I built a window cornice, a four sided box covered in fabric, and actually just finished installing it a couple hours ago in my toddler's room. His room has southern and western exposure and I've been tearing my hair out trying to figure out how to make it acceptably dark in there for nap time[1].
I have essentially zero experience with woodworking, but I was drawn to it due to the practical effects of being able to solve problems I see in my home in ways that exactly fit my needs, instead of having to go with a 'good enough' off the shelf solution.
Building even something as simple as the cornice had a steep learning curve, and I think my wife probably rolled her eyes behind my back more than once when I said I had to go to Home Depot yet again for another thing I hadn't expected I'd need for it, but I'm glad I persevered.
The next thing I build will undoubtedly be easier to make, better constructed, and will continue to be the exact right thing I need to solve a problem in my home.
[1] The complete answer here is blackout curtains with curtain rods that wrap around, the window cornice, chip bag clips to get an acceptable seal in between the two curtains. It sounds straightforward, but it was a process to get there, as I kept taking half steps that proved ineffectual as the season progressed and the room kept getting more and more sunlight.
I have essentially zero experience with woodworking, but I was drawn to it due to the practical effects of being able to solve problems I see in my home in ways that exactly fit my needs, instead of having to go with a 'good enough' off the shelf solution.
Building even something as simple as the cornice had a steep learning curve, and I think my wife probably rolled her eyes behind my back more than once when I said I had to go to Home Depot yet again for another thing I hadn't expected I'd need for it, but I'm glad I persevered.
The next thing I build will undoubtedly be easier to make, better constructed, and will continue to be the exact right thing I need to solve a problem in my home.
[1] The complete answer here is blackout curtains with curtain rods that wrap around, the window cornice, chip bag clips to get an acceptable seal in between the two curtains. It sounds straightforward, but it was a process to get there, as I kept taking half steps that proved ineffectual as the season progressed and the room kept getting more and more sunlight.