I have always been a maker. I love making things. I love that making things gives a custom look, but also a special meaning. Building started with a bathroom remodel. I was looking to remodel on a budget, but didn’t want to skimp on the tub and tile. Our current bathroom vanity wasn’t going to work at all with the style of the bathroom. It was more Italian/Greek and I was going more straight lines, modern-ish, farmhouse-like style. If you know what it’s called, let me know.

I started looking for the style I thought fit us and the bathroom finished I liked and holy cow! The vanities were as much as all the other items combined. So, I started thinking of all those Pinterest images and family/friends that have repurposed bathroom vanities. They are all so pretty! Through some more searching I saw some DIY plans that looked like what I really wanted. So the new question was, “Could I make my own vanity?”

I had dabbled in some furniture refinishing over the years – some small tables and chairs, mainly sanding, staining or painting. So I knew I could finish it off just fine. I have also spent many of my adult years making quilts for others. How different could cutting wood and putting it together be than cutting fabric and sewing it together?? They are definitely different, but kind of the same. The main difference, fabric has a little give and wood does not.

One thing that I always do with anything I make, have a lot of determination, but I also ignore the level of difficulty. So, I went ahead and bought the plans online from Crafted by the Hunts. Then, with the help of my dad, set in motion my first build.

It was my 31st birthday when we bought the wood and started cutting. I learned a lot that day. I made cuts with a handsaw and a mitre box, learned how to use a pocket hole jig, how to make a door and a drawer, and how to add a drawer pull. I also learned how to get a drill bit stuck in a jig, where to not buy hardware, and that I need some more muscles for the next build. It was a wonderful birthday.

It took some time to get in a counter top, but once we did, the bathroom was finally complete. I love the vanity and it is holding up nicely. This set in motion a new excitement for making. A larger scale, need to buy many more tools so I can do it all by myself, level of exciting.

Cheers to the first build,
Jennifer