Community Brag Posts

Moses Basket Rocker

Submitted by bd on Sat, 04/19/2014 - 14:15

Pretty much followed the plan, except I raised the height of the platform. I intended to make the legs longer, but I forgot and cut them to the length on the plan. It looks like the sides of the basket aren't supported as well, but the basket stays in just fine.

I also added little wings on the end to support the ends of the basket. I wanted to be able to remove the basket from the cradle without screwing it in, but also wanted the basket to be secure so I added the little wings. It was easy.

Overall a pretty easy project, except the rockers are time consuming. They're not hard to make, you just need to take your time.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Sample paint on the clearance shelf - can't remember the color name.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Butcher Block Kitchen Island

This is a modified butcher block kitchen island built from ana white's plan. Instead of using doug fir (2x4) material for the top, I used hard maple to build an edge grain butcher block top that if knife friendly and food safe. I also altered the dimensions to fit my space.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Mineral oil was used for the butcher block top. The paint is kendall grey by behr and early American stain by minwax for the shelves.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

jbuilder712

Wed, 06/04/2014 - 08:49

Wow, what a stunning piece! That looks like it'd fit my space more than the original plans. Would you mind posting your dimensions and cut list? Thanks!

Modern Outdoor Chair from 2x4s and 2x6s

After a whole year I finally made a second chair! The first one was made a year ago and now my wife can sit outside with me too 😊. Next for the couch!

Comments

A-Frame Chicken Coop

We took Ana's original coop plans and diva'd it up a bit to suit our needs and our climate. We added a pop door and decided to split the roof panels into four, three of which open up. We put the hinges on the top of the roof panels so we could easily prop them open. We also added a brace across the bottom of our ladder for support. Since we added a door I believe our ladder is a bit more steep than in the original plans.

Because we put our hinges on top we added lattice strips inside on the top of the door panels that go just under the 2x4 of the roof peak to keep the rain out. We also used a roof cap for the same reason. We went back and added silicone to the strategic places to prevent water leaking into the nesting box while also being careful not to affect the necessary ventilation.

We used OSB for our roof panels instead of T111 because it's what we had on hand and also because we were going to be painting it.

Finally I added handles to each of the hinged panels to make opening easy. And cute!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used a no VOC exterior paint from Valspar (green) that I found in the mistinted section at Lowe's. The pink (ladder) is Very Berry by Valspar and is not an exterior paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

anniejw17

Wed, 02/27/2013 - 11:11

Love your coop! It's so cute! I need to find a weather vane. We ended up adding a roof cap of sorts - just aluminum flashing really. It does still leak in the nest box, though, which just encourages me to change out the bedding for fresh straw, which is a good thing I guess!

Southern Revivals

Wed, 02/27/2013 - 13:24

Yes mine leaked, too. We added the roof cap and some silicone but that still didn't stop it. So I finally went in and added some screen molding behind the panels in the nesting box. It still isn't quite "leak proof" but it is better. I will share if I figure out how to make it leak proof! Thank You!

billd333

Mon, 01/13/2014 - 09:45

These were great plans, thanks for sharing!
I'm new to having chickens so since it's cold now is Massachusetts I'm holding off on getting a couple of hens. The 2 main questions I have are where did you end up mounting the roost? And where did you end up putting the nesting box? I only put a floor on half so was thinking the roost board could be suspended above the ground on the open side. That leaves the 1/2 floor to hold the nest box?? Please any comments on the roost, nest box, watering and feeding systems are welcome.
thx..Bill

Southern Revivals

Mon, 01/13/2014 - 10:03

Hi Bill,

I am actually in the process of writing another blog post about this coop. I have gotten so many questions about the modifications we did and have lived with it long enough to know what I would have done differently. You doing the 1/2 is great and is one of the things I would do differently if we had it to do over again.

I will post an update here as soon as that post is live. In the meantime, feel free to contact me directly at Jamie @ Southern Revivals.com

Thanks!
Jamie

Fancy x farmhouse table

Submitted by Keldani5 on Mon, 09/07/2020 - 03:50

This was a weekend job, had a lot of angles and I had to scribe a lot of them

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
145.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
for the top I used a carbon gray poly stain. The bottom was just a satin white
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Gigantic planked sideboard

This was my second project and my first piece of furniture I built from Ana's plans. We have a vaulted ceiling in the hallway near my entry and needed a really big piece to fill up the large blank wall. I always hated the space but now I Love It. The Gigantic sideboard is perfect there. I finished it with milk paint and paste wax. If you inspect it closely it is not perfect but for my first piece... I love it and it's supposed to be rustic right!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
I did not keep track of how much I spent but I'll say roughly 200 to 250 .
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I first used wood conditioner then sanded, sanded, and sanded. For the paint I used General Finishes Coastal Blue and topped it with minwax paste wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Fire-pit Life

