Community Brag Posts

my new sofa

I built my new sofa!
I am so happy how it turned out. I had to translate all the instuctions in french, and modify the dimensions to adapt them to the lumbers I found in my country (France)
I had to change inches in centimeters too.
It was just a little difficult but I built it!!!
Thank you so much Ana, I am one of your fan.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
150 euros
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
ebony gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

alamanda973

Wed, 08/17/2011 - 08:35

I did not find Kreg Jig, but I found another "mark" who proposes the same system.It is less good than Ana's Kreg Jig, but I had no choice. In any case, that works. Thank you for your comments and sorry for my bad English.

Catherine Lake (not verified)

Fri, 07/27/2012 - 06:44

Did you use a mattress for your cushion? Did the plan fit that for you, or did you have to modify?

Catherine Lake (not verified)

Fri, 07/27/2012 - 06:45

Did the plan fit the mattress exactly or did you have to modify it?

alamanda973

Fri, 07/27/2012 - 17:30

I don't know the size of a twin mattress but my pillow measures 180cm of length and 60 cm deep for a thickness of 14cm. I bought a foam mattress of 90cm of wide and of 190cm of length and I cut it. They are the size of a child bed in France.The size of wood are different here thus the sofa has no same dimensions as on Ana's plans. I adjusted according to the wood available here.

Rustic Table

Submitted by mr.robert on Mon, 09/09/2013 - 18:20

My spin on the rustic table. Used staircase spindles for legs, cut the side boards to accommodate. Rest of plan was pretty much the same. Wife wanted a big table, thats what she got.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Vintage Simple Bench Nightstand

I loved the country gray paint, so stayed with that. But my bed is one of the farmhouse beds and needed it to be a little taller. It turned out beautiful and have already made a second to match! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum's country gray and water based sealer
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Tilt out garbage cabinet

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/01/2019 - 16:06

Pine box with walnut top and drawer faces. Behr paint on the box and tung oil finish on the walnut. 

Estimated Cost
$70
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr paint and Fromers Tung Oil
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Loft Bed for Teenager

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 19:58

Designed a loft bed for teenage son. We used iKea shelving cubes for stairs/storage. The boards(flooring) are pine boards stained a dark brown. The other wood is painted black. The "headboard" is actually the bookcase shelf from his desk.

Comments

Rustic Bench

Submitted by spiceylg on Sun, 08/21/2011 - 12:10

My hubby and I built this for a fundraiser. A few challenges along the way, but lessons learned for future projects!

Estimated Cost
$15 for wood, plus primer, paint and stain
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I'm sorry I don't have the exact names/brands of the finishes. First step was using a wood conditioner, thanx to everybody else's recommendations. The base is painted with a black satin shade from Valspar, finished with one coat of polyurethane. The top stain is named Cherrywood, not sure of what brand and finished up with three coats of polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

mattmasulis

Tue, 11/26/2013 - 21:52

I absolutely love this. I never even noticed it on the site before looking through your brags. Love it!

Storage Shelf with hooks

Submitted by REASMOM on Thu, 09/12/2013 - 12:16

I built this shelf for my mudroom. I modified this plan to fit my space, it is 36 inches wide. I also used 3 - 1x3" pine boards for the top. Love this plan so much that I've made two more to give away as gifts!

Estimated Cost
$50 (not including stain and polyurethane)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax stain in Early American and 3 coats of Minwax Water Based, Oil-Modified Polyurethane (Satin).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Beauty Storage Cabinet with Sliding Mirror Door

Submitted by charms on Wed, 11/18/2015 - 08:39

I built the beauty storage cabinet with sliding mirror door from Ana White's website.

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Queen shim bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/05/2019 - 17:44

Queen bed with shim head and foot boards

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80-100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Lounger Sofa by Mark

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/07/2022 - 09:11

Just wanted to share the results of the sectional I built with your plans. 

I’m new to woodwork, newly retired, built these for my daughters, with a twist, she wanted a lounger sofa, hope you like. 

lounge sofa

outdoor lounge sofa

Comments

Furring strips for a headboard

I loved that I used strapping, or furring strips, for this bead. The topper wood is a 2X4, but every other 8" piece of wood cost between $1.25 and $1.99 each. Yeah! Of course, for that price, you have to know you will be sanding the heck out of it. We had a metal frame for this bed but I wanted a headboard. Because it was going against a wall with a 45 degree angle, I had to make it a lot shorter than I wanted. I made it just tall enough so both pillows, when stacked on top of each other, did not fall off the back. I just love it.

Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
I think I used Minwax Ebony stain. Just one coat was enough as I wanted the wood grains to come through. Then I finished it off with my favorite closer, the Finishing Paste. One swipe and it feels great.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

GUEST (not verified)

Fri, 04/13/2012 - 15:33

I am intrigued by this finishing paste you speak of. Could you tell me more?

debandtom25

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 14:53

I'm not at home right now, but I think it was minwax finishing wax. I love using wax on mt pieces.

claydowling

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:51

If you can't find the minwax that debandtom25 used, you can also get a nice paste wax from Johnson Wax. I know that's what's on my finishing shelf, and like deb, I love it.

Bed Frame

We haven't had bed frame since we moved from Florida and as we now have our own home, it was time to get one. My friend gave me headboard they had no use, so I just had to build rest of a frame.
Notice that we are middle of the hole house renovation so we have no trims, walls are lacking paint etc :) I still need to make night stands and closet for us :) Let see how they come out.

