Summer means barbecues, lemonade and all sorts of fun. It also means that the kids are out of school. When I was home for summer vacation, I used to build pillow forts and dream of having a playhouse. I lived in an apartment in Queens as a child, and there was no way my parents could make room for an actual playhouse. So my childhood dreams of a playhouse (and a pony) came to nothing.
But when Jen Woodhouse proposed building an indoor DIY playhouse* with Simpson Strong-Tie, my inner schoolgirl squealed with delight. I mean, look at this DIY playhouse that Jen built:
It has a planter box, playful window cut-outs and even a cute wreath! But what really impresses me is that it’s a durable structure that will last for a long time. Jen uses Simpson Strong-Tie®MP24 mending plates, Simpson Strong-Tie TP15 tie plates and Simpson Strong-Tie A21Z angles to build a frame for easy assembly and disassembly.
Jen used tongue-and-groove planks mainly for charm, but they’re also half the cost of traditional planks. And they make the frame easier to build. Simply insert the plank in the groove, and nail in at a 45°angle.
This is a perfect summer DIY project to keep your kids busy and help them make memories of their own. As for my kids, I think they’ll be very happy with this irresistible indoor playhouse — because getting a pony is still a little ways off.
What are you planning to build for the summer? Let us know in the comments below.
*While the project is an indoor playhouse, Jen had to stage hers outdoors since she is in the process of moving. If you want to make this an outdoor project, make sure to put a protective surface over the pieces of plywood (or use a wood species that stands up to moisture and mold) and use outdoor-rated nails.
This post originally appeared on June 13, 2016.
