Community Brag Posts

Outdoor Patio Furniture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/20/2023 - 09:32

Our outdoor furniture from Costco was falling apart but the cushions were still in great shape so I decided to design the furniture around the existing cushion dimensions. I used all Cedar wood and stained it with Australian Timber Oil Honey Teak stain. The table design was from a picture I saw on another site.

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Folding Worktable

Made the portable worktable as my craft table. I'm limited on space so the fold down table was just the key. Thank you Ana. You are an amazing carpenter & inspiration to me. You make your plans so easy to read & follow. Thank you so much. I can't wait to make more of your plans. ❤️

Jodi Inman

 

Built from Plan(s)

Outdoor Bench

Submitted by blacorc on Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:45

Built this bench for my parents for Christmas. They were super impressed and I had a lot of fun. Cost for the wood and screws is only about $40. Stain/Sealer can cost about the same.

Obviously I decided not to do the woven back and go for the simpler straight slats. I prefer this look and I'm sure it was easier than cutting all those angles.

I was proudest of the armrests which I made using a jigsaw to round off the edges, a circular saw to make the thinner part, and shaped it more with a rasp and file, then finally a fine grit sandpaper. Super fun.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
None yet
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

mom of 4

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 10:36

I am going to build this bench with a slat back as well. Yours looks great. Just 2X2's, right?

Farmhouse - King Headboard - made it longer

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/13/2016 - 19:40

We used flooring from Homedepot for the middle boards.  My decorator suggested that I make it longer and that worked well with this flooring.  We did discover that our Lowe's has the post for only $10 - we paid too much at 84 lumber - only to discover that they were warped - we had to use corner brackets to fix it.

 

Homedepot - Maui Whitewashed Oak 8 mm Thick x 11-1/2 in. Wide x 46-1/2in. Length Click Lock Laminate Flooring (22.28 sq. ft. / case)

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Lowe's grey stain - only had one
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Classic Bunk Bed with Sweet Pea Stairs

Submitted by e_hutch on Fri, 01/17/2014 - 19:03

I wanted a bunk bed for our daughters, it needed to be easily moveable like the "classic bunk beds." I also wanted stairs like the "Sweet Pea Garden" bunk bed because we have toddlers in the house. I modified the classic bunk bed to put the ladder on the end, then built the Sweet Pea stairs to fit to the opening (I think the only difference in dimensions was a 20" top stair. I didn't want the unfinished ends of plywood so I got 4'x16"x3/4" pine boards from lowes which happens to be the width of the stairs in the plan. Instead of using the 1x2's as trim on the ends of the shelves I put two of them together, one all of the way down the front of each stair and one resting on the top of the stair (screwed together) so I wouldn't lose lateral stability. I then spaced 2x2's in between to keep it "simple" looking instead of the heart shaped decorations from the sweet pea bed. I used some 1/4" paintable composite board to provide a backing to the stairs. I bolted the stairs on to the bed with some flat bar stock cut to size and 3/8' in hex bolts cut to length. I used pocket hole joints wherever possible and countersunk all other screws and used 3/8" dots from lowes to fill the holes. I painted it with a coat of primer and a coat of Glidden Trim and Door paint in antique white from the Easy Vintage Step Stool project.

Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Glidden Door and Trim, Antique White
Kilz Complete Primer
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

zaphod

Mon, 06/23/2014 - 06:39

This is absolutely beautiful! Did you modify the size for toddler mattresses?
I would love to do the same for my kiddos - is there any way you could send me your version of the plans? [email protected]

Thanks so much!

