Ridiculously Simple Furniture Projects: Great Looking Furniture Anyone Can Build

by Spike Carlsen

Blending the practicality of IKEA with the creativity of Martha Stewart, this collection of innovative projects is presented with simplicity of construction in mind. The suggested pieces are practical, have broad appeal, and carry a high brag factor upon completion. Requiring minimal assembly time and tools, this concise, engaging, and even humorous guide offers countless tips as well as clear and instructive photography. The majority of the projects also incorporate clever construction, such as the use of bifold doors, stock cabinets, and off-the-shelf lumber, guaranteeing that the required materials are both inexpensive and easily accessible. Featuring ideas for furnishing both the interior and the exterior of the home, this handbook is ideal for weekend woodworkers.

Genres: Crafts, How To, Nonfiction

129 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2011

About the author

Spike Carlsen has been writing about the world around us, the stuff in it and how it all works for over 25 years. He was an editor with Readers’ Digest’s, Family Handyman magazine for 15 years where he wrote hundreds of articles and oversaw the books division. He’s written for Men’s Health, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Wall Street Journal, Smithsonian, Make, Mother Earth News, Fine Homebuilding and a number of other magazines.
He’s the author of the award-winning A Splintered History of Wood, as well as The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects, Woodworking FAQ, Cabin Lessons, Building Unique & Useful Kid’s Furniture and more. He’s appeared on the NBC TODAY SHOW, Modern Marvels, HGTV, the CBS Early Show and dozens of other radio and television programs.
Prior to picking up a pen he swung a hammer for fifteen years and taught elementary school. In his free time he enjoys biking, woodworking and attempting to keep their 170 year old house from keeling over. He and his wife, Kat, live in Stillwater, Minnesota, in close proximity to their 5 kids and 8 grand kids
His most recent book, A Walk Around the Block: Squirrels, Sewers, Stoplights, and Other Stuff you see Every Day but Know Nothing About (Harper One) was released fall of 2020.

Reviews

[Ligaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually, these ARE pretty nice looking furniture pieces that I think most anyone could build! I didn't find anything in particular that made me want to haul out my tools and clean up my garage for but it did give me some ideas and there are several smart hints throughout the book. It's a very short book and I wished there were more projects, though.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a fairly short book, this took me almost a month to read! But that was because I was inspired by the first project, a side table, and made my own version of it with fretworked legs instead of the plainer ones shown in the book. There are some great projects in the book, along with tips and techniques. Some of the projects seem a little rough and ready, but I think they are best used as a starting point for your own versions.

Although the projects look generally quite straightforward, I wouldn't recommend this book for the absolute beginner, because I thought some of the steps were either missed out or skimmed over. However, for ideas and variety, it is very good.

One thing that annoyed me slightly was that the accompanying text was almost duplicated throughout the book. There was a passage of main text explaining the construction technique, and then a series of photos with similar but briefer text.

A very good book though. If I can pick it up and make something straight away, there is hope for everyone!

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the projects are cleverly thought out in order to conserve materials, but the instructions are more for someone who's handled woodbuilding projects before. For a book with this title, you have to cater to the dumbest of the dumb, like me. Also, it wouldn't hurt to slap a coat of something on some of the finished products in order to have a better aesthetic for the book.

[Alex]

like the designs for tic tac toe shelf, leading ladder shelf, trapezoid desk/bookshelf, pyramid bookshelf that folds down, corner shelf, table from a sheet of plywood,

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be one to begin and start making furniture. Nice variety of useful projects.

[db · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really simple for a rank beginning, but a lovely book of projects.

[Megalion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really does explain how to make things. Breaks complicated looking things down to their basics.