Community Brag Posts

Farmhouse Style Bar Table - San Diego

My husband modified these plans by making it a 42" tall bar high table. He built it and I stained it with Dark Walnut Danish oil and it came out better than we imagined. Thank you for these awesomely cool DIY plans.

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

Comments

TV Stand

My wife wanted a new TV stand. I found some plans online but ended up using the basic plan then added my own ideas to it. Used all pine boards. Then finished with Minwax Simply White.

Comments

Beach Cottage Dresser

Again I'm sorry I have no plans, but what I do have is a great instructional video. Drawer slides are such a pain to install without the right tools. I'm sure you can find great dresser plans but the kicker is how you install the drawers. These inexpensive drawer slide mounting tools might save you from going insane. Check them out. http://youtu.be/vI3jgkhxxPE

Estimated Cost
$100-140
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Martha Stewart Interior Semi Gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

9 cubby Shelf

Submitted by sean1023 on Tue, 07/09/2013 - 19:57

I off set the shelves because my wife wanted to be able to fit some of my sons bigger toys. I also add trim pieces to make it more decorative and painted it white. Enjoy...

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

10.5' Farmhouse Dining Table

Submitted by ehays216 on Mon, 07/06/2015 - 06:20

I built this 10.5' farmhouse table for my aunt and uncle's dining room. I modified the plans slightly to try and look more like the Restoration Hardware version, using 4x4's for the beams and side supports and rounding the sides of the side supports. I also modified the top by adding an extra sideways board in the middle. The rationale for this was that I was worried about finding boards at the length I wanted that were perfectly straight from end to end, so by adding the center sideways board I only had to find boards that were perfectly straight for about half the full length. Also, we liked the look of the extra board in the middle. My little cousins had fun helping me distress the wood with hammers and other tools laying around. We love the way it came out, thank you Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
300-350 including staining materials and hardware. I bought twice the wood for the table top boards due to the modified tabletop/ and length.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax dark walnut with Minwax red mahogany on top of that. On the 2x8 boards, the dark walnut made a lot of contrast with the grain of the wood, and I was trying for a more evened-out color. The dark spots were almost black after one coat. Additional coats and the red mahogany helped even out the contrast and added color. We ended up really liking the final result, but in the future I think I will go back to using the black tea/ steel wool and vinegar method which is what I had been using in the past.

I used polywhey on top and applied several coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Stuffed Animal Storage - The Zoo

With a third baby on the way, they may not be enough room in this one for much longer, never realized how many they had till be put them all together.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Latex Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

My second project

This is the second project I've completed and I'm very proud of it. The design was changed just by adding four legs instead of three. It took me awhile to get the color even. Sanding between coats of the clear coat semi-gloss finish would leave white marks/residue that was difficult to clean away. I would have to restain those sections with a swift wipe on/wipe off action. This made the color deeper but also richer. During the summer months, the bench will be outside but will serve as indoor seating in the winter.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$34 for wood
Finish Used
Miniwax water based stain in toffee. Two coats on the seat. More coats added to the legs (as needed) to match color. Three coats of mini-waxed water based semi-gloss clear coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mini farmhouse coffee table

Submitted by Lukilla on Sun, 01/28/2018 - 11:02

The original plans make a pretty big coffee table (52" wide).  I made this one (32") with the left over pieces of 2x6 from the bigger one. It was fun to make and is great for someone with a smaller living room

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40 (using left over 2x6)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Jacobean stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Our First Project

Submitted by Simplyel on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 19:56

My dear husband built the bed and I painted it. He found that it was easy to make. Thank you Ana, we love it. We are waiting for our new mattress!

Estimated Cost
Less than $175.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Latex White Paint. I want to distress it but he is not sure. Figure we will live with it for awhile and then decide.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

a miniature version for a one year old

I was looking for inspiration for the grandchildren when
I came across the full size version. I have now made 3 of the 1\3 sized as pictured, in different colours. It takes longer to paint them than make them.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ronseal exterior wood treatment
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Console Table

Submitted by ctummins on Sun, 07/12/2015 - 01:47

First table I've built. The Rustic X Console Table was fun and fairly simple. A little complicated since we live in Hawaii and decent cheap wood is difficult to come by. Makes my entrance way very inviting. 

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

Dress Up Center

Needed to get the girls Dresses out of the nursery, this will work.

Estimated Cost
100-150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Latex Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

X Farmhouse Coffie Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/31/2022 - 20:05

I built this over the weekend for my wife. Used white caulk paint for the bottom and walnut stain and polyurethane on the top.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

JRSMRS's $50 Daybed Brag Post

The daybed took about 4 weekends, and started with a lot of trial-and-error. Around the 3rd weekend, and a lot of "redo-ing", it started taking shape! This daybed will go on our screen porch, along with the homemade outdoor pillows and mattress cover. This project was definitely frustrating at times, but has been well worth the effort.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Pressure treated lumber for the frame, and 5/8" wooden dowels for the design.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Fancy X Desk

Submitted by eralben on Thu, 07/16/2015 - 11:55

I made this desk for my wife's office space.  The plans for this desk are great and easy to follow.  The only change I made was I shortened the size of the desk top to fit in our space.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$55.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Kona stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Plus One Puzzle

Submitted by mtairymd on Sun, 02/04/2018 - 08:29

This is one of my favorite puzzles so far. You are given 8 blocks that must be placed in a box. They will fit and the box will be "totally filled." Once you are done, slide the lid on the top to complete the puzzle. Your test subjects might feel pretty smart by knowing that they solved this puzzle within a few minutes. However, you have a surprise. Pull the extra piece from the lid and tell them to place it in the box. I've tested this puzzle with 20 people so far and the common response is "No Way!". But yep, it can be done.

This video shows the solution but doesn't answer the why. Do you see a difference?

https://youtu.be/D8V0wRFAoz8

 

Estimated Cost
Besides the box, everything was built with scrap wood.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Oil
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Corn hole

Another great tutorial and project done. Thanks Ana

Comments

Library Cart - Teachers Gift

Submitted by lollypoppy on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 09:32

The moment I saw this I knew it would be a perfect teachers gift for my daughters teacher. She loved it.
This was only my second project, the first being the 10 dollar ledges. I'm glad I tried a smaller project before tackling the farmhouse bed. I think it helped with just knowing how to assemble a project a bit better.
I used my Kreg Jig and it worked marvelous! Also I ended up not having a jigsaw so I just cut the top at a 35 degree angle with the miter saw and rounded the edges a bit with the sander. I was going to add handles but the top goes up enough that it's easy to manuever without. I also wanted her to be able to fit it in anywhere and was worried that the handles sticking out would just get in the way.
Overall I think it turned out great. Her teacher loves it. Thank you Anna for such wonderful plans!!

Krista

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
35
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner