Community Brag Posts

Modified Michaela's Kitchen Island

I tripped over some boards in my attic a few times before I realized how perfect they would be for my island! I planed, biscuited, poly'ed the boards and, along with a few other modifications, tada!! My new island! Love it. Now I just gotta get over the "new car smell" long enough to actually use it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White semi-gloss, poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

JoanneS

Wed, 02/08/2012 - 18:33

Super job! You gave those floor boards a new life in a beautiful island. This is sure to become a family heirloom. :)

sally251251

Sat, 02/18/2012 - 21:58

Now on to some sort of cabinet to go against a 12 foot wall in my living room. I'm itching to try the vinegar / steel wool idea.... up and onward!

Yard Swing Pergola

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/08/2023 - 09:31

Just saw on instagram that no one bragged about this plan yet. We did order the swing online, but built the outdoor room from your plan. We did put our support posts in concrete, very windy here. Just waiting for the roses to grow up the sides. Thank you for making it easy with your plan.

Bill and Maryann Tate

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Tilt Out Garbage Center with Shelves

This was made for a friend. I looked up Ana's original plan and modified it a little. The end result was something she was very happy with.

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Primer and red spray paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

N. Hunter (not verified)

Mon, 07/09/2012 - 20:39

I love your modifications.. Think I'll take it bit further and add another pullout on the other side of the shelf. This way I can put one hamper in each, and my whites and darks will already be separate.

Cubby Storage Bench - First Project!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/11/2023 - 11:33

This was our first attempt at making furniture and even though the difficulty rating was ‘intermediate’, the detailed instructions made the process less complicated. Our version of Anna White Essential Entryway Bench turned out better than we expected! Once it was built, I stained it grey, painted it white, then distressed it to make it look antique. I added a custom made foam cushion to the top and, voila!

TammyA

 

Built from Plan(s)

Washer & Dryer Pedestal

Thank you dmccoy!! Washer & Dryer Pedestal / Platform with Drawer

Followed your plan and these came out sturdy and solid.

I adjusted it to 55 inches to fit my smaller space and decided to not build the drawers.

So simple to put together and saved over $400 

Estimated Cost
About $100
2X6 wood, plywood, screws
I had extra paint in the garage
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Chairs

I found a picture of this style of chairs, and I really wanted to make them for my table. I created my own plans and adjusted them until they were perfect. I’ve since made several sets of chairs for other people including this set of 6. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
After sanding down the chairs, I apply a coat of Preston by minwax. To get the color I wipe on the stain gunstock by winwax. After letting it dry for about an hour, I then wipe on a coat of espresso stain. For the finish, I apply coats of a gloss polyurethane by Minwax.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Linen Storage Tower

Submitted by JoanneS on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 12:23

This tower plan was perfect for re-using some already stained 1x12’s I had from another project. It fills up that little square of unused space at the top of the stairs, and gives us extra storage for towels and TP for the 3 bathrooms in our house. I substituted 1x2 and ¼” plywood for the door and used some 1x2 and 1x3 to attach and build it in. This project has been up for a couple of months now, and has come in handy. This was my first attempt at doing something as a ‘built-in,’ and it gave me confidence that we could do our next big project (the pantry) as a built-in. Since the side and shelf boards were already stained, once it was assembled the finishing was easy- all I had to do was stain the trim boards to match, and paint the door and the inside.
Thanks for this great plan, Ana! I’m planning to build several more of these, for my sewing room.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Cabot water based stain w/poly (walnut) on the sides and shelves and minwax express color in walnut on the trims. Door is painted with Ace Royal semi gloss in Crushed Peanut, and the inside color is Wishbone.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Farmhouse Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 09/13/2023 - 09:23

I made this for my daughter. She placed it at the end of her bed. I was really happy with how it turned out.

Double Saw Horse Workstation

Submitted by tsibiga on Sat, 04/28/2012 - 09:56

I started out following the plans to a "t" and was going to make two of them. I got about half way through the first and decided to just turn it into a double work station. I decided to make the middle sawhorse slightly different for visual interest. I was also worried about how the desktop would line up with our window sill.

www.tommyandellie.com

I documented the whole build process here;

http://tommyandellie.com/index.php/2012/01/22/sawhorse-double-desk-deta…

The paint and distressing is in this post:

http://tommyandellie.com/index.php/2012/01/26/sawhorse-paint-and-distre…

And the stain on the desktop is here;

http://tommyandellie.com/index.php/2012/01/28/sawhorse-steel-wool-aged-…

Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
"Yucca Plant" paint for the sawhorses, gray stain for the desktop, General Arm-R-Seal poly, and Briwax for the desktop
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

DIY Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/16/2023 - 20:02

Turned out beautifully for our master bedroom!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Modified Simple Modern Outdoor Table and Benches

Submitted by AandTsMom on Wed, 05/16/2012 - 10:21

We wanted two smaller tables and four benches so we can rearrange as needed to make one big or two small tables. We can also move them back and forth between patio and deck. We hoped to have this done in a weekend but it took us two weeks working at night after the kids went to bed. I love how they turned out but I'm not sure I will try another project this involved!

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Finns-Dad

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 06:20

I really like the idea the two tables and being able to arrange them differently. Now I have to make more!!! Great job.

Surfer Shack

My buddy wanted this bed from Pottery Barn Kids but didn't want to spend $1300. It cost him $250 in materials and i built it for $300. So you DIY'ers could do it for $250. We also adjusted the size to fit a full size mattress.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Kona wood stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Rachael Cabos (not verified)

Wed, 06/06/2012 - 16:35

What were the dimensions?

Alexis buchanan (not verified)

Sun, 09/23/2012 - 14:42

Both my boys want to sleep up top I have a nice corner window seal that I'd like to put the l shaped loft at mid height double twin any suggestions also would like the entry on both ends so my 9 yr old can descend without waking my middle son would like a detachable slide in the middle

Cubby Organizer (Pottery Barn Inspired)

This cubby organizer is great for storage, displaying collectibles or as an advent calendar. I'm using mine in my mini-workshop for storing tools and supplies I use frequently when woodworking. Tutorial can be found at my blog here: http://betweennapsontheporch.net/build-a-cubby-organizer-pottery-barn-i… Thanks Ana for supplying the plans!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Sherwin Williams Dover White paint for a soft white. Stain would work great for this piece, too.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Playhouse

We built this playhouse for our daughter's 6th birthday. She absolutely loves it! We were looking at purchasing one, but they were way out of our budget. Ana saved the day with these plans :).

Estimated Cost
$320.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
We painted the house with white Pittsburg Ultra Exterior Latex paint. The mailbox, door and shutters were all painted with Pink Viburnum Sherwin Williams Satin Exterior paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

Rustic X Console with changes

Wanted to make shelves to put on both sides of our fireplace but had to alter the dimensions. So I added another shelf and made it shorter in length. I was a bit nervous because I’ve always just built per the instructions. It turned out perfect! Just don’t look too closely at the X’s!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Classic Gray
Paint-some leftover white I had
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

childrens garden arbor bench

Submitted by jarsofclay on Sat, 05/03/2014 - 17:55

I been wanting to make this for a long time and today I just went out to my work shop and did it. It was fun to make. I didnt have any 1x6s so I used 9 1x4 and 1/8" spacing it worked and looks amazing!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I used a pale green. Unintentionally the exact same color as picture.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Wood Headboard, Queen Size

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 08/08/2016 - 08:11

This was my first building project. It was a easy build even for a beginner. Make sure you measure your bed frame and that it will fit into your headboard. 

Estimated Cost
75-100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
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