Community Brag Posts

Numbered Cubbies

Submitted by kari on Sun, 08/28/2011 - 15:16

Like so many others, I saw this and had to have one of my own. It was cute and quick - perfect! I had the same height issues that others had. The center supports are too tall for the 1x2 and 1x3 on the front. I wound up using all 1x3's, 2 on the front and 3 on the back. Because the cubbies came out a bit deeper, I thought I would try it as a utensil holder in the kitchen. Cute, huh.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
less than $10
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I tried Ana's antique finish. The first layer I spray painted black. I didn't know if Ana sprayed or brushed on the white, but I brushed on mine. Painted the numbers on, then distressed it a bit.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Taylors console

Submitted by raybotelho on Thu, 09/19/2013 - 16:30

Loved working on this table. An easy build for sure. Couldn't find wheel casters that I liked so had to use another 4x4 to give it height. Will be building another one soon :)
Thank you so much for sharing the plans.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain and wry brushing
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Val Manchuk

Sat, 09/21/2013 - 08:15

I love how you finished your project!
And the 2x4's across the bottom really make it look solid.

Val
artsybuildinglady

Alexandra's Indoor Playhouse

I built this indoor playhouse for my daughter who turned 2 in september. She loves to help mommy cook, loves to have little tea party's for her dolls and love to watch Chip n' Dale terriorize Donald Duck. So I thought I would give Alexandra her very own little house to do all those things. I hope you all like it and have just as much fun building one of these as I did. 

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Simple And small reclaimed barn wood bench

My wife wanted a small bench for our entryway/foyer.  I happened to have some reclaimed pine barn wood laying in my shop, so I whipped this up.  

The original plan was to use a colored wax or thinned paint on it to give it a weathered appearance (which is why I did screws and plugs from the top - I thought they were going to be painted over), but the wood turned out too beautiful with all of the character.  We couldn't bring ourselves to paint it.

There are a few more pics and details in my blog post about this small reclaimed barn wood bench.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Clear wax
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Greenhouse

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 11/15/2022 - 10:12

The plans from Ana White were excellent! I worked on this greenhouse through last winter and finished this past March. It worked perfectly for my needs through the entire growing season. I highly recommend this plan for a cost effective greenhouse, even if you have no prior building construction experience (I didn't before I built this). It only cost me $1,100 or so when all was said and done. The cheapest I could find a comparable greenhouse of this size to purchase was $2,500.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Classic Storage System Desk

Submitted by kkroese on Wed, 08/31/2011 - 21:51

This was my first furniture project. I made this desk/vanity for my twin daughters' 9th birthday. I sized them to fit the space and added doors rather than drawers. I also made the stools using the plans for the upholstered bench - just resized. It was a fun project and I can't wait to start another! You can read more on my blog: http://karlakroese.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-hobby.html

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint. This phase of the building process is what took the longest. Aaargh! Building is fun, but sanding, priming, sanding, painting, sanding...stinks!! All that hard work, though, paid off. Sanding is key to a good paint finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Lisette Coffee Table

My friend "Lisette" asked for a small modern coffee table. For her small studio apartment. So I came up with this modern-ish table. Made of 2x2's and a 20"x40" glass top.I found it on the side of the road with a FREE sign on it in Pacific Beach. Oh how I love beach people and all the free stuff they leave around :)

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Chestnut Stain (3 coats) and semigloss poly spray (5 light coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Adjusted design to fit smaller kitchen.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/21/2019 - 12:05

I left off the ends to fit a smaller kitchen.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Espresso stain with a triple thick polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Coffee & Side Tables

Submitted by MacandFab on Sat, 11/26/2022 - 12:50

Milled all prices of wood from 2x8 Douglas Fir, Esresso Minwax stain, and Sherwin Williams Emerald Tricorn Black paint. Used mostly Kreg pocket hole screws and GRK #9 - 2 1/2” screws to secure the top to the base.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Tiled Rustic Bench

I used the Rustic Bench plans, but adjusted the length to make it smaller, since my plywood top was a bit wider and shorter than the top on the plan. It was the last remnant from our incredibly versatile plywood sheet. I also had to cut out the two cross supports, because 1) they’re too difficult for me to figure out (they’re not right in either of my benches) and 2) I didn’t feel like buying a board just for those. I had just the right amount of spare lumber lying around, and I was going to maximize it!

At first, I wanted to just build a bench for my sister for Christmas, and paint it like our island. But after visiting my parents over Thanksgiving and taking home some reclaimed tile from their old outdoor bar, I knew this bench had a better destiny than mere paint. When I laid down the tile scraps and they fit perfectly, I knew serendipity had spoken.
This was the first time I’d ever worked with tile. I did a little research (aka grilling my husband’s best friend, who is a tile guru), and discovered I didn’t really need any fancy materials to lay the tile down on. As it’s just a bench, and in no need for mold-prevention or cement board like bathroom walls, all I needed to do was rough up the plywood top with my grinder and a steel-wool like disk. With the bench already sanded and painted, I started the tiling process. I bought a bucket of tile adhesive and grout all-in-one, and went to town. I didn’t have a trowel, so I made do with my putty spatula. I just had to make the grooves in the adhesive one-by-one as opposed to one quick stroke. I spread the adhesive, laid the tiles, carefully washed off any overspread on the sides, and let it sit for 24 hours. Then I spread in the grout (it’s all the same stuff, just different application), washed the overspread off again, and let it sit for another 24 hours. Then I had a gorgeous top!

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Marble Tile, Valspar Harvest Brown satin latex paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Norma (not verified)

Tue, 11/15/2011 - 11:47

That is seriously beautiful. Very nice work!

Camp Loft bed - modified

Submitted by Milhouse on Tue, 09/24/2013 - 12:04

I liked the simple design of the camp loft bed, so I took the plan and modified it to fit over top of our existing Ikea daybed. I adjusted the width of the loft bed and made it a little taller, so that I could sit on the bottom bed and read to the kids with out hitting my head on the loft bed all the time.

 

I built the ladder into the side of the loft bed so that it wouldn't interfere with the drawers on the front of the daybed. This worked out well, as it also gives the girls more room to play!

This build is super easy, but I have to say that I don't like working with 2x4s. They are so rough....I spent a lot of time sanding and filling, and it's still not perfect. But I'm ok with it ;) I may add another cross support because it is a bit wobbly (probably b/c I made it taller).

 

 

The finish is a color matched 'All surface enamel' from Sherwin Williams.

 

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

Comments

roxanne89

Wed, 08/04/2021 - 06:38

Hello Millhouse. I love the loft bed you created. I have the exact hemnes daybed for my daughter and I beg to build the same loft bed. Do you have the exact modified plan you used with the measurements that fit the bottom bed? This would be super helpful!! Thanks in advance!

Queen Murphy Bed

Submitted by Jenga on Sun, 12/06/2015 - 12:59

Not too bad of a project but had to a good bit of guess work so I could changed the plans for a queen size bed and flip in on its side.

Estimated Cost
$200 if you already have the bed
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White Paint and laminate flooring left over from the floor.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Arilie

Sun, 05/29/2016 - 18:50

Good evening!

I am new at wood working, and would be very interrested in knowing the different measurements you changed to get from a twin to queen murphy bed. If it is posted on this page, I tried but couldn't find it. Thank you for your help. Have a good day.

Marie-Julie

Historic Palouse Halltree

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/26/2019 - 09:33

This piece was inspired by Ana’s plans and built as a collaborative project with my son.  The stock was all salvaged from a century+ old railroad depot on the University of Idaho campus that was marked for demolition.  The green and cream boards were the ceiling of the depot, and the unfinished stock came from the flooring, which was 1” tongue and groove red fir.  The first agricultural crops, forest products, and settlers of the region (North Idaho, Eastern Washington) flowed through that terminal.  This piece, therefore, is iconic of the regikn’s rough-hewn beginnings and stands as a reminder of its important past.

Estimated Cost
$60 for glue, hinges, screws, polyurethane. The wood was salvaged for free.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
After sanding the bare wood and scrubbing the painted surfaces, I sprayed a satin polyurethane (good ol’ rattle can!)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Simple, cheap, easy and FREE console table

Submitted by MLE04 on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 12:26

My husband and I wanted to try something relatively simple before attempting to make a dining room table.

We used some old fence boards that were very weathered, so we expected that the end result wouldn’t be perfect.

It is definitely rustic, but I think it is charming!

We modified the stretcher and the table top, but otherwise followed the plans.

It was easier than I expected... I think I am hooked!

Estimated Cost
Free
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Birthday Farmhouse Queen sized Bed

Submitted by ksmith311 on Sun, 09/29/2013 - 12:41

We built this bed way back in April for my birthday, but hadn't gotten the bedding quite right until now. We love this thing and it is sooo sturdy. I wish I would have taken more time on finish work to get the paint just right. I will probably repaint it in the future but for now it is a beautiful and necessary addition to our bedroom.

Thanks so much for the plans Ana, this was our first furniture project besides shelves and boxes. It definitely gave us the confidence to continue building and even to start creating our own plans and furniture designs.

** updated photos on 11/21

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Antique white paint in semi-gloss and distressed with Early American Stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Saw Horse Inspired Coffee table

Submitted by Nathan O on Tue, 12/15/2015 - 18:01

I essentially followed the Rogue Engineer plans exactly with the exception of making the table on 50 inches long to help it fit better in my living space. I also opted to not add the lower support struts that would be perpendicular to the table top. I felt like that were bulky and were necessary for support. I may choose to go back and add them though. A miter saw and Kreg Jig are essential to get this project done with ease. I gave it a rough sanding to help keep the rugged texture of the original woodand maintain the reclaimed look. Feel free to post any questions.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30-$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Mini Wax Dark Walnut and Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Husky farmhouse table w/ butterfly leaf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/06/2019 - 17:43
  • Hand built Husky Farmhouse Table, plans from Ana White adding a hideaway butterfly leaf
Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
4 coats of Polycrylic Clear Matte
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments