Community Brag Posts

Outdoor Storage Box

I built this to go with my outdoor sectional. It's perfect for storing the cushions and the gardening tools that I like to keep on the porch. It doubles as a table and extra seating in a pinch, so it's a great addition to the space.

I'd recommend either spray painting it or pre-painting the pieces- I wouldn't want to try and brush between all the slats.

Estimated Cost
50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
spray painted with rustoleum 2x the coverage in ebony
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Lift Top Coffee Table - Rustic X Style

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/04/2016 - 18:55

Just wanted to do something a little more original.

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$230
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

kitteny

Tue, 02/07/2017 - 06:33

Could you please provide the plans for this table? Looks perfect for what I need. Thanks!

Upmarket hardwood Adirondack

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/16/2023 - 11:33

Loved design so decided on hardwood and no visible screw heads….. took a while but loved the result

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Nightstand

Nightstands are expensive. I don't have money. So, I thought I would build one. I kept this one rustic looking by not filling the holes but I did sand quite a bit. Just not enough to remove the printing on the boards, I think it looks good when it's got finish on it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
15.00
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Cabot Aged Leather stain ± sealer
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Kid 4x4 Truss Farm Table

A friend asked for a kid sized farmhouse table and I knew immediately what plans I wanted to modify! The 4x4 truss table is my favorite go to table because it is extremely solid, easy to build and looks so nice! I know this table will hold up to the wear and tear of 4 kids for years! I also modified the 2x4 truss benches to match. They are the same style but not as chunky as the 4x4 truss bench plans. 

 

Dimensions for table are 24”h x 24”w x 48”L

benches 16”h x 13.5”w x 33”L

Estimated Cost
$82 for table and two benches
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Ebony stain for the top and 2 coats of poly. Behr paint and primer for base and benches- just white off the shelf
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Bypass Closet Doors for the hallway and master bedroom

Submitted by AlohaMama on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 12:00

I loved the Idea of new closet doors and hated the idea of bi-folds. My house is crooked it seems. The doors don't sit straight and bi-folds always fall off their tracks. When I came upon the plans for Bypass Doors from Old Paint Designs I was hooked! I made 4 doors for the hallway in 1 day, oiled it with Danish Oil in Dark Walnut, hung it the next day and what a difference!! Glass is rather expensive in Hawaii and so is plexi-glass so I opted for Bead Board which gave it a more "country" feel instead of a more modern feel. I wish I could have used glass but the $150 price tag just wasn't fitting into my budget very well. My hubby loved the bypass doors so much he asked me to build them for our open closet. 2 days of work, 8 doors, 2 closets done!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Danish Oil
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Jilley27 (not verified)

Tue, 08/28/2012 - 15:27

Great job on the doors! I am interested in doing this myself. I will have to make 4 doors for my closet as well since I have such a large opening. Can you tell me what the measurments of your closets are? Also what are the dimensions of the pine that you used? Thanks a bunch!

In reply to by Jilley27 (not verified)

AlohaMama

Tue, 08/28/2012 - 18:44

My closet opening is about 8' across. Each door is 26" wide and 79" tall. I made them so the would have a 1" overlap on each side...

I used 1x6 @ 8' lengths of pine. I like the really knotty pine with lots of character! Have fun building! These were pretty simple to make once you get all the boards cut.

Rhyan End Table (or Nightstand) Modified with a Tile Top

Submitted by Joni on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 10:43

I used Ana's plan, but modified it to incorporate a tiled top. If you want to do the same, you simply align the upper shelf with the bottom of the 2x2 frame, fill it in with hardibacker cement board, and tile over that. My stone was thicker than the border used, so I made a narrow shim in order to accommodate and bring them all to the same level.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I labored over the stain and ended up doing multiple steps to get the finish I wanted:
1) Minwax water-based wood conditioner,
2) Minwax water-based stain in American Walnut,
3) Dilution of Minwax water-based stain in Onyx & Cinnamon Toast (3-to-1 mix),
4) General Finishes Glaze in Van Dyke Brown, and
5) 4 coats of Bartley's Satin Poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

spiceylg

Fri, 02/03/2012 - 05:02

Joni - I concur with Ana, this is stunning. I've been wanting tile topped tables. Absolutely beautiful job on the whole thing! Looks store bought.

Chayeri

Sat, 02/04/2012 - 15:54

You just gave me a good idea for the tile that was left over from my kitchen backsplash. That is beautiful and I love the color combination. Great Job

oddie316

Sun, 02/19/2012 - 00:23

I am amazed at the talent here. I am in love with your piece. you shouldbe proud

Julie D. (not verified)

Sat, 06/30/2012 - 11:24

This table is obviously put together like a pro, the tile top is beyond beautiful and creative but what really gets me is your GORGEOUS staining work. I struggle with staining on every project! Any advice or tips on how to get a beautiful finish like yours? You should give a tutorial!

