I.  love.  boxes.  so simple and so functional.  this particular box was born from a lack of cupboard space.  we live in an open plan loft which is beautifully-- open.  but, THERE ARE not a lot of shelves.  this box holds all our extra sheets, blankets, and pillows.  it also doubles as a window seat.  it was simple enough to build in ONE afternoon on the floor of the loft.  all the materials can be purchased from the home depot.  

SUPPLY NAME:     13 @ 1"x4"x6' FIR BOARDS

SUPPLY NAME:     1 @ 2"x4"x8' 

SUPPLY NAME:     3/4" PLYWOOD

SUPPLY NAME:     2" FINISH SCREWS

SUPPLY NAME:     1" DRYWALL SCREWS

SUPPLY NAME:     POLYCRYLIC (OR OTHER PROTECTIVE AGENT)

TOOL NAME:     CHOP SAW

TOOL NAME:     POWER DRILL

TOOL NAME:     CIRCULAR SAW

TOOL NAME:     JIGSAW

step 01:     use a chop saw to cut the 1x4s to the length that you want the finished box to be.  i cut mine at 5'6" but do whatever works for you.  i used 13 boards: four for eITHER side and five for the top.

step 02:     to figure out how long the end pieces need to be, line up five of the 1x4s to mimic the width of the lid

step 03:     stand two of the 1x4s on top of the five that you just laid out.

step 04:     hold a 1x4 cut-off up to the two standing on end.  that will be the length that you need for the ends of the boxes.  mark a line right at the point that the board hangs over the edge.

step 05:     cut the first 1x4 on the cut line you made in the previous step.  then use that piece to measure and cut the remaining seven pieces you will need for the ends of the box.

step 06:     continue to use the same piece of 1x4 to measure and cut four pieces of 2x4.

step 07:     to get the length for the remaining four pieces of 2x4, line up four 1x4s to mimic the side of the box.  stand two pieces of 2x4 on top.

step 08:     similar to step 04, hold a 2x4 up to the two standing on end.  mark where it hangs off the edge on the other side and cut it with the chop saw.

step 09:     use that piece of 2x4 to measure and cut the last three pieces.

step 10:     use a sanding block to soften the edges and corners of all the pieces.

step 11:     the 2x4s will be used as end frames with the shorter pieces on the inside of the longer pieces.

step 12:     pre-drill two holes in either end of the longer pieces.

step 13:     attach to shorter pieces with screws.

step 14:     line up 1x4 with the bottom of the end frame.

step 15:     pre-drill two holes in either end of the 1x4.

step 16:     attach with screws.

step 17:     repeat steps 14-16 with the remaining end frame.

step 18:     to make the box bottom, i used some plywood that i happened to have. (mine was 3/4" but 1/2" is fine as well) cut it to the same width as the end frames and 1 1/2" shorter than the finished length of the box.

step 19:     to make the plywood fit neatly inside the box, notch out all four corners with a jigsaw.  use a 2x4 scrap to draw cut lines.

step 20:     clamp one 1x4 on either side of the end frame.  inset the plywood bottom and clamp on the opposite side.

step 21:     screw plywood to the bottom of the end frame.

step 22:     as with the end frames, start on one side with the 1x4s.  pre-drill two holes in either end and attach with screws.  repeat process on the opposite side.

step 23:     using some other plywood scraps, i cut four pieces that would just fit in-between the two sides of the box.

step 24:     sand all the rough edges.

step 25:     lay out all the pieces for the box lid and clamp them together to keep them from drifting while attaching the plywood supports.

step 26:     alternate the pattern of the screws and be sure to not screw into the seam between two boards.

step 27:     coat the entire lid and box in a protective coating.  i used polycrylic, but you can use whatever you prefer.

step 28:     admire your handiwork.