Community Brag Posts

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.

So I had an IKEA DELSEV single bed frame which i bought off someone who didn't need it anymore. Great sturdy bed for $25, but I wanted more space in my rental room, so I decided to go loft given the generous ceiling height. I did some research for ideas to convert my current bed, and found the perfect one at your site! I made modifications to your plans so that I would be able to walk underneath without having to slouch, and adjusted some measurements to integrate the IKEA bed frame. The project only cost me $38 worth of timber, screws were pinched (with permission!) from my landlord's stash, and this was the result after 3 days of cutting, sanding, partial assembly, staining and varnishing, and final assembly! The small tin of stain and varnish was originally for a wooden rack project for my vintage bicycle, and i managed to cover both rack and bed frame with the entire tin, down to the very last drop!

All 3 aircraft built using recycled pallets and some doweling.

Alex

Plans for this coop were fantastic. It was a lot of work, but really fun to build.  As hard as I tried to keep the cost down, it cost probably close to $300 in materials, but it is well worth it compared to the quality of similar priced premade coops.  I did not want the garden bed, so I enclosed the run fully with hardware cloth. I also added a 2" lip around the cutout in the floor so they wouldn't push all of the bedding down the hole. 

We didn't paint it, but between two newbies, it only took an afternoon. It has freed up a ton of space in the cabinets!

Have two boys who where in need of more floorspace to play. Saw the great plans for the Camp Loft and decided to make a double wide. One platform and two beds.

All in all went together as designed. Eliminated the stairs for a ladder. Works great if you have a long wall.

Before my new greenhouse was even delivered and built, I was searching for ideas on potting / greenhouse benches. The company wanted nearly as much $$ for the benches as they did for the greenhouse. By accident I came upon Ana's site. I saw the Farmhouse Table plans, then I saw Handy Andy's modification of the plan, and I was inspired to build them myself!
I found a big pallet of 2x pieces of wood at Menards for $25. They usually set out a pallet of odds and ends that are of "like" items. These were about 3.5' long pcs of 2x10's and 2x8's and such (I have enough of these to do the other benches I want to build... and then some!). I also used some 2x4's that came off a really nice sturdy pallet that we picked up for free, and the rest were just boards we had around the shed.
Hubby was willing to help me with this project, but I wanted to do it myself. He did help with the heavy lifting, and I do appreciate that :) Once I had the frame built, we had to move it into place in the greenhouse otherwise we would not have been able to get it in there. And now that it's complete... it's HEFTY!!! And believe me, it's not going to shift about! lol I also put 2x4's across the bottom of the legs so that it wouldn't sink down into the pea stone floor.
The benches basic construction is the Farmhouse Table, but I added a bottom shelf, a little like Handy Andy's. I must say, because this was not a fine piece of furniture, I was not as intimidated or nervous. It was great for my first ever big project :) It took me some time to complete it, over the course of 2 days, but then I also have to cook and clean and work and garden and a hundred other things in a day :) So, I was in no hurry, but it was a very fun project and I'm SO glad I took it on.
I will be building more of these benches to fill up my beautiful new 10x14 Cedar Built Greenhouse.
Thank you Ana, and Handy Andy!!! I couldn't have done it without your examples!
~ Tonya

This is a bay window standalone desk. The desk has an enormous top and fits snugly into the bay window. It did not have to be attached to the wall. There are four pieces in total: the top, 2 base units and a support that spaces the desks at 36" and further secures the top.

The base unites are built from the File Base Classic Wall Storage System and the top is glued up 2x12s that were planed down and straight edged.

Thanks to inspiration from Ana's post on the Sand Box with Built-in seats, I've retrofit our Jungle Fort (http://www.detailedplay.com/Jungle-Fort-Swingset.htm) with the sandbox cover/bench system. I've upgraded the lumber dimensions to 2x4s and 2x6 to accommodate the increased 67.5" span.

This was the second building project I've ever completed. I had to make a few adjustments to make it fit the size of ray's closet, but it was totally worth it. most of the work was in the measuring, sanding, and sealing of the wood. Ftting the frames can be a little tricky if your planks aren't perfectly straight. Otherwise, this project was pretty straight forward and can be done in just a few days depending on how much time you have to dedicate to it. Thanks Ana!

My first project ever... Had a bit trouble convert it all to metric measurements (I'm from the Netherlands), but as you can see it turned out pretty well. I get a lot of compliments, even from the (teenage) friends of my children! They really like to hang out in our back garden all of the sudden ;-)

More difficult build then I'm used too. Modified it to fit a full mattress but I think it turned out great! It's a lot cheaper to build than most Murphy beds to purchase out there on the market. Enjoyed these plans. Thank you Ana!

We wanted to replace the vented / painted bi-fold closet doors in our Master Suite with something that was warmer and more consistent with the decorating motif of the house.  We priced out various wood bi-fold doors and were shocked at the $350 - $600 price range of what was available.   We decided that building them ourselves was a much better choice.

The frames are made from 1” Knotty Pine and the panels are from ¼” Knotty Pine.   Frames were made to fit and assembled w/ Kreg screws & Glue.  Rabbet channels were cut w/ the router and the panels were brad nailed & glued.

It was finished w/ the same stain used on our Knotty Pine ceilings / walls and finished w/ a satin varnish for a perfect match to our house.

This was a very straightforward, quick & inexpensive alternative to purchasing expensive bi-fold doors.   

The doors took about 15 hours to build / sand and 10 hours to finish.   Total cost was around $100.