Hello, Birdy
Do the feathered friends in your backyard like traditional architecture? Or is a modern house more fitting for the local fliers to roost? Box for the Birds has something for all tastes.
These DIY birdhouses are the creation of Michael Oliveri and Laura Hoffman, who had been looking for a fun project to make with their six-year-old daughter Bianca. When Laura suggested a birdhouse, Michael set to work. He wound up designing a kit of pre-cut parts that he, Laura and Bianca could assemble together, without using nails or glue. The pieces go together like a puzzle, with notched and slotted panels that fit together snugly.
Michael’s kits caught on, and now he and Laura have three designs available. The Original is a traditional cottage-like birdhouse, Right is a modern design inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, and Church is a slightly larger structure with a steeple. Each design is easy enough for kids to assemble and engaging enough to keep adults interested, too. Once you fit the birch plywood panels together, you can let the birdhouse age naturally or paint it in your own style. Then sit back and enjoy as the neighborhood birds flock to it.
Laura
Hi Grommet fans! We’ re having a blast watching our family
project Box for the Birds take flight. Thanks to Daily Grommet,
we can share ideas and answer questions right here on this message
board.
Our goal was to make a DIY birdhouse kit for kids and adults
that’ s fun to put together, earth friendly, allows for unique
creativity, and really works for the birds. All the pieces slide
together. No nails, no glue, it’ s a snap. Our prototype was up for
less than thirty minutes before a nest was being built. I kid you not!
We have three styles:‘ the Original’ which is our cozy
homestyle, ‘ the Right’ our nod to modernist Frank Lloyd Wright,
and ‘ the Church.' Everything is made and packaged in our 1950’ s
studio/warehouse in Athens, GA.
Customers have used them as kids' party activities, rehabilitation
after a stroke, The Berg Nichols Gallery had artists do whatever
they wanted with them and held a benefit for Habitat for
Humanity, their Girl Scout troop, and of course, their own
backyards, or as indoor decoration.
Let us know what you do with yours!
Julie Rothschild
3/16/2011 12:04 PMlookin good! would love to have more birds in our yard - I need to place an order.
patty
3/16/2011 12:24 PMA perch near the entrance would be nice.
Laura – Special Guest
3/16/2011 1:30 PM@patty: There is a perch. The bottom piece has an extension.
We've seen birds perch on all the edges including the designated perch. They're very creative.
Sue
3/16/2011 12:33 PMGreat product!
JimT
3/16/2011 12:45 PMThis looks like a great project, but one question: how do you clean it from season to season? Can you take it apart easily and put it back together again?
Laura – Special Guest
3/16/2011 1:23 PM@JimT: The last roof piece can be slid off by putting a flathead screwdriver under the roof and into the notch. Twist and it can be removed the house cleaned and roof replaced.
JimT
3/16/2011 3:24 PM@Laura Hoffman: Thanks, Laura. Perhaps this should be included in the directions and care of it if not already included. Also, might be a nice idea if you made a line of external paints available for purchase as well since painting it will keep it viable longer since it is not pressure treated.
Schmitty
3/16/2011 12:54 PM$30?!? I might buy for $6-8... I like the novelty but the reality is these will be flimsy thin houses that likely won't last a season. I think the Grommet needs to be careful about promoting overpriced productd..
Katherine – Grommet Team
3/16/2011 1:14 PM@Schmitty: They are sturdy enough to last several seasons. We believe in supporting smaller companies and telling their stories. With the purchase of this Grommet you are not only supporting a charming, entrepreneurial family in the early stages of their business, you are supporting US Manufacturing. I love how Bianca is such an integral part of this story. She is going to be one of our future leaders and the experience she is gaining by watching her family business unfold is invaluable.
We are always looking for fresh stories of companies and products. If you have a product from a company you would like to support that is in a price range that you are more comfortable with, please "Suggest a Grommet" above.
Laura – Special Guest
3/16/2011 1:26 PM@Schmitty: Not at all!!! The exterior birch is sturdy. This is NOT balsa wood. We've had six up for two years as have our testers. Serious birders have given us their approval.
CVC Coe
3/16/2011 1:27 PM@Schmitty: If you're buying this for $6-8 the retailer paid half or less for it. Subtract the shipping and distribution costs from China or wherever, the corporate profit and overhead, and what do you think the worker - probably a child - was paid? I'd rather feel good about the products I buy and the workers who made them, and simple buy less!
Laura – Special Guest
3/16/2011 1:33 PM@Schmitty: this is NOT balsa wood. It's exterior Baltic birch. We and our testers have had them up for two years and going strong. You can also put a coat of sealer on it if you like.
Stan the bird man
3/16/2011 1:38 PM@Schmitty: Please note that a birdhouse built from 1/4" birch plywood is anything but flimsy. I have been experimenting with bird houses for years, from single nest to multi-apartment complexes, and have been using 1/4" birch plywood on most of them. They are a bit lighter than the normal 3/4" boards many builder use, and the birds don't seem to mind what they are built from.
Painting the birch will be aesthetically, although natural wood is holding up quite will for many years.
I also feel the pricing is about right.
Judith Kossy
3/16/2011 1:39 PMYou have solved my gift needs. I love the modernist house, birds must love design as much as we do.
Please keep inventing and designing.
Judith
rhona hoffman
3/16/2011 1:44 PMthe daily grommet article on the bird houses is really terrific and all of you were good on screen.....
hope this gets you lots of orders.
x
jonathan
3/16/2011 3:19 PMHey Laura -
The project looks great!
I love that a bird just moved in.
JE
jonathan
3/16/2011 3:25 PMI also love that this is made by a small business in the United States, by folks who care about the environment and about the quality of their product. It is aesthetically and technically very nicely done!
DBrown
3/16/2011 4:13 PMLove these! I've given several as house warming gifts and the recipients loved them. Can't wait to order more.
anniered
3/16/2011 4:17 PMLooks like a really neat project...adding it to my wishlist! It might be good to remind those that want to paint theirs to use animal-friendly/non-toxic paint. :-)
Katherine – Grommet Team
3/16/2011 5:45 PM@anniered: Great reminder, thanks for adding that.
Gloria Couture
3/16/2011 5:07 PMWe received a house from Sue and we will put it up soon .The idea is great so I put your site on my facebook for all my friends to see. Bianca looks so great in the tree. Goog luck with your business.
Wayne
3/16/2011 8:27 PMYou guys rock! The bird house(s) are fantastic, love the new church and 'right models. You are my inspiration, and I'm wishing you all the best. Miss you, to.
barbara m
3/17/2011 10:46 AMReally terrific product; good design, well thought out, nice to have
sara b
3/18/2011 9:18 AMWe love these birdhouses and have given them as gifts (and will continue to do so!). I really love the idea of this product - made by a great family right here in our country. Thanks, Grommet, for supporting this! I think they are priced very reasonably, and they have held up much better than other birdhouses we've bought or made. Thanks for the tip about non-toxic paint -- I wouldn't have thought of that.