Community Brag Posts

Vintage pew bench alteration

Submitted by Wnolan on Mon, 03/17/2014 - 11:16

I needed additional seating for my dining room table and wanted something a little unusual. When I saw the vintage pew bench, I loved it. After looking at the plans, I determined I could alter the arm height so we could use it at our dining table. Now that we have moved, we no longer need it at our dining table, so it now sits in our entry. It has been a great multifunctional piece.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
less than $100.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Miss Mustards Seed's Milk Paint with a clear coat of wax and an antiquing glaze over that.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Ana White

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 10:44

Amazing Pop of Color, Love the Bench! Is that a print or painting, may I ask where you found it?

Wnolan

Mon, 03/24/2014 - 13:25

Thanks Ana! It is a painting. I bought it in South Korea while we were living there.

I may be able to track a canvas down for you, though. You would have to get it stretched...it would be too large to ship. I have a friend who is living there now. ;-)

Kae429

Sun, 09/20/2015 - 16:44

What's the new arm height? I'm going to TRY to adapt this to a 60" bench with two drawers, and the lower arms.

Seasonal And Holiday

Computer Desk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 06/19/2016 - 15:31

Used MDF for the bases since we  painted them. I didn't do the interior trim on the bases as the plan says, because I felt they constricted the size of the shelves usability. Top was made with 3/4" Birch plywood. Simply routered the edge to have a curve then stained. 

Estimated Cost
$135
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Rustic x coffee table

I love it. Originally wanted to build the lift top coffee table but by the time it was ready to do it we realized the sides weren’t wide enough to for a hideaway storage. Wish it was a little bit smaller but for the first project of many it was great

Estimated Cost
120
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Map gas and polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Small Cedar Shed

Submitted by Texjan on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 14:12

I saw the plans for this and I had to have it. It was the first project that my husband and I completed together. I think we did a pretty good job. It just needs handles and it will be complete. If we can do this in the hot Texas heat then anyone can do it. I'm proud of us!

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Simplest stool modified

Submitted by Morrell272 on Mon, 03/24/2014 - 09:43

I modified the height to 36 to work with my workbench height. I also used 1x4 poplar in four pieces for the seat. I stained half golden oak and half cherry. I made the seat 14 inches around. I had trouble getting the pocket hole bit into the last leg of the stool once the full box shape was assembled. The top smallest pieces I had to tighten by hand. Also the seat even when larger than 12 inches shows some of the base 2by2. Otherwise it looks great. My height is what I needed and the stain and clear coat are perfect. I will be looking for more projects on this site.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Workbench height stool
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Larger Farmhouse Table w/ Removable Legs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/22/2016 - 11:46

Used Ana White's Husky Farmhouse Table plans/instructions and then made some of my own modifications to make the legs removable and expand the dimensions a bit. Turned out pretty good! This was my first project :)

Estimated Cost
~600 dollars. Had to buy some tools.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut Min Wax Stain, water based
I used wood conditioner before the stain to ensure even staining, then 1 coat of the stain, then did 3 coats of thinned Polyurethane finish (3 to 1 ratio of finish to mineral spirits), and 2 coats of pure polyurethane finish. The polyurethane is Min Wax satin finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

CSaintD

Sat, 06/25/2016 - 15:02

Wow! She's a beauty! I am interested to hear how you went about making the legs removable.  And where did you get those legs? They are stunning.

First Project With My Kids

Submitted by jigawatt77 on Mon, 04/20/2020 - 06:55

This started out as an idea for a hall tree, which none of expected to turn out great. But being in "lockdown" we needed something to do. After accidentally painting our interior entryway baby blue we decided to go with a nautical theme. As you can see, we used anchor style hooks and beadboard, which brought it all together nicely. The further along in the project planning. the more interested my children became. I'm not the most patient teacher and could have had this knocked out in a day. But it brought me so much joy and pride to see my children make something this beautiful. It really completes our entryway. The bench is more than sturdy enough for my very large self to sit on and the cats will probably claim it soon. We are just so happy with the end result. I can see this being the beginning of a lot of future projects and time spent together. My 10 year old daughter seemed particularly inspired by watching a very "girly" mom (Ana) building this. This project was meaningful. Thank you Ana White for sharing the info and know-how to get started on this journey!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
65.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
BEHR Cabinet and Trim Paint Semi Gloss Pre Mixed Bright White
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

DIY Garden Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 11/29/2023 - 07:37

Garden Bench Project. Christmas Gift for my daughter-in-law. Cost of materials $75 and invested about 5 hours into the project. I modified the length to fit their porch. I sanded all the material and slightly rounded over all of the material edges. Recommend installing the seat BEFORE you install the arms as it is much easier to fasten. I extended the arms by an inch because I thought it looked better than cutting it flush to the leg. We will paint it in the Spring after the material dries out and can accept paint. It was fun to build. I have seen similar benches on Etsy for over $500.

Built from Plan(s)

Microwave/Coffee Cupbaord

Submitted by Booooozle on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 19:39

This one I can’t take complete credit for, the base shelving unit was left behind in our basement & was just beyond belief disgusting. I cleaned it up stripped it apart, stained it & put new hardware on it. The house is older & whoever “modernized” just didn’t do a spectacular job & place the cupboards in an odd way instead of utilizing the space properly. Anyway as I’ve mentioned in other projects, this is another odd corner, actually it’s not so odd because it’s supposed to be where the the fridge goes according to our landlord but it’s sized for a really small fridge & our big monster double door twice the size of this cubby, it is now in the mudroom which isn’t too inconvenient because it’s right off the kitchen & because we shut the vents in there to keep the heating cost lower in the winter the fridge doesn’t have to work too hard to keep cold. Anyway I wanted to utilize this space & found that the shelf fit perfect next to the garbage can that was there so I just made a top to fit the space & then we now have a microwave stand/coffee prep area.

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

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by PS1708 on Tue, 04/01/2014 - 23:33

My first DIY project. I went a little different and built the table top out of sassafras lumber that I bought from a local sawyer. The plans were foolproof. The only tricky part about this project is the finish. I stained the table with Minwax Dark walnut and 4 coats of polyurethane (2 parts poly to 1 part mineral spirits) to get the finish I wanted. Of course I spent the most time sanding this table. It turned out wonderfully and my wife is one happy camper!

Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
1 coat of Minwax dark walnut and 4 coats of polyurethane (2 parts poly to 1 part mineral spirits). Poly applied with microfiber cloth. I used a minwax clear satin poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

bclute

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 10:14

Your tabletop is impressive ... i like how you show a before and after, that shows how much work it takes to get that thing flat and seamless.

PS1708

Sat, 04/05/2014 - 21:13

Haha you hit the nail on the head! It was a TON of work getting the boards squared! I bought the sassafras boards and none of the sides were square so I ended up having to take a true and straight edge of a piece of plywood and tack it to the underside of the sassafras boards (overlapping about an inch) and run the plywood down the fence of a table saw thus giving me a straight edge to work with on the sassafras! I also spent hours (literally) researching and youtubing different techniques on finishing. I'll have to say that the woodworking bug has bit me and I will be starting a coffee table project before too long! Thank you for your compliments!

Modified Ultimate Changing Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 06/26/2016 - 04:20

My wife and I wanted a changing table that could also function as a bookshelf, so after a quick Google search, I found the Ana White Ultimate Changing Table plans. I modified the original design by making the legs 36" and by adding side and back panels so that the piece could convert to a bookshelf when the baby gets older and we no longer need it to be a changing table. This was easy to do by using my table saw to cut 3/16" stopped grooves in the legs before attaching to the table and slotting in 1/4" plywood cut to fit before attaching the tabletop. Opted not to cut rabbets for the back panel as it would have changed the measurements for the drawers by recessing the rear 1x6 apron by 1/4". 

My wife and I are very happy with the results and the amount of storage we now have. She's so happy in fact, that I will apparently be building one of these for each future child as well! Thanks Ana White for the straightforward and easy to follow plans.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
3 coats Behr Semi-Gloss ultra pure white paint, 2 thin coats minwax water-based polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Christmas Tree Cup Shelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/04/2023 - 08:50

Hi Ana,
I just want to thank you for sharing your projects. My father is 92 years and was always a "maker." For the last three years he is living with and being cared for by my sister, but while he no longer has use of his basement workshop, he still gets up early each morning and goes to his small work area in her craft room where he does small projects like bird feeders. He had made and given away so many bird feeders that we were searching for another small project he could take on. I came across your Christmas Tree shelf. My husband cuts the pieces to size and then my dad completes the projects. He has made enough to give his six children and 10 grandchildren each one as a keepsake. Pictured is the way one of the grandchildren has recently used the shelf he was given. So thank you for being so generous with your ideas and plans!

Mary Beth Sharp

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

console table

Submitted by raybotelho on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 13:38

This was my first time building something big :) and im sooo happy with the results. Had been looking for a sofa table/console for so long but couldn't decide on what I wanted , when I saw this on the first page I fell in love. It was fairly easy to build. Took me 2 days, one day sanding, cutting, staining it and the next putting it together. I love how it turned out.

I didnt make the side 'X' bc I want to do something different than the original plan, just trying to figure it out what exactly.

Oh! And I still need to add the decorative hardware, I have it, just need to remember to do it.

Thank you so much for the plans.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
tea, steel wool and vinegar, white wash, and wax
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Hillary (not verified)

Sun, 06/10/2012 - 22:06

One of my favorite things about building is being able to build it however you want. Xs or no Xs -- it is gorgeous. Great work! And it you staged and photographed perfectly. Really, really beautiful.

Rayana (not verified)

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 10:07

I used regular walmart brand black tea, let it dry and then applied the vinegar/steel wool solution after that i sanded a bit and diluted white paint in water and applied it all over with a lint free rag, you need to work on small areas and follow it up with a slightly damp cloth. hope that helps :)

Jeffe17

Mon, 05/25/2015 - 18:31

Hey guys, where does one find the black hardware for the sides?? I cant seem to find them anywhere like Ace or Home Depot

My first brag!

Submitted by gabriellus on Fri, 04/04/2014 - 11:06

That was fun. Got a new dog, built her this for double duty. A crate and a table. The finishing was the lengthy part, by a LONG shot. Can't wait to start a new plan.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
BEHR® Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Wood Stain
Minwax® Clear Brushing Lacquer
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

romanweel

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 14:04

Good looking work! And yes, ugh, I hate the finishing part. I'm building a couple of pieces for my sister-in-law on the condition that SHE gets to finish them ;)

Flag Pole Planter

I wanted a place for a flag pole, but I didn't want to put one in the ground or screw into my siding, so I modified the cedar planter to hold a flag pole. It was a fun project!  Check out more here!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40 plus flag pole
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
White Exterior Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Shelving

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/25/2020 - 18:07

I can't believe I did it!! It came out so good!! Thank you so much for the instructions ...I got a Kreg jig and I love it!!! I used it to connect all my wood except when putting the furring strips on the wall....I also added a support for the shelves that were only connected on two sides...this was my first wood project!😀

Estimated Cost
$120.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Sliding Barn Door

Submitted by AmyRWilson on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 03:41

We turned a formal living into a bedroom so we needed a door to close off the kitchen/nook beyond. Since we were on a tight budget, we knew we could not afford the barn door hardware, so we found the next best thing:

Stanley Trolley Box Track (from Lowe's). http://tinyurl.com/2z6wpn Yes, it's ugly looking, but we painted it black and modified how it was used. We got the 6' track with the box track hangers without apron. We bought the mount bracket, but that was a mistake. The door could not pass the mount on the right side and we ended up just attaching the track to the wall without the mount on that side (pic of door open shows both mounts before we were able to close the door and before we removed the mount on the right side). Had we known, both sides would have been attached to the wall without the mount. But, we went ahead and left the mount on the left side as we didn't think it hurt the look too much.

The door: We made another mistake. We meant to buy 1x tongue and groove wood (3/4" thick) to make our door and we somehow got 8' lengths of tongue and groove paneling 1/4" thick (OOPS): http://tinyurl.com/7ea6b3r It looks good, but it's ultra light weight (stain first, then put it together). We used a flat piece of aluminum to hold it together (also painted black - along with painted screws). Due to our mistake in depth, our screws were too long so we located a 2x4 directly behind the aluminum strip on the top and the bottom of the door for stability. It helped a lot. The location of the aluminum strip at the top is strategic because the 2x4 behind it is also what holds the box track hangers that roll on the track above. We put them a few inches in on each side from the edge of the door, drilled a hole vertical through the 2x4 (a little off center so the door wouldn't rub the track) where longer bolts were used to go all the way through the 2x4 and hold the door onto the track while being hidden behind the door. I also had to get smaller screws for my door handle to go on since the door was only 1/4" thick. But, it all worked out.

The backside: Due to the fact the door is so light, we added felt to the 2x4 at the bottom so it wouldn't damage the trim.

Estimated Cost
$100-$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Polyshades 1-step Antique Walnut Satin
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

brookifer86

Wed, 06/13/2012 - 12:52

My mouth totally fell open when I recognized the door plan from my blog! Your door looks fantastic, even with the oopses ;) I'm glad it all worked out for you guys!

AmyRWilson

Thu, 06/14/2012 - 14:17

That's why I definitely wanted to link the blog post where the plan came from. It was a great idea and I'm thankful I found it. I don't think we would have been able to do the door without your blog. For one, they are too expensive and I wasn't sure how to do it without that expensive hardware. But, your blog helped us be able to do something nice and without spending too much money. It also functions perfect!!!

Farmhouse Media Console

This was my second wood project and I am really happy with how it turned out. I basically followed the plans but made mine alot bigger. It measures roughly 6' long, 33" tall, and 20" wide. I wanted to let people know how I made the center door because the video used alot of tools and skills that I do not have.
I made the doors out of 4" and 2" select pine with PH's on the back. I then cut a 5/16" groove in the center on the outside of the stiles. About 7/8-15/16 of the way up the door I installed a 1/4" wooden dowel. On the cabinet frame I installed another wooden dowel that the door dowel rests on when closed, this is also the dowel that rides in the groove that was cut on the door.
The other difficult part (for Me) was the cut out design on the bottom of the frame. I did this by using a big bowl for the center and a really thin strip of wood. Once I cut out one side I just flipped the cut piece over and traced it to the other side.
I finished the top off with 3 coats Minwax Dark Mahoganey and 3 coats of Minwax Polycrylic.

Estimated Cost
250$
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Mahoganey and Polycrylic clear
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

TV Console Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/03/2016 - 12:58

TV console table made of poplar wood. Shaker style inset doors. Solid wood construction. Painted with General Finishes Milk Paint and High Performance Top Coat.

Estimated Cost
300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
General Finishes Milk Paint. Dark Chocolate.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
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