Follow our projects and life middle of the mountains in my blog :)

http://ourleaningtree.wordpress.com/diy/bed-frame/

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
40$
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used dark walnut stain, but only one layer.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Snowflake

Submitted by Kyjo5 on Sat, 11/21/2015 - 21:13

Followed the plans for the Easy monogram snowflake, painted it with pewter gray, and added a set of battery powered led lights to the back.  Thanks for the plans Ana fun build and now everyone wants one. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Oil based paint. Pewter gray
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Rustic farmhouse table - 30"

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/09/2019 - 07:57

Great project for my first attempt at building a farmhouse table.  I adjusted the base to allow a chair to slide in at both ends.  Braced breadboards on each end with (3) 2x4.  Very strong and sturdy.  Decided not to use the lower base support to see how it held up and has been extremely stable.  My wife liked the open look so that's all I needed to hear.  Excellent plans, had fun and came out better than I anticipated!

Estimated Cost
$250 ish
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Stained, 3 layers of oil based semigloss polyurethane (sanded between coats, then 2 layers of water based matte finish. (Looked too shiny with semigloss for our taste)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Raised flower planter beds

Submitted by stcarroll on Fri, 08/26/2011 - 10:36

We bought a house with a death trap for a back step. Until we get to re-doing the entire back patio area I needed a temporary solution to keeping the kids from toddling off the back 'ledge'. I modified Ana's plans to make a nice border around the step so kids can't fall off when they are coming and going from the backyard. We had left over cedar fence slats from when we did our fence last spring...PERFECT and FREE!!!!!

Estimated Cost
Free!!!!
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Sandie

Fri, 08/26/2011 - 14:56

This is a really good idea - much better than spending $ on a banister or rail that you will need to remove later! Good parenting, too!

child's bench with arbor

Submitted by Juriathe on Tue, 09/17/2013 - 22:50

I loved the original one posted and it inspired me to create our own version. It's getting great reviews !

Estimated Cost
less than $50.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
exterior latex
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Apothecary Media Console

Submitted by Laura Kemp on Mon, 11/23/2015 - 15:52

This project was made from Ana White's apothecary media console plan. The finish is Minwax Special Walnut on the drawers and top. On the sides is a finish technique I found on thehouseofsmiths.com - Faux Barn Wood Painting Tutorial.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used an Olympic Brand Weathered Barnwood stain first. Then I used a shade of light grey, dark grey, and black paints (all Valspar brand) that I bought at Lowe's. I used one color at a time - and used a dry brush technique to put each color on. Then I did a quick sanding and after I wiped it down, another coat of the weathered barnwood Olympic stain. One more sanding and it was done!
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Beam Table with benches

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/13/2019 - 13:11

Anna White Beam Table with Benches 

This was a fun build. I used the HD Kreg Jig for the 4x4 beams and a standard Kreg Jig for the table. The bases were done with a white wash finish and the tops done with a few different stains to give it more of a barn look

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Fence Slat Interior Barn Door

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 10/27/2022 - 12:09

Using 6’ fence slats. Planed until smooth then assembled to fill opening. Finished with beeswax and mineral oil with additional hanging hardware, handle and floor roller.

Comments

Our "Stop Breaking Our Back" washer and dryer pedestals

The husband kept complaining that the washer and dryer were too low without pedestals. Well, no problem! I've got plans from Ana's site.

I measured to fit our machines and followed the plans. But somewhere along the way I screwed up. I think it might have been how I attached the legs with the "L" brackets. My legs were sitting away from the base, not flush with it. Anyhow, the way to correct my mistake was to attach the moulding along the sides, front and back of the base, not around the legs. But I don't mind the way it looks. Just an FYI: there was a lot of waste with the sheets of MDF, but that's not a problem because I'm using it in another project as I write. :)

First, I put on two coats of primer. Then I decided I wanted a splash of turquoise in the basement, so I mixed a blue and yellow paint until I got the color I desired. After a few coats of paint, I distressed and then decided to tone down the color a bit with a Valspar glaze. I put on two coats of poly, hoping that would be enough to withstand the inevitable water on the pedestal. I thought the piece was screaming for a quote, so I painted "The most memorable days usually end with the dirtiest clothes."

And you think with the new height he'd help me with laundry a bit more? Yeah, I think not.

Estimated Cost
$70
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Mixed a blue and yellow paint to get the turquoise. Put two coats of paint on over the primer. For the first time I thought I would try distressing with candle wax. I rubbed the candle down the edges of the wood and gently brushed away any wax crumbs. Then I painted over it. When it was time for distressing, I gently rubbed the sandpaper over the edges and the paint easily came off. Definitely looks different than distressing with just sanding. Finished up with a little glaze then 2 coats of polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

VeronicaGentry (not verified)

Tue, 08/30/2011 - 18:58

I love the color! I'm usually not a fan of quotes on furniture but this is really cute and it fits perfectly! Great job!

BethG (not verified)

Sat, 09/10/2011 - 17:44

What a great idea, and I love the color choice! We have front loaders and bought the drawers for the bottom. While they are decent storage, they tend to travel open at times. This has so much more personality and adds a real built in look to the laundry area. I'm sure you saved quite a bit doing it this way over drawers. How is it holding up to the moisture and vibration of a the washers? Keep those great ideas coming.

In reply to by BethG (not verified)

debandtom25

Tue, 09/20/2011 - 18:38

I've been waiting for my machines to "walk off", but the pedestal is holding up well. I made sure to add poly to help protect it from the moisture. So far, so good.