Community Brag Posts

Boardwalk Shoe Bench

I love the legs on Crate&Barrel's Boardwalk Bench, but I was on a tight budget (under $10), so I needed to make many modifications so that I could use the random pieces of wood I had accumulated from my local deconstruction warehouse, including free wood louvers for the slatted shoe shelves. If you'd like to make your own, more photos of my process are on my little blog: http://sunnysideup-stairs.blogspot.com/2014/05/boardwalk-shoe-bench.html

Estimated Cost
$5
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None applied, yet. :)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JoanneS

Tue, 06/10/2014 - 17:06

Great use of materials! The lines are elegant, it's a wonderful build! (Also, I love the floor!)
:)
Joanne

yurra-bazain

Tue, 06/10/2014 - 22:00

Thank you, Joanne. :) I really like the floor too. I expect lots of patterns will be appearing in our home this year or next. :)

Mud room Lockers

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 09/10/2016 - 22:06

This is 10 feet long and 5 1/2 feet tall. Made using a Kreg Jig.

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

Comments

Lego Table

Submitted by jwerne2 on Thu, 08/23/2012 - 10:33

Our two boys are really starting to get into Legos so we knew we needed a place for them to play (especially after repeatedly stepping on Legos--ouch!). My husband designed this simple plan after looking at some expensive designs online. He cut a small notch out of the top so legos can be pushed into the storage container. We just used a simple under bed storage box, which is great because it is large and holds a ton of legos.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Hailey Wall Magazine Rack

Submitted by dave_83 on Sat, 06/14/2014 - 23:03

This was my first ever project. I initially intended to use it for office storage but it ended up taking its place in the kitchen - and proving most useful for storage there too!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Colron wood dye - American Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

CaitCouch

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/13/2016 - 09:31

We altered our plans as my dining room could only accomodate a 7 ft table! This was out first DIY that was this large of an undertaking and we love the way it came out. If we can do this as woodworking novices you can definately do it! 

Estimated Cost
$150 in the philadelphia area including wood, screws, stain, and finish another $75 if you need to rent a mitre saw.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Sanded down the table starting with 150 grit, followed by 220, then 320. Next, MinWax English Chestnut (1 coat- painted on and sat for 5 mins and then wiped off with rags- we didnt time it just about 5 mins - did the top first- then sides- then the legs one at a time to make it more manageable) followed by MinWax Satin Matte polyurethane (2 coats- 5 hours between coats and then sit for 48 hours untouched)

It was suggested to us that before attaching we should sand, stain and seal the legs. We didn't follow this advice from a friend and we should have!! being down on the ground with the table is all together was very hard on our backs and bottoms (and were in our 20s!). that is the only thing i would have done differently.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Reclaimed Wood Outdoor Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/15/2024 - 10:47

I had leftover lumber from building the full size table so I built this outdoor coffee table using the same design just a little smaller.

Connie Breck

Mom's fancy California King

Submitted by danaxboo on Sat, 08/25/2012 - 08:58

Mom's Fancy Farmhouse in California King, Glazed.

I used the headboard measurements from the original plan, and the width/length measurements from the California King plan. My first plan was to distress (above picture) and I loved it, but when I brought it downstairs it didnt really match... So I repainted and Glazed :) Not to bad for buying my first "power tool" less than a month ago!!

Estimated Cost
Under $250 (paint, stain, hardware, wood, everything!!)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Antiqued white, glazed with Jacobean
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse dining table with straight legs

Submitted by isti799 on Wed, 06/18/2014 - 22:12

I'm homemade woodworker. This is my first job!

Estimated Cost
100 $
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
2 coat waterbased stain ( trilak vekonylazur)
3 coat+1 coat tabletop waterbased furniture varnish (Trilak vizes butorlakk)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

West Elm Wall Cubby Knock Off

Submitted by Mike F on Sun, 09/18/2016 - 06:15

My wife found this post on Pinterest and asked if i could build it.  The hardest part was cuting the angles wit the jig saw because i can never get it to cut square and i have a little OCD about that sometimes.  I ended up using my table saw a little.  I would not recommened that though.  If i had acess to a band saw stand that would have ben perfect.

Estimated Cost
Around twenty dollars
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used two different stains, provincial and special walnut.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Narrow Cottage End Table from Scraps

Submitted by kmgoff30 on Tue, 06/30/2020 - 16:55

I loved this project so much!! The best part of it for me was I didn't spend any money! I literally used scrap boards I had from rehab projects I had completed around my little cozy cottage. Some of the boards were already painted in Polar Bear by Behr in gloss finish. The other boards are unfinished common boards. Including this room I finished 2 weeks ago!