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/28/2019 - 18:38

Fortunate enough to live on a beautiful river, my wife and I decided we were done bringing the folding chairs out for each weekly bon fire. Our three girls love s’mores and we wanted a great atmosphere with a place to easily grab wood and snacks in the dark while we enjoyed the outdoors. The combination of plans took us about a week to finish. The kids were away for the weekend and we rented an auger to drill the post holes. This proved to be the most difficult part of the project. It took nearly the whole weekend to dig out the unexpected granite and all the patience that we had in reserves. Once the posts were set, it was only a slightly uphill battle.
My wife made the bench in the time it took to return the auger and come home. The fire pit benches were also a pleasure to assemble and the most functional part of the project. I suspect the whole thing would have been faster if the large posts were easier to cut through. That treated lumber can eat saw blades! When setting the top posts it was also a two ladder and two person job. They were quite heavy and a little nerve wracking to set if you don’t love heights and a heavy load. We would do this project again in a heartbeat as it is a feature in our yard and makes for many enjoyable family and friend gatherings. The fire pit bench top is also great for hosting the entire bbq meal assortments to select from.

Estimated Cost
$1000
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
None, treated lumber, 3 years later and still looks brand new!
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

double loft bed

Submitted by smckeand on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 13:01

This is my extremely altered double loft bed. My sister needed a custom sized double loft bed, I figured I could use this plan and make two beds in an L shape, but the space I had to work with was smaller than these plans so I had to re-design most of the bed all together, I ended up attaching two sides of each bed to the wall with legs only on the outer pieces. She wanted a "fun" looking bed so I added a splash of color, just simple enough for me to make.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
sanded with 220 grit, primed, painted with sherwin williams pro classic
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

taslytoo

Wed, 08/01/2012 - 18:04

Might incorporate this idea into my girls room bed. Thanks for sharing.

Podium for My Wife's Classroom

This is my first try at building furniture. I've built larger things in the past like decks and a fort for my nephews, but never furniture. Even though I used the plans to build the main box, I did change up the bottom and added some new stuff. I added wheels to the bottom my wife could easily move it around her classroom. I didn't want to put a square base on it because I thought it might hit her ankles when she was standing close to it. So I sort-of notched it out to give an opening for her feet and I used some scraps to create a short shelf at the bottom. I also added more trim that the plans call for. I cut strips of the pine plywood for the base molding and topped it with quarter round. I used corner trim for the front corners, the self inside and the bottom notched shelf. I also used screen trim for the back of it. I think it came out nice and I've very pleased with it. I used 2 coats of Minwax PolyShades American Chestnut on it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax PolyShades American Chestnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Floating Bathroom Shelves

Submitted by Kamoanui on Mon, 06/29/2020 - 15:58

Very quick and easy! We did 6 in. boards and weathered the boards with stain, paint, and sanding. Looking for other places in the house to use this plan!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
To get the weathered look, I used pre-stain, then Jacobean stain, then chalk paint. Let it dry overnight, then sanded it with a hand sander and applied another coat of the Jacobean stain. To finish and protect it, I used polycrylic clear matte sealer.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Daybed with Storage Trundle

Submitted by Crafty-Mom on Sat, 01/27/2018 - 10:38

This was my first project from Ana's website and I'm hooked! I'm a beginner, but thank goodness for my Dad's help because I have a lot of learning to do!

I wanted the drawer to be 1 drawer instead of 3. I feel like it looks cleaner (without having to adjust 3 drawers constantly to make it look good when you push them in). I was thinking the bed could actually be used as a trundle bed in the future too! I use this to store toys right now and it is Awesome!

I increased the bed size to fit a twin mattress and increased the height of the bed slightly so that the drawer would be a little bit deeper. We also added a back to the bed and carried around the trim to make all sides look the same. We added a bumper to the back and sides of the inside of the bed so the drawer is easy to push in and fits in snug. Finally we reinforced the bottom of the drawer with more 1x4 boards so that if a child does sleep in it, it would be more sturdy. I now have kids come over and jump into the drawer (literally) and I'm glad we reinforced it.

The changes we made did add to the cost and our time (as well as being newbies), but I think it's worth it and the bed turned out beautiful!

Estimated Cost
$180
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr Marquee (I'll have to find the name of the white color we used). We almost went with chalk paint, but after talking to the HD guy, he talked me into this paint and I'm glad we used it! So much cheaper and turned out beautiful.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Nisssc

Mon, 10/12/2020 - 07:51

This looks great! Any suggestion if I want cubbies instead of a trundle? Also, cubbies only on side as bed would be against the wall. Thanks for the inspiration!
Sandy

Vegetable Bin

Hand-made vegetable cupboard. Fun and easy project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Provincial
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Golf Bag Stand

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 11/18/2023 - 12:11

Golf bag stand
Can’t remember if found this plan here or not but get most my plans here. Fun and easy build.

Comments

King size Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/19/2020 - 15:59

This is a plan that My 16 year old son chose to do for a project to fulfill a goal to learn some woodworking skills during our unexpected downtime from School.
Mom is thrilled with the new space.
He adjusted different sizes based on what lumber we already had. He used 1x7’s and routed a 45deg on the edges to give the tongue and groove look. Posts are 4x5 and top railing is 2x7.

Estimated Cost
$40 in paint and supplies. Wood was free from a friend.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar Furniture Enamel.
Color - Web Grey
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Modern Outdoor Chair with Backrest

Submitted by PoppaZotch on Mon, 08/17/2020 - 11:53

Per request of my wife, I opted to add a backrest to the chair. I feel as though my backrest design keeps with the style of the original build. I accomplished this by cutting the 2x4 vertical arms of the backrest at 13 inches with a 10 deg miter cut at the base. This allows you to keep with the 3/4" on the 2x6 backrest slats. I finished it off with a 2x4 top plate. I'd also note that I made slight modifications to the plans to accommodate 24" cushions.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
sanded to a 220 grit
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Drop Leaf Mobile Kitchen Island

Submitted by jkjackson on Sun, 03/14/2021 - 11:19

This was born out of the need for more counter space in our galley kitchen. We don't have the space to add an island. Especially around the holidays, it would be great to have extra space for making cookies, serving big meals, etc. I used Ana's Small Kitchen Island Prep Cart plans for inspiration. I adapted the dimensions to fit at the end of our counters when not in use and added a drop leaf to give us almost 4 additional feet of butcher block counter top when we need it. I used scrap lumber that I had for the cabinet and had an extra drawer handle that matches our kitchen cabinets but bought the butcher block, locking casters, drawer slide and hardware for the legs. Also, the weight of the butcher block makes it want to tip when it's away from the cabinet with the drop leaf down so I added a lead counter weight inside the drawer.

Estimated Cost
$150-200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr paint for the cabinet, food grade mineral oil and cutting board wax for the butcher block
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

jkjackson

Sat, 07/24/2021 - 16:59

Sure! I used a 4 foot butcher block and cut it down. The horizontal part is 13 1/2" and the drop leaf part is 32 1/8" attached with a piano hinge. The legs need to be cut and hinged to fit when folded up. This one is made so that the drop leaf fits right under the overhang of the kitchen countertop that it is next to so it's snug against the cabinet and not an issue but, if you want it to be freestanding, the weight of the butcher block will pull it over if you don't weight the cabinet down with something as well. I got a 5 pound lead bar from Amazon in case we need to use it somewhere else. I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Antiqued dark walnut

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/15/2017 - 20:42

My first project of this size.  I think it turned out great!  Did a gray weathered stain and drybrushed bright white over the base.  Sanded the top 60, 120, 220, 320, and just for fun I finished it with 1000 grit.  Stained dark walnut, finished with three coats of poly, sanding 320 in between coats.  Love this table!!!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$89
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dark walnut and poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

DIY Sauna

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/15/2024 - 10:17

Outside sauna.

Charles

Farmhouse King Bed resized to fit standard king

Submitted by hpu2002 on Wed, 11/05/2014 - 06:14

Hello everyone and thank you Ana-White for all of your plans.  I love this site and have built several pieces of furniture for our home from them. 

This bed is absolutely Rock Solid! In reading the blog I noticed several people asking for the "modified" dimensions or resizing for a standard king ( I put them in the blog but this is what I did)

Headboard: 9 1x8's at 30 inches long and 2 1'x6's at 30 inches long (I omitted the 1x3 end pieces at 30 inches and that way I had 76 inches wide.

The plans call for the 1x4 panel trip pieces (for headboard and foot board) to be 80''.  I resized them to 76''

The headboard 4x4 legs were still 54''

The bottom headers 2x4's for both the headboard and footboard calls for 87''...I changed it to 83''.

The top header 2x6's  for both the headboard and footboard call for 89''...I changed those to 85''.

The plan calls for the footboard to have 10 1x8 panel pieces at 15 inches. like the headboard I changed these to 9 1x8's at 15'' and 2 1x6's at 15''.

We have a new 12'' memory foam mattress so I did like others and used 2x4's for cross beams secured with truss hangers and then used peg board for additional support.  The side rails are 2x12's at 62' ( I wanted a little extra room to be able to bolt them to the head and foot board.)

NOTE: The cut list calls for 4 1x8's  You Need 5.  And to do the plans my way you need a few 1x6's.

Sorry if this is wordy but I hope it helps!

Thanks Ana for all of your awesome plans!  My Fiance' loves the furniture and I am addicted to building because of you!

Dave

Estimated Cost
$200-$300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Polyshades in Mission Oak (it has poly in it)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

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