Community Brag Posts

Bigger Kids Art Center

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/20/2016 - 14:22

Ana sized her plan for 2-6 year olds, but a friend asked me to build this for her 9-year-old granddaughter as an art table that would live outside, on their covered patio. I made the table top 28x48, and set the top at 28 inches off the ground. The bookcase part is 42 inches tall, in keeping with the "rule of thirds."

In light of the larger size, I decided the legs needed some braces, so I added a cross brace at the bottom and some curvy side braces.

I considered adding some cupboard doors to keep the dust out, but decided to leave it open so it wouldn't become a haven for spiders. Doors don't really keep dust out anyway, the way the wind blows around here.

As shown, the birch ply top has natural stain on it. I'm going to finish the top with spar varnish. For the rest, I'm going to primer it, and deliver it with a few pint cans of water-based outdoor paint in basic colors so the girl can paint the rest of it herself. 

Thank you, Ana, for another enjoyable project!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
I spent $30 on wood for the bookshelf part, but I used a lot of scraps and leftovers from other projects, so it's hard to really estimate.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
pre-stain conditioner, natural stain, spar varnish, primer, water-based outdoor paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Garage shelves

Submitted by papadog on Thu, 10/31/2019 - 11:46

Added some storage to the garage. Wife got some more room for her canning. Looks much better than older metal shelving. Thanks for the ideas, again!

Estimated Cost
240
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Dining Table

Our extra long living/dining room was just begging for a little definition. So I scoured all of Ana White's plans for some inspiration for the perfect-for-us table. I have never built anything, so I enlisted the help of my genius dad and we got to work!

We ended up using elements of the Modern Outdoor Patio Table and the Farmhouse Table. We sized the patio table down to six feet long and used the board layout from the farmhouse table for the table top. We also changed up the table legs a bit to add some visual interest.

After tackling the table, we built the banquette and beadboard wall. I never thought I would learn so much about power tools. Ha! This project was so much fun. Thank you for the free plans!! I can't wait to work on our next project!

You can read more about our table here: ‎ http://www.becomingwhitney.com/dining-area-progress/
here: http://www.becomingwhitney.com/it-is-finished/
and here: http://www.becomingwhitney.com/christmas-cheerin-it-up/

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I sanded this baby within an inch of its life. I chose not to use a wood conditioner because I wanted a rough look, and I adored the unevenness of the stain in some areas. I put on one heavy coat of Minwax Espresso stain with a rag. I used a teeny paintbrush to get the legs and between the planks of the table. Then I sealed it with a semi-gloss water-based poly. I put five coats on the table top and sides and three coats on the legs. It gave it a great finish, but isn't too shiny in person.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Linda7

Tue, 01/07/2014 - 10:15

The fabulous thing about DIY is how you can modify a plan to suit your needs. You and your dad have built a one-of-a-kind that can be handed down to future generations. Love the style and finish. Keep up the good work!

Whitney Gothra

Tue, 01/14/2014 - 08:37

Thank you, Linda! That is one of my favorite aspects of DIY - the options are unlimited!

Worked great. Followed plans exactly..

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/23/2016 - 08:10

 Followed the plans exactly and all worked out perfectly.  I designed my own ladder and rails.  Kids love this bed.  Took about 1 gallon of valspare 2000 paint to paint everything.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$175 total. including paint ($20) and nuts, bolts, and screws ($30).
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White gloss valspar 2000
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Jack's Play Kitchen

Submitted by AmyW on Tue, 03/13/2012 - 14:17

My husband and I built this kitchen for my son's 2nd birthday and it continues to be a huge hit. We scaled the dimensions up a bit so he can use it longer, and used 3/4" birch plywood with veneer on the ends. The oven knobs spin on dowels, the stove burners are just painted on and we added moulding to the edge of the countertops to give it a nice rounded edge. We used a cheap bar faucet from ebay, hardware from IKEA, and a stainless steel bowl with a rim for the sink. I highly recommend using a flap stay on the stove door to keep it from slamming open, and magnetic catches on the oven and fridge doors. We also used anti-tip furniture straps because these suckers are heavy.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
clear stain on bases,
red mahogany stain on countertops,
many many coats of poly (this thing will survive the apocalypse)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

TIffonie

Sun, 07/08/2012 - 18:16

I've been planning on building these for my son soon. Your color choices are fantastic! How much bigger did you make them?

AmyW

Sun, 07/08/2012 - 22:00

Thanks Tiffonie!
We added three inches to the width and height. It was a bit large for him at two years old. Now that he is 3.5 it still gets played with every day, and the size works well. Good luck- your son will love it!

Corner Cabinet

This was such a fun project. I had been shopping for a corner cabinet for months before I decided I either couldn't afford what I liked and didn't like what I could afford. So I built it! I added the top doors... I didn't need one more thing to dust.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

LOVE these....

My mom moved into an apartment and had a bar that needed some bar stools so I made two of these bar stools that she loves.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Doll Stroller

Submitted by DIYMomof4 on Fri, 11/15/2019 - 06:50

I made this stroller to donate to a charity fundraiser.  I'm very pleased with how it turned out!  I routered the edges with a small round over bit, which I think makes it a bit safer for little ones.  I attached the 1x2's of the handle 3" above the stroller bottom, which gives it a height similar to other doll strollers.  I also decide to change the way the wheels were attached.  In the picture, the wheels are attached as the plan shows.  I decided I would use (2) 3/8" metal rods as axles, washers for spacers, and an axle cap on each end.   This works really well, and the axle caps look nicer than the painted bolts.  Unfortunately, I donated the stroller without taking updated pictures!   

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr Ultra Ceylon Cream and Radient Rose
Valspar satin polyurethane - on the wheel backs and edges
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

Tryde Console Table

Submitted by metsfan94 on Sat, 03/17/2012 - 14:18

Untreated 4x4s are so hard to find around me so I used 2x4s for the legs. To get the legs truly square, I used my table saw to rip about a 1/4" off from each side of 2x4s (making the legs 3" by 3"). This also helped the legs appear to be one solid piece. After sanding with palm sander I applied Dark Walnut Minwax Stain. After the first coat set, I applied more stain to random places on the table to give it a somewhat "worn" look I guess. I finished with two generous coats of Minwax Semi-gloss poly. I like the way it came out. I also built the tryde coffee table, and after doing so I realized that the 2x6 breadboards had a slight angle to them. To fix this on the console table I attached the breadboards more inward toward the center of the table. The level look is just more appealing to me, but it's no biggie. Now I'm working on finish two tryde end tables, and soon I'll be starting a tv stand. Love the plans and the site in general! Thanks!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About $25-30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain: Minwax Dark Walnut
Clear Coat: Minwax Semi-gloss Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Pokemon Center

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/29/2016 - 11:15

My son is obsessed with Pokemon, and has amassed quite the collection of Pokemon plush toys. I wanted a simple way to keep them contained but accessible, and this was the perfect solution! I changed a few things in my build to make it shorter and square, and used shock cord instead of rope for more give. My son loves it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Perfect Teenage Desk!

Submitted by tracysmith on Mon, 03/19/2012 - 17:55

I built this desk for my 15 year old daughter. We needed to size it so that a neat yard sale find seat could fit under it. I also added supports for the legs at the bottom. It just didn't feel sturdy enough for me. Large, single drawer was painted on the inside to match the color of her walls, pulling the whole look together! Lots of fun to build!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
FREE
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Glidden Cappuccino White for the main body of the desk and in the drawer, I used Glidden Spanish Olive. Both are in a satin finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

kristen

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 16:48

Love your daughter's desk! And I also love that it was FREE. The Hubs always wants me to throw out the scraps and I just can't, especially after seeing projects like yours :)

In reply to by kristen

tracysmith

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 22:05

Thank you Kristen!!! I love dipping into the ole scrap bins... of course, I have three of them..LOL I also use the stuff that I can't make into a project out in the Ghetto Fire Pit so we enjoy it any way we can!!! Someday I'll have to take a pic and post it on Ana's site somewhere.. I doubt anyone will want one but it works for us!

shelbyannec21

Mon, 12/21/2015 - 15:08

I love how you changed the design alittle on this, I am trying to build something very similar to what you did for my vanity/dressing table! I noticed on yours the front aprons are not noticable how did you do that? I want your exact design, and my dimensions are 29" w X 16" d. Thank you in advance!

Bathroom Vanity I did for my mom Based on the Momplex vanity

I remodeled the main floor bathroom for my parents. My mom had seen a vanity she like at a home center. Then she thought about doing an open vanity. Then I showed her the one Ana did for the Momplex (48" Turned Leg Vanity). and she loved it. This is what we came up with.

It has bead board panels on the ends and the doors. V-grove planks for the bottom shelf.

The top is made from 100 year old ship lap siding from my brother house. The sink is hand hammered copper with a venetian bronze faucet.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
The vanity was finished using Rust-o-leum Ultimate wood stain in summer oak with several coats of a marine varnish to protect it in the bathroom. The top was only finished in the marine varnish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Coastal End Tables

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/31/2016 - 17:53

We changed the finish of the tables from the original plan, but everything else was the same. We loved the slats on the bottom of the table, and they turned out even better than expected. The two end tables are the first pieces of furniture we ever built, but the plan was very easy to follow without much knowledge needed. The kreg tool and screws are truly magic.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150 for 2 tables
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Walnut stain for the top (2 coats)
A bright white paint we had from painting trim (2 1/2 coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Round Farmhouse table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/28/2019 - 05:48

I took on a little bit more than I could chew with this one, but after a little R&I(Resourcefulness, and Ingenuity) I was able to figure it out. I love how it turned out though! Thanks for the inspiration!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$120
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut with Matte poly top coat
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/04/2023 - 11:10

We made this as a surprise for our son. It turned out beautiful! We used cedar 4x4s for the corner posts and pine for the remainder. Thanks Ana!

Patty W.

Built from Plan(s)

Flat back book racks

Submitted by Spolitte on Wed, 03/21/2012 - 20:39

These came together nicely but I definitely advocate the right tool for cutting the curves on the sides. Also, the next time we make them, and we most likely will, I will make the roomy version. The wider size will give us a little more room for a few extra books. All in all the girls are very please with them. I like that they are just above their bed to make night time reading easy and fun. Couldn't have done it without you Ana. Thanks.

Estimated Cost
10ish dollars minus paint
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
We painted all the surfaces a No Voc semi gloss for easy cleaning. When it came time to add the girls names I found that a bright semi gloss with layers of corresponding glitter paint added the vivid contrast and bling that all little girls love.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Rustic X with turqoise x's

Submitted by crock on Sat, 01/11/2014 - 15:56

Put together this rustic x table in about a week of spare time. I finished using Ana's espresso finish tutorial with the red elm gel stain but it was too red after three coats. I bought some regular black stain and put two coats of that on the project and it turned out great.

My wife wanted to incorporate some turquoise into the project. I did not. :-)

We compromised with the turquoise x's. I think the colors go well together.

I spent about $50 on wood and $40 on new stain, spray poly and paint. But that stain and paint will last the next 3-4 projects. So I'd say the total cost for this actual project was around $70.

This was my first ever project I put together. Now I have a list of about 8 things I'll be building in the next few months.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$70
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Red Elm Gel Stain, Minwax Black Stain, Turquoise Glidden Indoor Satin Paint, Minwax Spray Polyurethane (Satin)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

jkeenan2929

Tue, 02/18/2014 - 15:10

Great looking balance beam! My daughter wants one so bad haha. Oh, and the table is gorgeous too...haha

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