Community Brag Posts

Red Chicken Coop

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/19/2023 - 16:59

Ana, I want to say how inspirational you have been to me over some years. I think my first project found on your website was a chicken coop. More recently I have built the large garage workbench system with 2 rollout workbench/storage units (still in progress). In the past few weeks I have built the Adirondack chairs. The Adirondack chairs spurred me to continue building a “park like” setting in my small backyard. This includes a park bench (to match the Adirondack chairs), a park style grill, and a water fall. The waterfall is fairly simple (now that I have done it once - ha).

Ken Moody - Babcock Ranch, Florida

Modern Chairs, Modern Loveseat, and the 2x4 Outdoor Coffee Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/29/2020 - 19:58

I took this opportunity while quarantined to make this set. I think it came out really beautifully!

Finish Used
Shou sugi ban, Simple Finish by Maker Brand, and Total Boat Halcyon Clear.

I used a blow torch to burn each board. Then I used a wire brush to remove soot, and washed with water and allowed to dry completely. I opted for pocket holes for the chairs and love seat. After assembling, I finished with Simple Finish by Maker Brand ($40/qt), and top coated with Total Boat Clear Halcyon ($32)

Craft table from Michaela Island

I needed a new island for my craft room, so we used the Michaela's Kitchen Island plan and modified it to be 30 1/2" deep. First time with drawers...they were a booger!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$125
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Top stained in Dark Walnut. Painted with Behr Mermaid Treasure and distressed and glazed with stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Simple Bunk Bed

Submitted by rogers99 on Sat, 05/23/2020 - 10:42

Built mostly from the Simple Bunk Bed plans on this site with a couple of modifications. Namely: made a vertical ladder, used Rockler Bed rail fasteners, increased bed height to fit 3rd twin mattress underneath for when my moms visits, and made a removable bottom safety rail that slides on when my daughter goes to sleep. Overall it was a fun project to do and they kids are really enjoying it.

Estimated Cost
380
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Dresser done!

Submitted by pantheon79 on Wed, 06/03/2020 - 18:23

Struggled with this one, but it’s done and I’m pretty proud of her

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Laundry closet makeover

Laundry closet makeover. I was tired of having only the one wire shelf to store laundry supplies. So I added a cabinet, hanging rod, and counter-top over the washer/dryer for folding clothes. Also, behind the curtain on the left is a built-in garbage can for lit. Recovered small ironing board in same fabric as curtain and hung it up so save space.

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

Loft Bed

Seen the plan on another site....cannot for the life of me remember which one.....but I made my own out of the one I seen online. Sorry pictures are not that great!!! But my daughter loves it!!!!

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Sanded well filling in large holes with wood filler....covered bolt holes with the sticky mirrors that my daughter picked out......Paint is White semi gloss...3 coats!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Porch Swing squeezed into suburban porch

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 09/17/2016 - 08:24

This is a super easy build, but it cost us WAY more than the estimate. By the time we painted and hung it the total was closer to $150. 

 

We we squeezed the swing into the crack between the pillar and wall of my back porch. It barely fit, but we are a family of six so I wanted it to be as big as possible. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Waterfall Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/19/2024 - 12:29

This is the 52 inch waterfall console. I fell in love the it and thought it might be a great way to store my bed pillows when they aren’t in use. I modified it to be shorter and taller, to fit my space and needs. This was my first time using a kreg jig and brad nailer… tutorials on those would be great, but I figured it out! And I’m so excited I did - this is a game changer for my building projects!

Ashlie Alaman

Built from Plan(s)

Coop and run for Six

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 09/24/2016 - 08:10

We wanted our chickens to have plenty of room for when we ere not home and could not let them free range in the yard.  One of the six was a rooster-- and long story-- but we don't have him any more-- so 5 chickens now enjoy this coop/run.  It cost about $300 in supplies.  It is 16 feet long.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
unfinished
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Outdoor Farmhouse Table

I've been wanting to build an outdoor farmhouse table for quite some time. Getting it to look old with new materials was the idea.Using notches to hold part of the base and experimenting with finishes got the 'rustic' look. I took a few ideas from the Gaby Kitchen Island and implemented my own; it turned out to be a great weekend project!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint, Stain, Poly-acrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Juanita_r

Fri, 10/26/2012 - 23:43

Love the table, especially the finish you used, it looks amazing. just have a question about if it is waterproof...i know it is an outdoor table, but is it protected by a veranda or is it completely exposed to the elements. i want to make one but am hesitant as it will be completely outside! Thanku!

Storage Daybed with Bookshelf Surround

Update 8/2017: This project started with the Storage daybed, which I built in 2014. My daughter is a book lover and I wanted to provide her with more space for her books. I recently added the following plans to the Daybed with Storage Trundle Drawers:

- Twin Storage Headboard Base

- Small Hutch for Storage Headboard

- Cubby Hutch Plans for the Storage Headboard

I also made one extra storage headboard base and added more shelves along the long side of the bed so she could be surrounded by books. There are two additional supports under long bookshelf and I placed them roughly behind each of the trundle drawers.

For the bed (I built two), I opted to use the alternate slat system. I also used 2" caster wheels and added dividers to the drawers--one drawer has three compartments, and the other two drawers were divided in half.

Note: In my main brag photo it looks like the drawers don't close flush... I didn't notice when I took the photo because I was focused on the new shelves. But they do close and line up perfectly!

 

Estimated Cost
$600 (Fairbanks, Alaska)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut and one coat of gloss polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Indoor daybed without canopy

Submitted by marcyproch on Fri, 11/16/2012 - 18:52

I chose to modify the outdoor daybed with canopy for my finished basement, to replace a secondhand sleeper sofa.

The only power tool I used was a drill, including screwdriver bit -- with hand tools it took longer, but wasn't impossible.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark gray-brown semi-gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Not So $10 Ledges

About 2 years ago when we were redoing our kitchen, I made these ledge shelves inspired by Ana White's $10 Ledges.  I originally wanted to use them as storage for spices and our olive oil, but once our vent hood was installed, there just wasn't room for them, at least not as I had originally intended.  Since mine are made of yellow pine (harder wood) and I used a 1 x 6 for my platform instead of a 1 x 4, my ledges cost more than $10.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Annie Sloan's chalk paint with 2 coats of poly, sanding between coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Annabelle's Doll Crib

My husband did the cutting and we worked together. Everything was great. We used screws to attach the sides instead of finishing nails because we didn't have the right length.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
unfinished
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Outdoor Sofa - Front Porch

Submitted by mclaudeg3 on Fri, 11/06/2020 - 16:47

This project was quite easy and did not require many tools. The plan allowed me to adjust the measurements easily so it could fit in that space. I used regular 2x4’s and treated the wood with Mountain Ash colour in a semi-transparent stain from Sherwin Williams, I just love the colour! I build 2 - 2 seaters exactly the same. The one side has no arm, as I wanted it to look like a lounge chair. I love to sit in the corner and stretch my legs 😊. I bought the cushion covers from IKEA, and got good quality foam.

Estimated Cost
Wood ~$300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
2 coats of semi-transparent Mountain Ash stain from Sherwin Williams.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Adirondack Chair with a Bahamian Accent

Hey Ana -

You're plans have been such a great help to me here in the Bahamas. You've saved us thousands of dollars. Really! Here's one of my many adirondack chairs under construction. I added a Bahamian accent. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50 (Bahamian)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Unfinished (waiting for PT to dry)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Desk & Hutch

Submitted by Wildlife26 on Mon, 12/29/2014 - 08:04

I was not able to get to this desk last year and thought my 15 year old teenage daughter had forgotten about it and was getting too old. Around Thanksgiving she made a comment with a sigh that it would never happen and she understood. I immediately went to work in the garage to have this ready on Christmas morning. She had no idea and was very surprised to find it near the Christmas tree!

Desk included a power strip with USB ports, an under the hutch light, magnet board & dry erase board w/ magnet markers to stick on the magnet board.

Thank you so much for putting these plans on-line.

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

Comments

Truss Beam Dining Room Table

Submitted by td_tx on Wed, 02/03/2021 - 08:57

We built this table for our dining room. The project followed the plans for cuts and dimensions except for the top. Instead of using 2x10, we used 2x12 and ripped an inch off each side to have flatter top with out needing to plane.

We used pine for the top and douglas fir for the 4x4 base. Before staining we used a pre-stain conditioner. The table was stained using Minwax Early American and then finished with a clear satin polyurethane.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Early America and clear satin polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

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