Build a Dog House Using Reclaimed Materials

I was asked to build a dog house which fits under our outdoor stairs. It was my first woodworking project this big. I've learned a lot through the process of planning, gathering materials, and actually working on it. I tried to use reclaimed materials as much as possible. Only supply I bought brand-new was the roof panel.

• A pallet as the base. Although later I was told that the space between the boards attracts rodents to live in. I've extended the deck area using one more pallet.
• Deck boards for the deck and floor of the house
• Leftover lumbers and plywood to frame the house, tree-shaped decorations for exterior
• Indigo dye for the decorations
• Blue Fir Shiplap for the exterior walls. I loved the story behind these boards, and how they got the color.
• Polycarbonate Roof Panel to make sure the puppy's dry and safe!
• Nails and screws

Secured the deck boards onto the pallet

Regretfully, I don't have any photos to show the process between Step 1 and Step 2. I'm very sorry. Basically, I just drew this brief design (if I could call it a design) in mountain shape, then decided the measurement of the entrance, and framed with various sized leftover lumbers.

I painted the siding with Danish oil because that was what I found in the garage, inherited from the previous home owner. I love how they look.

While I was putting the sidings onto the wall, a neighbor chicken came to check it out. Then I added the roof.

The book in the pic was a nice starting point when I didn't have much idea how to approach this project.

A few weeks later, I've added another pallet in front of the house to make the deck space bigger.

I cut out tree shapes roughly using leftovers of our fence, then dyed them blue using indigo bath AKA an old dog swimming pool. Now the dog house has trims!