggies and herbs all season long!Photo: Bob LaBelle
Trash to Treasure Sewing Table
Cathy Abene and her kids have gotten very good at keeping an eye out for trash. It also helps that the city she lives in offers curbside collection for anything and everything on every trash day of the year.
“One morning we came across a nice old wooden table base that had obviously been abandoned in someone’s garage for years. The finish was literally flaking off. I was in the process of redoing my daughter’s room and wanted to incorporate a sewing station. After I cut it down to size and glued a couple of pieces back on, my daughter (with gloves, glasses and a mask) sanded, primed and painted the base in pink. We added a tabletop from IKEA and a sewing station was born.” — Cathy
Private Studio Space
Reader Dale Lockwood built this amazing creative studio building for his wife. It includes double front doors, three sliding windows that face a nearby lake, an interior loft for storage, window boxes, a weathervane and a woodchip pathway. It’s the perfect space for bringing creative projects to life.
Customized Showcase Wall
Reader Mike Farron’s version of our Showcase Wall project includes a larger size and a creative configuration of cubbies to suit his family’s needs. The arches he incorporated into a couple of areas give the unit a classy, attention-to-detail vibe that we love. Way to go, Mike!Photo: Mike Farron
Grilling Shelter
When Al Gingrow saw the Grill Gazebo plansin The Family Handyman May 2016 issue, he knew he had to build this project in his backyard.
“We have had several pool parties and the bottom line is—The Grillzebo is a hit! Everyone loves the setup of the Grillzebo and it’s comforts, especially the delicious grilled food prepared in front of them. I am looking forward to many years of fun and memories.” — Al.
Click here to see many more photos of this awesome outdoor structure.
Amazing Marble Tracks
Click here to find out what parts reader Steve Moseley used to create these marble tracks for his sons’ bedrooms. The results are truly amazing!
Dream Shed Spinoff
The Family Handyman reader Greg Reierson sent in a photo of his interpretation of our Dream Shed project, originally published in the July/August 2013 issue. He had to create a beefier base featuring a retaining wall to level out a space in his backyard, and he even added a lovely front porch with beams and pavers. Nicely done, Greg!Photo: Greg Reierson
In Memory of a Woodworker
Reader Becky Christensen was determined to complete the Ikea Kallax Hack project from The Family Handyman’s March 2015 issue in memory of her late husband Todd, who was a stellar woodworker. She had to do some problem solving, such as figure out how to make the top removable to fit through her interior doorway, but she did it. The finished storage table looks amazing—a true labor of love!Photo: Becky Christensen
Pond Upgrade
Reader Janice Ferguson and her husband made changes to their existing pond based on a few ideas they found in The Family Handyman’s Plan a Low-Maintenance Pond project, originally published in the April 2005 issue. They lowered the water level, making it more accessible for birds, and added a small waterfall. What a great water feature!
The Ultimate Dog House
Reader Corey Hosick built the ultimate shelter for his two German Shepard dogs. It’s equipped with so many bells and whistles for his fur babies. Check out all of the great photos from Corey here!
Step Stool to the Rescue
Reader Jeffrey Pease built this creative and very useful Flip Flop Step Stool, originally published in the April 2015 issue of The Family Handyman, for his granddaughter Robin. His son is a Batman fan, so the signature “R” and red and yellow colors of Batman’s famous sidekick were perfect personalized touches for Jeffrey to incorporate into the design. So clever!
Amazing Kitchen Remodel
Denise Boyd, avid DIYer and TheFamily Handyman fan, recently completed a remodel job in her 1960’s ranch-style home. Check out the jaw-dropping before and after photos and learn all that Denise did to complete her amazing kitchen remodel here.
Interested in more kitchen remodeling ideas and tips? Here are some of our favorites.
Timber-Frame Shop
This workshop of all workshops took three years for reader Mike Pado to complete. But it was sure worth it. Click here to see photos of this huge, barn-style workshop.
Closet to Cabinet
We like the custom built-in cabinets, drawers and shelves that reader Brett Gardner created much better than the closet that was once there. Click here to see more photos of this amazing transformation.
Open-Fire Brick Barbecue Bar
With no brick-laying experience, reader John Kubicki built a dream outdoor kitchen featuring an open-fire barbecue, a mini-fridge, a beautiful patio, built-in bench and more.
