DIY Projects for Cats and Dogs: 20 Easy-to-Build Creations for Your Best Friend

French style and decorating blogger Rau trades on her background with Danish retailer Søstrene Grene in this how-to book of overly simple pet furnishings. The designs emphasize “practicality” and “keeping costs down,” using inexpensive materials such as pine and engineered wood. Step-by-step instructions benefit from an abundance of photos, and descriptions of cutting and joining methods are thorough, yet details on upholstery are scant. The 20 projects are best suited for felines and smaller breeds of dogs. The designs are functional but by and large underwhelming: the eight beds all lack padding, three scratching posts/panels are ho-hum, two hidden-litterbox cabinets are unexceptional, and two travel baskets offer little protection. Skill-challenged individuals may enjoy the thrill of building, but the projects here are too basic for serious DIYers looking for professional results. (May)