Community Brag Posts

DIY Shed Chicken Coop

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/16/2023 - 10:30

8x12 coop modified from your classic shed plans. 2/3 for the chickens, 1/3 for storage.

by Harmony Munson

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Counter Height Garden Boxes by Janet Fox

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/15/2020 - 15:21

My 15 and 12-year-old sons made two of these for me. Super easy, they followed the step by step instructions which were perfect, easy to read. They made two in only a few hours!

Estimated Cost
$130 in suplies
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Painted Tryde End Table with Shelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/27/2016 - 01:00

A white spruce base painted with hessian chalk paint and waxed with furniture wax over the top. Topped off with a section of oak block kitchen counter waxed with dark oak wax

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust Oleum Hessian chalk paint with furniture wax over the top
Old Oak Kitchen counter top with Briwax dark oak wax
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

My first planter box!

This planter box turned-out looking great! I put it together the first go-round using all kreg-jig screws, but couldn't get the pieces to sit flush with each other, so I took everything apart...and used star-drive screws instead of nails). I have decided that I hate nails.

I used the kreg jig to attach the 4 posts, but then used brackets to attach the rest of the panels -- this worked well! Once I put the slats in the bottom, it was very sturdy.

 

TIPS: don't be afraid to alter the plan. If you like working with brackets, use them!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
n/a
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Fancy Picnic Table - Definately worth the extra little effort!

Submitted by mlmerrel on Wed, 06/20/2012 - 10:30

Needed a table for our deck, but didn't want to spend the $400-500 on sets at the store. Followed the plan for the most part and it was fairly easy to build. The only thing I did differently was in building the ends was put the "X" supports in after making the "I" shape in case I was off with my cuts.

Spent an hour cutting all the pieces on a Friday night and about 3 hours assembling Saturday morning. Table was ready to eat lunch on!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$90 (thanks to the Veteran discount at Lowe's)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None, yet... plan to stain at the end of the summer once the wood dries out.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

mlmerrel

Thu, 07/05/2012 - 12:05

I did not use a Kreg jig because i dont havd one and I didn't try to hide my screws. I did pre-drill all my holes so that I didn't split any boards... and my dad is a carpenter so he helped me attach the 2 cross pieces (which is the only part I had trouble with) to the ends, which we did by just angling the screws in. I will try to take a few more detailed pics in the next few days so you can get a better idea of how I did it.

I Rub (not verified)

Mon, 07/02/2012 - 03:37

Hi, great build !
Could you please explain how and from where did you screw the curved pieces at the bases ?
same question for the table top boards ?

Thank you!

In reply to by I Rub (not verified)

mlmerrel

Thu, 07/05/2012 - 12:03

If you look at the first drawing I have attached it will show you where to screw the curved pieces in. I screwed through the 1 x 4 to attach the smaller curved piece. Then I would screw through the larger curved piece into the smaller curved piece to attach it.

The table top pieces I screwed in from the top into the side pieces that you build first. I used 2 screws per board per side. The 2 boards in the middle should have screws at least 2 inches in from each side. The 2 boards on the end will have one set of screws 2 inches from the side that is next to the boards in the middle. The second set of screws will end up in about the middle of the outside boards. I'm going to attach another drawing to explain. Let me know if this helps.

I Rub

Mon, 07/09/2012 - 11:22

I plan on building the table this week, will use your advice. Much appreciated.

Gus (not verified)

Sun, 07/15/2012 - 16:20

Thank you for posting this. I started the project yesterday and I started with putting the cross braces on first and it did not turn out leveled. I thought that I would try to put it together first and then add the cross braces but was scared if it would hold. Thanks to your post I feel more confidant about it. I am going to make a run to the big box store and start over. Its okay because this is my very first build and I am just happy with my first 45 degree cut with my new circular saw ;) I guess its a learning process.

Thanks again for your post,
Gus

Truss Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/08/2024 - 10:12

Our 4x4 Truss Beam Table made by my husband for our new house. Stain is Minwax slate gel stain.

 

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Doggy Door or Baby Gate

I installed a half door to isolate our dog from the laminate flooring when he sleeps at night.

It was only $25 for the hollow core 6 panel door from HD, which got cut in half.
$25 for the passage knob.
$10 for top plate and trim
Less than $5 for the hinges.

Not having to replace the laminate flooring priceless!

Some Tips:

The $25 door is not prehung. Buy the $14 dollar irwin door jig to install the door "http://www.homedepot.ca/product/door-lock-installation-kit-carbon/904157" It will come in handy if you are remodeling and installing new doors to replace those old flat panel doors. You will also have to chisel out the hinges.

When installing and marking the hinge locations in the door frame shim the door a 1/4" off the floor.

Estimated Cost
$65 materials + $15 jig = $80
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Great weekend project...the "love swing"

Submitted by Don Ellery on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 15:49

A great weekend project...the "love swing"! I used the plan from Ana for the swing seat and added two arm rests from left over 1x6, rounded them off and sanded.

I cobbled together an A-frame to hang everything, made from five 8 foot 4x4s and two 8 foot 2x6s laminated together for the stretcher. Assembled with 1/2" galvanized carriage bolts and hung with 1/4" chain.

Definitely going to want a good miter saw for the A-Frame angles (the top ones are a bit tricky to get everything lined up)

Love it! Thanks for another great plan Ana..and of course..Shanty2Chic!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200 ish..including the A-Frame... the hardware and chain can be pricey!
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr exterior weatherproofing stain - Chocolate.

Just 2 thin coats, dries fast...second coat can be applied later the same day.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Carpenters Daughter

Mon, 12/12/2016 - 17:09

Could you please post the plans to build the a frame as well? I really love what you did and would like to copy it! Great Job!

Don Ellery

Wed, 07/19/2017 - 11:31

Hi! I wish I could, but I didn't take any notes on the angles or lengths when I made this and I left it with the house when we moved. 

Modern Sectional Sofa

Submitted by reinkense on Fri, 05/30/2014 - 17:22

I looked all around my town for a sofa that meet my needs. I wanted something with tall legs, modern lines and fit my living room. I did not have $3,000 to buy one online so I said to myself why not???

 

Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

reinkense

Sat, 05/31/2014 - 15:58

Thank you! I am really proud of it. I was thinking of putting together some plans.

Samigdal

Fri, 12/25/2015 - 17:48

Are there step-by-step instructions for building this posted anywhere?

walthoca

Fri, 01/06/2017 - 11:06

I am so impressed. We recently spent a small fortune on a sectional, but yours looks equally beautiful. You are incredibly talented! 

Queen storage bed modified

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/18/2020 - 19:11

I used wood from an older Ana white project of a loft bed my daughter had out grown. I liked the look of Ana's Mom bed but wanted storage so I modified the plans slightly. I will add drawers later.

Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Sweet coconut easy flow paint in Matte
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Outdoor sectional and coffee table

Submitted by Rynhffr on Mon, 07/06/2020 - 21:06

Loved these plans! Was my first project I tackled trying my hand with a new hobby of wood working to stave off quarantine craziness :-) finished project looked awesome and got me started working on other plans on the site.

**note**
Side table was just sanded and refinished, wasn't built just tried to match.

Estimated Cost
400
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

My work table

Submitted by ewebrat on Fri, 07/24/2020 - 13:19

Started to renovate hubby’s bathroom, got annoyed with lack of space on his work bench, built my own. Since this pic, I’ve added locking casters, a power bar up one leg, and a plain metal tool holder on one side. Still have some thoughts rattling around in my head about various other upgrades. Super plans, easy one-woman job.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
No finish. I want to add a 1/4 or 1/2 MDD top, but that’s the only not-naked original wood.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modified Simple Rolling Bar Cart

I honestly think Ana is a mind reader. Whenever I need plans for a particular piece of furniture, they magically appear on her site. Of course if she was a true mind reader, everything will be exactly as I need it requiring no modifications. That's what makes her plans so amazing. I can build bigger and better because I've learned to modify her plans to fit my current needs.

This Cart was no exception. I had to make mine a few inches deeper and change the height of the legs and it was a piece of cake. I put this together in less than 2 hours and finishing was easy too.

I did a blog post all about what I did differently including how I constructed a towel bar instead of the pipe. Check it out at www.thepursuitofhandyness.com

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25 Depending upon the type of casters used
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Oil Based Primer & Rustoleum Painters Touch Spray Paint in Paprika Satin
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Classic bunk bed

Submitted by egookaasan on Sat, 08/09/2014 - 05:30

We recently moved to across country and couldn't fit all our belongings in our moving van so I am on a slow but steady quest to my own "hand built home"! While my husband works with his computer genius types, I am pulling out my tools......rather basic and simple tools because none of my good ones fit in the truck either!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$85
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Cherry stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Benchwright Living Room Collection

Submitted by hoosierary on Sun, 08/24/2014 - 19:09

We liked the look of the PB Benchwright living room collection but wanted to make a few modifications. The side table tops were cut a little larger and not perfectly round as we wanted to have a small flat surface on each side. We also wanted to have the same look among all pieces so rather than angle the legs on the side tables, we cornered it so it matched the other pieces. Table tops are 2x6 Douglas Fir boards that we added a 'V' groove in each of the seams and sides.

Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dark walnut stain on top, sanded down after 1st coat and Rustoleum satin polyurethene. Slate Gray satin finish on bases with one coat of primer.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

JoanneS

Wed, 08/27/2014 - 14:21

What a marvelous build! Absolutely love your finish colors and the coordinated details on each piece. You did an awesome job!

Tryde Coffee & Sofa Tables

Easy to build! Some woodworking experience is definitely a plus when completing it over the weekend.

Estimated Cost
<$100 total
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-Oleum Wood Stain (Ebony)
Rust-Oleum Polyurethane (interior, matte)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Garage Shelves - Freestanding (Modified)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/15/2020 - 20:45

First project ever! I have been planning to build this for at least a year, and I finally did it! I had to modify the plan to fit my space, but it worked out well. They cut the wood for me at the store, so I did not make any cuts myself, just assembled all of the pieces together. I used all 2x4s, 8' and 10', cut down to my measurements. I did not finish the shelves since it is just for the garage, but I did sand rough board edges and some of the faces. I just used an palm sander and coarse sandpaper (80 grit). Please double check all measurements and lists because I forgot to add my shorter shelf supports to the list and had to go back to the store. I also forgot to add the width of the top shelf to those two shorter supports, so the shelf boards are resting on the top instead of nestled into the supports. It turned out not to be a functional problem, but a good lesson to learn. I also learned to make sure my driver battery is charged fully before starting - that took a large chunk out of my first day building and I had to finish the next day. My husband helped with some lifting and holding, but I mostly did this on my own in one weekend, so you CAN do it! Don't wait like I did - it is soooooooo useful and it looks great! All of my friends are really impressed and it feels so good to have made something like this! Thank you Ana!!

Estimated Cost
$180
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
N/A
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Pallet shelves

Submitted by lbadger on Thu, 12/20/2012 - 19:03

The first time I saw Ana's pallet shelves I knew I had to build them! It took a while but I found the perfect application. A place to hang the kids bibs and our snow pants that are a bit too long for the coat rack, and the bonus shelf for wet hats/mittens or chicken gloves that you don't exactly want in with your clean stuff ;>

Estimated Cost
$0
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
None, sanded down a bit
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Rustic Hall Tree - just the right size!

Submitted by laurawelsh on Tue, 10/06/2020 - 15:53

Using Ana's Rustic X Hall tree - I modified the size to fit this small space in the cottage in my backyard. It was impossible to find something to fit this space -- and this is one of my first indoor projects; I am a beginner. It was so much fun building! I used pine from a big box store mostly but opted for Bead board for the backing to achieve a farmhouse type look. My daughter lives in the cottage and loves it!! Thanks Ana for the sweet plans!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White Chalk Paint; Espresso Stain for the seat.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

My photo gallery wall!

Submitted by katejensen on Tue, 01/01/2013 - 18:00

I did 4 shelves spaced 18 inches and made with 12ft long pieces cut in half. The total for my project was $26. I already had the stain and tools on hand.

Estimated Cost
$26
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments