Community Brag Posts

Raised flower planter beds

Submitted by stcarroll on Fri, 08/26/2011 - 10:36

We bought a house with a death trap for a back step. Until we get to re-doing the entire back patio area I needed a temporary solution to keeping the kids from toddling off the back 'ledge'. I modified Ana's plans to make a nice border around the step so kids can't fall off when they are coming and going from the backyard. We had left over cedar fence slats from when we did our fence last spring...PERFECT and FREE!!!!!

Estimated Cost
Free!!!!
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Sandie

Fri, 08/26/2011 - 14:56

This is a really good idea - much better than spending $ on a banister or rail that you will need to remove later! Good parenting, too!

Simple Pot Rack and Spice Shelf

This was a very simple pot rack and spice shelf using 1x3 for the pot rack and 1x4 for the spice shelf.

Spice Shelf is 7ft and the most complicate part was cutting the uprights for the large baseboards in our house. I used a profile gauge but this wasn't quite enough. Eventually I did some sanding on the spot to get the best fit. Having gained my addiction from Ana for Kreg Jigs the shelves and mounting pieces were added with pocket hole screws. By placing the screws on top or on the bottom I was able to avoid the necessity of plugging holes. Shelf spacing is completely custom for our needs and the large bottom portion will receive a cross brace in the front to hold in our shopping bags. Butterfly bolts were used to mount the shelving through the lathe and plaster walls.

The pot rack is simply a 1x3 ladder where I used a 1x3 for the spacing between the rungs. Large bottom to hold pot lids. Hooks were hand bent using a jig to ensure they were all the same. Mounted to the old brick chimney in the kitchen using TapCons.

Both items were finished in MinWax Mahogany and had one coat of of poly to keep the rustic feel.

Length of project depends on drying times.

Any questions please let me know!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax stain and Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

benjaminrogers

Thu, 09/19/2013 - 08:41

Pam, compared to what we had it's amazing. A 1920's home just doesn't have a lot of storage in the kitchen!!

Ben

DIY Upholstered Bench

I just finished my first project with upholstery!  I built a bench following Ana's plans from a couple of 2x4s and used this gorgeous fabric from Minted.  Minted is November's sponsor for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest.  The paint color is Behr's Island Aqua.  I used 3" thick upholstery foam (and WOW that stuff is super expensive).  I love diamond tufting and followed a tutorial from Addicted 2 Decorating.  

 

The bench is super compfy.  I love it and I love the bright cheery colors.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
100+
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr Island Aqua
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

All treated wood

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 11/01/2022 - 10:39

I made a slight modification using 5/4 x 6 deck boards instead of 1x10's. I also added some additional bracing to the backs of the arms. Love these chairs!

Comments

Our "Stop Breaking Our Back" washer and dryer pedestals

The husband kept complaining that the washer and dryer were too low without pedestals. Well, no problem! I've got plans from Ana's site.

I measured to fit our machines and followed the plans. But somewhere along the way I screwed up. I think it might have been how I attached the legs with the "L" brackets. My legs were sitting away from the base, not flush with it. Anyhow, the way to correct my mistake was to attach the moulding along the sides, front and back of the base, not around the legs. But I don't mind the way it looks. Just an FYI: there was a lot of waste with the sheets of MDF, but that's not a problem because I'm using it in another project as I write. :)

First, I put on two coats of primer. Then I decided I wanted a splash of turquoise in the basement, so I mixed a blue and yellow paint until I got the color I desired. After a few coats of paint, I distressed and then decided to tone down the color a bit with a Valspar glaze. I put on two coats of poly, hoping that would be enough to withstand the inevitable water on the pedestal. I thought the piece was screaming for a quote, so I painted "The most memorable days usually end with the dirtiest clothes."

And you think with the new height he'd help me with laundry a bit more? Yeah, I think not.

Estimated Cost
$70
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Mixed a blue and yellow paint to get the turquoise. Put two coats of paint on over the primer. For the first time I thought I would try distressing with candle wax. I rubbed the candle down the edges of the wood and gently brushed away any wax crumbs. Then I painted over it. When it was time for distressing, I gently rubbed the sandpaper over the edges and the paint easily came off. Definitely looks different than distressing with just sanding. Finished up with a little glaze then 2 coats of polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

VeronicaGentry (not verified)

Tue, 08/30/2011 - 18:58

I love the color! I'm usually not a fan of quotes on furniture but this is really cute and it fits perfectly! Great job!

BethG (not verified)

Sat, 09/10/2011 - 17:44

What a great idea, and I love the color choice! We have front loaders and bought the drawers for the bottom. While they are decent storage, they tend to travel open at times. This has so much more personality and adds a real built in look to the laundry area. I'm sure you saved quite a bit doing it this way over drawers. How is it holding up to the moisture and vibration of a the washers? Keep those great ideas coming.

In reply to by BethG (not verified)

debandtom25

Tue, 09/20/2011 - 18:38

I've been waiting for my machines to "walk off", but the pedestal is holding up well. I made sure to add poly to help protect it from the moisture. So far, so good.

Outdoor Sofa and Single Chair

Submitted by dianek on Fri, 09/20/2013 - 08:38

Our original sofa and loveseat turned out so well that my parents asked that we build them a set. It was our first time converting the plan to a single seat so I was nervous on how it would turn out, but it looks great!

Estimated Cost
150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
outdoor paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

CreativeChaos

Fri, 09/20/2013 - 15:10

Beautifully done! I love the colors and how they play off of each other. I just finished building the loveseat and two chairs. Couldn't be happier. I'm getting requests too, but I'm still worn out from building mine.

TV Console

This TV console was made on request.  Its made from maple plywood and Pine top, trimmed with Small crown,  large chair rail  and base board moulding.  It has one media shelf a larger shelf for Pictures. The very bottom has two 18 inch drawers that are 5 1/4 inches deep for dvds or games.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Finish is Minwax Gunstock and cleared with Lacquer. 
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Gunstock Stained Farmhouse/craftsman bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 18:19

Followed the plan, adjusted the height to accomadate a trundle bed in the future. Tapered the edges of the 2x6 material for a shaker/craftsman look. If you cut the board at a 25 degree angle the 2x6 material will rest right in line with the 2 x 4 material below. Be sure and add 2 to 2 1/2 inches to accommodate the taper edging.

 

Used Minwax gunstock stain to match the furniture and three coats of fast drying gloss poly.

 

Estimated Cost
220.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Used Minwax gunstock stain to match the furniture and three coats of fast drying gloss poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Craft and Homework Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 11/18/2022 - 13:31

I used the plans for the modern craft table for this build and I had some curly cherry laying around begging to be use so I used that for the top.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by JouniorB21 on Mon, 09/23/2013 - 12:48

I worked on this over the past couple of months (would have been quicker, but you know..life gets crazy sometimes!!)

I used the farmhouse table plans to a tee and then stained and poly'd it. It turned out great!!! My Wife loves it and now all I have to do is build the benches. The wood is cut for them, just need to find the time to do it. This is my 4th Anna-White project. I have also built a bench for the end of our bed, some laundry cubbues, and a day bed.

I love this site and plan on using much more...I have friends and family wanting me to build them stuff...the only thing now...is how much do I charge..... :)

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Miniwax Old American and semi-gloss poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

1x2 Christmas Trees

Submitted by DebbieSC on Fri, 12/04/2015 - 08:51

I used 1x2 boards for this project. The smaller tree is the size according to plans (minus the coat rack). For the larger tree, I added 3.5 inches to each piece. 1/4 plywood on the back and used a stencil for the design. I love the way it turned out.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Less than $20.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Early American
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Reclaimed Wood End Table

Submitted by sc4bship on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 17:49

I've taken quite a bit of time building this project. My goal was to use all material we had here so, I had to cut down 2x4's and 1x6 tongue and groove. I am proud of how this turned out, now to build it's match.

Estimated Cost
$0 all reclaimed wood and hardware
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Cindy from Indiana (not verified)

Tue, 09/06/2011 - 09:45

Great job! I love how this table turned out - especially for the price! Really well done.

JongPogi

Sun, 01/20/2019 - 12:42

Hi, can you add details on how you achieved that finish when you get a chance? like colors of  the paint and how many coats.. thank you.

TV Stand

Submitted by gjohanson on Wed, 09/25/2013 - 13:40

I started with Michaela's Kitchen Island plan, but reduced the dimensions and material sizes. I used 2x2s for the legs and 1x3s for the rest of the project. Everything was kreg jigged together. This project would've taken less time but the drying time for the stains ate up work time! :)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used espresso poly stain for the frame and Rustoleum's wood stain in American Walnut. 2 coats each and then sealed the tops with a poly sealer in clear gloss.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cedar Planter

Submitted by bclute on Tue, 12/08/2015 - 10:28

I built these out of necessity to keep my tipsy Christmas decorations from blowing over. The last couple years I spent a lot of time picking these trees up off the ground. I like how they turned out and were relatively easy to build.

I was excited I got to use my Kreg Jig for the first time, which looked more difficult to use than it actually was. Although these are cedar planters I used all pine from big box orange. Some leftover from the farmhouse queen bed I built and the rest I purchased.

The finish didn't turn out as grey as I would have hoped using the steel wool and vinegar, but I still like the aged look. I added the "x" detail in the front afterward and instead of staining my wife thought it looked better natural. Either way I would have been happy. I will be able to use these year round in some capacity.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
I used some scrap and some new, but these cost me about $15 each
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Steel Wool and Vinegar followed by Thompsons Water Seal
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rocket bookcase

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/29/2019 - 16:02

My son saw this project and wanted a rocketship.  I was also tired of piling up his books on the floor.  The only wood I bought for it was 1/4" ply for the back as I used leftover 3/4" plywood for the bookcase itself.  Fairly easy with a Kreg, it just took a little while to finish all of the painting.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
the only paint I bought for this was the red - just bought a sample of Behr's MPH in Satin. I used leftover Behr National Anthem (originally purchased for a dresser that I made my son) and some shade of white that Ihad used on closets (eggshell sheen but can't remember the exact color).
And of course, Zinsser Bullseye primer.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Oh Christmas Tree

Submitted by Rentzm on Sat, 12/17/2022 - 04:13

What a merry addition to my Christmas decor. I was drawn to this project because I wanted to use my new miter saw and to practice cutting angles & piecing together with great precision. It’s a bonus that I needed a place to hang stockings.

The directions were clear and helpful. It is forgiving if you don’t get boards aligned perfectly. That provided a great confidence boost for this newbie.

The stain is Minwax Austin Field solid. It was my first stain experience and it took me a while to get a smooth and consistent finish. But I love the tone.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Rustic Headboard

Submitted by Linaloo on Fri, 09/09/2011 - 12:34

Made by my husband.

Estimated Cost
$60 CAD
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
White paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Theresa619 (not verified)

Mon, 09/26/2011 - 01:21

Love this! I also want to build this headboard and finish it in a bright white. One question- how did you secure it? Is it in any way attached to the wall or the bed frame or is it just leaning there? Thanks, and great job!

Custom Sandbox with built-in seats

Submitted by Ljmommy on Sat, 09/28/2013 - 10:13

On this project we modified a few things like the arm rests which we cut at an angle to keep kids from pinching fingers in there if someone decided to move the bench back on them. We also modified the size which we made 6'x4' to maximize play sand space and kid space. Therefore this made our benches bigger so that big kids (my husband) could sit on the benches and play in the sandbox. Yes there was talk about putting cup holders but I won the conversation by mentioning sand in his drink and we would have to do a sippy cup. We notched out the handles instead of installing handles which made it look sleek. We used the template from the hinge so it matched the shape....clever huh? We decided to primer and paint this one sandstone in the brick and mortar sample book by Behr and had them put it in an exterior paint color for us. We used a wagner paint sprayer which made the project fast at the end. Overall still an easy project for anyone. I do suggest pre drilling all holes first before screwing in screws so the wood doesn't split when doing the slats on the top.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50-$75
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Primer/Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Sand Box

This is a 4 x 6 sand box. I took the Idea from this website and add a roof just for looks. It is made with 2 x 12 , 1 x 4 and 2 x 4. I used Flood Stain which I loved the clean up. I made the second one with 2x12 and 2 x 4 because it was going on a comminuty playground and I thought it sould be stonger. It takes 22 50 pound bags of play sand to fill it. Had a great time building them Thanks for the idea

Estimated Cost
160 without the roof and 200 with
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Flood Sealer
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate