u/Alex_DiyPanda

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This started as a simple patio lamppost. It did not stay simple:)

The post is a 10ft 6×6 anchored with a heavy-duty base bracket. On top, a 24" cupola with a real copper roof (got it dirt cheap on marketplace) . Below that, a 32" beam wrapped in copper film holding four birdhouses (got them on Etsy) I rebuilt from scratch — copper roofs, brass accents, little windows cut from recycled plastic bottles, and a 12V LED inside each one wired to a photocell controller. When the sun goes down they just... glow. Warm orange, like something lives in there.

The lamp on the other side is hand-forged by a blacksmith in Ukraine — medieval style, real painted glass, oak-leaf detail. I put a flickering LED bulb in it so it dances like candlelight.

Below everything, directional signs pointing to real cities with actual mileage — Tokyo, Rome, Hawaii, Montreal, New York. Each one oriented to its true compass direction.

All steel painted with 2K epoxy. Copper and wood sealed with 2K clear coat. The houses are mounted at different angles on angled 4×4 brackets so they look like they grew there.

Took a few weeks of evenings and weekends. Worth every minute.(wanna do more now :))

Happy to answer anything about the wiring, the copper work, the brackets, or the lamp.

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Second update on our patio enclosure — last post was about 14 days ago. Progress has been slow but steady; I've been squeezing in work between the recent Midwest storms and multiple tornado alerts, so it's been a stop-and-start couple of weeks.

https://preview.redd.it/93zteea0ra7h1.jpg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fe26d3b38837a5b7e64a682a76a728102178de8f

The main wall is almost done. It's going to be the TV wall, with a led/vapor linear fireplace that'll get inserted last. I still need to finish running the LED in the channels around the TV tile wall before I can call it wrapped.

Once this wall's done, I'm starting another enclosed wall going the other direction — that one's using aluminum posts with composite panels. I'll put up a separate post once I break ground on it.

Pics are in order showing where it's at now. Open to feedback before everything gets closed up — happy to answer questions.

Slowly transforming our covered patio into an enclosed outdoor living room. Sharing a few progress photos from the build so far. Still working on the floating linear LED Vapor fireplace/TV wall and finishing details. Progress happens slow ,as time, weather, and budget permit. Feedback, ideas, and suggestions are always welcome.

https://preview.redd.it/zhazz8m8hk4h1.jpg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5583799b87af053a2c4275c3482d4c262d82b37b