Community Brag Posts

Our finished product

Submitted by gkreations on Thu, 08/03/2017 - 10:14

Accidentally flipped the outsides but like how it came out.

Estimated Cost
45
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Pedestal table base with hinoki wood top.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 17:44

I used Anna Whites DIY plans to build the base for our dining room table. Then I went to my “wood guy” RV and picked up a beautiful piece of hinoki wood for the top. Love it 😍

Although advance, the pedestal plans were very straightforward and easy to follow. Made me look like a pro.

Comments

doll crib

Doll crib with storage bin.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$5.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
1. one coat primer
2. two coats pink eggshell finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Sliding laundry room door

Submitted by Flowerchld on Tue, 08/08/2017 - 16:19

Sliding door to my laundry room with etched, stained glass window

Estimated Cost
$50 plus glass and etching gel, sliding door hardware
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Steel wool soaked for a week in vinegar and painted on
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Twin Farmhouse Doll Bed

I love love love these plans! Based on the helpful comments made by other readers, I decided to narrow the bed by leaving one 1x3 out of the head and foot board panels and shortening the other 1x3's and 1x2's as needed. Added mitered trim around the head and foot boards.

The build was super easy and only took a couple of hours. I'm classifying this as a "day project" (6-9 hours) to allow time to paint or stain.

Estimated Cost
$5 for the trim added to the head & fooboards; remainder of material was salvaged from the scrap pile
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
spray primer, 2 coats Behr semi-gloss in Cally Lilly, 1 coat Minwax Polycrylic...120 and 200 grit sandpaper between coats
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Vintage Step Stool

Submitted by chrisiross on Mon, 05/27/2013 - 08:18

I made this awesome step stool for my daughter to be able to reach things a little bit better. It works perfectly. And the heart adds the perfect touch, don't you think?

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
paint and poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

4x4 Truss Beam Table

Submitted by ___Ron___ on Mon, 08/21/2017 - 16:06

This is the dining room table I built for my house. It was based on the 4x4 truss beam table plans I found here on Ana's website. I opted against stain, and decided on a clear polyurethane finish to highlight the wood's natural beauty. I've had this table for over a year now, and it has withstood the rigors of young children quite nicely. Thanks Ana!

Sincerely,

Ron Floyd

Portland, OR

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Console Table

Submitted by hnick78 on Tue, 10/05/2021 - 06:25

I was commissioned to build this console table along with a couple “Rustic X” bookshelves. The finish is distressed white and True Browns stain.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Spa-Slatted Double Vanity

We redid our master bathroom - we ripped out a soffit, a closet, the old vanity, and we ripped off the HORRID old wallpaper, put up 5' tall beadboard, designed our own trim, designed and built some heavy-duty floating shelves (see pic below) and decided we wanted an open-concept vanity, too. I fell in love with these rectangle porcelain white sinks and with all the white beadboard, and soon-to-be dark walnut stain hardwood floors in there, I thought the vanity should be dark brown stain too.

I used the farmhouse vanity plans to build the frame of the vanity, but i had to design the shelves on my own - I chose to do spa-style slatted shelves - they whole thing keeps the bathroom very open looking and not heavy and closed off. we LOVE it! :)

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
General Finishes water based stain dye in MEDIUM BROWN - 3 coats. then 3 coats of water based polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Our First Project: Console Table

This was our first project. The directions were easy to follow. We used wood screws to put this project together as I do not have a nail gun. My five year old was in charge of the electric screwdriver. I just used 1 peice of wood for the table top and diagonally screwed into it from the bottom. It took us a few days to complete as when you are working with a little one, everything takes quite a bit longer. This was the perfect project for us to work on together! My husband requested a table to put next to the hottub so he could put his drink on it, but I don't want this to move outside! Maybe I'll have to make another one. :)

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Ultimate Wood Stain in Kona, Semi Gloss Spar Varnish Spray (bc it will be used outside)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rope / Ring Puzzle

Submitted by mtairymd on Mon, 09/04/2017 - 07:51

This is a really easy project to make. The goal is to separate the ring from the puzzle. Refer to the solution video if you can't figure it out.

Build Instructions:
https://www.instructables.com/id/Rope-Ring-Puzzle/

Solution: 

https://youtu.be/0juqeATz29I

 

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

Desk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/05/2021 - 12:22

This is my desk. It’s working out great. I’m thinking of adding a small drawer for stuff. Thanks for the design.
The other picture is the desk I’m building for my grandson. I’m painting the desk top. Still have to add the legs. I had to modify the size as his space in his bedroom is limited. I get confused putting the piano hinge on. Again thanks for your help. I love all your work.

Comments

Super Easy Bench Modified for shoe storage

This was the first time I built something from scratch. I've done assembly required bookshelves and a doll-house, but never before had I cut my own wood and drilled my own screw holes, nor had I ever tried my hand at painting a piece of furniture. My husband's friend mentored me and got me going with the power saws, I used his shopsmith for a table saw, and I used the compound miter saw we own. Because this website is so user-friendly, I might have even tried to do this on my own, but it helped having someone much more experienced than I check in on me every now and then and give me some tips.

We are in a new house, so most of our walls are still white, but we did paint the family room a bright green, so I used leftover paint for the bench. I had to work on this in the evening after the kids were in bed so it took me about a week, working for about 1-2 hours a night. I found relaxing for the most part(except for where the newspaper underneath the bench started sticking to the painted legs).

I did not use furring strips even though they would have been cheaper, since my friend convinced me they would have required more sanding. The upgrade only cost a few extra dollars.

Estimated Cost
$35
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
primer and paint ("Lettuce Alone", Olympic no VOC)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Toy Box Gone Wrong

Submitted by vtmelody on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 10:08

We went exactly as planned in the Build a Toybox outline, but bought 12x1 instead of 16x1. This caused a problem when we started putting it together. The two short sides were taller than the long sides. We decided to make lemons from lemonade and turn it into a toolbox/toybox, and in the end really liked the result. We added an additional cut with 1.5" holes on either side and a 1.5" diameter 36" long dowel rod for the handle. We added casters to the bottom and poof! done. Fun project! We made it for our soon to be nephew and filled with gifts for the baby shower.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Wood Stain with blue paint on top and cut out a mustache for the design then painted around it.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

PB Connor Table

Connor table

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Special Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Platform bed

My first build!!!! I live in an apartment, so I was nervous to undertake any project... luckily I was able to borrow a garage one weekend to build it, and then moved it in and finished it. It took more than just the weekend to complete.  It probably took me a lot longer than if I had more experience and knew what I was doing...I stopped every two minutes to double check myself and reread the directions lol. I'm so happy with how it turned out. I used the IKEA center beam from my old bed for the center support, and cut wood slats for my mattress to rest on so I don't have to use a box spring. It looks so much more expensive than it was. my  next project is a headboard...as soon as I have a space to build it in :)

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax polyshades- satin honey. I used minwax wood conditioner as well.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Laundry Dresser for 6 (3 the short way & 3 the long way)

Submitted by mamma_joy on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 14:35

I needed a change. The freebie table that I used for folding laundry bugged me because the beat up legs of the table prevented any storing/stacking/using the space underneath it. The top of the table was always filled with baskets of clean clothes! I loved the tabletop and it fit the space perfectly so I decided to customize the laundry dresser to fit under the 2′x4′ tabletop. I wanted to fit a basket for each family member (5) and we always need one for linens.
I worked it out to use melamine boards to save on finishing (and match my other basement builds) and 2×2′s in a ‘U’ instead of a backing (kids were in the car so I couldn’t fit the big piece of backing!) I bought 2 2′x6′ shelves (cut one in half and one 3/4″ less than half) and 1 2′x4′ shelf and cut it to 43″. Then I just used a kreg jig to make the ‘E’ shape (the sides covered the rough edge of the bottom piece) and attach the tabletop. I also used the kreg jig to make the ‘U’ shapes to fit inside the 24″ space (long way) and 18″ space (short way). I thought about putting the back piece more forward so that the baskets the long way couldn’t slide all the way back, but decided to just make both sides the same. I pre-drilled and countersunk the screws to attach them to the sides (measuring and clamping over and over). Melamine is a little slippery to work with but it was nice to save time on the finishing end!
I have a fold down ironing board right next to the table which is just perfect!
P.S. I have a hanging drying rack in the background (the expanding ones didn’t work b/c the floor angles down to a drain) and a metal pipe behind the white curtain for hanging items.
Stand with the table at 36″ so you can fold without getting a backache, easily slide the baskets in and out to put away clothes as you fold them….and thank Ana for the way that she has transformed your home and feeling toward doing laundry!

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
None yet, eventually [if I ever get everything else done] I will paint the 2×2′s white.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Spa Side Table

I completed this table with my 5 year old daughter as my assistant. My husband requested a table to put next to our new hot tub to set his drinks on and this is perfect. We only put one board on the top because I felt since it would be outside, I wanted a smooth top. I just screwed it in diagonally from the bottom. I also used spar varnish since it would be outside.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-o-Leum Ultimate Wood Stain in Kona
Semi-gloss Spar Varnish (3 coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner