The Design Confidential

Completed Circle New School Desk

Completed Circle — Sat, 01 Apr 2017 17:17:54 +0000

It may be April Fool's Day but this gorgeous build is no joke. That finish is so, so good with the two tone look and such a bright happy color for the base.

Here is what they have to say about their build:

Finally finished the kid's desk for #arellanohomeschool. I added a storage space under the tabletop. Put in some soft close hinges so it doesn't slam. The kids love it but now I have to build another because they're fighting over it.

Built From These Plans

Free DIY Furniture Plans // How to Build a New School Desk with Bench

To Read More About This Build, Visit This Blog Post

Completed Circle Instagram Post

Modifications

I added a storage space under the tabletop. Put in some soft close hinges so it doesn't slam.

Finishing Technique

Two tone finish in natural and a happy spring green.

The Pursuit of Dreaminess

Rayan Turner — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 23:14:53 +0000

This is a bit of a departure from the usual line of business here at TDC, but I figure it is high time I filled you in on the reason for my bouts of silence around these parts. There has been so much going on behind the scenes here that I have failed to stop and take a moment to compose my thoughts and give you an update.

You see, sometime last year I had a bit of revelation when I realized that there were some things I wanted to pursue, some dreams I wanted to make a reality and that I wasn't getting any younger. So what was I waiting for? I honestly can't even tell you. What I can tell you is that I have been living with the mentality that things like dreams and life goals - even career goals - are things that happen later, happen at some unknown time in the future, that sit somewhere out in front of the present but certainly aren't things that happen now.

It is a very weird feeling to suddenly realize that the future is upon me and has been for some time. To realize that if I don't get my rear in gear, I will have missed my chance to do and become what I love and have always dreamed of. Do any of you relate? Please tell me I'm not the only one who has been asleep on the job, so to speak.

This realization sent me into a bit of a tailspin and made me panic a bit. I mean, I know what my 'dreams' are but suddenly I was faced with making some real, big-girl decisions about which of those are something I can see myself doing every single day and which fall more into the camp of 'nice to think about but likely come with strings attached' and ultimately involve aspects that I won't love. It wasn't easy to take an honest look at myself and my home life and really acknowledge those things that potentially make or break my success in any particular direction.

I also still have relatively young kids. I deal with the constant mom guilt of wanting to be there with them each day and yet finding that it isn't precisely enough for me to simply raise my children. I need something else to satisfy and define me as an individual.

Balance, however, is not something that defines me in any way, shape or form. I tend to be all in when I'm in, and that seems to be my natural state of being. So I have thrown myself full force into making things happen and shaking things up. First on the list is that I have gone back to school - kind of... I know that my dreams involve more design and designing products, so that is precisely what I am focusing on. You see, many moons ago I went to school for Interior Architecture and Design. I loved every single second of it. But things change and advance, so I enrolled in an online school to brush up on my design skills . I am super duper excited to say that I am actually in the process of making my dream of having a full-service interior design-build firm, a reality. Squeal* it is so exciting for me to think about. What have I been waiting for all this time?

I have taken on the occasional design job in the hospitality sector over the years - hospitality was my area of emphasis - but that is about it. And then this blog happened quite by accident and much to my surprise, developed into it's own full time job. It has afforded me so many amazing opportunities and become an actual career that people choose - on purpose. It has been 8 years since I published my first blog post and what a wild ride it has been. But, I feel the need to evolve and grow as a human and that means I can't stay stagnant and continue doing the same things. After all, I have a lot to accomplish in a relatively short time, duh!

I also knocked out a handful of classes on skillshare for surface pattern design, and participated in a couple of workshops. You may remember my partnership with Shutterfly back in October. Well it put me on a collision course with this life goal of mine and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind since. The workshops were intense but stretched my creative skill set in so many ways. This is easily an entire post all on it's own, so I will have to share all of the good stuff on that soon. Needless to say, since balance is not an actual word in my vocabulary, something had to give. I'm afraid it is more than a little obvious that this site has suffered most. I am so sorry, and I heart you guys!

As I am settling into my chosen pursuits, I am feeling like a weight has been lifted and I can see a silver lining. I am starting to think I may be a forever student but I definitely feel like I needed some training to make my dreams a reality. I took the leap and it has done wonders for my mental outlook and general state of happiness. Who knows if it will go anywhere, but I have to at least try. With all of these big changes, I have found a renewed sense of motivation for this site and can see my vision for where I want to take things, much more clearly. That is also an entire post all on it's own, but I am excited to share all of my thoughts with you on that too! Change is in the air my friends, and if there is one thing I have figured out in my years on this planet - it's that I absolutely thrive on change, so needless to say I am entirely in my element in this fantastic time of chaos and the great unknown...

