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The Brag Blog - Built and Written by You

Welcome to the most awesome blog on earth, one about real people building real furniture! Come get inspired, learn, and be amazed! Special thanks to our readers who post to our brag blog!

posted by thesecondspy
Additional Photos
Workbench and Hutch with modifications
Workbench and Hutch with modifications
Workbench and Hutch with modifications
Workbench and Hutch with modifications
About This Project

I decided to do some modifications to the original plans to make it more like the Pottery Barn original. I made the legs 4x4s like the original, as well as the horizontal bases of the legs. The major change that this entailed was in the bottom shelf. I notched the edges of the 1x12 so that it would fit flush, then connected it to the legs with pocket screws. The lowered ledge on the table top is two 2x4s on the bottom, a 2x4 on the front and back, and a 2x6 cut to size for the ends. I then attached it using pocket screws on the front, and just 2.5 inch screws from the back. The rest is pretty much the same as the plans. For the back of the hutch, I used 1x4 carsiding to give it a more finished look. It only cost a couple cents more for each 8 foot piece.

Estimated Cost: 
$150
Estimated Time Investment: 
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Required Skill Level: 
Intermediate
Type of Wood: 
Pine & Hemlock (4x4s)
Finish Used: 
Minwax wipe on poly
posted by Dananichols
About This Project

I needed a new island for my craft room, so we used the Michaela's Kitchen Island plan and modified it to be 30 1/2" deep. First time with drawers...they were a booger!!

From Plan (new): 
Estimated Cost: 
$125
Estimated Time Investment: 
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Required Skill Level: 
Beginner
Type of Wood: 
Douglas fir 4X4 for posts, pine for remaining
Finish Used: 
Top stained in Dark Walnut. Painted with Behr Mermaid Treasure and distressed and glazed with stain.
posted by lowryitis
Additional Photos
Hanging Solar Lantern
About This Project

Taking the top of solar footlights & glued them to the top of a painted lamp cover then add the fishing line to hang & presto chango! You now have a hanging solar lantern for under $7!

Estimated Cost: 
7-10
Estimated Time Investment: 
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Required Skill Level: 
Starter Project

Playhouse

July 7, 2012 |
posted by nikjwil
Additional Photos
Playhouse
Playhouse
Playhouse
About This Project

It was a big project, and my husband did all the main stuff!
I still have to paint the inside. Since we aren't building a deck yet, we are putting it on some pavers. We bought 40 12x12 pavers and will push that out on in the next couple of days. I also will eventually attach a window box with plants. I'm planning on painting a couple of the inside walls with chalkboard paint.
It was seriously worth every amount of time and energy. If you are thinking of doing this, do it! You can, it's a great plan. Thanks Ana for the plans!

Estimated Cost: 
$350
Estimated Time Investment: 
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Required Skill Level: 
Beginner
Type of Wood: 
Plywood
Finish Used: 
valspar outdoor primer, then white paint on trim, light lavender on walls and pink door
posted by solomonson
About This Project

I saw Gina's post and this moved straight to the top of the to-build list. It's gotten my saw off the floor of my garage and provided a ton of storage for my other tools and bits. I also added another shelf after taking this picture. I modified this slightly: I made the wings 24" only, added a short back to provide more stability and reinforcement to the top shelf, added a diagonal support to the wings, and reinforced the top shelf from the sides with 3" dowels. I got my wood from a local lumberyard and the wheels from Blue.

From Plan (new): 
Estimated Time Investment: 
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Required Skill Level: 
Beginner
Type of Wood: 
pine
Finish Used: 
I sanded the heck out of everything. Other than that, nothing.
posted by solomonson
About This Project

The toy room needed some attractive storage for the books and puzzles instead of the floor! Enter this plan. I shortened the shelves to 36" and fastened the shelves to 1x2 stretchers that I fastened to the inside of the sides. I hid them by nailing a face frame to it made of 1x2s. I used beadboard for the back, which I painted before attaching it.
I had a hiccup when I forgot to use my square and had to backtrack some, which made this project longer than I anticipated.

Estimated Time Investment: 
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Required Skill Level: 
Beginner
Type of Wood: 
MDF, pine boards, beadboard
Finish Used: 
Used some conglomerate for the back of lots of little samples of oops paint I had lying around. I used Valspar white everywhere else and Minwax spray-on poly.

Piano bench

July 7, 2012 |
posted by JoshC
Additional Photos
Piano bench
About This Project

I used the farm house bench plans and added hinges for my own little twist. This was my first attempt at making furnature and I happy with the result. Thanks Ana.

Estimated Time Investment: 
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Required Skill Level: 
Beginner
Type of Wood: 
pine
Finish Used: 
paint
posted by JoshC
About This Project

This was my first project I used poly on and I messed it up. I knew it was going outside and I put the poly on to thick to fast. Other then that I like how it turned out.

Estimated Cost: 
$30
Estimated Time Investment: 
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Required Skill Level: 
Beginner
Type of Wood: 
pine
Finish Used: 
paint, poly
posted by JoshC
About This Project

This is my first attempt at a coffe table. I used 1 5/8 inch screws, wood glue,and finish nails. I decided to use oak because someone gave it to me.

Estimated Cost: 
around $20 but I got the wood for free
Estimated Time Investment: 
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Required Skill Level: 
Beginner
Type of Wood: 
oak
Finish Used: 
3 coats of Merlot stain and 2 coats of poly.
posted by solomonson
About This Project

This was my second build. Sorry for all the crap on it. Straightforward and no drama. I learned from this build to paint as much as you reasonably can before assembling.

From Plan (new): 
Estimated Time Investment: 
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Required Skill Level: 
Beginner
Type of Wood: 
MDF, pine boards, beadboard
Finish Used: 
Valspar black latex in gloss

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