Many contractors and home improvement experts will say, “Homeowners and DIYers should try anything, except for electricity and plumbing. That’s best left to licensed professionals.” Whether you agree or not, you gotta admit: the possibility of having 110 volts arcing into your body or the danger of causing a major water leak is intimidating for some folks. But that’s a-okay by me, because I still get to play with plumbers’ and electricians’ tools and supplies. Like pipe fittings: galvanized, black, copper, PVC… they’re each great for creating all kinds of DIY projects, which have nothing to do with water or gas. We’ve assembled ten ideas and techniques for using pipe fittings in your home, as well as some general tips for using pipes to create structures and furniture for home use. Related: Get Organized: 20 Clever Ideas for Repurposed Storage Many a laundry room is outfitted with a plumbing-pipe clothes rack. Embrace the look by creating a closet out of nowhere by installing pipe flanges in the studs and hanging the racks from the walls, as in this example from Sunia Homes.

Etsy seller KKatz takes a similar approach but uses multiple shorter shelves to display favorite books. Check out more of her work or give it a shot yourself! Using galvanized pipe as a curtain rod saves you lots of money, and you can have it cut to any size you need. I use this trick in my own house, and it’s always a great conversation-starter.Vacuum Cleaner Belt Keeps Breaking This Old House magazine opts for the warmth of copper to create an inexpensive and functional pot rack full of kitchen storage options.English Labrador Retriever Puppies For Sale Ohio When I remodeled my office, I created an industrial lamp from galvanized pipe fittings. Fox Pups For Sale WisconsinClick here for the full how-to.

Black pipe can make the perfect base for a dining, side, or coffee table topped with reclaimed wood, as demonstrated by Rory of Oat Design. I took a similar approach and used galvanized pipe as the base to build this mid-century-modern-inspired desk (which I’m sitting at right now!). My friend JoAnn made this sleek magazine rack from copper pipe. I especially love that it can be easily moved as needed. If some of these projects are too industrial for your taste, consider a few simple flanges and elbows as a coat rack in your entryway or utility room. And lastly, this amazing installation and wall unit, which works perfectly to fill up a blank entryway space and allows for as much color or neutrals as needed—incredible, right? The $20 Japanese Pull Saw: A DIYer’s Best Bang for the Buck How To: Spring Clean Your Power Tools 5 Ways to Get Perfect, Clean Cuts in PlywoodWhether your goal is to fix, tinker, build or make something better, your next adventure in DIY starts here.

drill and 1/4” drill bit To determine how long your curtain rod needs to be, measure the interior width of the window and add four inches to the overall measurement. We decided to place our curtain rod 1-1/2” outside of the window on each side.  This placement will ensure there will be no gap between the curtain and the window. Also, determine the vertical placement of the brackets.  This will likely depend on length of your curtains.  Hanging the brackets above the window can make the window appear larger than it is. Place the bracket on the right side over the center of the mark.  Using a level and a pencil, mark the holes where the screws will go. Pre-drill holes for the screws using a 1/8” bit. Insert the screws into the pre-drilled holes, stopping about 1/4” away from the surface of the window frame. Slide the bracket onto the screws. Tighten the screws to secure the bracket to the window frame. Place the rod into the right-side bracket and use a level to determine the placement of the left side bracket. 

Align the bracket over the center of the 1-1/2” mark you made earlier. Use a pencil to mark the holes where the screws will go.  Remove the rod, and repeat steps 4 to secure the left-side bracket to the frame. Slide the drapery panels on to the curtain rod. Secure the rod to the brackets by tightening the set-screw on the back side of each bracket. Hang the rod on to the brackets. Secure the rod to the brackets by tightening the set-screw on the back side of each bracket. Sign up for the Newsletter Privacy PolicyHave you noticed the price of curtain rods these days?   Have you noticed how UGLY most curtain rods are?   Our DIY mission :  to rid the curtain rod fugly for a fraction of the cost. Now don’t make faces at me { like the Home Depot dudes did.}  I told them to be nice or leave.  Then I reminded myself that they worked there.    Me :  I want to pimp out my curtains with metal pipes. Home Depot dude :    Why?I’m smart like that.

