Okay so this has taken me way too long to post, but I built a nifty little toothbrush holder for Tanya over at the wonderful twelveOeight blog. Yes, this is another piece of rustic minutiae that will be going in my new bathroom. Yes, it is super easy to make. Yes, you should stop what you’re doing and go check it out RIGHT HERE AT twelveOeight.

Since Tanya is awesome,  I’m going be contributing projects like these on a semi-regular basis to her blog. So keep your eyes peeled for more stuff in the future!

Also make sure you check back here as well. I’ve got something big planned. I can’t tell you what it is, but I can tell you that it involves lumber and power tools and that your family is going to love it.

Best,

Matthew

Matthew

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I’ve got another cool industrial pipe tutorial for you guys! This time I built a nifty Industrial Bathroom Shelf out of recycled pipes for Katie, who runs the incredibly cool Upcycled Treasures blog. Not to toot my own horn, but this thing is like the Rolls Royce of bathroom shelving. It’s got a big towel rack, it’s got a distressed wood shelf, it’s got a paper towel holder and it’s got another rack thing that I haven’t even figured out how to use yet. This was a really fun build and it felt really good to help spread the gospel of upcycling. Seriously people, if you want rustic stuff then check out a junkyard before you go check out Restoration Hardware. You’ll save about $500 and you’ll have a story to tell.

Now, stop wasting your time here and go check out my DIY INDUSTRIAL SHELF on Upcycled Treasures immediately. And leave a comment letting Katie know how wonderful she is, because while you’re just sitting there twiddling your thumbs she’s out in a workshop somewhere, decorating the world with stuff most of us would consider junk.

The post Build Your Own Industrial Pipe Shelf! appeared first on HomeDaddys.

So we needed coasters for the house. We probably should have purchased some. In fact, some of you might say that purchasing coasters is really the only intelligent choice here. But I had some leftover flooring samples from the hardware store, some cans of metallic spray paint and a few hours to kill this afternoon this afternoon so I figured to heck with it, I’m gonna make my own.

That’s right. I stenciled my own coasters. Deal with it.

I wasn’t really expecting much from this project. Even though a million women have done it successfully on Pinterest, my painter’s tape skills aren’t what you would call “competent.” On top of that, I’m much more likely to cut myself with an X-Acto knife than I am to cut out the stencil I’m trying to make. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the finished products not only looked acceptable, they actually looked pretty darn cool.

And you guys, seriously, these are so easy to make.

Start by grabbing a few tiles or pieces of cork board or free floor samples from your local hardware store. Then, cover those samples in painter’s tape or electrical tape and cut shapes out of that tape using a craft knife. Then spray paint them and wait half an hour before you peel the tape off.

I tried a few different techniques here. For the first coaster I tried to layer the gold paint first followed by black and silver. For the second I tried to block out colors on a single layer and for the third I just kind of gave up and went with an ombre-style fade job, also known as “spraying everything everywhere.”

Ironically, I think the cop-out fade design ended up looking the coolest. If I ever make these again I’m definitely going to go that route. You might also notice that some of the coasters have some tape bleed. I think that’s my fault for using old painter’s tape. This should be easy enough to avoid when you make yours. Just use new tape and press it flat with the edge of a credit card before you spray paint.

At the end of the day, are these coasters the manliest thing I’ve ever made? Not by a long shot. But they’re a neat little quickie project to do for your spouse or significant other. They also make a fun project for young children. I flew solo on this one because my little dude was too busy saving our backyard from the tyranny of squirrels but that’s another story.

Stop back soon for even more cool tutorials and DIY tricks. And please bear with me as my wife and I continue plowing through our bathroom renovation. My posts may be sporadic for another couple of months but hopefully the projects I’ve got lined up for you guys will be cool enough to compensate.

Take care,

Matthew

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Hey guys!

It know, I know, it’s been a while since my last post. I took a break from the interwebs for last few weeks to tackle some projects that have been on my to-do list forever, including building this floor lamp. I made the entire thing from scratch using industrial pipe, some lamp wire and a few vintage light bulbs. I know, it’s awesome. You know what’s even more awesome? I made a step-by-step tutorial so you can build your own! Jessica from How About Orange was nice enough to publish it as a guest tutorial on her blog, so go check it out.

Here’s the link.

I’ve got a few more projects that I’m tackling over the next few weeks, so I’ll only be writing intermittently. However, I can promise that even more industrial pipe goodness awaits those who are patient. So stay tuned, people.

It’s good to be back,

Matthew

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People who want to work from home have more opportunities than ever. With the Internet and technology, an entrepreneur can run a business and make a lot of money without leaving the house. However, many struggle to complete work quickly as distractions inevitably arise when an individual works from the house. When following these five no-nonsense tips, a home office worker can enjoy a sustainable and more productive work environment.

Setup: Some people, when starting out, opt to buy a cheap desk and chair; worse yet, others use an existing setup to complete their tasks. This is a mistake as a home worker needs to create a work environment that allows him or her to work efficiently. With the right home office furniture, an entrepreneur can complete tasks efficiently and without discomfort. To get started, one should buy a large computer desk offering plenty of free space. Furthermore, a comfortable chair will go a long way in helping a person relax and work without distractions. With decent furniture, one will go a long way in setting up their home office.

Time: Many, when working from home, opt to work strange hours. While it is nice to wake up late or work into the night hours, an individual should set a schedule. By waking up, and starting work, at the same time, a person can complete tasks efficiently and deal with customers or coworkers with ease. At first, this is difficult for many who enjoy the flexibility and freedom of setting their own hours. Over time, this should become a habit and a home office worker will not struggle to work the same hours.

Isolated: A home office worker should not work in his or her bedroom or living room. Instead, one must set up a completely isolated office away from roommates or family member. This will allow a worker to get more work done and not deal with housemates all day. To hammer the point further, a home worker should lock his or her door and encourage others to stay away from the office during regular business hours. While this is harsh for some, it is a wise and easy way for an entrepreneur to separate his or her business and personal life.

Tools: When working from home, some people do not buy all the necessary tools. This is a mistake that will cost a worker valuable hours during the day. To avoid this costly and serious problem, an entrepreneur should set up his or her office with all the necessary tools and supplies. With an all-in-one printer, a home office worker can send faxes, copy paperwork and print any pertinent information. One also should get the fastest Internet and a dedicated home phone line. Remember, it is unwise to leave the office for any reason during business hours unless it is to meet a client or business associate.

Set hours: While it is important to wake up and start working the same time every day, it is just as important to have a schedule throughout the day. When in a home office environment, some people opt to eat lunch at their desk or take a quick siesta. While this is not bad in itself, when doing this too often, a person can easily waste his or her work day. One must treat a work day at home more professionally by taking 15 minute breaks and having lunch away from the office.

When running a home business, many people struggle to work efficiently. This is a difficult problem to overcome as old habits are hard to change. However, with these five no-nonsense tips, one can run a company from home with ease.

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