Community Brag Posts

I needed to use my small coat closet more efficiently (observe the disaster in the before picture!), so I installed built-in shelves along a side wall for all our board games. Not a plan really, but just a simple solution. Measure the height you want your shelves to be, install a 1X3 at that height on either side wall, making sure they are level and secured to studs or anchored (Mine are 1 foot apart up to 5 feet). Then install plywood or solid wood shelves across the supports. Screw in to secure and you've got functional, inexpensive shelving, built to fit your unique space.

I made a few changes to the chairs and the table plans.  Most notable, I added a storage box for chalk for the chalkboard table top.  The build was incredibly easy.  You could assemble the table and chairs in just a few hours.  

First project.  Was a blast and turned out great.  Mahagany strips with oak top.

I seen the plans for a coffee table made out of pallets submitted by Aud builder and just had to try it. The company where I work has tons of pallets so it really didn't cost me anything. I added an additional pallet and left the casters off. In place of the casters I put 4, 4" 4x4's at the corners and then used 1x4 at each of the corners to connect the whole thing. Then I did the white wash on it. I loved the color and had a lot of fun putting it together.

I have been looking at sewing furniture for years, but the prices always made my jaw drop. I have a small craft room, so I needed a table that could also triple as a cutting table and fabric storage. Thank you so much to Ana White for this plan! I built exactly to the plan in The Handbuilt Home, and it's the PERFECT size.

So the sewing machine can sit flush with the top, making working on big sewing projects way easier, I traced the outline of my machine on the MDF and cut it out with a jig saw. Then I built a small shelf using a 1x12 scrap and 2 1x3 scraps. Putting the 1x3s on top of the 1x12 made the shelf 3.75 inches deep, which is exactly the depth I needed. I attached it to the underside of the tabetop using a pockethole jig and screws.

I built 2 boxes using 1/4 inch plywood, and installed drawer pulls on them, giving the illusion that the table has 2 drawers built in. This is where I keep my ugly stuff--interfacing and fabric scraps.

I got the color scheme for the table from the entryway console plan in The Handbuilt Home. In order to make the MDF top look like it had a wood grain, I applied mahogany gel stain with an old washcloth in very thick strokes that spanned the length of the tabletop. It soaked in and lost the "grain" look in some places, but the majority still looks like wood. I did have to apply several coats of polyurathane over the stain; the MDF has a prickly texture that grabs fabric and makes it hard to feed through the sewing machine.

My only complaint is that I didn't quite think through the fact that seating is bar height and I'm 5'7". It's a little difficult to reach my sewing machine pedal. I may build a small stool for the pedal to sit on so I don't have to half sit/stand to sew.

This is the first woodworking project I've done alone from start to finish: from going to Lowe's and picking out the wood, to cutting the wood with a circular saw, assembly, and finishing. (My fiance did carry it up the stairs for me. :) )

I'm so in love with this table! And now to finish the quilt I started 6 months ago....

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.

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!

I used the Rustic X Coffee Table plans to create this table and changed the dimensions to make the table square for better accommodation in our living room since we have 2 full size sofas instead of the standard sofa/loveseat combo. I still need to add the actual X's and will add an updated picture when I finish those.

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!

Made by my husband.

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.

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!!!!

Built from kids storage chairs and table by ana white

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!

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!