Doing a project yourself has several benefits. It's cheaper, you learn something along the way, and you have the ability to customize a piece so that it really meets your needs. Short on space? Build an expandable table or multi-purpose loft bed and store your stuff underneath. Need a storage bed? Build a custom platform.
- The sliding kitchen table in Nreaves' Custom Style Home seats 2-6.
- Dave and Amy built a platform for their bed that includes storage and defines a mini room within their loft.
- Tony and Hilary built a "storage pod" in the middle of their tiny apartment. It serves as their home office, closet, bed, and media center.
- Laure's rafter book storage is a simple custom solution that remains a favorite post on Apartment Therapy.
- In Luca's Home, a custom niche above the bed saves space and takes the place of a bedside table.
Photos: Nreaves / Small Cool 2009, Dave and Amy / Small Cool 2009, Tony and Hilary / Small Cool 2008, Laure Joliet, Luca / Small Cool 2008






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The storage pod is a neat idea. Is that a bed on top? If so, I might put a rail or edge along the side. I'd worry about falling off.
I love the kitchen in #1. Galley done properly.
these are ABSOLUTELY breathtaking DIY!! i agree with sasharenee...the kitchen is awesome and we're contemplating a storage platform bed too! hmmmm...got the gears a'crankin with this one, AT! here's some of our easy DIY too...i love our new bfast nook table...that was ALL IKEA but simple and gorgeous...the stools are really a great match with it too:
http://www.casacullen.com/diy/
If these kinds of projects seem intimidating because you don't have a workshop full of tools, one thing to keep in mind is that you can have sheet goods, i.e. plywood, cut to the dimensions your project requires at the home center. Of course you still need a way to transport those pieces, but if you don't have a table saw or a vehicle that can accommodate a 4x8 sheet of something, it's an extremely useful thing.
p.s. casacullen, you are SO past the point of annoyance with your incessant self promotion on just about every single post.
Just sayin.
just trying to be helpful, splatgirl...mean no offense or annoyance by it at all! i have a strong reader core so that's now what i'm after...i just know how much i love when other bloggers insert links...i've learned so much from that! cheers and happy friday everyone!
CasaCullen, I think your posts may be having the opposite of the intended effect.
When every one of your posts links back to your own blog, it doesn't look like you're adding to the discussion. It just looks like spam.
If you were judicious with your insertion of your own blog, it would be less suspect.
I absolutely LOVE the platform bed you designed & created by hand.I would it & STAT lol! I'm looking into hiring a carpenter to recreate your platform bed for myself. If you don't mind my asking, how much was the cost of the project overall from start to finish?