Estimated Cost
0
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Some of the boards are natural and some are painted with Polar Bear by Behr in gloss finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Mudroom Storage Lockers and Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/19/2024 - 14:06

I really appreciated your garage/mudroom project guidance. I stumbled on it as I was trying to figure out how to design my project. I basically copied yours!! 😁

You also turned me on to pocket hole joinery. Previously I have used a biscuit joiner and find it very challenging. Thank you, I am a convert!

Don Arrowood

Outdoor end table

Submitted by spiceylg on Mon, 08/27/2012 - 14:38

I didn't use any plans but the Outdoor Ottoman comes really close. Needed an end table to go with our Outdoor Sectional that my husband and I built. While he was at a ballgame I whipped this up. Still have to sand and stain this as well as the sectional, but will probably do it as a winter project. We bought the 1x4s a while ago when we bought the 2x4s for the sectional so I wasn't exactly sure of the cost. I think I used 2 1/2 pieces of 8' lengths. Who would have thought a couple of years ago that so many of us would have attempted to build furniture and then even without a plan now and then?! Ana rocks! :)

Estimated Cost
Approx $5
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Not sure what brand, but spray painted Apple Green for a pop of color against the back cushions.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Our first build!

Submitted by helenc on Sun, 06/22/2014 - 04:05

This is our first build. Instructions were easy to follow but we didn't go much on the bottom center drawer runners!
I love the second layer of slide out drawers we use for the printer , paper and electronic gadgets!

Estimated Cost
not sure
Finish Used
birch plywood painted white and top stained walnut and all coated with poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

spiceylg

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 05:37

Love this. What great mods and you even tackled drawers for a first build?! I'm too chicken and still haven't tried. Especially love how you used slide outs in the middle. Clever!

Sofa

I modified the back slightly to have 2 beams across otherwise pretty close to your design

Estimated Cost
£50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Ronseal Dark Oak wood stain

DIY Pantry Shelving

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/26/2024 - 13:56

We have a small pantry as well, so we used the shelving featured on your website to help!
I absolutely love it. They’re not as beautiful as yours but I’m happy with what I made :)

Alison

Built from Plan(s)

Coffe Table

Submitted by tmunds on Tue, 08/28/2012 - 22:16

After the high of finishing my first build (http://ana-white.com/2012/08/farmhouse-table-rustic-table), I was quick to find my next fix. My mom was so impressed with the table, she trusted me to build her another piece of furniture for our very empty new home. She liked the look of this coffee table, so I adjusted the dimensions to meet her needs and away I went. It was pretty fun and not too difficult. It was a little more time consuming that I had anticipated, but that was mostly due to the two different finishes on the legs/apron and the top.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
For the legs and skirt/apron: Sanded 120 grit then 220, painted with Rust-Oleum heirloom white (spray paint, one coat), then sanded down on the edges to get the distressed look.

Table top: Minwax Dark Walnut (One Coat brushed on pretty heavy, then wiped off the excess after 15 minutes).

Finished with three coats of Minwax Water Based Clear Gloss Polyurethane (Brushed), sanding with 220 grip sandpaper between coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

'X' Entryway Table

Submitted by danicarby on Sat, 09/24/2016 - 14:32

This table is built out of only 2x4's - that's 5 boards for about $15!  It was pretty easy and took half a day.  If the fancy angles are too hard to cut safely I recommend doing 45-degree angles!  I'm happy to have a nice entryway - first time my whole life! :)

I've created a post on my project blog wth instructions & pictures for anyone to make their own.

Rustic console table

Estimated Cost
$15 for Lumber
Additional for Screws and Wood Finish
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Wood Conditioner, Minwax Dark Walnut Stain then lasly, Paste Wax (Dark Brown).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

danicarby

Tue, 09/27/2016 - 12:16

Thank you Ana!  You made my day!  It was such a treat to see it posted on your Facebook page!  I told my husband that NOW that "I am famous" (haha) that I should be able to get the jointer & planer I've been begging him to let me buy!  I'm thinking maybe a direct message from  you would be just the trick! :)

Richard6959

Wed, 01/29/2020 - 13:54

What angle were the leg cuts? More than 50* because my saw wont go that far. Please let me know. 

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