Author: Jaime Costiglio

How To DIY a Sectional Sofa

In 2016 we teamed up with  Jaime Costiglio from That’s My Letter on this easy to build DIY sofa and ottoman. 

Most people have a family room or another designated space where they watch TV or play games. In my home, we have an open first floor with a section for more formal gatherings and a separate space for family time. In the formal space, we have a seating arrangement with lots of decorative pillows (because more pillows equals fancy, right?). The kids are not allowed to sit in this area. Conversely, in our casual family area, we have a battle-worn microfiber sectional that the kids are allowed to lounge and relax on. Let’s just say that the sectional has seen better days.  

Continue reading “How To DIY a Sectional Sofa”

DIY: How to Build a Leather Ottoman

One of the simplest ways to add stylish comfort to any room is with a leather cushioned ottoman. If you go to the store, you’ll end up paying more than $150 for a decent foot rest. That’s why we’re excited to partner with Jaime Costiglio to bring you this DIY leather ottoman. She used our A21 angles to make sure this ottoman will stand the test of time. See her plans below.

The coffee table does double duty as an ottoman when paired with a leather cushioned top. And since it’s an ottoman, you can put your feet up without anyone yelling at you to get your feet off the table. Let’s build this round leather ottoman and upholster the top so you can take full advantage.
Continue reading “DIY: How to Build a Leather Ottoman”

DIY: Building a Stylish AC Screen Cover

If you check out the DIY tag on our Building Strong blog, you’ll discover a diverse selection of indoor and outdoor furniture you can easily build at home. You’ll also find a growing list of projects that can help enhance and beautify your yard. Simpson Strong-Tie Brand Ambassador Jaime Costiglio was seeking a way to hide her AC unit without blocking access to it. Here’s how she did it.
Continue reading “DIY: Building a Stylish AC Screen Cover”

DIY: How to Build a Faux Barnwood Dining Table

The farmhouse table: it’s a classic that’s been around for ages, built out of necessity using the same rough lumber farmers used for their barns. Planed and constructed using hand tools, these primitive barnwood tables were the center of the home, where all of the meals were prepared and served. Fast forward hundreds of years and that classic farmhouse table is still going strong. Many farmhouse tables are now being built from reclaimed barnwood, which is a wonderful way to repurpose this old lumber. This trend has become so popular that old barnwood is now scarce and can be costly, as homeowners desire to use it in many furniture designs. In this post, DIYer and Simpson Strong-Tie Brand Ambassador Jaime Costiglio shows you how to create a beautiful faux barnwood table.
Continue reading “DIY: How to Build a Faux Barnwood Dining Table”

DIY: How to Make Barn Door Window Coverings

 If you love the rustic flair barn doors can bring to a home but aren’t ready to replace an entryway we have the perfect DIY project for you. We challenged DIYer Jaime Costiglio to come up with a unique and easy way to use barn doors in your home. She came back with this fantastic concept of using barn doors as window coverings in a bedroom. Check out her project and designs below.
Continue reading “DIY: How to Make Barn Door Window Coverings”

DIY: How to Build a Round Outdoor Dining Table

This post is part of an occasional series featuring guest bloggers who are Simpson Strong-Tie brand ambassadors. These plans for a DIY Round Outdoor Dining Table are by Jaime Costiglio. 

When the weather cooperates, my family eats dinner outdoors, which can be nearly every evening in the warmer months. But we had an old flimsy metal table that only fit four chairs properly for our family of five.  We needed an outdoor dining table to fit our patio space. So in true DIY fashion, I built a table to accommodate not only my family but a few guests as well.

Continue reading “DIY: How to Build a Round Outdoor Dining Table”