Community Brag Posts

Sunny Cupcake Play Kitchen!

My friend and I built this out of white pine, using plans from here. We threw our own changes and special touches on it and used the fridge plans to build a pantry also. We painted it yellow, and used vintage inspired and cupcake fabric prints. I also found a miniature ice cream parlor set on Craigslist. I painted to table top and we upholstered the seats with the same cupcake fabric. A few kitchen accessory kits and VIOLA! My girls LOVE this and it cost under $200 to build. I would recommend building over buying ANYTIME you can! Thank you Ana White and my friend for making my girls' Christmas the best yet!

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Olympic One Paint+Primer in Golden Slumber. Semi-gloss.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

linzi_sparxxx

Wed, 03/07/2012 - 15:14

They stood there, one staring at the kitchen, one staring at the table set, for like 15 seconds with their jaws dropped. It was priceless. I had so much fun, and it's really so easy to do. As long as you have the tools!

linzi_sparxxx

Fri, 03/09/2012 - 07:55

Thank you! I absolutely love this kitchen. I recommend building over the cheaply mass produced ones you can buy at Walmart and Kmart. I'd like to see some pictures of yours too!

Momofmarlee

Tue, 12/03/2013 - 19:45

Hello, I am about to start building this project for my little girl. I am so excited! I was wondering how you did the knobs for the oven and stove. I love them. Do they turn? Did you find an already round piece of wood or did you have to cut it that way? I love love love your kitchen. So creative and so many great ideas! Lots of love went into that I can tell. Thank you for your help!

Tsu Dho Nimh

Wed, 12/04/2013 - 03:03

The knobs look like those "mushroom" cabinert pulls with a line painted on them for the temperature. They seem to have a round settings dial painted behind them.

If you want them to turn, just don't tighten the bolt completely.

Husky Farmhouse Table

My Sister thought this table would be a perfect edition to her new Farm House styled home that she was building. My sister asked a local wood turner if he had any old chunky legs sitting around...and he did! He sold these beauties to her for $20/each, steal of a deal.
We followed the Husky Farmhouse Table plan except with a few modifications. We used 5x 2″x8″x72″ pine boards instead of the 2″x6″ boards. I thought it was necessary to add some supports to stiffen up the table top, so we cut 3 pieces of 2″x4″ about 25″ long and glued and screwed those boards into the underside of the table top.
Next we substituted 1″x4″ furring strip board for the 2″x4″ skirt and eliminated the 1″x2″ trim and put a cute routed bead around the skirt. Since the table legs are round at the top instead of square, we changed the skirt attachment and screwed the legs to the table top. We cut the skirt boards to fit and screwed them in place.
The table turned out gorgeous, my sister adorned this table with fun ombre chairs. Thanks Ana for the plan.

FYI: tutorial for the silver travertine herringbone floors on blog:-)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$120
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Espresso gloss, and Minwax Classic Black gloss. 2 wet coats of espresso gloss, followed by 2 wet coats of classic black. The Espresso went on with a redish color, the black made it very rich!
The legs and skirt are painted white, we plan on using antiquing glaze to get a more defined look.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

kristihw

Thu, 01/02/2014 - 15:41

I love this table. I have been enjoying a lot ever since my sister built it! Thanks Ana for giving us this great idea. I have received a lot of compliments from visitors. It wasn't too hard to build either. Definitely worth it!

Rustic X Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/20/2016 - 15:50

The most time consuming part was staining the wood, and getting the Xs to fit properly.  We love how it came out and are making an outdoor bench and end tables to match.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
homemade steel wool/vinegar stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Twin Loft Beds for Twins

Submitted by annierey on Thu, 10/31/2019 - 16:33

My twins just turned four and were still sleeping in their toddler beds, so it was time for an upgrade.  They still want to share a room so we knew we needed to maximize space and open up some room for them to play.  We chose the Camp Loft Bed but raised the height to 72" (with 53" of headspace) so we might be able to add a desk underneath when they get older. 

Essentially, we made two loft beds with the platforms but omitted the stairs.  Then we built a slightly lower platform to put between the two beds, which acts as a step down.  Then instead of making stairs that jut out into the room, we added two 2x4s as ladder rungs to the lower platform.  This also acts as a tunnel for the twins to crawl under to go between each other's play spaces.   This also makes it so the beds can be easily separated if we ever need to put them in separate rooms. 

When it was complete we noticed one of the beds was a little wobbly, so we added diagonal braces in the corners and another 2x4 across the length of the bottom to help stabilize it.  We also chose to use 1x4 pieces of pine as the slats for the mattress to lay across, but they didn't feel like they would support our weight if we wanted to read to them in bed.  So we added two more 2x4s underneath the slats the entire length of the bed, which has added a ton of support. 

We stopped keeping track of exactly how much it cost, but it was close to $400 for both beds combined.  And it took most of my husband's free time for two weeks, but most of that was painting two coats of paint on every piece before assembling.  First he cut all the pieces to size, drilled the holes with a Kreg Jig, and then painted.  To make the painting more efficient, he put a bunch of screws into boards so he could paint all the exposed sides of the lumber, flip, and leave them to dry.  Then we assembled the beds in their room. 

The twins love their new beds, and we love how much more space they have to play in their room!  We were worried the room would feel too crowded but with the openness of the plan and the space that was opened up underneath, we think it turned out great!  Now we can move in a bunch of their toys and reclaim some of our house!  Thanks for the great plans!

Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Two coats of white paint/primer
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Console entry table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/20/2023 - 12:07

This entry table I made from wood I got from a recycle center of wood products. It’s been in our entry now for several years. I have only basic tools-no planers and jointers, etc. I do have a fold up table saw that I use once in awhile. I enjoy working with natural /live edge and or construction grade materials. Always impressed with the items Ana has built. Good job Ana😁👍

Built from Plan(s)

TWINNING!

Twin Farmhouse Storage Bed With Hinged Footboard.
After making a queen-size for myself, I built this twin-sized version for my niece. Along with a "Breakfast at Tiffany's inspired" theme, she got a new bed and a new bedroom for her 15th birthday.
For this version of the bed, I made just one storage cubby because it sits against a wall. With the addition of the hinged footboard, she has a secret vault for storing her Super Secret Teen items (or shoes or snowboards). I followed the traditional farmhouse bed design, omitting one 1x6 in the head/footboard panels. This way, it is not as wide and the storage cubby meets the bedpost on center.
(Again, my daughter modeling the hinging action).

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Primed and painted with Olympic Heirloom Lace in Satin.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

kad050209 (not verified)

Tue, 09/11/2012 - 20:43

I'm wanted to make my daughter a bed simple to this... Was wondering, since you took one 1x6 piece out on each end... How many inches is the gap from the wall to bed? I want to have my DD's bed against the wall but, since she is only 3 I don't want a big gap for her to fall into! I hope you understand what I mean. Thanks.

In reply to by kad050209 (not verified)

birdsandsoap

Tue, 09/11/2012 - 21:53

The gap is actually determined by the widest part of the bed, which is the cap piece on the head and footboards. At most, your gap would be around 3 inches, but you can shove a foam pool noodle from the dollar store in that gap if you are concerned she will get stuck.

And just to be clear, I only removed (1) 1x6 from the headboard and (1) 1x6 from the footboard to match; not two boards from each panel. Wasn't sure if you understood.

Modern Craft Table

Submitted by dkzeh on Fri, 01/03/2014 - 19:45

Had hubby build this for my craft room over the holiday break. I have been looking for something to cut fabric on and help with some storage needs. I could not bring myself to pay the amount of money for some of these prefab MDF tables and or an arm or leg for one made out of some type of wood. He bought all of the wood and completed all of the cuts in one day. He spent another day putting it together and finished up the trim on the third day. It is currently set up in my sewing room and waiting for a fresh coat of paint. It looks great and will be perfect!

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Plan to use Behr Ultra White primer and paint in one.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

How to Build a Fireplace Mantel and Surround

Submitted by MillerMade on Thu, 03/24/2016 - 09:05

The Custom Built-ins started out with lots of research, and like many DIY project we looked to Pinterest and Houzz for inspiration. A lot of love and time went into this project. I can't stress enough how important research is. This process is often over looked because DIYers just want to get to the building process as quickly as possible, but trust me when I say doing solid research will save you a lot of stress and time when it comes to building.

 

Estimated Cost
$4,000-$6,000
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Farmhouse Twin Bed

Loved building this for my daughter. The plans were simple to follow and everything came together easily. So happy with how it turned out. Thank you, Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$125
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr Bright White, semi-gloss
Caulk for most joint boards

Fish Tank Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/24/2023 - 10:30

fish tank console

I designed and build this cabinet that is being used to hold a fish tank. It’s made from 2”x6s” for the sides and top and most of the rest of it is made from 3/4” plywood with extra support underneath to account for the extra weight of the tank with water. The stain is gunstock and looks absolutely amazing! The black hardware really makes it pop. (My new favorite combo)Thanks for taking a look and have a great day!

Jake from Jake N’ Jill’s Woodshop LLC 

Play Table and Chairs

Submitted by kristilmay on Tue, 03/13/2012 - 19:39

For my daughter's birthday I made her this table and chairs. Despite being very easy and cheap to make, they are very sturdy. I've sat at that table quite a few times with no issues at all. I love how they turned out.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut-top, Rust-Oleum's Heirloom white-table legs, Krylon- Catalina Mist (Spray paint)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

nancy

Tue, 03/13/2012 - 21:02

Simply gorgeous! Did you use any poly on the table top? The finish is amazing. Thanks for sharing. Now I want to make one too!!

kristilmay

Tue, 03/13/2012 - 21:32

Sorry! I just realized I didn't put that. I used Minwax Polycrylic. Thank you for your compliments!

Cindy from Indiana (not verified)

Wed, 03/14/2012 - 10:00

I think the title of my response says it all. ;-)

They really turned out beautifully. Great job!

Square Turned Leg Farmhouse Kitchen Table

I had to do a 3ftx3ft square table since our eating area in the apartment isn't big enough for a dining table, but I really like how it turned out :) I also added breadboard ends because I can't stand how the cut ends look. I got the legs from osborne wood

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$160
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax English Chestnut, Antique Beige Paint, and Helmsman Clearcoat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Patio Table/ my work table

I decided since I was doing a lot of wood working projects I needed to have a work table. I came across the patio table on Ana site and fell in love. I now have a great table in my garage for all my woodworking projects.

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

Happy kiddos

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 11/15/2019 - 12:30

This was a 3 weekend project that I hope my son loves.
I used both plans and made adjustments as needed. Read everyone’s post to see what works best for what you are trying to accomplish. I know that my slide is steep and I would of made it more gradual If I did think my kiddos could not handle it. I would say this bed is perfect for my 5 year old and my 7 year old has been in the room playing on it also all day.

Estimated Cost
400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used common boards, particle boards. The red was my son choice. For the accents I burned those with a torch. This was a fun project but also a very heave and secure project.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Outdoor Canopy Daybed - First Project!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/28/2023 - 14:16

This was the first time I ever built anything - before this is hardly used a drill. It was big for a first build, and I did it entirely alone aside from a few text messages with questions. I added a couple little end tables to it for a book and a drink, and it’s now my favourite outside summer spot.

Facebook user @robyn.marie.3572

Built from Plan(s)

Lighted Saltbox House

My wife went shopping one day in a primitive furniture shop and found this saltbox house that she loved. So I decided to get a picture of this house and build it myself. This project was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Hope you enjoy.

Estimated Cost
$18.00 for wood and left over paint sitting around.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
One layer of black paint, covered with one layer of cream paint, distressed and clear coated.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

candrea1402

Sun, 08/12/2012 - 13:45

Love this one could you possibly give me the dimensions ? would love to try building this

Rustic X End Table

Submitted by Tonyjoe on Wed, 01/08/2014 - 08:45

This table was my 4th build from the site and took my wife and I about 10 hours to build.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax classic gray finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

handcrafted amish style entry bench

Submitted by rburmania on Tue, 03/29/2016 - 11:39

custom handcrafted amish style entry bench

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
provincial stain and white satin pain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

4x4 Truss Table and Benches

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/24/2019 - 12:41

Modified so that it could fit 12 people comfortably.

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

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Channing cabinet/desk

Submitted by mactanya on Mon, 03/19/2012 - 17:57

Well, this was a project that was running concurrently with the Benchright coffee table and I finally got it installed along with the walnut stained 1x4 pine desktop. At first (due to inexperience) I stained it and since I had the wrong plywood, it looked horrible. So it got bondoed and painted and converted into a drawer/rollout printer drawer/hanging file drawer and a support for my single piece 12' + desktop.
By the way, its a pain in the butt to keep the cabinet square and I worked it and worked it, believe me.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100 tops
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Sherwin Williams Alabaster (gives it that aged white look) and minwax polycrylic.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

panthajds (not verified)

Mon, 01/21/2013 - 18:10

I was wondering how you made the desk longer. I have an 11 foot wall and i want the top desk to span the whole wall i was wondering how you supported the whole desk, did you need to add any extra supports?

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