I hope you’ve enjoyed thinking about the projects in this blog series. Today’s post contains the last set of do-it-yourself ideas in our short journey together. I think it’s a good time, then, to reaffirm the critical importance of life-giving balance. Take a look at the parts of ourselves that we nurture and exercise when we set aside our serious work to care for ourselves with a “man décor” project or two:
- Creativity
- Adventure
- Work with our hands
- Growth and satisfaction in “know-how”
- Appreciation of various forms of beauty
- Personalization—making our space “us”
- Relationship—sharing with others in both the “doing” and in the results
Good stuff, right? It took me a long time to grasp how much I needed this type of balance in my life. But now that I’ve found equilibrium, I ain’t letting go!
Okay, let’s look at three categories of project ideas: small, bigger, and BIGGER. If you want to dive into something that’s super-fun, but small (i.e., won’t take very long), tabletop décor or accessory stands might be right for you. Here are some items that I have in my home. My favorite—by a pretty wide margin—is the plumb bob art. You can find old plumb bobs at yard sales and flea markets, but sometimes they’re buried in your father’s or grandfather’s tool boxes. My dad gave me these three—they’ve been in the family for several generations, and I feel honored to display them.
Too small? Go bigger! Maybe try a stump wine rack or a unique set of shelves:
Just a word about the holes for these wine bottles…. Be prepared to work. You don’t need many tools to burrow into the stump—just a half-inch drill, hole saw, chisel, and mallet. But you do need a good amount of patience, especially if the wood is a hardwood. I enjoyed picking away at my rack a little at a time. And I LOVE the finished product. Even found a couple of antique cork screws for the top of the piece, along with a journal to record the wines I like best. Great addition to my dining room.
Still too small? You’re ready for BIGGER! Pick a corner of your house and………build everything! I tackled my dining room and made all of the pieces I wanted. The table is made from the Riverheart Cypress I mentioned in an earlier project post. I really like the way it turned out. And few things bring a man more satisfaction than building the table that his family gathers around.
I wish you lots of enjoyment as you lean into one of these projects and, hopefully, many more!