In reply to by Julie D. (not verified)

Joni

Thu, 07/19/2012 - 08:05

Julie, Thanks so much for the feedback. I hate to admit it, but I am unable to get anything to look decent with an oil-based stain; all I get is blotch. I see others on the site with gorgeous colors and finishes that I want, but I can't use them. I can only get consistent results with the water-based stain, and I have to use the pre-stain wood conditioner. With 2 coats of stain, I have fairly consistent results (applying with foam brushes and wiping off with paper towels). On this particular project, I had to mix several colors and layers to get exactly the tone that I wanted.

I'm on my last can of Bartley's gel polyurethane, and they no longer make the product. It allows such control in getting a perfect finish. I don't know what I'm going to use when my can runs out!!

Newbie07 (not verified)

Thu, 11/08/2012 - 10:26

This end table is amazing; looks like an end table you'd buy in a high-end furniture store. The finished looks perfect and the tile top is really creative.

Question: where did you find the 2x2 poplar? I'm looking for some to use for the Rhyan Coffee Table and can't find anything longer than 3 feet.

In reply to by Newbie07 (not verified)

Joni

Thu, 11/08/2012 - 11:57

Thanks for the feedback!! I had to go to a bigger lumber yard to get the poplar 2x2s (Austin Fine Lumber in Austin, TX). The poplar was the cheapest (by far) of the better 2x2s, and the guys told me it wouldn't take a stain very well. They were wrong; it took the stain beautifully. The 2x2s were perfectly straight and had straight edges...much different than the ones from Home Depot or Lowe's.

Bed Side Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/04/2019 - 15:25

My daughter wanted a table to fit a specific location .... your plan for a side table fit the bill - with some dimensional adjustments

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White paint
Dark oak stain with satin poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Reclaimed wood king bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 10/17/2019 - 20:34

Built for a customer out of reclaimed 2x6 spruce corrral boards. There was a lot of sanding involved in prepping this wood, but I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Pergola Sectional

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/14/2023 - 12:40

My first ever attempt at woodworking, after I built the pergola I used the 2x4 outdoor sectional plans and modified slightly to fit the space I had. So easy to follow and delighted with the result. The hardest part of the whole project was making the cushions, that's how easy the woodworking plans were to follow!

@louspoutsstuff tiktok - Lou brown

Built from Plan(s)

Storage Coffee Table with Lift Top

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 08/01/2023 - 15:04

I wanted my top to be a lift top, so I used 1x3's adding breadboard ends. I ordered the lifts from Amazon. I applied a single coat of stain and then sanded it down to give it a more rustic look before applying a satin poly coat.

A. Henry

Comments

BBQ caddy

Submitted by Milhouse on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 22:59

I had some pallet wood laying around and felt like taking on a small project. The boards were warped, but after fighting with them a bit, it turned out well. I was going for the reclaimed, rustic look anyhow :) I find it a little heavy to actually use as a caddy, so it's more for decoration. I think I might plant a few herbs in it, for a little portable herb garden.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Free - made from scraps
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
I stained it with Minwax Jacobean, but it turned out super dark. So I dry brushed some white paint over it, and it turned out 'old and reclaimed' looking!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

handystanley

Mon, 06/18/2012 - 13:26

How many times do you go outside to eat and have to carry everything awkwardly. This is a great idea...I love the rustic look!! Great idea on how to finish it.