Regal Blue Velvet Curtain ON SALE   || It all started like this : My sons bedroom is a teenie weenie polka dot bikini of a space.  The room is so small, you can’t swing a cat in there.  Not that I would swing a cat.  He’s too fat anyway 🙂 y all time fave sheer white linen curtain   || When we moved to the countryside, no one warned me about the farmhouse plaster walls and other farm-like things. he unmentionable farmy things can smell like the inside of a belly button.  G Your small complicated spaces don’t feel so bad after all now, do they? Want to feel even better? Our farmhouse walls are made of plaster.  I Have you ever tried to hammer a nail into a plaster wall? It will take moments.  D Note:  The walls are painted in a matte finish.  For the love of Pete … people … stop painting walls with shiny paint.  Shiny paint is not only fugly on a wall, it shows off every imperfection in the history of ever.  Don’t do it.  D

on’t be that girl. First and foremost, go hunting around the store and find the metal pipes.   You can’t miss them.  They are about a million feet tall and stand straight up on end.  When you find them, don’t play around with them.  Imagine Lucille Ball and a conveyor belt.  That would be you. As I walked through the store with a 49 foot pole wobbling out of my what seemed like a miniature cart, I prayed that I wouldn’t decapitate a fellow shopper. If you make it to the front of the store without taking out a person by the knees, walloping their head or knocking all the inventory off of the store shelves…. well then … congratulations. You get a gold star. Next, you will need to promise your hand in marriage to bribe the Home Depot workers to cut the metal pole for you.  D girl has to do what a girl has to do. If they give you a hard time, tell them that you are making a towel rack with the left over pieces. They will think you are genius.

ou will need the photos for when you want to show off your mad DIY designer skills to the dudes in the hardware store. Note to self : men need photos.  They won’t get it without the photos.  D Beware : They will stare at you like a crazed person when you tell them that you want to use plumbing pipes to make a curtain rod.  Tell them to shut their face. You are on a mission. You need to find your curtain rod ends now.  There are lots of fun choices.  Here are the ones that I picked out : 1.      Curtain Rod ends :  Galvanized Iron Tee Look at that photo.   O It appears that I have a screw loose. Keep calm and carry on. Pay attention to this part :  The wallpapered ceiling.   We will come back and talk about that one later. Next supply that you need to look for … 2.      Base to hold curtain rod on the wall trim : Galvanized Iron Floor Flange Let’s not forget the itty bitty parts called nipples … 3.     The post from the wall that connects the flange and the tee so you can hold the rod in place : Galvanized steel pipe nipple

Why does the word nipple make me smirk ?  I 4.      Curtain Rod : Steel pipe Have the Home Depot dudes cut the length that you need. Stand over them like a hot mess. It’s their duty to help you create curtain rod sexiness.  Unless you have some sort of heavy-duty cutter thingy at your house.   Iesperate times call for desperate measures. Do not pay attention to the exact size of pipes/ fittings in the links above.  Some are one inch, two inches, blah blah blah.  You need to stand in the store and make sure the ends fit your poles.  Gne Curtain rod down.  Fifty five more things to do to decorate the bedroom.  And make some breakfast while you are at it.  Gelcome to my life.   G I’d like some eggs and bacon please.   C Ready for the next part?  This is the fun part.  Pour yourself a cup of energy mud because it is time for some good times retail therapy.  Head straight to West Elm. Pretty much everything in that store is the cats meow.  L

I adore the curtains at West Elm.   L may have left some drool on them the last time I visited the store.   I rubbed the curtains on my cheeks … and purred like a kitten.  T’m not embarrassing to shop with.  A I particularly love these plush velvety curtains.  They are so soft, you could literally wrap them around your body and wear them out as a dining gown.  If you click here to purchase, they are on sale right now!! Gorgy gorgeous curtain rods.  D I need a cigarette and a nap, and I don’t even smoke. A special thank you to my son Brett, for letting me share his bedroom digs this week. To my beautiful boy… I love you with all my heart and soul. Now, my friends …  it’s your turn. Go make some curtain rods.   Do more of what makes you awesome. esign the Life you Want to Live. ou are a nutter.  Let’s hang out like this every week.  Sign up here to be the first to receive the latest and greatest DIY deets from this here Yosemite Sammy bloggy in your email inbox.