Shara McCuiston is a manufacturing engineer by day, but she also loves to build stuff in her free time. She blogs at Woodshop Diaries and shares her projects on YouTube.
This week, we sat down with Shara to learn about her kitchen remodel and how she approaches design. Be sure to swing by the blog to check out her videos!
Dining Table and Bench
Having a bench at your dining table creates a casual, friendly vibe that is perfect for family meals. And if you have the space, you can fit in a few more people than would otherwise be possible.
A little creativity goes a long way in designing a DIY bench that stands out from the crowd. This one from Erin Spain is a good example, using copper pipes to add a unique twist to the old-fashioned wooden bench seat.
X-braces are another cool woodworking trick for creating a solid, sturdy piece of furniture. If you are looking for a project that is a bit more challenging than your average woodworking endeavor, try this herringbone-topped table from Cherished Bliss.
Picnic Table
The picnic table is a backyard staple and a favorite gathering place for friends. They are also used for a variety of other activities, such as craft projects and outdoor classrooms.
This free plan will give you the dimensions, instructions, cut list and a material list that you need to build yourself this classic A-frame picnic table. It’s an intermediate woodworking project that should take you a day or two to complete.
This free plan will seat six to eight people comfortably, and the separate benches help provide enough legroom for everyone. The octagon shape makes it easier to get in and out of the chair, fosters conversation and sharing, and makes the table more durable.
Wooden Garland
Whether you’re decorating a boho or eclectic space, this Wooden Garland with Tassels is an easy and artful way to add texture. It comes with round, unfinished wooden beads in three varying sizes and a jute string tassel on each end. You can hang this strand along your mantel, cubicle wall, room wall or more for chic decor that coordinates with your style.
You can also add a few more tassels to the top of each of the strands for extra flair! These simple wooden beads make a fun craft project for the whole family and are sure to be a hit in your home this holiday season.
Mini Christmas Village
One of the most fun and festive holiday displays is a Christmas village. It’s so simple and affordable to create and add to your collection each year.
If you’re just starting to collect houses and don’t have a lot of space, you can make this cool DIY shelf for your Christmas house collection! It doesn’t take up much space and can store your houses, ornaments, and more.
You can also try making your own little wooden Christmas houses from card stock! They’re free to download, so you can start creating your own villages right away. And if you don’t have a cutting machine, they’re incredibly easy to cut out by hand!
Candlelit Lantern Post
Whether you have a spare 10 feet of reclaimed 2 x 4 lying around or you’re on the hunt for a splurge worthy tabletop display, this is one to remember. It’s also a great place to practice some of the more technical aspects of woodworking, including the proper use of hand tools and power tools. The most important item in this equation is a well planned out work space that allows for a streamlined and productive assembly of the building materials you need. In the end, it’s a fun and functional project that will last well into the holidays. Best of all, it only took us two hours to get from start to finish.