DIY X-Stool or Table

Happy Monday! I've been on an "x" kick when it comes to planning patio furniture, and the first thing I've put into play is a new x-end table (which is also seat-height, so it can double as extra seating!).

If you were here last week, you've already seen this

Can I just say that I. Am. LOVING. This??!!

Which is based off of some tables in an image that I'd pinned a while back.

source

I reused the wood from the first thing I'd ever built (which fell apart, but I was too sentimental about to throw away), and didn't have enough wood to do the four sides with the "x", so my new design only calls for the x's on two sides.

And below are plans if you want to build your own! As with my last bench, the plans don't include instructions for the top. Mine is a 17"x17" concrete slab, but you can make a wooden top or mosaic or plain tile.

Shopping List

3 - 1 x 3 @ 8'
1 - 1 x 2 @ 6'
1 1/4" outdoor Pocket Hole Screws
Outdoor Wood Glue (I use Titebond III)
1 - 17" x 17" top

Cut List

1x3

4 @ 17"
4 @ 12"
4 @ 12 1/2"
2 @ 17", both ends pointed at 45-degrees
4 @ ~7 1/4", one end pointed at 45-degrees

1x2

4 @ 17'

Step 1

Build the sides as shown above with the 12" and 17" 1x3s using wood glue and 1 1/4" pocket hole screws. You'll make two of these.

Step 2

Cut the long x-sides to the specifications above.

Step 3

Cut the short sides of the "x"s as shown above. Measure the opening in your sides and cut to fit.

Step 4

Build the non-x sides as shown above with pocket hole screws and glue.

Step 5

Assemble the stool by screwing or nailing through the face of the "x" sides into the non "x" sides. You could also try to pre-drill pocket holes in the 1x2s to attach the outer sides, but I didn't have luck with that.

Bigger Kid Play Room Table or Desk

You remember my new DIY'd playroom table (and it's cute little DIY stool), right?

Well, I have to tell you all that the requests for plans for the chair were expected, but the requests for the modifications to the play room table were mind blowing. Thank you all for this overwhelming interest!

This table is a modification of Ana White's Triple Pedestal Farmhouse table (which is a substantial dining room table). View that, here!

After doing some research, I learned that the ideal height for a desk is around 25"-27", give or take a little for personal preference. This table's main use is for homework, so I knew I wanted to stay around desk-height. With that in mind, the finished dimensions of the table are as follows:

29 1/2"W x 21 1/2"D x 26 1/4"H

Lumber Shopping List:

• 4 - 1 x 3 x 8
• 2 - 1 x 2 x 8
• 1/4 Sheet of 3/4" Plywood

Cut List:

• 4 - 1 x 3 @ 22 1/2" (legs)
• 4 - 1 x 3 @ 10" (legs)
• 2 - 1 x 3 @16" ends cut 30*, not parallel (top of the footer)
• 4 - 1 x 3 @17" ends cut at 30* not parallel (tops and footers)
• 4 - 1 x 3 @ 4" ends cut at 30* not parallel (feet)
• 1 - 1 x 3 @ 25 1/2" (stretcher)
• 2 - 1 x 2 @ 21 1/2" (table top trim)
• 2 - 1 x 2 @ 28" (table top trim)
• 1 - 3/4" ply @ 20" x 28" (table top)
• 4 - 3/4" ply @ 7 1/4" x 4" (decorative pieces)

Directions:

I strongly recommend that you sand your boards well before making any cuts. This makes finishing your table much easier. 

1).  Begin by building the legs as shown. Make sure your stretcher will fit in the hole before gluing. Use glue and 1 1/4" finish nails. You'll make two of these.

2). Attach the tops of the legs and the top footer using glue and 1 1/4" screws (the top is 17" and the bottom is 16")

3).  Cut the decorative pieces as shown. I suggest cutting one and using it as a template for the rest. Sand well before proceeding. 

4).  Attach decorative pieces by either gluing and clamping, or gluing and using 1 1/4" finish nails on the smallest parts of the arc. 

5). Attach the bottom of the footer (17") with glue and 1 1/4" finish nails. 

6).  Attach the feet, using 1 1/4" finish nails and glue. 

7). Space the legs 19" apart and insert the stretcher. There should be 3/4" sticking out of both sides. 

8).  Build the table top as shown. You can either attach the trim pieces using pocket holes on the underside of the table top or by using 1 1/4" finish nails and glue. 

9).  Attach the table top by screwing from underneath through the top of the legs.

Sand and finish as desired. I finished mine with General Finishes Gel Stain in Brown Mahogany.

Use common sense when building and finishing, making sure to exercise caution when using power tools and seeking help when necessary. I, Gina at LadyGoats.com, am not responsible for any liabilities that occur when building this table or with the finished product (yes, I had to put that!). If you have any questions, shoot me an email! I'll be glad to help! 

Just because the plans for the table are up does not mean that I'll be able to figure out how to draw up plans for the chair. Please be patient with me... Drawing up plans takes me longer than actually building a piece! 

Oh! And if you do end up building this, post a brag post on Ana-White.com (as this table is a modification of her Triple Pedestal Farmhouse Table) and comment here with a photo! I'd love to see!

Decorating Above Kitchen Cabinets

I know this could have gone unsaid, but I have absolutely no idea HOW to decorate. And, unless I'm hopped up on something, I'll probably never tell you how to decorate things.

The best I can do is to say what I like, and what I don't like.

If I even know, myself!

With that said, let's talk about that HUGE area above my kitchen cabinets.

I have NO idea what to do up there!

The previous owners had four shelves installed above the cabinets. One in each corner of the back wall, a long one in the middle, and a long one on the left wall (above the fridge - not pictured). On those shelves were grease/dust covered fake plants that triggered my gag reflex when it came to removing them.


It was an awful, outdated solution, but it still kept the feeling of the kitchen airy. My neighbor (who has the same layout as mine) has a large framed poster above her cabinets, and I noticed that it makes her kitchen feel smaller. I wanted to keep the tall, airy feeling, but do SOME sort of decorating up there. The problem was that I couldn't seem to find ANY inspiration!

Here's some of what I've run across in my searches

image from thriftydecorchic.com














The above photo isn't AWFUL... But I have to say... I just don't get it! There's what seems to be a random mis-mash of stuff (is that a little stool?), and it works in HER house (well, actually!), but wouldn't in mine...

image from this gardenweb forum







This picture seems a little more thought out, but I'm not a plate-as-decoration kinda girl... and that cast iron wheel is definitely not my style.

image from traditionalhome.com

(I'm gonna throw this out there... If I wanted a country style kitchen, I would DIE over that hutch!)











I have no idea what's up there, but this seems a little more cohesive. Not cluttered, but not too bare... However, I want a more contemporary feel.

Throwing a bunch of kitchen items up there just makes it look like you've run out of storage space..

(sorry - I saved the images without noting their sources - I suck as a blogger!)



And the most dreadful ones...

(are we noticing a trend?)

FAKE PLANTS! EW!

Those really aren't dreadful, I just do. not. like. fake. plants.

There are definitely many more photos, but I'm pretty neutral to them (most of them just have too little space for me to take inspiration from, and they haven't offended me enough to post here).

When the Pottery Barn catalog came in the mail, I scoured it in search of inspiration for above-the-cabinet decorating. And no matter what I saw, I kept coming back to these!

I loved how they stored completely different items (onions and wine glasses) without looking.... stupid, and when Ana White referred to them as "general store cubbies," IT CLICKED!

So my goal is to get a kind of "General Store" theme goin' on in there. However, there's a fine line between looking empty & undecorated and looking cluttered, so I'm going to need advice. Lot's of it.

UPDATE:

Here are some current pictures of above my cabinets. I'll do my best to come back with any updates I make and post here, since this seems to be a popular post :-)