For reasons I won’t disclose, my partner and I were suddenly in need of a diaper changing station. There was just one little problem. Our apartment is already quite full, and we didn’t really know where to put it. We wanted it somewhere warm where it’s close to water, and where we won’t wake up our partner while changing a diaper.
The ideal room was the bathroom, but again there was not enough space to put a big piece of furniture in any corner. However, we have a bathtub that was rarely used in the past. We therefore checked if there were options available for furniture that you can put on top of a bathtub. And yes, there are options, but they are really expensive, and since those are custom made, it usually takes several weeks for them to arrive.
As the maker I am, I thought I could probably do something myself. Just a few boards, some screws, and a little paint. In the past I’ve barely done any woodworking. But as always, how hard could it be? I went to Fusion 360 and drew something up that was perfect in height with two big drawers underneath for all the materials.
I then exported the CAD project as a STEP file, and asked Claude to analyze the file and generate me a list of materials that I would need. This worked surprisingly great and the PDF I received was perfect from the first try. It contained a list of all of the boards with their measurements and their names. I added a picture to it to make it a bit more presentable and then printed it to have it as a reference.
First I tried to get the wood cut in the hardware store, but although their online shop stated that the wood would be available, it wasn’t. I then resorted to ordering all of the wood online. I found a German manufacturer that you can order different sorts of wood from, with precise cuts. I sent my order away and hoped for the best.
The wood arrived swiftly in two very well protected packages. After the first measurements, I was positively surprised. Every board was extremely precisely cut. Much better than the hardware store could have ever done, and even better than I was able to measure.
To assemble all of the boards, I went back to Fusion 360 and started sketching up some helpers that I could 3D print that would serve as extra hands. Those helpers also had holes to serve as drill guides.
With all of these helpers and the perfectly sized wood, it only took me one day to assemble the changing station. The entire construction is super solid. I might have overbuilt it a little. I can comfortably stand on top of it and even wiggle around while standing, without it flexing in any way. Everything fits and looks great!
Shortly after, I went back to the hardware store and got paint that is specially made for indoor furniture and children’s toys. I then laid out some of the cardboard that the wood came in on the balcony, removed all the accessories and started to paint the furniture.
Finally, I reassembled the grips and the standoffs that prevent the furniture from sliding off the bathtub.
All in all, my partner and I are super happy about the outcome. The piece has the perfect height and it fits visually into our bathroom. My partner even said that it looks bought, and not homemade, which I still take as a compliment. I must say I am proud of this one.
If you need someone to sketch up a piece of custom furniture for your specific needs, please contact me using the linked email address.