DIY Furniture Plans // How to Build a Venice Bookshelf

Rayan Turner — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 16:21:04 +0000

Ah, Venice Beach - the sun, the wind, the waves... the simple life! And there is plenty of "Venice" in this super easy Venice Bookshelf build! This build displays 5 shelves that sit lightly on their supports - plenty of space for all that crisp Spring weather to blow through... no matter how close you are to Venice Beach!

As with all of our plans, you are building at your own risk and you should have a firm understanding of building in general before you attempt many of our plans (some are easy as pie and perfect for beginners). With that, go forth, have fun, take lots of pictures and share them in a showcase on the site or on social media with the hashtag #builtTDCtuff and we will share our faves! Be sure to tag @thedesignconfidential on Instagram / FB and @thedesconf on Twitter / Pinterest. If you are a blogger and you post about your build, don't forget to include a link to your post on your showcase here. Don't forget... for all of our newer plans, clicking on the images will let them expand to enormous sizes with much greater clarity. The older plans may need updating so please let us know if you need one fixed!

Showcase: Built From These PlansI am so honored each and every time one of you fine friends builds from these very plans! If you have built this piece, please take a moment and showcase your build! We are dying to see your fabulous hard work!

Estimated Cost

$75-$125

Dimensions

Tools

Tape Measure
Saw – Jig Saw, Circular, Table, or Miter Saw
Drill
Countersink Drill Bit
Square
Sander
Kreg Jig - if you build frequently, invest in this one.

Lumber

7 - 1 x 2 at 8'
3 - 1 x 12 at 8'

Materials

1-1/4" Pocket Screws
1-1/4" Wood Screws
Pocket Hole Plugs - Paint Grade, Pine, Oak - optional
Clamps
Safety Gear
Wood Filler
Wood Glue
Sanding Supplies
Paste Wax
Finishing Supplies

Cut List

4 – 1x2 at 71”– Shelf Legs
10 – 1x2 at 12” – Shelf Supports
5 – 1x12 at 36” – Shelf Bottoms
5 – 1x2 at 36” - Shelf Backs

Instructions

Before beginning to build, always check in on my site to make sure you have the most up to date set of plans, I occasionally update and change the plans to make the building process easier or to allow for less expensive purchasing of materials! Read through the entire set of instructions and all comments before beginning this project. If you print out or save plans, be sure to check in on my site to be sure you have the most up to date set of plans, as I occasionally update things for ease of building or buying. If you are new to building, read through the GETTING STARTED section and other articles found under the BUILD tab in the menu on my site, it has valuable information about how to get started, tools and techniques. If you are unfamiliar with the finishing process, visit my Finishing school for some tips and tricks for painting like a pro and for special finishing practices. Use glue to secure your joints and Consider Painting or Staining individual sections prior to assembling. This makes the paint application virtually flawless. Coat with a spray on Poly or Wipe on Poly to protect your finish and your piece and it will last for ages. Adhere to all safety standards and guidelines, and be sure you follow safety protocol throughout your build. If you are unsure about whether you are building safely, run a quick online search for the tool or technique you are using, or contact me via email or post to the forum before you move ahead. My contact info can be found in the menu of my site.

Step 1

Cut the pieces for the Shelf Legs.

Step 2

Cut the pieces for the Shelf Supports. With the Kreg jig set for 3/4” material, drill pocket holes in each end of the Shelf Supports.

Step 3

Assemble Shelf Supports and Shelf Legs as shown with glue and 1-1/4” pocket screws.

Step 4

Cut the pieces for the Shelf Bottoms and Shelf Backs. Attach the Shelf Backs to the Shelf Bottoms with glue and 1-1/4” wood screws. Insert the screws through the Shelf Bottoms into the Shelf Backs.

Step 5

Place the Shelf Bottom/Shelf Back assembly onto the Shelf Leg/Shelf Support assembly. Shelves will extend approximately 3" past the Shelf Supports. For easy installation, the Shelf Bottoms will be approximately 3/4" less deep than the Shelf Supports they sit on. If you wish to secure in place, screw 1-1/4” wood screws through the Shelf Bottom into the Shelf Support.

Finishing Instructions

Fill any Screw, Nail or Pocket Holes, Sand and Finish as Desired. For Finishing Tips and Tricks visit my Finishing School

Disclaimer

// Disclaimer: Some rights reserved. Private use only. Feel Free to link to any of my plans so long as you ONLY use 1 image and provide an ADEQUATE link back to the original source and appropriate plan! Plans from this page are not to be used for commercial purposes or republished without the express written consent of Rayan Turner, The Design Confidential. By accessing or using any part of the web site, you agree to become bound by the terms and conditions of this website as outlined under Terms of Use. If you do not agree to all the terms and conditions of this agreement, then you may not access the Website or use any services. The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by The Design Confidential.com and while we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, personal injury or death, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of information or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website. I hope to provide accurate plans, however, I cannot guarantee each plan for accuracy. Not every plan that I post has been built and tested, so you are building at your own risk. It is recommended that you have a clear understanding of how the project works before beginning any project. Please contact me if you find an error or inaccuracy so that I might fix it. The Design Confidential.com is inspired by but does not replicate exact designs, any similarities between these plans and items sold at specialty retailers is coincidential and not endorsed by or related to any said retailers. // Post May Contain Affiliate Links

Spring Decor Details + Master Bedroom Updates

Rayan Turner — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 19:49:48 +0000

I pretty much always feel the need to simplify and declutter, but this particular spring has been the wettest we have had out west, in more than twenty years. For those of you who live in cold or wet climates in general, I have a newfound appreciation of what it must be like to dig your way out of the mess each spring. Things start to pile up everywhere, after months of being stuck indoors...

There are a few rooms in our home where this is particularly noticeable, one of them being the master bedroom. I can't seem to move my gorgeous boys out of my room and into their own room, for anything in the world. It is a good thing my little barnacles are cute because this is a recipe for disaster in every other way. Naturally, there is no point in which toys and pillows and clothing aren't taking over. Luckily there is nothing that gives me a renewed sense of happiness quite like a refresh and some new attempts at refurnishing my space.

My favorite thing to do is update accessories and add the little design details to a space that tie it together and make it functional. I think an annual or biannual refreshing of decor is good for the soul. At least it's good for my soul and helps motivate me to think about how I have been using the existing items - what works, what doesn't. It is my own personal version of spring cleaning and a chance to purge the stuff that collects and starts to become a permanent fixture - for no reason at all. Is it just me? You guys have this happen too, right? Stacks of magazines and half finished projects that sit, collect dust and then get cleaned around. Ugh.

Luckily there are some gorgeous new pieces on the market and Michael's has ramped up their home decor merch, making my already inspiring trips there for project supplies - that much better! A dangerous combo when I can shop for accessories and supplies in the same spot. The giant monstera leaf above is wall decor, but I think it makes for a cute catchall tray for items that I want to corral by my bedside. For most people this would be jewelry or a magazine, but as it turns out, for me this is more like 87 devices, notepads and water color cubes. The new leather bracelet blanks they have in the leather crafting section are perfect for making into leather drawer pulls and a meellion other things too. A great addition to their crafty supplies!

The green faux inlay boxes are adorable and a great place to stash small things you don't want the littles to get. Of course I can't pass up a gorgeous wooden bowl. This is where I tend to store my yarn based projects or where they go to die - since I rarely finish them.

If you have been with us here at The Des Conf for any length of time, you might notice some changes in this space that should not go unmentioned... A new bed, nightstands, lighting, bedding and of course the other fun details from Michael's that make this space livable and dare I say enjoyable. I knew the furniture needed to be updated in this space because of the wild animals that use the room as their personal arena. There were far too many injuries to little knees, heads and shins with a bed made of wood. No amount of kid wrangling and virtual dismemberment seemed to persuade them to domesticate, so an upholstered bed was the next best thing.

The lighting is handsome and functional, but I need more light at night. There is no built in lighting in this space and so it must all come from things that plug in until we are ready to pull the trigger and hard wire a better solution. I am on the hunt for articulating sconces... The nightstands are fantastic with clean lines and hidden storage - just perfection. With the over sized padded headboard, I have a hard time reaching the carve out on the bottom of the drawer if I am laying down (it might be my T-Rex sized arms), so I fashioned the handles with leather bracelet blanks. So much better and I attached them without putting holes in the drawer face. I am still testing this out, so as soon as I know if it will last the test of time, I will share my solution! So simple... if it holds. The art is my own personal photography, and the throw blanket is one of my watercolor paintings. They accent the other accessories and my space so very well. I will share the full reveal of this space in the next few months. I have quite a few other project for it that I am still working on, but I plan to share the design plan and other details shortly!

Note

This project was created in partnership with Michaels Stores! AlI crazy ideas and opinions are 100% my own. If you are in the market for an update this spring, go check out the new decor lines at Michaels! Looking for more inspiration? Check out the other spring updates from the rest of the Michaels Makers' here and make sure you visit Michaels’ blog, The Glue String, to see the rest of the Michaels Makers’ Spring Refresh project ideas.

