Community Brag Posts

Loft bed for son

I've built a few bookshelves and cubbies before, but nothing on this scale.  I built this in my basement this past December as a Christmas present for my three-year-old son.  The plans were easy to follow.  I believe I spent about $150 on lumber.  The bed is very sturdy.  My kids love it!  Now the the other kids want their own special daddy-made bed :)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150 on lumber. $50 on wood putty, stain, sand paper, etc. Way better than the $1100+ similar model at the local furniture store!
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
min-wax water based stain protected with water-based polycrilic. It all dried way too fast and didn't give me time to correct errors. Next time I will use oil based.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Farmhouse Table : Restoration Hardware Replica

Submitted by tsibiga on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 09:43

This is the first building project that I've tackled and it's all thanks to Ana-White. I did lots of things different than the building plan but it was definitely my inspiration and extremely useful. I loved the Restoration Hardware table and so I went to the local store to put my eyes on it for myself. Some of the things that I noticed, liked, and included in my design are; I used 4-2x12"s for the tabletop, I used 2x8"s as the breadboards, I used 4x4"s for the legs as well as the side stretcher, I used 2x4"s as the undertable supports, I built two 15" extensions using 2x8"s and 2x2"s, and I attempted to distress the wood yet stain it to match our dining room as best as I could.

www.tommyandellie.com

I've documented the build and you can check it out yourself at: http://tommyandellie.com/?p=14

I've revised the plans with even more details here; http://tommyandellie.com/index.php/2012/01/13/new-and-improved-farmhous…

Hope it helps.

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I banged up the wood using random things around the garage and then used a Dark Walnut Stain. Additionally, on the tabletop I did two coats of Briwax (light Brown) for a nice, shiny, and smooth eating surface.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

niecey

Mon, 06/20/2011 - 15:06

This is stunning! I'm working on this table right now, but it's no where near as good as yours. I'm jealous. I love your extensions. I'd love to see a tutorial on adding extensions..

ispeakwhale

Tue, 06/21/2011 - 05:16

It looks beautiful. Did you attatch the 2x2 to the underside of the extensions and then notch out a place on the support for them to slide into? Can you please take a photo of the underside with the extensions on?

Tommy (not verified)

Tue, 06/21/2011 - 14:42

That's exactly right. Here's a link to the picture you asked for; http://www.tommyandellie.com/Site/Home/Entries/2011/6/10_Farmhouse_Tabl…

There's some more details and info specifically about the extensions on my blog at; http://www.tommyandellie.com/Site/Home/Entries/2011/6/10_Farmhouse_Tabl…

It's a super simple addition to the design and can take my table from 96" to 126"!!! Or take it from a 8-10 seat table to potentially 16 seats available for those Big thanksgiving meals.

Guest1 (not verified)

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 15:41

Hello,

I was just wondering that since your table is a bit wider than Ana's table, did you make the support for the stretcher wider? As in, did you increase the length at all (in addition to making it stick out a bit at the ends? If so, what did you extend it to? Thanks and gorgeous job!

tsibiga

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 18:49

Hello,

I followed Ana's example and allowed for a 1" overhang on both sides. So the tabletop is actually 44" wide and the stretchers are approximately 42". The long 2x4" stretcher is approximately 88".

Hope that helps. Thanks for the positive comments.

Guest (not verified)

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 20:28

I cant believe how good that looks. Great job! Out of curiosity, how did you make the notches (dados) for the 4x4 legs where they meet the table top? Really impressive table!

tsibiga

Thu, 06/30/2011 - 04:43

For the table legs, I set my table saw blade to a height of approximately 1.5". I then made a first cut at 3.5" from the bottom, then made a cut at 7", and then made several subsequent cuts in between those two cuts. After it was all slivered, I used a hammer to knock it all out, and then swirled the opening all around on the table saw (blade still at 1.5" tall) to smooth out all the cuts. I used the same technique for the stretcher as well.

Guest (not verified)

Sat, 08/06/2011 - 21:36

Hi Tommy, I tried clicking on your site and was told the site could not be found. Last week, I saw it fine and showed my hubby our next project, but now it's gone. Help!

Keri Beth (not verified)

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 07:17

What inspiring pictures! Apparently everyone agrees, because I just "pinned" one of these pictures to Pinterest and it was immediately repinned 27 times and counting. So nice work! I hope to make mine this weekend.

DES.II (not verified)

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 06:29

She and her boyfriend would like to build it using lumber i cut from my mill. They are thinking walnut, hickory or maybe ash but im not sure how that will work out with being distressed. And your extentions, do you have a 2x4 or two that slides out from under the table to help support them on each end ? Are there pics of the under side of the table as well? This is a great table and i think they will have fun as a family assemblimng and finishing it.
Thank you. DesII

Marci (not verified)

Thu, 10/11/2012 - 12:12

Where can I find the bench instructions??

James Groover

Tue, 04/14/2015 - 13:31

Hey Tommy, I saw the Farmhouse table design with extensions, I don't have Excel to open the cut list and need the buy list and cut list to complete the project, I am really short on time and need to start this project tomorrow. Please if you can, do you have a word document or a PDF that shows the page for those?

Inspired by the Farmhouse Bed..... for my Dog!

Submitted by dmanar33 on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 20:15

Inspired by Ana's Farmhouse Bed plans, I built this dog bed for my Jack Russell. I measured and planned for it to comfortably fit two standard bed pillows (in waterproof covers of course!). She loves it!

Estimated Cost
$20ish
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Primer and latex eggshell paint with glaze on top
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Mgoodlin

Thu, 10/03/2013 - 08:49

I love this dog bed and want to make it for my puppy's Christmas gift. Where can I find or purchase the plans to make it?

Banquette Seating with storage

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/25/2022 - 13:58

You didn’t have plans, so I had to “wing it” without you; however, I couldn’t have done it without all the practice I’ve had from all your plans on this website these past several years!

Comments

Fenced-In Walkthrough Garden

Submitted by jmholzma on Fri, 04/29/2022 - 17:08

Used the Garden Enclosure plan as a reference, but wanted a much bigger area to walk through and relax in. Dimensions are about 30'x20'. Took a few months with a break for winter because it was just me working in spare time on weekends, would have gone a lot faster with an extra set of hands. Towards the end realized that drainage in the walk path was going to be an issue so I put in a very basic french drain before I weed fabric and mulched.

Really happy with how it turned out. Cost was pretty high, probably about $1500 all told, between wood, garden soil, etc. But we'll be able to enjoy it for many years.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Rustic Bench

Submitted by mom of 4 on Thu, 09/19/2013 - 21:53

I wanted a simple bench for my yard during the summer. This was a fun, simple build with a little bit of extra style. I used a fence picket for the seat and added a center support underneath, since it was a bit bendy. Sanded the top really well before finishing. Built with Kreg jig.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
The finish takes way more time than the building. Sanded first with 60, then 150 grit paper. One coat water-based primer, two coats white Behr enamel, two coats clear spray-on lacquer.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Bedside Tables

Submitted by sophie on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 13:22

I built two of these bad boys!
I used the cheapest spruce wood as I knew I was going to paint them.
Not sure how much everything cost in the end - maybe €50. Am making 2 beds to go with them too but they'll be a little longer in the pipeline!
I cut the wood myself using my circular saw and joined the wood with pockethole screws.
I painted the tables white and then used a chestnut brown woodstain on the table tops, shelf and knob.
Hard to say how long it took me as I just did a bit every now and again when I had a bit of time.

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
White paint and chestnut brown woodstain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

My first project - headboard

After looking through the Handbuilt Home longingly many times, I took the plunge with this simple headboard. I've never built anything from wood, but my main hobby is sewing so I'm good at following directions. I followed the plans exactly and I love how this came out! I used a nailer and glue for all the construction. I recommend this project for beginners! I chose to paint my headboard black to blend with my other furniture.
Now I'm already onto my next project, with a Kreg Jig in hand, the modern craft table from Ana's book. Thank you, Ana for sharing your plans and inspiring people to try building! I feel my skills and confidence increasing with each project!

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Black paint with a coat of polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

mom of 4

Wed, 09/25/2013 - 11:06

I've got the wood in my garage, marked for cutting this project out! Yours looks fantastic. You will love your Kreg Jig! It's one of my all-time favorite tools.

Hidden slid top addition.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/27/2019 - 19:15

I wanted a add a safe spot to hide all my gaming controllers and remotes from my 1 1/2 yr old nephew. It was pretty simple and I got the idea from tactical designs. They make hidden storage! If you cant tell it is still dusty from sanding! Best wipe it off!

Estimated Cost
120
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Ipswich pine with polyurethane top coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Entry table

Thanks for the plans. Wife has enjoyed this and makes a great feature to our house.

Comments

Colonial Maple Bar Stools

My sixteen-year old son took this on as a summer project and built four bar stools. He did a great job! We lowered them by 4 inches from the plan specs to fit under the counter. He used a Miniwax Colonial Maple finish. This project took a lot of Kreg Jig screws and plugs - almost 100 of each. They are very comfortable and beautiful.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$65.00 for wood for four, $20.00 for other supplies
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Wood Conditioner, Miniwax Colonial Maple oil-based stain, and 3 coats of polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Farm table and puppy version.

Submitted by Old JMU on Sat, 12/12/2015 - 16:10

Table I built for my wife. She found it while browsing Ana's site. Loved it so much she wanted one for herself. Came out so nice we decided to make our puppy a version of her own.     

 

LOVE THIS SITE!!!!

Estimated Cost
Dog table - less than $10
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark walnut stain and satin poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Kids Stoarge Table and Chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/03/2019 - 07:06

Built from kids storage chairs and table by ana white

Estimated Cost
$125
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White chalk paint and light blue valspar
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

My Farmhouse Dining Table

Submitted by LinzFritz on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 19:28

I love my new table! My wood was a little bit warped for the tabletop, so that's where I ran into the most problems, but I used a hand planer to smooth it down and it turned out perfectly!

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut, Semi-Gloss Polyurethane, and Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Adam (not verified)

Fri, 12/09/2011 - 06:33

Thats quite nice. I'll bet you spent more than half of the time on the finish. Great color choice.

Distressed Rustic x console

Submitted by Brad Wills on Sun, 09/29/2013 - 18:50

Really like the plan for this table, just not enough space. So I decided to shrink the overall length to 45 1/2 and then just adjusted from there. Stained the entire project and painted the base. After some sanding to distress, I poly coated the entire project. Staining the top and the X's to match was my wife's idea. It came out great. This was only the second thing I have ever built, and I have to say the Kreg Jig made it fun, rather than frustrating and stressful. My first project was from the adirondack table plan, it came out great too. So glad I found your site!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
100.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain with flat paint overlay poly for final coat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

bullitt453

Mon, 09/30/2013 - 09:29

The finish on this is absolutely perfect. I built the workbench console table for my dining area a few months ago. Really like how it turned out, but have been considering selling it and building this to go in its place. This may push me in that direction again. Excellent job.

Brad Wills

Tue, 10/08/2013 - 17:33

I used varythane dark walnut stain on the entire project and then painted over with glidden flat in a sage green. Once I 220 sanded the entire project, which aged the green, and took the paint down to stain in areas, I coated twice with varythane polycrylic.

Signy Table and Chair

My husband I and I made this for our daughter for Christmas! It's so cute we couldn't wait and she's been sitting and playing at it ever since.  We are pretty novice and building and this was easy and fun for us to complete.  We will make another chair in the future, but for now we just did the one!

 

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

Herringbone Bar Height Dining Table with Hairpin Legs

Submitted by kwildman on Fri, 02/08/2019 - 07:13

We used 3/4" birch plywood and glued 1/2" thick x 3" wide wood pieces in a herringbone pattern to make the top.  We used 1 x 3 oak boards for the trim.  The wood is a variety including walnut, maple, cherry, sassafras, etc.   We ordered the metal hairpin legs.   

We started with a base stain of Danish Oil in Dark Walnut.  Once that dried, we went back over that with a very light coat of Minwax gray wash oil based stain.   We used 4 coats Laquer for the top coat.

Easy build and we love how it turned out!

Estimated Cost
$350 Bar Height hairpin legs were $100, 1/2" wood variety pack was $200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Two coats of Dark Walnut Danish Oil, one light coat of Minwax oil based gray wash, and four coats of laquer.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments