Community Brag Posts

Fancy X farmhouse table and bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/30/2019 - 21:34

These plans were a lot of fun, easy to follow and I love all the layers!! I changed the direction of the bracing under the table and used a thicker beam along the floor. For the bench I decided to use only two legs so I did them in a thicker look to match the table.

Estimated Cost
$170 lumber/stain/clear
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
2:1 ratio minwax dark walnut and weathered oak. I let it dry then sanded in areas and added a coat of weathered oak.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

My first build. Queen size playhouse loft bed.

Submitted by Bunnie1978 on Sat, 03/10/2012 - 18:57

Aiden's Clubhouse.

I can't even believe I was able to build this! Everyone thought I was crazy for undertaking such a huge project. I made it a queen size because my son would always sleep in my bed anyways... so I just gave it to him. The bed took 4 weeks because I could only work on it on Saturday afternoons. The first week, I made a frame with cleats on the wall. The second week I built the house and stairs. The third week I built the slide and did some of the painting. Today, I finished painting and trim.

I did modify the plans and merged the plan for the slide into my plan, which was a last minute addition. As such, I had to "measure-and-cut-as-you-go" build this bed. I would highly recommend to anyone considering such a task, don't do that. Make a plan, cut all your wood, paint before assembly, and stick to the plan. My stairs all lift up, and under the top landing there is also a cut out inside Aiden's clubhouse-you can see it behind him in the picture below. Also under the slide is a cut out for storage. I have not done anything with the inside of the clubhouse yet. Someday...

I designed the bed specifically so that I could take it apart if we ever move... we live in an apartment. The stairs/stairwell are only connected to the rest of the bed with a single screw. The other wall is a bit more difficult to remove, but not impossible.

I learned a few things doing this, that I want to share with you all..
1. The Kreg-Jig is the best thing ever.
2. I LOVE LOVE LOVE power tools.
3. 4x4 sheets of MDF are difficult to carry upstairs by myself.
4. I can do anything.

I hope you all like it. This was my son's 4th birthday present and he really loves it.

It isn't finished yet though. The far wall in the room is about 2 ft away from the bed, and I haven't decided what to do with that side of the bed, so it's still plain. I would love some ideas! What do you think?

Estimated Cost
$800 including the new tools.. table saw, nailer, kreg, new drill
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr paint. I coordinated the colors on the Behr website to try and match the colors already on the wall.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Bunnie1978

Sun, 03/11/2012 - 06:30

I did make a couple mistakes with the slide. I made it too narrow. Right now it is 1 foot wide. Next time I would do 1 1/2 feet wide. I also would make the landing at the top bigger. I like the angle of the slide now at 45 degrees, but my son did have to learn how to slide down it without falling foward at the bottom. So, a more well designed slide would be less steep, wider, and with a bigger landing at the top. Another tip... for the top of the stairs, take extra care to make sure they swing straight and are about 1/2 inch less wide than the space so they don't scrape the side of the stairwell walls.

spiceylg

Sun, 03/11/2012 - 03:56

This is you FIRST build? Impressive indeed. You did a great job and Aiden is one blessed boy!

Bunnie1978

Sun, 03/11/2012 - 06:32

Technically, I did finish the ten dollar ledge above his bed earlier this week, before I completed the bed, but it was all part of the same project! :) The only other thing I've built is 2x4s slapped together to hold aquariums. My other hobby is breeding fish. :)

Ganny Girl

Mon, 03/12/2012 - 11:01

This is amazing! I can't believe it was your first build! Did you add any extra support to accommodate the queen size mattress?

Bunnie1978

Mon, 03/12/2012 - 11:29

Yes I actually made a whole frame. Basically just studs - on the walls they are just screwed into studs in the wall, then the other two sides are supported by the walls of the house and a vertical frame piece also. There are two stud slats connected to that, so that bed isn't going anywhere. This is the same method I use for supporting 1500 pound aquariums. I have a bunch of 1x3 slats in there as well...

So, if I want to move the bed, I would remove the side with the stairs (~62 inches)- that whole side is one unit, secured to the frame with one screw, and secured to the other wall by about 5 finish nails and one screw. The longer wall (~85 inches) is secured to the frame by 6 screws.

Queen mattresses are HEAVY. :) I learned that too.

Dani83264 (not verified)

Sun, 01/06/2013 - 08:21

we're making the Playhouse Loft Bed for a queen bed as well. Maybe you can answer a question for me. Are the dimensions to fit a queen size bed as written, or do we need to convert them. A queen mattress is 75 x 80 and it looks like that's what this is made to fit, but I don't wanna find out i'm wrong after I already have that thing hoisted up over my head :) Thanks for any advice you can offer!

ashleymyers233

Thu, 06/25/2015 - 00:53

Can anyone guide me as to what parts of the clubhouse and castle bed plans were used here to make this bed

Simple Modern Toy Box with Lid

Submitted by christyp on Fri, 01/03/2014 - 11:13

I made this for our kids for Christmas. It was originally meant for their costumes but we loved the size, so we decided to use it for toys and a bench for meals at family gatherings. We're so happy with how it turned out!

Estimated Cost
$50-100 (i used pine for the 1x boards so increased the cost)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Saman water based stain, American walnut with a little chocolate stain mixed in.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Had to be custom.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/22/2016 - 17:52

Thanks, Ana for the plan!  We were remodeling a nearly 60 year old bathroom and a store bought vanity would absolutely not fit. Using your awesome plans, we were able to get a vanity that would fit, and be one of a kind.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300 for the cabinet.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Three coats of Valspar Cabinet Enamel in Sherwin William's Tri-corn Black. Wait 24 hours between coats and sand lightly with 220 grit. Then, two coats of Minwax Satin Wipe On Poly. Again, sanding even lighter between coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Simple Panel King Bed

Submitted by Bradnag on Sun, 11/03/2019 - 09:43

Needed a quick and simple plan for a new king frame, so I went with the simple panel bed. Stuck mostly to Ana's directions, but used pocket holes on the back of the headboard to get the 1x8's really tightly flush against each other. Since I was assembling it myself I definitely followed Ana's tip about cutting some spacers to prop up the sideboard while securing them to the headboard. Even with as minimal as these plans are, the bed is pretty heavy and very sturdy.

Estimated Cost
75.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Polyshades
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

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!

craft island

I built this craft island for a friend for her basement playroom space. Click the blog link for full build details and the inspiration picture.

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
1. ZInsser oil based primer
2. Two coats BM high gloss white enamel
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Built it in one day. So very pleased with this bench.

I am so very happy on how this bench turned out. I am new at building things and so I asked my husband to help me we did this in a day. now I have 3 people that want one (family of course.)

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

tgrott

Wed, 03/30/2016 - 07:46

Do you have plans?  I haven't built anything yet and have my neice's wedding shower this weekend...thinking this would be an AWESOME gift for her!!! 

Can one lady with one weak arm take this project on by herself???

And, can you tell us how much it cost you to make?

 

Thanks!

Beautiful DIY Computer Desk Under 50 Dollars

We were looking for a table with custom dimensions for our little office nook, but it was really hard to find. Most of them were very expensive, too. We decided to make our own table and share it with all of you as well. It's an easy project to do and minimum tools are required. You can also always use substitute tools as opposed to using the exact one we did in the project. 

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step one: Cut the Wood

You need to cut 4 (2 x 4's) pieces for the legs using a miter saw, or you can have The Home Depot or Lowes cut it for you. You can adjust your own measurements according to the plan above. The plan is according to our space. We drew it in Google Drawings, and you can get that idea and draw your own.  

Step Two: Pocket Holes

Drill pocket holes in the legs using a Kreg Jig but if you don't have that tool it's okay too. Tou can use regular nails as well. I am in love with the Kreg Jig though, and I highly recommend the product to everyone as it makes your joints stronger. 

Step 3: Put The Leg Together

Once you are done with making the joints, it's time to screw the legs together to make it like a frame. See the picture. It should look like a rectangular box. We also placed scrap wood in the middle just to give extra support to the table, so it will not go wobbly. 

Step 4: Attach The Top 

Now, since your legs are ready, it's time to attach the top onto the legs, which is also an easy process. You can attach them using a brad nailer or regular nails. We just happened to have those tools but you don't have to buy everything. 

Step 5: Cut the lips 

In the end, we placed lips or edges around the table to make it both more sturdy and prettier. 

Step 6: Sand It 

Now, since your table is ready, you need to sand it to paint or stain it. Sanding is a very important part. Otherwise, your paint won't adhere to the wood unless you are chalk painting. We used an electric sander but you can use any 120 grit sanding block from your local store. Just use your elbow grease to sand it nicely. 

Step 7: Paint or Stain It

Paint it with whatever paint you would like We wanted to stain it so we used color stain to match with other furniture in the room. We are pretty happy with the project turned out. It saved us tons of money and looks nice in the room as well. 

Hope you liked it and I would love to see your project using my plan. You can read the whole blog post in-depth on my blog. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

Happy DIY'ing! Love,

Bushra

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Blue Stain a bit shiny look.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

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

Christmas Presents

Submitted by Farmer Kim on Tue, 01/07/2014 - 14:56

I got a saw for Christmas and decided to make Christmas presents right away. This was my first project and both of the recipients were very happy with their presents. I have gotten a ton of compliments on the pieces. The blocks were very easy to make, the frame took a little more work.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

handcrafted amish style side table

Submitted by rburmania on Tue, 03/29/2016 - 10:56

Handcrafted amish style table easy to do and gorgeous

Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Provincial and black satin passing
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic X coffee table

Submitted by LampAtFeet on Fri, 11/22/2019 - 13:57

I built this coffee table for my son's first apartment, along with the rustic X end table. It's a very sturdy table and the plans were easy to follow! It's so much fun being able to build my kids furniture!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut stain, then a coat of satin wipe on polyurethane to seal it.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Reclaimed Wood Cabinet

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/30/2023 - 14:23

I wanted to use a long cut off of 3/4 “ plywood and a bed frame my neighbor gave me. This is what I came up with.

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!

My First Brag

I used the plans from the Ridge Media Console, but modified it a tad. I adjusted the measurements for my space and used pallet wood for the lower shelf. I also decided to make a drawer instead of the flip down storage.

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

Entry table built for a sailor

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/31/2016 - 17:39

This table is the perfect size to fit our entry way, I just love the dark walnut bottom with the white top.  It is just the right piece in its space, and was super simple to put together.  We modified the plans a bit, instead of using liquid nails we used the kreg tool and screws to assemble.  We also just used one board for the top of table and taped off more of the base and painted it white to give it the illusion of a thick top.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Walnut stain on the bottom (2 coats)
A simple bright white paint on top we had from painting trim around the house (3 coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Super easy farmhouse dining table !

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 11/27/2019 - 07:15

This was our first project like this .. was last minute cost about $64 with lumber and screws , we already had the stain and paint .. only took 2 days ! I’m so happy !!! The only thing different I would do is put pocket holes in which we might add . Perfect project for a beginner !

Estimated Cost
$64
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
We didn’t use any finish yet as we are still deciding lol
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner