Sideboard
One of my first DIY projects.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Built from Plan(s)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project
Community Brag Posts
Birdhouse Plans from Scrap Wood
Having a home for your feathered friends will encourage the birds to keep visiting your backyard. If you have a garden, you want to attract birds to establish a healthy balance. Birds consume thousands of insects, especially in the spring when they’re feeding their young. To help support this environment, I’m made DIY Birdhouse Plans from scrap wood. If you have scrap wood laying around, you could easily build this birdhouse for your backyard.
A simple bird nest box with correct dimensions will help a mother bird with a reliable place to live in and raise her young. This helps mother nature to keep the cycle of life in order.
See my website for additional pictures and how I've built it, THeDIYPlan.com
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Book shelves
I have had these for a while but never finished with the painting, the most dreadful part...but found some chalk paint that I love, and will always use chalk paint to finish all my projects now.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
free- scrap material
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Annie Sloan Duck Egg and made my own white chalk paint with a recipe found online that worked great with Paris Plaster, water and flar behr paint, I only got a tester for $3, plaster $6. Annie Sloan $65.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project
Comments
Wed, 03/27/2013 - 23:38
Cute and functional
Love these. Also love that you mixed up your own chalk paint. :) Shelving in my daughter's room is definitely a toss up between photo ledges and these now.
Thu, 03/28/2013 - 15:54
Thank you, can't wait to
Thank you, can't wait to start on their new bed. ;0)
Floating Shelves
I modified the size to fit my dining room and I am so pleased with the results!
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I dinged up and scratched the boards, sanded then brushed on black latex pain that I thinned with water and immediately wiped it off.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Comments
Tue, 02/10/2015 - 05:44
Great projects!
I love the finish on your floating shelves, they really look like old barn wood. Table is gorgeous!
Two-tone open wardrobe
I couldn't find any wardrobe that I was really happy with - and then I stumbled upon Ana's design, and I loved it! I went for two different colors (white for the supports and rosewood for the shelves) to give it more presence. Dimensions are 60" wide X 22" deep x 86" tall
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
General finishes rosewood stain (for dark wood, it gives a red hue) and whitewash.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project
Modern Adirondack Chairs
This was a nice simple build. The only problem where I live (near Edmonton, Alberta) is that the price of lumber has gone crazy. I think it is the same everywhere. 2 x 4's are running about $8.50 (CAD) each. I can see myself building a few more of these as the neighbours like them. Chose to go with a funky magenta colour to add some colour to the backyard. Very comfortable to sit in but I think I will add some cushions. I should have taken Ana's advice and painted the boards (especially back and seat) first. Once assembled I had to go in with a small brush to get the sides.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40 each
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Exterior semi gloss paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Comments
Tryde Coffee Table
Had a lot of fun completing this project. I was assisted by my fiance and her little brother.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80 or less
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Red Mahogany.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Rustic Cedar Kitchen Island
The original plans were altered to measure 6 feet long to fit the space. The top is all cedar which I had planned to keep unfinished and oil each month. Well, that was the plan until I found that it was very hard to clean with kids eating on it and because the 2x4 boards were screwed down, they allowed a lot of food, water to seep through. Some of the boards began splitting and warped considerably. Then I discovered the pocket hole jig!! I took the top off, gave a good sand to them and attached all with pocket hole screws which tightened them up so much that I needed to add an extra 2x4 to adequately cover the top of the island. I also added a breadboard to the end to give it that finished look. To fill in the grooves I used wood filler with a dark pigment, and gave it a really good sanding after it dried. I then applied Varathane in 4 coats to the top after using steel wool in between coats. Gives it a lovely natural cedar patina and keeps the breadcrumbs out.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Special Walnut stain from Minwax on everything except for top and drawer fronts. Varathane Diamond Water based Wood Finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Farmhouse Bedside Table
Needed new nightstands for our new house....these worked out perfectly.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
50 dollars.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Gray primer spray paint sanded away and 2 coats of water based poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Comments
Simple 2x4 Potting Bench - Modified
I was intrigued by Ana’s Simple 2x4 Potting Bench. The project seemed simple enough and it would be used as a means to clean up clutter in the garage. My main focus was to make it semi-portable and weather resistant. Instead of using 2x4’s for the corner posts, I used 4x4’s to accommodate casters. I also shorted the length of the posts by 4 inches to compensate for the height of the casters. To provide extra rigidity I did a dado for the 2x4’s that connect the front and rear legs. In retrospect, I wish that I did not dado the legs because it made it more difficult to attach some of the shelf planks. I painted the frame green and left the shelves and backboards clear for beautiful contrast. My wife is ecstatic with the result.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Benjamin Moore Environ Green paint for the frame and Minwax Polycrylic for the poplar shelves and backboards.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Comments
X desk with drawer
This was my very first project (yay!). I finally got over my fear of power tools and my husband bought me a jigsaw for my birthday. (Yes, I built this whole thing with a jigsaw! Clearly I was clueless about power tools back then! :) But even a jigsaw was pretty intimidating at that stage!)
Ok... so in hindsight it was a really bad idea to start on a project marked as "intermediate" for my first project, but I was so in love with this desk that I just HAD to have it. The drawer made it really tricky, but I figured no one has to know if it has its little quirks. :)
I saw a similar version of this desk on Pottery Barn's website, which retailed for a whopping $700! Thank you Ana for giving us the gift of amazing furniture for a fraction of the price!
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$70 (probably about $50 if you already have some nails, screws, etc lying around)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Miniwax Jacobean wood stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Comments
Tue, 04/02/2013 - 15:17
Congratulations
Congratulations on going for a tricky project. It's gorgeous.
Tue, 04/02/2013 - 17:53
Thank you Francoise! Your
Thank you Francoise! Your brag post (and the others for this plan) were a huge inspiration to me!
Mother's Day Gift
Great project. I didn't have all the tools and/or skills to make some things exact or perfect, but I am very happy with the finished project and more importantly the wife loves it! Thanks so much for sharing. I still need to add x, but I ran out of time.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Basic Outdoor set
I used the Outdoor Set plans to start with the sofa, but I didn't like the height of the back. I adjusted it with pallet boards and copied the curved shape of our Adirondack chairs. The bench was made entirely from upcycled wood, including pallets and landscape ties. All the cushions were made with fabric (waterproof) shower curtains. The most expensive part was the 4" foam for the cushions. I used Varathane Diamond Wood Finish, so it will all last for a really long time.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400 Canadian
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Varathane Outdoor Diamond Finish Satin - water based
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Comments
Farmhouse King
Went together nicely. I had to use cedar 4x4s for the posts -they were kind of pricey compared to the pine.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Acrylic - high gloss.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Comments
Balin Console With Some Changes
We made this table from the original Balin Console table plans, but faced out the drawer fronts with some mitered trim and added some drawer stops inside to keep the drawers from falling out when pulled all the way.
The drawers were made with a cabinet grade plywood along with the sides and bottom of the table. We used 1x8s on the console top to get that nice wood look, where all corners and ends would be showing, but for the sides and bottom of the table, since the edges were all trimed out, the plywood worked out nicely.
The legs seemed plenty sturdy without the extra trim, so we skipped that to get a more simple look.
Drawer handles were found at our local Home Depot.
For the finish, we stained (with Minwax ebony) the edges where we wanted distressing, then wiped on vaseline along edges and painted over in Behr Swiss Coffee (white) in matte. After drying we took sandpaper to the edges to show the dark stain through. Because we used matte paint, after everything was finished, we waxed with a clear wax and buffed for a nice shine and a smooth texture.
Pin For Later!
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$125 for plywood, wood pieces and knobs. We already had paint and stain.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax ebony stain, vaseline where you want distressing, then paint Behr (matte) Swiss Coffee on top. Sand all surfaces to distress and smooth, then wax with clear wax to add shine.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Beautiful planters!
I made 2 for my bare front patio
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$38 for 2
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None yet
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Small Dresser with Open Bottom Shelf - Cabin Collection
I built the dresser to match the canopy bed.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Honey Maple Stain
Minwax Polycrylic Protective Satin Finish
Minwax Polycrylic Protective Satin Finish
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced
My first toddler bed!
Rather than buy a cheap toddler bed from a chain retailer I decided to build my own. Ana's plans were amazing! I changed just few things to fit our needs. My son loves it and so do I.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut w/ Semi gloss Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Camp bunk beds for Toddlers
Made this cute little bed for my three year old Granddaughter....she absolutely loves it!!!
Estimated Cost
free....used pallet wood!
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
White flat paint, with polycrylic gloss finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
VERSION OF ANA'S INDUSTRIAL CLOSETS
This is a version of Ana's industrial closets used in a new house. Everyone that has seen it thought it was cool. I used 2x4 for uprights and shelf supports. Shelves are 1x4 and the rods are big box store closet rods.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
AMBER SHELLAC
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Outdoor sofa
Thanks a lot for the free plans. We enjoy out new deck !
Built from Plan(s)