DIY Projects for Cats and Dogs. Armelle Rau

      INTRODUCTION

      When we are enchanted by some beautiful object we’ve seen online, on a blog, on Pinterest, or perhaps in a decorating magazine, we may fall in love and decide that we simply must have it. In these moments we have two choices: either buy the original, no matter the cost, even if we end up paying for it over the course of months, or build it ourselves. This is the do-it-yourself principle: when we make things ourselves, we express our creativity and feel joy and pride.

      When we—there’s always a “we” in the projects in this book—first began making DIY projects for our apartment, we started with a few basic pieces that enhanced our daily lives: a little side table, then a wardrobe that saved us a bundle, then an entire bookcase, and finally lamps. Now, more than half of the furnishings in our apartment in Nantes, France, were made by us.

      In this book, you’ll find plenty of ideas to simultaneously brighten up your home and please your pet. The furniture we’ve designed and built is more original and attractive than what you see in pet stores. We’ve never been able to find store-bought items that keep our cat entertained, hide unsightly necessities, and offer protection, all in one.

      In true do-it-yourself spirit, this book combines practicality with a view to keeping costs down. You won’t find expensive projects here. We work with found objects, scrap wood, and simple materials. You don’t have to be an expert do-it-yourselfer, either. All you need is a little patience and creativity. We provide the basics, and then we leave it up to you to personalize your handiwork.

      So put aside Instagram, Pinterest, and the Internet for a little while and rediscover the pleasure of paper and the scent of a brand-new book in your hands. We really hope this attractive addition to your bookshelf will inspire you to build many things on your own!

      PRACTICAL BASICS

      Materials

      In this book, the main construction material used is wood—not fine wood, but wood that is easy to find, such as pine. Out of respect for the environment, we never use exotic woods. We sometimes use wood products, such as oriented strand board (OSB), which is easy to work with and affordable. It’s also aesthetically appealing and works really well with the uncluttered and understated current trends in home decorating. Plywood is another readily available option, and is often stronger than pine or OSB. You can also substitute particleboard, which is a little weaker, in some cases (but not for outdoor use).

      All the other materials referenced in this book are easy to find at your local hardware store or home improvement store. As we are advocates for human contact when shopping, we believe a good merchant or salesperson will give you very good advice in selecting materials, so don’t be shy—ask for help and recommendations, and bring this book along while you shop!

      Tools

      You will notice that the tools we use are fairly common. They are also essential if you intend to build things yourself. Here are the four basic types of tools you’ll need.

      Sandpaper. Sandpaper comes in different grits: fine grits for delicate and precise work, coarse grits for sanding or stripping. Having sheets of a few different grits on hand will make your work easier.

      Saws. The first saw you will need is the jigsaw. Make sure you also buy plastic safety goggles. These will protect your eyes from flying debris and allow you to keep your eyes open, which in turn will help you keep your fingers out of harm’s way and help you saw accurately. Along with the jigsaw, you will need a handsaw and a miter box for making straight and angled cuts.

      Power drill. You can’t build a lot of things without this tool. Almost all cordless power drills will accept both drill bits and screwdriver bits so that you can drill holes and drive screws with just one tool. You will need a variety of different sizes of bits, often included in the kit. If you’re purchasing a drill, choose a cordless battery-powered drill. If you have a cordless screwdriver, it is helpful, but it’s not a required purchase. Start by drilling a few holes in a scrap piece of wood to get used to handling the power tool. You shouldn’t have much trouble mastering it after a few minutes of practice.

      To prevent wood from splitting when using screws, it’s important to drill pilot holes first—don’t just drill the screws straight

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