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A Different Kind of Construction: How to Build a Gingerbread House
Today, I have a different kind of DIY for you. How to build a gingerbread house. Essentially, DIY with cake! With my favourite season upon us — hello Christmas festivities! — as well as a tough time with my closet expansion project, I needed a quick DIY project to re-energize me. So I built a…
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A Four-Point Plan for Facing Failures in DIY
Today, I am back with an update on the never-ending closet expansion project. Sadly, it is not much of a progress update. Rather, today is about the lack of progress and facing failures in DIY over the last weeks. But, I believe it is just as important (maybe more?) to explore our failures. After all,…
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The Unexpected Red Theory: A Recipe for Vibrant Interiors
Today, I am taking a break from the closet expansion project, as I am still working on the frames and architrave (#reallife). I want to share an interesting design theory I’ve only recently come upon. The unexpected red theory. Do you know about it? The unexpected red theory says that by adding a pop of…
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Expanding a Closet, Part 3: Framing the Closet Opening
This week, I am excited to share the next step in quite an in-depth project to extend our existing closets and create more storage. Today, let’s focus on framing a closet opening. If you are just joining me, I have undertaken a rather big project to cut new openings above four existing closets in our…
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Gaining More Closet Space, Step 2 – Removing the Metal Studs
Following my success cutting into the walls to expand my closets, this week I am removing the metal studs. As I tackle this project, I am learning a lot. I’ve never framed a door or closet before, and I probably took on a bigger task than I realised. In fact, I think there might have…
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Gaining More Closet Space, Part 1 – Cutting into the Wall
The idea of cutting into a wall is terrifying. But it is the first and most critical step of my latest DIY: expanding the space above our closets. The goal is to gain more previously unusable closet space. I keep reminding myself, as I get my tools ready to make the first cut, it is…
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Storage Solutions: Expanding a Closet Opening to Gain More Space
Do you need more storage? Have you considered building more storage? Or expanding a closet opening to gain more storage? Of course, we all need more storage. No matter where we live or how big our home is, we are constantly searching for somewhere to put our stuff! Because I live in a small flat…
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My Purple Chandelier: A Story of Love, Anguish and Redemption
Purple is one of my favourite colours. I have a purple Holland bike which is a beauty. Our first sofa was purple velvet, so soft and luxurious. I have painted numerous rooms purple, including a feature wall of recessed paneling in our current bedroom. So finding a gorgeous purple glass chandelier at an antique market…
duBois Designs
Home renovations, repairs and design for the intrepid DIY-er