cubbyhouse What could be Build the ultimate pink playroom that even Barbie would want to move into! cubbyhouse SEPTEMBER 2013

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1 SEPTEMBER 2013 AS SEEN ON Build the ultimate pink playroom that even Barbie would want to move into! What could be sweeter than holding a tea party in a life sized doll s house? Well, now your little one can do just that with this cute cubby, inspired by Barbie s own house. They ll be able to bring make believe to life as they spend hours with friends playing in their own petite palace. Made up of a few basic timber frames clad in plywood, it is surprisingly easy to build. And just like a real doll s house, it can be packed up and be made ready to move when you do. Because of its modular construction and the fact that it s placed on precast concrete blocks, it s easy to break down and rebuild on a different site, ready for a whole new adventure. 1. Its modular construction means it s easy to break this cubby down and move it to a new spot Malibu maybe? 1 Better Homes and Gardens, september 2013 bhg.com.au

2 Cubbyhouse Diagram O N V M W U H E F L S J BB K T R Q I G DD CC D P AA B X C Y Z A gather your supplies n A Floor frame ends (2) 90 x 45 x 2000mm treated pine n B Floor frame joists (6) 90 x 45 x 2335mm treated pine n C Floor frame noggings (2) 90 x 45 x 307mm treated pine n D Decking (26) 90 x 19 x 2000mm treated pine n E Wall top and bottom plates (6) 70 x 45 x 1800mm treated pine n F Wall studs (11) 70 x 45 x 1460mm treated pine n G Wall noggings (6) 70 x 45 x 795mm treated pine n H Wall lining (3) 1800 x 1200 x 15mm CD exterior plywood n I Wall lining (3) 1800 x 400 x 15mm CD exterior plywood n J Front wall top and bottom plates (2) 70 x 45 x 840mm treated pine n K Front wall lining 1600 x 840 x 15mm CD exterior plywood n L Door lintel 1800 x 190 x 45mm treated pine n M Roof frame ends (2) 70 x 45 x 2000mm treated pine n N Roof frame joists (5) 70 x 45 x 2350mm treated pine n O Roof lining (2) 2440 x 1000 x 12mm marine plywood n P Balustrade uprights (2) 70 x 45 x 700mm treated pine n Q Balustrade top 70 x 45 x 1095mm treated pine n R Balustrade panel 1000 x 595 x 12mm plywood n S Column end caps (6) 100mm-dia PVC caps n T Columns 100mm-dia PVC pipe n U Wall trim (2) 1600 x 90 x 19mm primed treated pine n V Side roof trim (2) 2480 x 90 x 19mm primed treated pine n W Front and rear roof trim 2045 x 90 x 19mm primed treated pine n X Side deck trim (2) 2450 x 90 x 19mm primed treated pine n Y Left front deck trim 980 x 90 x 19mm primed treated pine n Z Right front deck trim 955 x 90 x 19mm primed treated pine n AA Rear deck trim 2045 x 90 x 19mm primed treated pine n BB Blackboard 1200 x 800 x 12mm plywood n CC Chalk shelf 800 x 90 x 19mm primed treated pine n DD Chalk shelf sides (2) 90 x 90 x 19mm primed treated pine You ll also need Evo-Crete Handi Blocks for footings (8); shovel; washed sand (optional); cement mix (optional); 100mm and 40mm treated pine screws (box of each); power drill; paintbrush; Dulux Weathershield low sheen in Blue Booties, Pink Rose, Quince Jelly (orange), Lickedy Lick (burgundy) and Rhythm (purple); hammer; nails; tape measure; 50mm galvanised twisted shank decking screws (box of 500); construction adhesive; pencil; 570 x 675 x 3mm MDF for arch window template; jigsaw; 900 x 600 x 3mm MDF for oval window template; 150 x 150mm galvanised angle brackets (2); sand paper; 1000 x 595 x 3mm MDF for balustrade template; Dulux Design Chalkboard Paint Notes 1 Check all components against actual unit as it is being built before cutting to size. 2 All parts are pre-painted unless otherwise indicated. Follow paint manufacturer s instructions as some colours require undercoat mm screws are used to join all of the frames together for extra strength. 2 Better Homes and Gardens, september 2013 bhg.com.au

3 Cubbyhouse Templates Arch window Oval window Arch window This is the perfect for every Barbie girl living in a Barbie world come on Barbie, let s go party! Oval window Front panel Front panel 3 Better Homes and Gardens, september 2013 bhg.com.au

4 2. You can never have too much pink when decking out a girl s house! Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Cubbyhouse Here s how Step 1 To create base of cubby, set 2 rows of 4 concrete blocks, 1600mm apart, in desired location. In each row, space blocks 450mm apart, for a total length of 1800mm. If your site is on a slope, dig footings into the ground to get blocks level. Place a block at lowest point of your site and work along that row, digging into ground, as required, to get them level. Pour washed sand into holes to get a uniform base for footings and to raise level if you dig too deep. Continue with blocks on high side of your site, getting them level with first row. If your site slopes too much, you may have to build up some of the blocks on the lower side, as we did. Use a sand and cement mix to create a solid base. Step 2 To build frame for floor, use 100mm screws to butt-join floor frame ends (A) to floor frame joists (B). The next joist in will be at 300mm centres from the outside joists. Set out remaining 2 joists at 450mm centres so they coincide with footing blocks. Fix floor frame noggings (C) in a centered position between outside joists and the next one in so you have something to screw the walls into later. Place finished frame onto footing blocks so joists sit in slots on top of blocks. Step 3 Pre-paint edges of decking (D) in Blue Booties, as it will be difficult to do so after it has been laid. Lay decking on floor frame. Hammer 2 nails per board to join to joist. Use nails as spacers to get a consistent gap between boards. After every 3-4 boards, measure how much of the deck you have left to lay at each end. If boards start fanning out at 1 end, slightly adjust the gap over the next few boards to bring them back into line. When finished, paint face of each board in Blue Booties. Step 4 The frames for the side and rear walls are all the same. Pre-paint timber frames in Pink Rose, leaving 1 of the wide faces unpainted and ensuring the unpainted face of all components are facing the same direction. Lay wall top and bottom plates (E) on edge, a stud (F) at each end and 1 in the middle, then screw together. Drive screws into studs as far as possible. Screw noggings (G) in so their centre is 1200mm from the top of the wall. Measure frame diagonals to ensure they re square. Step 5 Spread construction adhesive along unpainted face of frame and position larger wall lining (H) on top and smaller wall lining (I) on bottom. Using 40mm screws, screw down every 300mm. This will help brace the walls. Step 6 Repeat Steps 4 and 5 to build a smaller 840mm-wide wall with front wall top and bottom plates (J) and lining (K). This will be the front wall. Step 7 Arched windows should be placed on left-hand side of 1 frame and right-hand side of other frame, to create a mirror image. Mark up a 50mm grid on 3mm MDF and draw arch window template (see page 3). Predrill in each opening, then cut out with a jigsaw to create template. Position template 260mm from top of 1 wall and 165mm from side and mark outline. Repeat for other side. Repeat with oval window template and 3mm MDF and position on front wall, 250mm from top and centred. Step 8 Using a jigsaw, cut out windows. Sand window edges, 4 Better Homes and Gardens, september 2013 bhg.com.au

5 Step 9 Step 10 Step 11 Step 12 Step 13 Rough stuff To help avoid your hammer slipping off the head of a nail and leaving a ding in your job, give the head of the hammer a few forceful scrapes along some rough concrete. Step 14 Step 15 Step 16 Step 17 Step 18 then paint outlines and frames in Quince Jelly. Step 9 With a helper, stand wall frames up and screw together. Ensure side walls butt into rear walls and front wall butts into side wall. Skew-screw down through bottom plate into floor joists to secure wall to floor. Step 10 Mark an arch to 1 side of door lintel (L). The arch starts 155mm from 1 side and is 625mm across. At its peak, it is 110mm high. Screw 150mm angled brackets to the back face of timber and 30mm in from ends. Place over front wall, ensuring arch is over door. Screw down through brackets into side walls. Step 11 Screw roof frame ends (M) to joists (N) to construct a simple frame for the roof. Affix lining (O) as in Step 4 we used 12mm marine ply as this is the part of cubby that will cop most of the weather. With a helper, lift roof panel onto walls so sides of roof overhang on side by 100mm and majority overhangs front of cubby. Finish by skew-screwing walls into roof frame. Step 12 Mark up a 50mm grid on 3mm MDF and draw front panel template (see page 3). Using a jigsaw, cut out shape. Position template on balustrade panel (R), mark outline and cut out shape. Sand rough edges, then paint in Lickedy Lick. Step 13 Join balustrade uprights (P) to top (Q), so one side is flush. Screw panel to back of handrail assembly, hard up to top and centred to sides. Step 14 Screw balustrade assembly to floor frame at front of cubby. Overhang right-hand upright over side of floor by 30mm to allow for trim on face of floor frame. Step 15 Before pre-painting columns, give them a sand to roughen surface and help paint stick. Using 40mm screws, screw through column end caps (S) down into the floor: one left-hand side at front, one right-hand side at front, and one right-hand side of door. Step 16 With caps already fixed to top of each column (T), place 1 column in each cap. (If you sand a slight chamfer on ends of each pipe you will find they go into the caps a bit easier.) Plumb them up, then screw through back of lintel over door into back of pipe to secure. Step 17 To tidy up the walls, floor, roof and deck, nail trim pieces (U to AA) up back corner of side walls and along sides and front of both roof and deck. Mitre any external corners for a neater finish. Step 18 Paint 12mm ply (BB) with chalkboard paint. Paint shelf bottom (CC) and shelf sides (DD) in Quince Jelly, then screw to chalkboard to hold chalk. To hang, screw into top plate of back wall. Stockists: Sundvik Table, $69; Sundvik Chair, $30; IKEA, ikea.com/au/ Strawberry Ottoman, $29.99; Crayola Chalk N Duster, $4.99; Girls Heart Heart Kids Rug, $69.99, Spotlight, or spotlight.com.au Barbie Dream House, $310.99; Barbie CD player, POA; Barbie Fashionista Dolls, from $18.99; Barbie Sofa, $39; Barbie Bike, POA, Mattel, mattel.com All timber and hardware, Bunnings, (03) or bunnings.com.au Quick-Grip clamps and hand tools, Bosch Australia, or bosch. com.au All paint, Dulux, dulux.com.au Words Greg Fahey; photography Paul Robbins, Monde Photo; styling Jacqui Pix; diagrams/illutrations Lorenzo Lucia; project John Rae, Scott Marvell 5 Better Homes and Gardens, september 2013 bhg.com.au