12 DIY Projects Built By Creative Family Handyman Readers

Reader Jamey Heim cut and distressed the boards, and then his wife stained them with various weathered-wood colors. The result is a one-of-a-kind statement wall for their home.

The upper deck is pretty cool on reader Bruce Blaney’s pontoon, and he built it himself! He also added a retractable ramp and a few bells and whistles.

You may not believe it, but the molding in this home was a DIY project by reader Lou Minna. Click here to find out what went into this impressive project.

Reader Billy Keith built an amazing storage bench for his outdoor space. He used teak, which features excellent water-resistant qualities, for the exterior and cedar, which features natural deodorizing qualities for the interior. The finished piece looks flawless, don’t you think?

We’ve never seen anything quite like this automotive project by reader Greg Gerwitz. And it was a family-bonding project, too! Learn more about it here.

Reader Janice Ferguson and her husband made changes to their existing pond based on a few ideas they found in The Family Handyman’s Plan a Low-Maintenance Pond project, originally published in the April 2005 issue. They lowered the water level, making it more accessible for birds, and added a small waterfall. What a great water feature!

Reader Leo Paquin built his home office like a kitchen—with beautiful cabinets, desk-height countertops and plenty of storage to go around.

Reader Dale Lockwood built this amazing creative studio building for his wife. It includes double front doors, three sliding windows that face a nearby lake, an interior loft for storage, window boxes, a weathervane and a woodchip pathway. It’s the perfect space for bringing creative projects to life.

Starting with cabinets, readers Richard and Susan Barber built this comfy window seat by adding a platform with vents, pine boards for the top, a few coats of paint and a comfy cushion.

The materials used by reader Janet Emge and her husband to create their home bar make it an exceptional, one-of-a-kind space for a reserve firefighter. The front of the bar, for example, is covered with sections of fire hose. And the light fixtures and made with recycled oxygen tanks. So cool!

Reader Dave Mensch built this playhouse for his daughters with the thought that they could use it for studying and for sleepovers with friends as they got older. Now that they’re grown, Dave’s hoping his future grandchildren can enjoy the playhouse, too!

For just $4,100, reader Mike Helsel remodeled his kitchen, and that includes knocking out a wall! He built the cabinets himself with cherry wood that he purchased from a local farmer. And his family was without a sink and stove for two days total—now that’s quick work!