Backyard Building: Treehouses, Sheds, Arbors, Gates, and Other Garden Projects

The Stileses, who built a treehouse in three hours on The Today Show, are nothing if not both talented and charitable. They assume the majority of Americans may somehow be able to construct, at the very least, a Popsicle-stick tepee, and they scale degree of DIY difficulty accordingly. Some projects labeled "advanced," such as the artist's studio or teahouse, might be completely out of reach without some tool purchases and the help and advice of a few serious woodworker friends. Even those projects labeled as "basics" (covered garden seat, pergola, porte couverte) might be beyond the casual woodworker. The traditional English farm gate or the picket gate, however, might actually be accomplished in a weekend by an enthusiastic novice. Hand-drawn illustrations provide the details, and color photos of the finished product offer inspiration%E2%80%94and aspiration%E2%80%94for the newbie. Full descriptions guide each step. Treehouses (from tiki jungle to two-tree to gambrel-roof playhouse) will have adults wishing for a bit of time travel to the day they could fit through that two-foot opening. Valuable tips are provided on today's pressurized wood (wash hands after use just in case, don't use scraps in the fireplace) or for transporting lumber (make your own roof bars to save money on delivery). Their projects spans newbie to experienced. Just don't saw off more than you can chew%E2%80%94or assemble, in this case. (June)