Entryway shelf with coat hangers

Submitted by Tonja on Fri, 01/03/2020 - 11:43

I needed additional coat storage, particularly for some of the larger family gatherings that we host in our home. My challenge was that the entry is long and narrow and is directly opposite and in full view from my formal dining room. I needed something that would have a cleaner and more formal look. I had been perusing various designs for months, but everything I found still looked like a mudroom. This design was perfect for my space! I made it the length I needed for adequate door clearance and to evenly center it on the wall. I altered the construction slightly. I used insert nuts to attach the dowels to the front board and screwed them from through the back. This left the face untouched and also allowed the dowels to be tightened down and provide more structural support. I also used a 1"x 4" against the wall and 1"x 6"s for the remaining sides. This resulted in the front being 2" lower than the back (like a skirt), so when you sat in my dining room it obstructed the view of the components underneath. If I didn't tell you, you would never know. I screwed it into 4 studs...it's solid as a rock. I managed to get it finished the weekend before Christmas Eve--the 'big test'...it held up nearly 30 winter coats! It was a big hit at the party--everyone wants one! It's only in primer right now, soon I'm going to paint it and the wall to match. Thank you for the awesome plan!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Primer / paint. I used a small velvety style roller to get a similar finish to the wall, since my intention is to paint them the same color. I used wood putty and sanded all the seams.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Star

Thu, 11/02/2023 - 10:33

I would like to make this floating shelf and use it in the entryway as well. Would you be able to share the cut dimensions you used? I'm new to woodworking and I have a question about the cut list on the blog post. It says 2 - 1x4 at 90" and then 1 - 1x8 at 96". Shouldn't the 1x8 also be cut at 90"? Also what are the end piece sizes 1x4 cut at 5 3/4"?

Tonja

Mon, 01/29/2024 - 07:14

Hi Star,
I had to go back and look at the original plans...Yes, you are correct. Per the illustration, all those boards are the same length.

Corner Headboard Storage for Twin Beds

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/08/2016 - 18:27

Corner unit for kids bedroom. Added fabric boxes from ikea. The fit perfectly 

Estimated Cost
$200.00. All the materials are from the Home Depot
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr. Polar bear white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Pool Steps & Safety Gate

Needed a safety gate and steps to get into the pool. Even provided shelter for the pump and filter.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kitchen Island

We had an area in our kitchen where the washer and dryer use to be, and we wanted to build a cabinet that would fit in that spot. We took these plans and adjusted the sizes to fit the space we needed. We made the depth deeper and we cut off one of the side drawers and doors. We found a pre-made 1 1/2 inch butcher block counter top at a local wood supply warehouse that fit our needs perfectly. The countertop was about a quarter of the price of the whole cabinet, but it was worth it. In the drawers we used wrapping paper that we found at Cost Plus which fits us to a "T". We painted it with General Finish Milk Paint in Bayberry Green and used a clear coat with a satin finish. My biggest advice to someone making this cabinet is to take your time and make sure everything is square.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$600
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
General Finish Milk Paint Bayberry Green, Satin Clear Coat
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

vabvive

Mon, 07/02/2012 - 10:10

You've done a beautiful job! What did you find was key to getting everything square?

This is lovely & has inspired me to make my own. I need a piece for my master bedroom that I can use as a TV stand and also to conceal my laundry baskets. Originally I'd planned on adapting a sideboard and using a tip-out door like Ana's trash bin for the laundry -- but this piece is so beautiful I may just ensure that my laundry basket will fit inside and build as-is so that I can easily have the option to use it differently if I want to.

Schweizerfamily

Wed, 07/04/2012 - 06:59

Thank you so much. We purchased a couple of Clamp it Assemby Sqares from rockler.com. These helped a lot for getting everything square. We also took our time and did not rush.

Dustin (not verified)

Wed, 07/11/2012 - 19:42

Love your modified sideboard! The color is gorgeous and the butcher block is a great addition!

I was wondering what kind of hinges you used. I looked for flush mount hinges at Lowes today and they are not going to work. I want it to look like yours where you can barely see the hinge.

Do you remember the name of it? Where you got it? Pic? Any help would be appreciated!!

Dustin Roberts
[email protected]

Schweizerfamily

Wed, 07/11/2012 - 20:15

Thank you very much. We had a really hard time finding hinges also. We tried Home Depot and Lowes and came up empty. We finally went on to Hillary Louise's blog and follow the links to the website where she bought her hinges. http://www.cabinetparts.com

Here are the links that she posted.

http://www.cabinetparts.com/p/amerock-traditional-cabinet-hinges-AMCM31…

http://www.cabinetparts.com/p/amerock-traditional-cabinet-hinges-AMCM31…

We just bought ours in a different color.

Becka (not verified)

Sat, 09/08/2012 - 13:14

My husband & I are looking to build our own too but the dimensions of the original plan would make it too big for our dining area. Yours would be a perfect size though - would you mind posting the size adjustment for yours? Or could you email it to me? I would be forever grateful :)

Love the color you painted it too....very nice choice!

Becka Krikorian (not verified)

Sat, 09/08/2012 - 13:18

My husband & I are looking to build our own too but the dimensions of the original plan would make it too big for our dining area. Yours would be a perfect size though - would you mind posting the size adjustment for yours? Or could you email it to me? I would be forever grateful :)

Love the color you painted it too....very nice choice!

rhettar

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 11:37

This is exactly the size down I had in mind and was wondering how it would look with one door off by itself, it looks great! I even thought about incorporating one door to actually be a tilt or pull out for trash. You guys did a wonderful job and it looks like it was built in where you ended up putting it in your kitchen... Are you going to do a little something now to match on the other side of the stove?

Schweizerfamily

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 09:12

Thats a great idea. We were thinking one our next projects would be a mix between this and Ana's recycling center with the tilt out for dog food.

Double Kayak Rack

Submitted by JamieLynn on Tue, 05/26/2020 - 09:44

I couldn't find a plan for this but found a picture of what I was looking for. It's a little too big but works. Took about 3 hours to make. Used mostly scrap wood.

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

American Girl Doll Trundle Day Bed

My neice wanted a bed just like hers for her American Girl Doll. I did manage to find one, but I also found plans here! Thank you!! :) So I modified the plans a little bit to add the back of the daybed. She loves it!

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

Rolling laundry cart

Submitted by smitcher on Wed, 06/03/2020 - 13:48

My husband and I have been inspired by your website and are getting started with wood working projects. We did this cart on the weekend. We used MDF board for the front, back and shelf bottoms because we had it laying around after replacing our garage shelving. I’m pleased with how it turned out given that we are just beginners. I do think we’ll have to invest in a table saw. Not a fan of working with MDF board. We used the example found on Infarrantlycreative.net but changed it up slightly. (Sorry about the first photo, I can’t seem to delete it)

Estimated Cost
Under




Approximately $35 CAD because we had the MDF, paint and nails
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Play Deck/Fort

Submitted by seeca13 on Sun, 06/01/2014 - 10:06

I wanted to build a structure for the kids to play in, but not include a playhouse. I used the playhouse deck design and made it slightly smaller (6 feet by 8 feet). The "roof" is removable to provide shade when it's sunny. It's just PVC and a tarp - pretty simple, but it does the job. I used treated posts and untreated lumber for the rest of it. I painted everything in my garage before assembling it. Once all of the wood at been painted, but came together pretty quickly!

Estimated Cost
$300 (including screws and paint)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Thompsons deck stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Bunk / Loft Bed Combo

Submitted by Linda7 on Tue, 07/01/2014 - 22:14

With three boys ages 17, 14, and 9 sleeping in one small bedroom, an efficient bunk bed/loft bed system seemed to be the perfect choice. I used the bunk bed plans from The Handbuilt Home, but I increased the height, and moved the steps to the end. The loft bed is basically the same as the bunk beds, but without the bottom bunk. I left the top rail off the head of the loft bed, creating a space so that they could crawl from the top bunk to the loft if desired. The short side rails on the top bunk are attached to the head of the loft bed.

The beds are modular and could be stand-alone beds, but I used TimberLok heavy duty wood screws to screw the beds together at the "intersection" on the bottom rail of the top bunk and loft, and the bottom rail of the bottom bunk and loft. That makes the beds very sturdy.

The entire system comes apart for storage or if a move ensues later. One other modification gleaned from a brag post was to use spacers on the cleats of the side rails so that you can just lay the slats down without having to screw them down. What a time-saver!

Thank you Ana White for the lovely plans and to all the brag posters for the ideas.

Estimated Cost
Around $225.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I filled the knots and obvious spaces left by the rounded edges of the 2 x 4 where horizontal joined vertical. I then sanded from 80 down to 220 grit. I used 1 coat of Minwax Pre-stain conditioner, followed by 1 coat of Minwax "Gunstock" stain and 3 coats of Minwax wipe-on clear satin Poly. I used a cloth to apply the stain and poly, which provided a smooth, lovely finish. I like the rustic look of the wood knots and grain, but I didn't want primitive. It took almost 1 quart of stain, and a pint of poly for this project.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Linda7

Tue, 07/29/2014 - 21:50

Jacqueline...sorry for the late reply, but I've been out of town and just now saw this. The plans for the bunk bed itself is from Ana's book The Handbuilt Home. The loft part is basically the same build, but I left off the bottom bunk. I did increase the height of the beds and moved the built-in ladder to the foot board. I tried to explain my mods in the "about this project" section of the post. If you have any questions, just email me.

Linda7

Fri, 04/17/2015 - 18:39

Well, as I mentioned in the original post, I built these beds to be modular so that they could be moved or stored. Less than a year after the beds were finished and installed, my family moved. As we took the beds down, we made sure all the parts were labeled and grouped the slats for each bed. It was easy to reconstruct it at the new house, especially because the spacers between the cleats for the slats enabled us to just lay them down w/o having to use screws.

Build a Loft Bed (and win your daughters heart)

When it was time for a big girl bed for my daughter I was so excited because I had been WANTING to make the Hanging Loft Bed since first spying it on The Bumper Crop and Ana White. I'm a novice so this was the perfect first project for me and my daughter LOVES it. If you have unique space challenges in any of your bedrooms this is the bed for you.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200 (I needed to buy some tools)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Rob from Wisconsin (not verified)

Tue, 12/18/2012 - 17:17

What a great idea! I can't wait to make one for my little girl next weekend. Can I ask a few questions? How did you affix it to the ceiling? I will not be able to get on top of the ceiling so I will be finding he joists with a stud-finder. I assume you screwed in eye-bolts?

How did you make the rail and ladder? Any help is GREATLY appreciated. Thanks so much for the idea, my Daughter is going to love it!

Thanks,
Rob

britpatt2010

Thu, 08/01/2013 - 06:03

I just wanted to say that I just came across this and absolutely love it! My daughter and our new baby will be sharing a room and now I have inspiration on how to make it work! Can't wait to try this out! Love the ladder...how did you make the ladder?

Farmhouse Queen Plans

Submitted by naomi on Fri, 08/29/2014 - 02:42

I have wanted to build this bed for a very long time. I finally bit the bullet, stopped procrastinating and just got on with it and thank god I did. It was actually easier than I thought. It just about built itself! I built this bed taller than the plans called for. I used joist hangers to support the mattress beams. The joist hangers were attached to the inside of the siderails and the mattress beams just slot into them for easy removal. The most time consuming part about this build was the painting. It is extremely sturdy. This bed will last a life time.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White Enamel Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Ana White chicken coop with modifications

We started with the basic chicken shed coop plans and modified it some. We wanted the peak to be in the front for ease of access and to allow leaves from tree overhead and rain and snow to fall to the back away from the entrance. The windows raise from the inside using 1/8" wire secured on the inside with a rope cleat hook.

We added Dutch doors. We added latches for the pop door to keep it iopen or closed as needed. Dutch doors also have decorative latches and eyehook latches to secure them when they are fully open. I rested the shed on 12 in. x 8 in. x 12 in. concrete patio pier blocks to allow drainage. we extended the roof about 6 " to allow for extra protection and avoid dripping whe  it rains.

On the inside I have a roost and a poop deck. Hanging from the poopdeck I have their feed to keep it off the floor and keep shavings, etc. from getting into the food. The poop deck  and the floor are covered with comercial grade tile to facilitate easier cleaning.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$1,000 including tools (Keg Jig) decorative hinges, wood, sheathing, shingles.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White KILZ primer, Glidden Kenya for walls of coop and basic Glidden white. and Glidden red for Dutch Doors, for 1X6 under roof Glidden dark brown
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

anxo-a

Sat, 03/14/2015 - 02:50

Hi!

I love your coop and the modifications you made - I was planning on doing the same thing with the placement of the door. I was wondering if you could post a couple of photo of the inside of the coop? I'm especially interested in where you placed the roost.

Thank you so much for sharing!

Raised Cedar Fence Post Berry Patch

Submitted by AmyJM on Fri, 12/07/2012 - 17:56

I used the same cedar fence boards, but for a large berry patch made with minimal cuts. The end boards are 1/2 the length of the long side boards. I made them 2 fence widths high - about 11 inches. Each bed is nearly 12 feet long. I joined the dogeared ends of 2 boards in the center, making a diamond cut out pattern that looked good. In order to support the tall sides, I used cedar 2x4x8 boards. Use 18-24 inch posts on each corner and at the center joint. I cut an additional board in half, affixing it to the center posts, to brace the long sides and add stability. Each box is approximately 3 feet wide, 12 feet long, and 11 inches tall. You'll need 8 fence posts for the long sides, 2 for the short sides, and 1/2 for the brace - you could use a different piece of wood for this, but the cedar fence posts are such a deal. You'll also need approximately 9 feet of cedar 2x4 for the corner posts - I bought 8 foot lengths and cut each into 2 foot posts for stability. The cost was around I'll add 2x4 posts in the spring and put a trellis behind the raspberries. If the birds start to steal my blueberries, I'll add metal or wooden corner posts that will support fruit netting. We're planting strawberries around the base of the larger fruit bushes. The 11 inch sides should keep rabbits from invading. If they are persistent, I'll add a few inches of chicken wire around the top edge. This made the equivalent square footage of 4 of Ana's original $10 beds.

Estimated Cost
Around $75 for 2 - most of the cost was in the 2x4s.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Light sanding, no finish
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

CEFreeman (not verified)

Sun, 12/09/2012 - 10:40

I'm putting together several L-shaped raised beds out of 6x6s with the internal walls being 2x6s. This gives me encouragement. I really like the look of this! Thanks.

CEFreeman (not verified)

Sun, 12/09/2012 - 10:42

I'm putting together several L-shaped raised beds out of 6x6s with the internal walls being 2x6s. This gives me encouragement. I really like the look of this! Thanks.

Love our new greenhouse!

With the help of friends and family, we managed to build this greenhouse rather easily. We had to start with the foundation since the spot we chose was not an even grade. We did this by filling sono tubes with cement and leveling each off so the greenhouse would have a solid place to sit. We then built out a frame around the outside of the cement tubes with some reclaimed 6x6's. After that, we filled the space with 5 tons of river rock and then got to work! After the foundation was ready putting the rest of the house together was a piece of cake. The frame was so easy to put together. We had a few minor kinks to work out here and there, I won't say this house came out 100% perfectly, BUT I am so happy with the end results. We chose to paint it a deep green color as a final touch. So far we just moved a few potted plants from our deck to the greenhouse for the winter. It has been working very well to keep the plants cozy during the colder days we've had. Eventually, I plan to build a potting station, shelving, and most likely a garden bed for winter harvests.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$2000
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Ana White Admin

Mon, 11/09/2020 - 09:52

The foundation looks great the greenhouse looks amazing! I'm sure fun was had building it too:) Thanks for sharing.

Seasonal And Holiday
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