Community Brag Posts

This is a project where we built the cabinets for our friends, and they added their own top to the desk.

These cabinets are each 18″ wide x 24″ deep x 26″ high, with the overall desk size being 72″ wide x 27″ deep x 27.5″ high.

These are constructed out of 3/4″ and 1/2″ plywood, with poplar face frames and shelf fronts.  The finish on the cabinets is a distressed white latex paint, finished with a few coats of clear Valspar Sealing Wax to give the cabinets a nice, soft feel.

You can see more pictures on our post on our site, or even get the plans if you want to build your own.

I built the Tryde Media Console with a few modifications. I had to increase the size to of the console to accommodate the 60" T.V. that it would be housing. You will also notice that I added a shelf in the top center of the console so that I could fit more components on the top. I also modified the console plans to create new plans for building two matching bookcases, one for either side of the console, giving it the "built-in" appearance. This turned out beautifully and we couldn't be happier with the plans that we downloaded from Ana-white.com! P.S. - The Kreg jig was a must for this project. All of the boards creating the back of the console are joined using pocket screws, pre-drilled with the kreg jig. After using this inexpensive tool for about ten minutes, I couldn't believe how long I had gone on without it!

We built this bench for the same women's shelter for whom we built the storage table and benches at their request. They wanted a place for the children to come in and remove their shoes. Since it was for children, we modified the height to be the same as the other small benches, 14". Leftover gray primer was used and they requested the same color scheme as the previous build. Therefore the leftover paint from the other project was used plus three coats of semi-gloss Polycrylic. I think the paint brand is Olympic. It was a joint effort between a friend, my husband and I. It was built in an evening, but I put a week long project because of the coats of primer, paint, and top coat with all of the drying time.

I've been thinking about this one for a while, and finally built up the courage to do it.  Ana had lots of good plans and I learned so much from her other table plans, but the brag post: http://ana-white.com/2012/03/simple-square-cedar-outdoor-dining-table is the one that ultimately pushed me over the edge to start.  I spent a ton of time researching wood types, Minwax types, Kreg Jig settings, etc.  Finally pulled the trigger and got started.  It took me several weeks start to finish, but it was usually only a few hours at a time at night after everyone had gone to bed.  The most labor-intensive part was triple-coating all of the redwood.  Coat, dry, flip, coat, dry, sand, repeat.  Took a loooong time but the finish is absolutely gorgeous.  The photos don't really show how deep red the wood really is.  Actually assembling the table didn't take that long.  Big thanks to Finns-Dad (user) for the inspiration and good photos - it was relatively easy to build my own plans in Illustrator from those.  Now to make some matching benches...

Built this for my teen daughter's room. I changed the legs to 2x6 in order to fit in a tighter space as she has a small room and we needed to spare as much of the space moving around the foot of her bed as possible. It saved a few inches total in length by not using 4x4 legs. I also changed the style of the headboard and footboard to a slat design. She loves it and even says she hopes to hold onto it for her kids to have someday. Makes my heart smile! This is just part of why I love to build. It's quality, sturdy furniture that will last for years to come. 

This was my first project, an introduction to saws and drills, after my pug ate a bag of chocolate that was sitting next to my bed. The plan was picked because it said "simple" and had a drawer to safely store remotes. And chocolate.

I made this table and benches for my daughter

My dream project...took me a lot longer than anticipated. But a very sturdy bed when finished. I only have the matress and not a box spring, so i raised the support for mattress almost to the top of the sideboards.  The large posts gave me problems at first because i was unsure if ''special 3x3'' meant actual 3x3 or 2.5x2.5 so i ended up having to send them through table saw twice.

Our daughter said she wanted a desk like Daddy. When I found these plans I was so excited! My husband doesn't know it yet but it was his practice for a large farmhouse table that I want for our dining room. The Clara's table plans were easy to follow, I can not remember the exact prices for our materials since we built this back in the fall (over 6 months ago). We will eventually make the chairs. I was pleased with the way it turned out with the stained top and the legs were painted a ballet pink. I believe the stain is Dark Walnut, it was something we had leftover from another project and the paint for the legs was leftover from painting her room. It has held up well the past 6 months, it has a few dings from markers and other toys but I love the character it adds to the table. We plan on making the chairs soon.

