New Favorites

Continuing my research, I've found a few awesome websites... not exactly about hacks, but about design and do-it-yourself. The first is design sponge, they say they are about store and product reviews as well as feature student and international design. I enjoy this part but what I like best is the before/after posts of people's own projects. This place is full of inspiration.

The second is apartment therapy, also full of inspiration, tours, guides for shopping for home furnishings.

In general both of these sites are much more enjoyable if you have $$$ to spend on furnishings, but they're also great resources for what comfy creative homes should look like.

That's what I'm talking about

Now here's a really cool hacker/home modification project that's more like what I've been looking for. This was a solution to provide more storage space and still allow access to their hot water heater. Here's the blog of the author/architect Simon.

Progress

So I have been researching a lot, not just for this project, but also for inspiration for projects for me to do around my house. I have found a couple of hacker how-to websites, including Ikea Hacker. Some of their projects are really cool, but there also some that are a little weird or strange, like this one that made a Sundae topping cover for an ottoman set.

Background

My interest in the subject of furniture modification comes from growing up in an old house where things broke with some frequency. My parents and aunts and uncles have never been shy about tackling remodeling projects in their homes and I was often recruited to help out.
This experience has combined with my interests in art and sewing and second hand furniture to give me the ability to always see the design potential in old rooms and furniture, but often to bite off more than I can chew.
After witnessing and participating in many projects in my family and in a wood shop class in college, though, I have gained a certain confidence that I can fix most problems or mistakes as I go along and usually produce something that turns out pretty nice in the end.