Ladders have two functions, my friends — 1. supporting your weight as you climb to heights unknown, and 2. supporting your decor, magazines, and serving it as fantastic and understated home decor (and not your weight, don't try to climb this DIY ladder). If you're looking for the first type of ladder, I suggest you check out the Home Depot ... if you're looking for the second type of ladder, then stop, drop, and scroll because I've got a DIY for it right here!
Team Mr. Kate made this copper pipe ladder for the Hello Room (aka lobby) in our ongoing office renovation and decoration extravaganza. It brings height, elegance, and, some of that aforementioned function into the space, and looks damn cute in the process! Check out the steps below to make one for yourself — it could be used for magazines, high heels, scarves, towels ... you name it, you can (probably) hang it!
Prep It:
1/2 inch diameter copper pipe, cut into: 12 pieces of 18-inch pipe 2 pieces of 20-inch pipe 8 1/2-inch copper ties 4 copper caps Ruler Pipe cutter Cement glue
Do It!:
- Working initially with a long piece of copper pipe, use the ruler to measure out the pieces you will cut it into. You can cut as you go, or use a marker to measure all the pieces first and then cut ... up to you!
- To cut the pipe, use (surprise!) the pipe cutter. Place the pipe inside the cutter, then tighten and turn it as needed until you've made the slice.
- When you've finished cutting all your pieces (and precision is pretty important for this DIY, or the ladder won't connect properly!) lay them all out and make sure the pieces are even before you start assembling. I recommend laying it out with the ties, in the shape of the ladder you're about to create, so you can make sure you're happy with the size and height, as well! Keep in mind that the two 2o-inch pieces are the feet of your ladder, so they should be placed at one of the ends.
- Now it's time to get attaching! Apply some cement glue inside the holes of the ties and go to town connecting your pipes and assembling your ladder! Put glue on the inside of the copper caps and place them on the open tops and bottoms of the ladder.
- Let it dry (set time for cement glue is about 1 hour, cure time is about 16), prop up against your wall, fill with some pretty and fascinating periodicals, and enjoy your new decorative ladder! (Just don't try to climb it!)