Make // Coconut Dream Cake Recipe

Rayan Turner — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 23:48:51 +0000

If you have some 'splainin' to do after a bit of a fizzle yesterday, pay attention, this will make up for quite a bit... If you aren't accustomed to baking, fear not, this is easy peasy. Promise.

If you have any sort of connection to the southern part of the country, you are already very familiar with coconut cake and it is likely a staple in your celebrating regime. For the rest of you, you are in for a fabulous treat... Tasting not a whole lot like coconut at all, this cake is perhaps one of the most wonderful white cakes known to man. The addition of some coco-nutty ingredients acts instead to make a standard white cake much more glorious than it might otherwise be and can in fact taste a bit like the goodness that is Tres Leches Cake. One of my other all time faves, ever... I realize everyone who makes any sort of recipe believes it to be the best one - duh. Having done quite a bit of taste testing and tweaking to all of those 'best recipes' out there, I can say with certainty, this is a serious contender for the actual 'best coconut cake' ever - maybe even a big winner.

So, let's not waste any time and get right to it!

INGREDIENTS // you will need 2 round cake pans, a sauce pan, large mixing bowl, mixer (a hand mixer will work just fine), and wire cooling rack.

CAKE

1 box White Cake Mix

3 Eggs

1/3 c Vegetable Oil

2 - 3.5 oz box Coconut Pudding and Pie Filling

8 oz Cream of Coconut (not to be mistaken for coconut milk or coconut extract - this is likely found alongside the cocktail mixers)

12 oz (1 1/2 c) Sour Cream

1 Tbsp Almond Extract

1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract

1 c Melted Butter (a little less than 2 sticks of butter - use the remainder to grease your pans)

FILLING + FROSTING

(1 box pudding listed above)

2 c Milk

1 Whipped or Fluffy White Frosting

1/2 c Freeze Dried Raspberries (or other freeze dried fruit of choice) OR finely chopped nuts of choice (Pistachios or Almonds)

If you love to cook and make things from scratch, you can make your own cream cheese frosting or powdered sugar frosting. I don't personally like cream cheese frosting, so I never go that route, but it would be a more typical frosting for this variety of cake. Powdered sugar and butter frosting is amazing, but since I prefer to do less, I buy the canned kind and it's fantastic - so why reinvent the wheel.

You can also opt to fold in your ingredients the more professional way (mix the powdered ingredients, then make a well and add wet ingredients) - and I am certain there is a reason for this that some will want to make use of - but again, I have made this both ways and found zero difference so the recipe below takes the path of least resistance.

RECIPE //

Note: 1 cup of solid butter equals far more than 1 cup of melted butter. I found that somewhere in the ballpark of 1 3/4 sticks of butter, when melted, will get you to 1 cup of melted butter. Use the remaining 1/4 stick to grease your pans.

Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees. Add cake mix, 1 box of pudding mix, eggs, oil, sour cream, almond extract, vanilla extract and melted butter to large mixing bowl and mix until well blended. If your batter is a little bit thick (probably because you forgot about the mixer and it whipped your batter into a thicker stock - not that I know this from experience), you can add a splash of milk to thin it out.

Grease your pans really well. This is not a joke, you won't be able to stack your rounds if you can't get those babies out of their containers, so grease and then grease again to be doubly sure. Then divide your batter equally between the two pans.

Because ovens vary, cook times will vary, so you will need to keep a close and watchful eye on your cakes. Bake for 35-45 minutes, starting with 35 minutes and continuing until you can stick and remove a toothpick from the center of your cake, cleanly.

Remove your cakes from the oven and remove your cakes from their pans by carefully turning them over and out, onto a wire rack to cool. Let them cool completely (about an hour) and while they do that, you will make your pudding and ready your freeze dried fruit or nuts. To do this you will simply pour a couple of handfuls into a ziplock bag and pound with a meat tenderizer or hammer until finely ground. The fruit will look like it is powdered, while the nuts don't need to be quite so fine if you prefer a bit of texture or crunch. Make your pudding according to the directions on the box. This will likely require constant stirring so set your tablet near by and watch something on netflix or amazon while you are detained at the stove.

Instead of pouring your pudding into 4 containers, simply pour it into one and let it cool in the refrigerator for 20 minutes so that it is slightly warm still, but not cold.

Now you will begin the descent into the fun part of this whole recipe.

Place one cake onto a cake plate or tray and cover the top with pudding. Carefully place your second cake on top and frost the outsides and top.

When it looks amazing, you will sprinkle your fruit powder or nuts all over, concentrating mostly on top - et voila... donzo.

Note

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Design Confidential, one purchase at a time! I'm super duper grateful, and the products I link to are my faves and the same that I use.