I made this workbench for my son's 5th birthday. It's a bigger style real workbench for kids. He also received real tools for his birthday. I modeled after a one that PBK used to sell.

I found the plans for a farmhouse table here on Ana White`s and decided that this would be a great design an real outdoor table.The table seats 12 people and I also made four benches to go with it. The reason I made four benches is that it is easyer when someone needs to get up and leave the table. Under the feet I mounted small blocks of wood since the table will be standing directly on the ground. This way the rainwater will pass under the feet and if necessary these blocks are easy to change. The feet and the supports are made with 2X4" and the tabletop is made with 1,5X6" all in pressuretreated pine. Pressuretreated pine workes well outdoor in the nordic climate here in Norway and is cheap and widly awailable.

Greatings from Norway

Built a new outdoor furniture set using the following plans:

Ryobi Outdoor Couch (linked to in the One Arm Outdoor Sectional plans)

Armless 2x4 Sectional

2x4 Outdoor Coffee Table

I also built the Tryde End Table with Shelf & 2 of the Modern Outdoor Chair from 2x4s and 2x6s, but they will be in a seperate brag post since I can only link 3 sets of plans per post.

I built the armless middle sectional piece exactly to plan, to fit 25x25 outdoor cushions. The bench is a little deep for sitting, but great for laying out. The 2 side pieces I shallowed to fit 19" cushions, since they are cheaper and easier to find and are more naturally sized for sitting. I also added a support board under the back rail, which is missing from the Outdoor Couch plans but is present in the Armless sectional plans and I wanted everything to match. I stained everything with Thompson's water sealing stain, since it was going to be exposed to the elements at all times (though this picture was taken before the staining was completely finished, hence the untouched lumber visible under some of the cushions).

Project took a 3-day weekend. Day 1: measuring and cutting. Day 2: assembly. Day 3: sanding and staining. 

This was actually my first build. I had just about had it, went with all three kids, got the wood, and built it while my hubby was at work (24 hr. shifts at the fire station). And yes, that was after I finally Googled, "How to unlock a Dewalt Compound Miter Saw" after 30 minutes of unsuccessful prodding! :-) I'm super happy with how it came out (despite the poor flashy picture)! And it was great "practice" for doing my girl's farmhouse beds.

Since moving into our house almost 3 years ago, I have wanted a large piece to house the tv. The husband did not want glass, I wanted shelving on both ends and it had to hold a 60 inch tv (not pictured). To avoid paying thousands of dollars to a furniture store, I decided to build my own.

I used 1x2's, 1x3's, 4x8-3/4" plywood (sanded on one side) edge banding (super easy to use), nail gun and wood glue. I spent roughly a week building and staining, interrupted by 2 kids. The staining being the most tedious part. Cost was around $450 for all the pieces. I did attach the bridge piece by drilling holes through the bridge to the side hutches. I then installed nuts and bolts through the hole to attach it all together. Makes it easy to take apart when moved and I am not constantly drilling screws into the unit.

My husband is deployed so this was built solely by myself. My experience level is novice, this is only my 3rd piece of furniture, but I am hooked. The plans are easy to follow and use.

I was just thinking "Where can I put their backpacks and folders this year so we don't lose/forget so many things this year?" Thanks Ana! Modified the plans to make use of my scrap pile. I ordered the vinyls off Etsy from, The Vinyl Things in Life, she custom made them to my dimensions and I love the pop of color! Sorry I can't get better pictures, our entry is tiny.

My 14 year old son wanted a piece of furniture to put under his TV.  We made it 20 inches less in length but kept the other dimensions the same as the plans.  I made the cuts for him, but he did all of the work putting it together, sanding and staining.  He loves the outcome and it only took us about 6-8 hours over the course of two days.

Thanks for the plans!

I used Ana's plans for the play stove, fridge and sink. I LOVED Crafting Chick's take on it so I copied her great accessories. I found my knobs at Walmart and my hooks at Hobby Lobby. I also found the fabric at Hobby Lobby. I used 3/4" hardwood plywood, but if I could do it again I would have used MDF. It's much smoother! I still love it though! Oh... So do the kids ;-)) You can read more details at http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2011/07/play-kitchen-reveal.html.