Community Brag Posts

The Rustic X side table

Submitted by gvandy on Fri, 04/18/2014 - 17:27

This is my first EVER project, but I have already made several more!! I love this site and the new found confidence I have to make things for my home! Keep the plans coming!!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Nothing! I used only what we had!
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Early American top and Heirloom white base, sanded with stain rubbed on the edges!
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

2 x 4 sofa

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 08/10/2016 - 09:30

Made from wood salvaged from a renovation.  Cushions from Improvements Catalog and Target.

 

Pin For Later! 

2 x 4 sofa

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr Marquee exterior
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Seasonal And Holiday

Garden bed with folding screens

Submitted by Kate_14 on Wed, 05/27/2020 - 09:39

I added folding screens to my garden bed to prevent my dog to go in it. It can also discourage hares, cats and other animals. The folding screens make it easy to work in your garden.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Outdoor Wood Island

Submitted by Putterer1 on Mon, 02/26/2024 - 10:43

Hello - I am new to your projects post. I really like the projects that you post. I had been looking to make a "grill storage/prep" cart and came across your plans for the Rustic X Kitchen Island with drawers. I also saw a picture of another table and decided to merge the two. Attached are pictures of the finished project. I modified some of the dimensions to accommodate what I was trying to achieve. I used a half-lap on the X's on the sides. I also used center drawer slides so they would not be seen on my version. I would be happy to provide additional pictures, dimensions or project tips. Thanks for posting your projects. Keep 'em coming. I don't have a blog, Insta.

Tom Riley

Built from Plan(s)
Seasonal And Holiday

DIY Outdoor Wood Furniture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/21/2024 - 07:36

My daughter wanted patio furniture but did not want to spend a ton of money. The total project cost around $400. We used treated 2x4’s for the frame. We found $45 cushion sets, the rug and accessory pillows at Big Lots. I love we used different colors for the chair s and love seat.

Jennifer Poarch

Seasonal And Holiday

Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by ValBryant on Wed, 08/15/2012 - 14:24

This was our first build alone. I've helped my dad build various things through out the years but was this first time me and my husband built something together.
The bed plans were great and it went together easily. We couldn't find untreated 4x4 posts so we went with two 2x4 sandwiched together, and then we bolted the headboard posts to the footboards. The side rails are plywood trimmed with 1x3's and topped with a 1x2. We also used L brackets to attach the side rails to the head and footboards and addition to bolts on the headboard and 2" screws on the footboard. We needed to assemble the bed in a way we could easily disassemble because we are moving soon.

Estimated Cost
160+
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I followed one of Ana's featured finishes, distressed turquoise with chocolate glaze.
I used dark walnut stain and Valspar's semi-gloss Sea Exposure, and Valspar's Glaze.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Tall Loft Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/09/2024 - 07:27

My husband, Daughter and I built this loft bunkbed for our seven-year-old granddaughter‘s birthday. It turned out wonderful and she squealed when she saw it! Thanks so much for your online plans.

Jan Ott

Floor to Ceiling Canned Food Storage

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/19/2024 - 13:56

Loved these plans. Top unit was built exactly to specs. Bottom unit was built to accommodate one column of cans. I have also built one for my sis-in-law and will be building one more for this pantry. Love this project!

Leah

Built from Plan(s)

Easy & Fast Garage Shelving - Weekend Fun for 12yr Old!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/17/2016 - 10:02

Thanks for fantastic plans Ana!!  My 12yr old son and I knocked these out in an afternoon.

He learned new skills and we got a key project done.  The best thing was his statement of "these are awesome!!"  

Estimated Cost
$156 from Home Depot
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Beautiful Outdoor chairs and Ottoman from 2x4s and 2x6s (and a 2x2)

The chairs were my first project ever and they came out great! I even made the ottoman/side table because the chairs looked so good. Ana, your plans were fantastic and easy for a beginner. I learned so much from this first project and I'm already working on another project from your site! The cushions were definitely the most expensive part of the chair.

Estimated Cost
$40-$50/chair (without cushions) including screws, wood and stain
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr semi-transparent stain and sealer (Chocolate) as noted in Ana's project plans.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Tall Wedding Planters

Submitted by swhitead on Mon, 07/20/2020 - 10:14

Made the planters to hold flowers for a small garden wedding. Used 3-1/2" wide fence boards as my HD was out of standard 5-1/2" boards. Used 11 boards for finished height of 38" top was 18" wide, bottom 12-1/2" using a 4° angle. Ripped fence boards to size to use in place of 1x2/1x3 boards. Added center trim as on another brag post, as well as, framed the top to finish off the planter.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20 each
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

8 Foot Picnic Table

Submitted by milleall on Wed, 07/22/2020 - 12:07

My teenage son and his father took over the bulk of the building duties this time. We chose to use treated lumber as untreated lumber with finish applied doesn't do well in Michigan weather in my experience. We made it more beautiful by using the treated lumber in cedartone. We used pocket holes to attach the top and seats to the supports to make for a smooth appearance. This is one large and heavy table! The plans were accurate and the build was fairly simple, but having many hands made working with the large piece easier.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Outdoor side table

Keeping budget with wood projects, made side table for outdoor fire pit area.

Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Legs and braces=rosewood stain
Top=honey pine
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Workbench

Submitted by MaryL220 on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 21:20

I needed a legit workbench and I had a bunch of wood to use up. I got a bunch of 1x8x6s from my local hardware store's scrap pile. There's a reason they were free... But I couldn't just toss them. I used all scrap, from the hardware store, my garage, and my brother-in-law's farm, except 3 2x4s that I bought new.

For this workbench, I used slats on the top and the bottom shelf. The frame is 2x4s. I had some idea I could use the space in between the slats to cut wood, but after adding 2in casters, it appears it might be a bit too tall. Even still, the spaces in between the slats make for excellent clamp storage.

And now I finally have a legit, mobile workbench to keep all my chaos somewhat contained.

Estimated Cost
$50-75
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None. I sanded the whole thing down to reduce the splinters but didn't feel that my workbench needed anything else.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Wall Attached Storage Shelves

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 08/29/2020 - 18:21

We just moved onto a new house with ample unused space I. The unfinished part of the basement so I decided to make a 12’ wall of storage shelves, altering Ana’s plans just a little bit. I did two 24” tall shelves on bottom and two 18” y’all shelves up top. It was a fun project and I got to use my Kreg HD Jig for the first time! These shelves are SOLID!

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Outdoor Storage Bin

I used Ana Whites plan and modified to fit my our space and outdoor pillows.

Estimated Cost
50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Gunstock 231
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Convertable Picnic Bench

Submitted by Yumde on Sun, 12/09/2012 - 16:48

A nice summer project that is good for relaxing and eating outside.

Built with
7 - 2x4x72"
1 - 2x6x8
galvanized hardware

Started with a light base paint and taped off diagonal sections.

Next time we would lessen the gap inbetween 2x4's.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Exterior Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse table meets turned leg coffee table

Submitted by KathyV on Sat, 01/05/2013 - 16:47

This was my first project and I LOVE it. We desperately needed to get a new table for our kitchen, and thanks to Ana... here she is. I love it. I cannot wait until I build more things. The Handbuilt Home is ear marked for many projects. I am such a geek, I have not only the book, but the digital version as well. This is so helpful because the digital version is on my phone and I have it readily available when I go to the store. I cannot recommend this book enough. Ana exudes confidence and that helped me to pick up that circular saw. NO FEAR! Ok, I was petrified that first cut, and probably all of the other cuts too, but it didn't stop me.

This table was so time consuming because I have three children and those little stinkers take up at lot of time. I am positive if I could have dedicated a day or two just to this project, I would have been done sooner. I underestimated how much time needs to be dedicated to sanding and staining and sanding and sanding :) I also underestimated how heavy this table is. I needed help to turn this table right side up.

All in all, I could not be happier with the finished project.

Estimated Cost
approx. $100.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used minwax water based stain and water based poly on top (three coats).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Fireplace Facelift Built-In Bookcases

One of the projects that I've wanted to tackle for a long time has been adding built-in bookshelves to the sides of my existing fireplace. This fireplace (and I'm assuming the mantel) was original to the house and I wanted to create an addition that would look seamless and tie into the existing woodwork. I began designing a piece above the mantel to give the fireplace some height and then I designed the flanking bookcases to match. All of the project details and free step-by-step instructions can be found on my website at: www.momthebuilder.net

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White interior semi-gloss paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Workbench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/22/2020 - 05:47

Thanks for the simple plans Anna, they worked out great!. I resized the table to make maximum use of the material, still within the same quantity you specified in your plans. I glued the legs along the lengths of the table, and kept the table top and shelf screwed in, for easy dismantling, if necessary.

Finally I added pop down heavy duty wheels allowing me to move the table (not shown in this pic) easily. When the wheels are not being used they pop up, making the table very stable. The height of the table is about 1/2” lower than the table saw, making it an ideal outfeed table as well.

Great design, and fun build.

Estimated Cost
Cn$148 (went with a finished 3/4” 4x8’ ply board)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

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