Stylish DIY Doghouse
3 Materials
$50
2 Days
Medium
Our family dog loves to sit outside and guard the yard. We wanted her to have some shelter from the weather. So, my brother and I built a doghouse.
I started from basic free plans, and bought the recommended materials. (Get a link to the plans we used to get started on the Single Girl's DIY blog.) The material I chose for the sides of the house was plywood used for home siding. By cutting the pieces the right direction, I got an instant siding look on the doghouse.
Next, I modified the plans slightly. For example, I added an extra opening on the back side. One end of the doghouse is open to the deck, and the other is adjacent to the doggy door into the house.
I also changed the roof. I used a slightly bigger piece of plywood than the plans called for. When I installed it, I made it flush on one side, and the other side extends a foot or so past the front opening.
This allows the doghouse to be pushed up flush against the doggie door from the house. The extra extent of the front of the roof leaves extra space for the dog to look out, while protecting her a little more from the weather. (In theory.)
To make the doghouse match the main house, we used leftover house paint to get the colors just right. We also added some trim, to add a little Victorian style.
A single package of roofing shingles was plenty to finish the roof for a waterproof shelter.
Extending the roof on one end created a little extra protection from the weather where the dog could still see out.
We were able to build the whole thing in a weekend.
The final touch was a weathervane, complete with a black dog. A quick online search was all it took to find a fairly inexpensive one. It's a small addition, but adds so much charm!
Of course, the dog still sits outside in the rain. 
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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