Lakeside Shed Plus Shelter
Reader Jim Reitenbach built this Shed Plus Shelter from plans originally published in the July/August 2012 issue of The Family Handyman. The front porch adds to the shed’s charm and makes a great sitting spot to enjoy the outdoors.Photo: Jim Reitenbach
Hidden Staircase Drawer
Oh the possibilities! Check out this awesome hidden drawer that reader Mark Maixner built into his staircase. Think of all of the storage space you could harness with this project!
Jeep Bed for Kids
Reader John Forck designed and built these really cool Jeep beds for his son and neighbor’s daughter. They feature amazing details such as headlights, license plates and off-road-style wheels. John also shared a link to his Etsy page, where you can download plans and build one yourself!
Elevated Vegetable Garden Planter
Reader Jan Ryan made her life as a gardener ten times better by building a raised planting table. Now it’s so much easier to tend to her delicious veggies and herbs.
Before & After Bathroom Remodel
“I started with ideas in my head, pencil and paper in hand, and went straight to my most valuable resource, MYDAD! My dad is a man of all traits. Without a doubt, everything I know is because of him. Together, we haveamassed countless hours of blood (yes, true blood from my dad and myself—we can never seem to make it througha remodel without some bumped knuckles), sweat (many, many sizzling hours) and tears (a few sad, but mosthappy) along the way. Both of my parents have helped me in rehabbing my home. It has been a family affair! Mymom being the painter, cleaner and forever organizer in the family and my dad, the genius behind the sceneshelping me make all of my dreams a reality.
Our first remodel was the half bath off of the kitchen. We decide to start with a smaller remodel to get our feetwet, and to find out what the house was truly made of. The peach wall tile, peach sink, and peach toilet, althoughhaving a nice monochromatic feel, had to go! As you can see from the pictures included, some demolition andmodernizing was just what the half bath needed.” — Denise Boyd.
Click here to see what this bathroom looked like before the remodel. You’ll be impressed!
Drill Dock to Declutter
“As you can tell, it really cleaned off my workbench,” Carle Davis says of the Drill Dock he built for his shop space. He used project plans originally published in the September 2017 issue of The Family Handyman. Carle used different sizes of PVC pipe to fit his tools. That’s an awesome tip!Photo: Carle Davis
Bookcase Entertainment Center
“My entertainment center is by no means perfect, but it is by far the nicest thing I have ever built,” says reader Matt Godsey. “It fills me with pride every time I get a book down from the shelf to read to our kids, or I watch one of them get a movie out of the cabinet for family movie night.” Matt crafted this beautiful rendition of The Family Handyman’s Classic Bookcase project, originally published in the December/January 2014 issue.
Modular Pet Ramp
Reader Doug Swanson has two lucky dachshunds. He built this custom ramp with window seating and a safety railing so they can look out the window despite one of the pet’s back issues. The ramp also features built-in storage cabinets and casters, so it can be moved easily when it’s time to vacuum the floor.
Home Theater
Reader Todd Rice literally built a private movie theater in his home. Click here to see more photos and more angles of this bonus space and all of its cool features.
In-Wall Kitchen Cabinets
Reader Vern Schleyer didn’t have enough room in his kitchen for more cabinets, so he built them into the wall. Click here to find out how he did it.
Backyard Stone Fireplace
Reader John Golock built this impressive stone fireplace himself. Bet you can’t tell that it was his first attempt at a masonry project—ever!
Custom Vanity Drawers
April Lesho maximized her vanity storage with these custom drawers. “I noticed the wasted space above each drawer in our bathroom vanity and decided to make custom drawers to take advantage of this space. Every square inch matters in our 920-sq. ft. home!” — April
Check out these 15 ideas for creating more storage in your small spaces.
Reclaimed Lumber Decking
From trash to treasure is an understatement for this project by reader Dallin Pedersen. He salvaged a pile of 3x3 unfinished Ipe boards, turning them into beautiful and unique decking. After reshaping the boards and a lot of sanding, Dallin added an oil-base wood toner. The deck looks spectacular!
Custom Truck Bed Drawers
Check out how one reader crafted custom storage drawers for his truck bed. The drawers are perfect for organizing his tools, and a rubber bed liner protects the drawers and tools from rain and other outdoor elements.
Perfect-Fit Fence
When you can’t find what you’re looking for, build it yourself! That’s what reader Scott Schneider did with his fence. The completed project features arches that complement the style of his house—just what he wanted.
Home Office Cabinetry
Reader Leo Paquin built his home office like a kitchen—with beautiful cabinets, desk-height countertops and plenty of storage to go around.
Simple Miter Saw Stand
The Family Handyman reader, Richard Rowe, built the Convertible Miter Saw Station that was featured in the November 2015 issue.
“I followed the plans to build themiter saw station. It took me a few days, but I got it done. I made it all out of 1x4s, except the wings. Than I added the top guides on both wings with a tape measure on the top. On the back, I attached a permanent 50-ft. electrical cord.When I turn on the power to the table the vacuum comes on. To make the station mobile, I plan on adding 4-in. casters that will also lock the stand in place.” — Richard
Pirate Ship Tree House
This pirate ship-inspired tree house must be the talk of reader Douglas Goble’s neighborhood! It’s amazingly executed—from the pretend cannon to the sail to the helm that spins. It provides his kids with hours of outdoor fun.
Twin Adirondack Chairs
We are impressed with the style modification that reader Billy Keith made to The Family Handyman’s Comfortable Adirondack Chair plans, originally published in the May 2004 issue. The curved back of Billy’s chairs makes them look even more inviting—and perfect for sitting around his cozy patio fire pit.Photo: Billy Keith
Above-Cabinet Wine Rack
Making use of unused cabinets above his fridge, reader Michael Hubbs built a custom wine rack in the space. He cut perfect holes in the cabinet doors and a supporting board inside.
Skinny Workshop Cart
Talk about taking advantage of unused storage space! Reader John White constructed this skinny shop cart for storing his surplus sheet goods. It features an open frame on four small casters, and it fits perfectly in the open space behind the lower cabinets in his workshop. Excellent idea, John!
Dorm Room Spinning Storage Unit
Reader Michael Kirby created this spinning storage unit out of necessity for his daughter, who is a dorm-dwelling college student. Space is at a premium for his daughter, so this storage unit features four hardworking sides - cubbies with bins, small shelves, a full-length mirror and a magnetic board for hanging photos. Plus, the unit spins on a turntable, which is genius!
Cover-Worthy Shed
Reader Byrom Stacey built this simple-yet-stunning shed using plans from The Family Handyman. Click here to find out what modifications Byrom made during construction.
DIY Window Seating and Storage
Starting with cabinets, readers Richard and Susan Barber built this comfy window seat by adding a platform with vents, pine boards for the top, a few coats of paint and a comfy cushion.
Patio and Pergola
To save some serious cash, reader Michael McGuire decided to DIY his patio and pergola project. We think he did a standup job, and surely learned a thing or two along the way. Click here to see more photos.
Grand Garden Shed
Ever think about putting an outdoor shower in a garden shed? Neither have we! But that’s just what reader Emlyn Jones did, and he used shed plans from The Family Handyman.
Wall Teardown Hidden Fireplace
With demolition tasks, you never know what you may find. For reader Gary Grant, it was this beautiful old fireplace. Though it was no longer function, Gary uncovered it and incorporated it into his home’s décor.
Restored Farmhouse Dresser
“This dresser was in an old farmhouse. My wife wanted me to restore it, but as you can see, one of the top drawers was missing. I could not figure how I was going to bend a piece of oak to match the other drawer.
Then my wife suggested that I cut the remaining drawer in half horizontally and flip one half of it over to make a new drawer. This meant that I had to remove the dresser top and cut the height down to compensate for the reduced drawer height (and of course, build a drawer to put the new front on). All in all, the result was worth it!” — John Susil. Click here to see the before photo and the amazing transformation.
Backyard Putting Practice
This backyard putting green, created by reader Shane Graham, features a border of flagstone, artificial grass and two holes for putting practice. What a fun place to pass the time at home!
Amazing Yellow Shed
Reader Nick Ross created this cheerful yellow shed using plans from The Family Handyman magazine. The concrete ramp in the front is a nice addition and will be perfect for rolling a lawnmower and other outdoor power equipment inside the shed. And, of course, the bright yellow color is awesome.
New Use for Old Cabinets
Reader Janet Johnson turned two secondhand kitchen cabinets into one tall and trendy bathroom cabinet. Click here to find out what she did to transform the cabinets into a new stellar storage piece.
Envious Tree House
This tree house created by reader Tom Beerley features a deck addition fit for a small home! Find out how he built it here.
Boat Bird Feeder
The Family Handyman reader, Dan Cork, created the perfect bird sanctuary in his backyard. “We like to watch birds and have had bird feeders for years. However, the birds are pigs and dump bird feed everywhere! There were all types of grass plants popping up in the yard and our garden bed. So I decided to make a bird sanctuary out of an old boat and now we can watch the birds and all the bird seeds are contained inside the boat. The front navigation light and the lantern in the back, are set to come on with my other landscape lights. I named the boat after my granddaughter and the registration number is my street address.” — Dan
For plans from The Family Handyman to build your own bird house, click here.
Garage Doors in Disguise
Simply adding some plywood, cedar boards and decorative framework, reader Joe Hawkins upgraded his garage doors tremendously. See more photos here.
Garden Tractor Made of Junkyard Parts
Reader Keith Rider scoured the local junkyard for months before planning and executing this fully functional (and definitely one-of-a-kind) lawn tractor using the parts that he found.
Rebuilt Swing Set
Ben Hoyle wanted to build a swing set in the backyard of his house for his daughters. So he found a used swing set that someone was giving away and decided to rebuild it.
“I looked at building something new, but the ones in my pricerange were not so great and were made with treated lumber, which I don’t enjoy working with. I struck gold with a used swing set. The top beam and most of the decking was too rotten to be used and I decided to go a step further and get all new cedarwood and redesign the swing set configuration. I had a fun weekend of building and a summer full of my daughters playing on my great-lookingswing set, all for a lot less money than buying new. On top of that, I used the old cedar 4x4s and some scrap plywood tobuild a workbench in my garden shed.” — Ben
Cottage Shed
This creative cottage-like shed was built by reader Alan Luebs. He used our Dream Shed plans, originally published in the July/August 2013 issue of The Family Handyman. He modified the doors and windows and added awesome siding materials and colors. We absolutely love it!
North Woods Bench in White
Reader Keith Simpson followed plans in the May 2014 issue of The Family Handyman to create his version of the North Woods Bench. We especially like Keith’s process for creating a very durable, very smooth white finish. He used enamel primer and acrylic latex paint and sanded between each coat.Photo: Keith Simpson
Fireplace Makeover
Reader David Riggins created a stone fireplace exactly as his wife Charlie had envisioned. He even poured a custom concrete slab for the hearth.
Handy Plywood Storage System
The Family Handyman reader Steve Christakis came up with this great storage idea to maximize the limited space in his garage. “My garage is my workshop, and space is tight, especially for squeezing two vehicles in. I used to have plywood sheets and scraps stacked against the wall, and they always had a way of creeping outward, taking up more floor space, especially as more material got added to the pile. This outward creep made for even tighter parking space.” — Steve.
Click here to read all about how Steve created this clever plywood storage system in his garage.
Classy TV Cabinet
This TV cabinet project was executed perfectly by reader Ronald Berg. He used plans from The Family Handyman’s November 2012 issue, adding that he learned how to use a Kreg pocket-hole jig for the first time and loved it. We love your work, Ronald!
Vintage Chair Gets New Life
Carla Phillips loved her vintage oak office chair, but the base was broken and it was the wrong height for her desk. “I bought an adjustable officechair for a few bucks at a thrift store; the seat and back wereruined, but the adjustable base worked fine. I attached it to my oak chair with lag screws, and now I have an adjustable vintage chair.” — Carla
Eyebrow Entry
There were a lot of interesting architectural details on this house, but the entry was probably the most challenging. The ledger, ribbon and drop beam were all made from laminated layers of plywood, and the joists were all LVLs. We sheathed the roof with two layers of 3/8-in. sheets of plywood. The whole thing was held up with four 6×6 posts, which we boxed in for the stone guys. To complicate matters, the structure needed to be held several inches away from the wall so the stone could run behind it.
A woodshop milled the cove and the cantilevered fascia, and we trimmed the rest in cedar. All the flashing was copper as was the entire roof (installed by others). From start to finish, the entry took about 140 hours. I love projects like this, ones that require more than just a framing gun and a level. Luckily, I get to work on a bunch of them. — Tyler Ferguson.
Plus: 16 more hand-selected reader projects you need to see.
Loft Bed
Reader Jak Krumholtz built a loft bed with enough room below it for, well, a room! He added retro automotive seats with a console, a dome light, pullout shelves and space to store his bicycles.
At-Home Arcade
Reader Brian created this remarkable arcade in his basement. From the video games to comfortable seating to foosball and air hockey tables to the well-stocked snack corner and retro décor, the space is a dream for any game lover. What a cool room, Brian!
Outdoor Bench with Storage
Reader Billy Keith built an amazing storage bench for his outdoor space. He used teak, which features excellent water-resistant qualities, for the exterior and cedar, which features natural deodorizing qualities for the interior. The finished piece looks flawless, don’t you think?
Like-New Armoire
Harold Gibbons made this armoire from dumpster finds in California and from the original Dreyer’s Ice Cream factory in Berkeley, California, during the 1980’s. The crown molding was bought at a garage sale, but everything else was free. He made the doors with shelving from the Dreyer’s workshop. The knobs were from an old 1880’s drug store in Elmer, Oklahoma. The Latin word on the knob was the name of the drug, which was stored in a common wooden drawer for filling prescriptions.
Classic Garden Bench Doubled
The Family Handyman reader Dan Kemper followed our Classic Garden Bench plans to a tee—twice! And he even added a matching corner table to connect the identical benches, making an amazing patio furniture piece. Thanks for sharing your work, Dan!Photo: Dan Kemper
Playhouse That Grows with Kids
Reader Dave Mensch built this playhouse for his daughters with the thought that they could use it for studying and for sleepovers with friends as they got older. Now that they’re grown, Dave’s hoping his future grandchildren can enjoy the playhouse, too!
Modified Viking Table and Bench
The Family Handyman reader Kevin Rusch wanted to build a dining room table. When he saw the Built-to-Last Viking Long Tableand Heavy-Duty VikingBench, he knew with a few modifications, these plans would work. Click here to see more details about how Kevin built this project.
Lighted Guitar
Andrew Wilson, being a family handyman and living outside of the city limits, refused to hire a privatetrash hauling service. He would use his trailer to take his refuse to the county dump.
“I amalways trying to get my sons to help me, to no avail. On one occasion, my oldest son, tomy amazement, decided to take a break from his music to tag along with me to thedump. When we got to the dump, we saw one of the workers removing two guitars fromthe trash heap. We jokingly asked if there were any more guitars where those camefrom. To our amazement, the worker pulled another discarded guitar from the trashheap. While the guitar looked to be in good shape, the pickups were not working. Wedecided to make the guitar into a lighted wall piece for the kids’ playroom, using arope light attached with clips to the back of the guitar.” — Andrew
Incredibly Organized Workshop
Over the years, Randal Monceaux always kept his screws and parts in portable storage containers, and when it came time to use them, he would have to look in various places for the items he needed. So he created these versatile portable storage bins.
“In this first photo are bins for the parts that I use for fabricating and gluing up my picture frame projects, and this keeps all of the parts and screws needed in one location on my work table—I have mounted on the sides the glue-up jigs that I use, and the whole unit is on small casters to allow it to be moved on top of my work table,” Randal says.
Click here to see more photos and read more details about Randal’s Workshop storage projects.
DIY Shutters
When you can’t find what you want at the right price, you do make it yourself—at least that’s what reader Glenn Galbraith does. And along with the gorgeous shutters that he built for his house comes a sense of pride.
Starfighter Play Set
Reader John Rubino may get the coolest-dad-ever award for this play set that he built for his two sons in his backyard. Click here to find out what he used to construct this creative fort for his kids.
Slick Miter Saw Stand Accessory
“I mounted a little picture frame hanger as a holder for my tape measure. I simply clip my tape measure on to the holder with the clip mounted on the back of the tape measure. Now, it’s always at hand and in the same spot, so that I don’t have to look around for it. These hacks have made my shop time easier and more enjoyable.” —Steve Christakis.
Click here to see a second workshop hack Steve created.
Cedar Garden Shed
Reader Kurt Schmatzhagen sent us photos of this shed that he built in his backyard. He used the plans from the Ultimate Garden Shed, which was published in our July/August 2014 issue of The Family Handyman. Click here to see the fire pit Kurt added next to this garden shed.
Faux Stone Accent Wall
Reader Chris Galiyas, an elementary art teacher in West Mifflin, PA, created this faux stone accent wall in his living room. The wood pieces that frame the fireplace are old floor joists that he got from a salvage yard. First, he sanded down the wood, applied a faux finish, and then finished the wood off with a clear coat. “I love to see the wood come back to life in a new way.” — Chris
Kitchen Upgrade
Reader David Smith and his wife bought a house in an adult community that needed some upgrades. Being a retired general contractor, David’s first project to tackle was the kitchen.
“I did all the work myself, from 20 in. diagonal tile on the floor to new lighting. My wife helped with the design and the granite countertops. The “bridge” above the sink has gotten a lot of compliments. Now I am handyman for a lot of residents in our community.” — David Smith.