My Bookshelf Dollhouse

Submitted by wmaughan on Wed, 04/11/2012 - 22:26

After much deliberation, I decided to make a dollhouse for my daughters Christmas gift. The aesthetics of the bookshelf-style dollhouse appealed to me over the more intricate and fancy designs. I took the literal meaning of the style and incorporated an actual bookshelf/DVD rack into the dollhouse. On the apposing side I built a magnet board for my daughters given that my refrigerator is not magnetic. About the project: I knew my design would end up being heavy so I started by building a basic frame out of construction grade 2x4's. The frame is placed on four casters and is concealed by the baseboard. When on carpet, the casters are not visible and have come in handy. Working upward, the majority of the construction consists of 3/4" cabinet grade plywood which you can find at Home Depot. The "carpet" I chose was an inexpensive bathroom rug that I purchased at Walmart. The scale & thickness of the berber seemed appropriate for the dollhouse and I attached it using carpet glue. For added security I tacked the perimeter with some staples. For the bathroom tiles, I cut some groutable adhesive tiles into squares on the table saw (use a cross cut sled if you have one) and attached them to the bathroom floor. Make sure your surface is free of dust, and a heat gun or a propane heater will accelerate the drying process and create a better bond. Make sure to use unsanded grout for the joints. To make the shingles, I cut a 4'x8' (used about 2/3 of the sheet) piece of 1/4" mahogany veneer into 2.5"x4' strips. The cuts were made perpendicular to the wood grain to give the desired aesthetic. This gave me a robust shingle construction with the look of shake shingles. I then cut about 3/4 of the way through the strips with approximately 1 1/4" separation between each shingle. Attaching the shingles was easy. I didn't want to wait for glue to dry so in addition to some wood glue, I also tacked the row of shingles in place with 3/8" brad nails. When placing the shingles, make sure to start at the bottom and work your way up to the pitch of the roof. This will allow you to overlap the shingles about 3/4" to cover the uncut portion to give it the appearance of individual shingles. You will also want to offset your rows to change the vertical alignment of the shingle spaces. I marked each row with a pencil prior to cutting the final width. You may also consider which side of the shingles you want facing up. I opted for the rough side to give it a more weathered look. With some of the extra shingle material I made hardwood floors for the kitchen.The veneer I purchased was mahogany on one side, and oak on the other which allowed me to alternated sides and give it a unique look. Attach the floor using wood glue and allow 24hrs before sanding. Place weights on the floor to secure it while drying. I applied both a stain (Minwax Golden Oak) and some wipe-op polyurethane for the finish. The storage bins are Ikea boxes that can be easily removed to allow for additional play areas. The piece of sheet metal I used for the magnet board was already cut to the desired size at Home Depot. I attached it using some 3M spray adhesive, then secured it with some poplar strips. I also used the 3M construction adhesive to attach the craft paper/wallpaper. With all of the chaos surrounding Christmas I wasn't able to quite finish it. Here is still what's in progress: - Painted white ladder to loft - Stained mahogany stairs to family room - Kitchen cabinets - Cobblestone chimney - Closet doors

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
120
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Stain for shingles & wood floor was Minwax Golden Oak. Wipe-on poly for wood floors. Paint was Behr paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

ferbit

Thu, 04/12/2012 - 08:29

Oh WOW!!! This turned out amazing! So jealous my kids are too old for a bookcase like this! You did a fantastic job!

jeff womack (not verified)

Fri, 04/13/2012 - 15:18

How did you make the railing? It looks great, but wouldn't it be fragile? What did you use for trim and molding throughout the house? Did you use a dremel to work with the small details? This is an amazing looking doll house that my daughter would love. I just may need to do this sometime before Christmas.

birdsandsoap

Fri, 04/13/2012 - 20:38

Looks like an intricate design, and whoa! All of those little shingles by hand? Good job. I love how you incorporated the bin storage into the bottom.

wmaughan

Mon, 04/16/2012 - 17:32

It gives the appearance of individual shingles, but I actually just cut strips with grooves in them. I have seen several dollhouses with shingles that have fallen off so I wanted to avoid that :)

Milca (not verified)

Fri, 06/08/2012 - 20:32

Super duper good job on it :) Wish I had time to make one like that for my 4 yo. She's so particular, can't let her see the pictures ah ah. Lucky girls! Talented mama!

New Room for Hayden

I promised my daughter that I would build her a new room for her birthday (in February). I finally got around to it in late March and I couldn't be more excited! She picked out the paint color (blue) for her room. And I got to work! Every time I go in her room I smile and feel so incredibly accomplished! I did the whole project myself! The only exception was carrying it up to her room. I overcame my fear of the circular saw which was awesome. The only problem was my oldest took one look at the room, fell to the ground in tears and wanted to know why her little sister had a "better" room than she did. And where her bed was! So I told her we'd get her a desk - she looked at me and said "No Mommy - I want you to build it!" I love that!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Prime and painted.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

dananryan

Sat, 04/21/2012 - 09:11

You have every reason to feel accomplished! The room looks stunning. And you've already inspired your daughters to DIY. Time to build some memories ;-)

Abdul Wahid (not verified)

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 02:48

thankyou very good idea

barnes7483

Sun, 07/12/2015 - 19:31

Okay I have found the plans for the bed, the towers and the hutch on top but i cannot find plans for what the hutch is sitting on.  I know its non on the bed or that would shorten it.  Where can i find plans to build the headboard that the hutch is on?

Farm House jewelry Cabinet

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/28/2020 - 12:23

The plans were simple to follow. Made some small changes, used some pine wood wall paneling from Lowes. The pine paneling was used on the back and door. Both were inset with a routed step the same thickness as the panels.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
minwax stain espresso
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Jewelry Cabinet

Building this Jewelry Cabinet was really fun and easier than I expected. I made one to give away as a birthday gift, could not resist making another to keep. I don't really have that much jewelry, I just think its gorgeous! I loved the look of the original posted project, that I wanted to duplicate it just as it was.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$35 for wood, hardware, and hardware cloth
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Weathered Gray, then sanded for weathered look
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Pergola Project

Thank you for the plans! They were easy to follow and my girlfriend and I are very happy how the pergola turned out. I used the 2x6's and 2x4's due to being in Nebraska with heavy snow and high winds often to give it more durability. I can't wait to start on the sectional. Total cost was about 350 dollars...so cheap in comparison to what they sell for.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Jade (not verified)

Fri, 05/11/2012 - 14:43

love this

taylorgdaddy

Sat, 05/12/2012 - 05:22

Thank you Ana, I have had multiple people say it looks like it is on fire...hilarious :) We will be adding outdoor fabric over the top for shade and gathering outdoor curtains on the posts. Will take another pic when that is complete. This site is awesome and I will continue to support you as much as I am able.

Thanks for the comment Jade!

lipstickandsawdust

Sun, 05/13/2012 - 06:03

Very nice Pergola, the color is perfect and the construction rocks! This is on my list of to- do projects for my mom. I have not really made any "outdoor" projects yet. So, I'll keep getting my feet wet with indoor projects.

taylorgdaddy

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 08:31

Thank you lipstickandsawdust! I can send the other plans that I combined with Ana's which showed how to do the cut out notches if you like this construction better. Have a great weekend.

Forrest (not verified)

Tue, 08/28/2012 - 09:24

You mentioned that you combined another set of plans when it came to cutting the notches. That's one of the hang ups I have getting started is that I'm not sure how best to do that. What did you do? The pergola looks great!

jdlemmons

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 11:45

My husband is DYING to have a pergola. I showed him the plans and he is down to build and is really excited for it! That's our next project as soon as I finish our bed (haha!). Did you paint or stain this?

taylorgdaddy

Sat, 05/19/2012 - 05:01

I is the Behr weatherproof stain and the color was "coffee". It took two gallons which was two coats. Post pics when your husband is done I would like to see them. Good luck with the bed.

YankeeBelle

Fri, 05/25/2012 - 18:54

Great job! I want to build one too! The original plans say advanced, but on this post it says beginner.....watcha think? Can I do it? (so far I've made a picture frame and framed out some trimwork). Thanks for posting....btw, I love the twinkle lights!

slee (not verified)

Wed, 06/27/2012 - 17:00

You did an awesome job! I'll be showing my husband these pics and hopefully they will inspire him to make us one too! I'd love your modifications to the plans also since we have heavy snow etc.. up here in Quebec too. Thanks for sharing!

jeremy bales (not verified)

Thu, 09/20/2012 - 06:47

Im trying to build a 10x10 just like this but im trying to figure out exactly what wood dimensions I should order before i do. Im going to use cedar and I know i want to use 6x6 posts and I want to use 2x6 on top like yours but i cant figure out what exactgly I need to order. My wife wants me to do the decorative around the posts as well.
Please help!

sully82384

Sun, 04/28/2013 - 11:27

Hi I was hoping you would share your plans with me I live in oregon I wanna make one of these but I plan on using 12 ft 4x4 posts putting them 3 ft in the ground and I like the way you used 2x4's and 2x6's id like to know the dimensions you used if you modified anas plan what was your spacing and what degree did you cut the outside piece's on the 2x4's and 2x6's I love the design you created from anas plan

Radiator Covers

Submitted by pde00311 on Mon, 02/24/2014 - 22:15

We loved the radiant air in our new early 20th century house, but as our daughter learned to crawl, we needed to prevent her little fingers from touching the two radiators that were still uncovered. After I finished my first few builds, I custom designed these radiator covers with 1x2s, 1x3s 2x2s and 1x12s. Needless to say, I got a ton of use out of my Kreg Jig. On the middle panel of the larger cover, I used a bit of decorative metal that they sell at the Big Box stores (of course, it would have been easier to use more of it, but I am a bit paranoid about little fingers touching a metal cover). For a final touch, I covered the top of the larger cover with decorative glass. For the smaller cover, I matched the distressed pink throughout the rest of my daughter's nursery.

Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr camembert paint (for the larger living room) and Behr Kashmir pink paint with distressed w/Martha Stewart vintage gold specialty finish (for the nursery)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
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