Community Brag Posts

$25 2x4 Hall Tree

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/21/2018 - 15:39

Our small entryway was in need of some sort of bench or coat rack. Since the space is on the smaller side, I was looking for plans that were simple and would not overwhelm the area of the house.  When I came searching for plans on Ana White’s website, these plans were JUST posted! It was meant to be! This was my second build ever. Very simple and straight forward. I used Special Walnut for the stain and a satin polyurethane for the top coat.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Special Walnut & satin polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Chaise Lounge

I built this chaise lounge for my daughter from your plans. She will paint it tomorrow. Thanks!!!

Comments

Cabin Media Center

Submitted by tracysmith on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 16:07

Beautiful media center, couldn't resist building it for our living room! Thanks Ana for such awesome plans!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Glidden deep blue paint with a polycrylic finish in satin
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

kristen

Mon, 02/06/2012 - 10:39

I love getting a good chunk of a project made out of scraps. I have yet to get an entire project made out of them, but I'm hopeful :)

I think I'm going to hire you for finish work--love this blue color!

tracysmith

Tue, 02/07/2012 - 00:23

Ha.. funny thing about that color... I'm really starting to hate it. I actually have that piece for sale right now. It was always going to be a temporary piece because I really want to build something to surround our gas fireplace and then have a flat screen above the fireplace.

I also learned a LOT when painting this piece and now I think I have painting furniture down to a science. ;-)

Thanks again for the compliment!

Guest (not verified)

Tue, 03/27/2012 - 20:08

Personally I love the color, you did an amazing job both in building it and painting it, beautiful work!

In reply to by Guest (not verified)

tracysmith

Tue, 03/27/2012 - 23:29

I appreciate your compliment! I've actually been trying to sell this piece because I want to build something new, but no takers. I'm thinking it's because of the color, but until we do sell, we will certainly enjoy it! Thanks again!

Washer/Dryer Pedastal

Submitted by abbieaston on Sun, 08/25/2013 - 17:56

Our home improvement store didn't have non-pressure treated 4x4s so we screwed 2 2x4s together to make the posts. We chose not to put quarter round around the posts, but instead added baseboards to the front and side to finish it off. We're really happy with how it turned out.

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

Console to vanity

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/28/2018 - 07:54

This vanity is an amalgamation of a few ideas I found online. I used the Reclaimed Wood Console Table as a guide to pull it all together. All three drawers are functional. The plumbing falls directly between the center and right drawer, and the drawers are mounted on bottom center glides.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$125
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
semigloss white paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Well loved outdoor sofa

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/16/2022 - 17:51

This sofa has been in constant use for three years. Sturdy and comfortable, we have to compete with the cats for a nap or rest. Even on the winter, when we remove the cushoins, it gets used as a bench or a kitty hiding place while they wait to come in.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Built to the right size

Submitted by tugnut1 on Tue, 08/02/2011 - 06:20

When the neighbors came over and looked at this, they thought it came from pottery barn. I knew it reminded me of something, but I couldn't put my finger on it. This picture is about 2 years after I made it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
100.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
black paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

First Time Build

Submitted by ckdesigns on Tue, 08/27/2013 - 19:31

This was my first large project. Built it in one very long day and then finished over a few weeks. Instead of 2x4's for legs I opted for a 4x4 post with a bolt running through. I didn't really want to figure out the square washer so I just went with standard round. I spray painted all of the hardware silver with Rust-Oleum Universal Hammered Spray paint to coordinate with the Tolix like chairs I purchased from Restoration Hardware.

Estimated Cost
$87 for wood + $32 for stain and brushes = $119
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
The finish was the most difficult part of the project for me. I used Minwax and kept altering the color because I wanted it dark but not too dark.
-Started with Minwax Pre-stain Wood Conditioner
-1st coat Minwax: Early ;American
-2nd & 3rd coat Minwax Dark Walnut
-4th layer Minwax PolyShades: Royal Walnut
-5th and final layer Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Medickep

Wed, 08/28/2013 - 20:11

Great work, that really looks good. I love the finish! Did you need all of the different coats? Or did you just decide you wanted darker after each one?

momofour09

Mon, 09/02/2013 - 07:12

I was wondering the same thing as Medickep, were all of the coats necessary or was it just the way you wanted it finished? I do like the end results though.

ckdesigns

Tue, 09/03/2013 - 09:03

The multiple coats wasn't intentional. I just couldn't get the right look so kept on going with the colors. I'd say the finish portion of the project was the most difficult for me. I am happy with out it turned out and cannot wait to build something again!

Simple Stool

Made with Western Red Cedar 1x6 fence boards and 2x4. Finished with General Finishes Arm R Seal. 

Thank you Anna. 

 

Estimated Cost
Less than $15
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane Wood Conditioner
Varthane Natural Oil Finish -1 coat
General Finishes Arm R Seal 3 coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Doll House

Submitted by samueldodd on Fri, 11/02/2018 - 08:10

I made this with oak plywood and used a straight edge and paper knife to score it to look like planks and a chisel to vary board lengths and stained it. This is the first house I made like this. I made second house like this after a house fire destroyed the first one. My people were well pleased with both of them. I will put lights in the next one.

Estimated Cost
$75.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kids kitchen

Submitted by ajcajj on Fri, 08/05/2011 - 11:22

I made the kitchen from (reclaimed=free) veneered mdf. I modified the size to fit out our needs. My kids are 12,9,6,4. I am thrilled with how it turned out. My dimensions are as follows. fridge 18x18x48, stove and sink 18x18x31. I stained it barn red ($5 oops stain) and painted the fronts with white satin. I bought the faucet from our local re-store($5). The sink is a crock from goodwill ($4). I used european hinges to attach the fridge doors ($11). The hardware I found at target on clearance($13). Plexiglass was ($4)

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Squared2 Dining Table

I'm not sure that anyone would want to build this table, but I attached my plans made in PowerPoint here.

We have a 600 square foot apartment. We enter through our kitchen, so we wanted a dining table that did not take up much space visually or physically. The Squared2 Dining Chairs inspired the creation of our Squared2 Dining Table. We appreciate having it.

To cut down on cost, we purchased 1/8" plexiglass and cut to fit our table top.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
None, yet. :) May leave natural, but suggestions welcome!
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

JoanneS

Fri, 08/30/2013 - 09:14

Yvonne, your table is fabulous! It goes so beautifully with the chairs and the rest of your kitchen design elements. You did a wonderful job! :)

yurra-bazain

Fri, 08/30/2013 - 17:50

Mahalo, Joanne! We ate our celebratory dinner on it last night, and I was relieved it felt sturdy. There is something about having dinner at a dining table with the people you love that just makes me thankful!

Ocean/Mermaid themed full size version of Sweet Pea Bunkbed

Submitted by agarant10 on Mon, 11/12/2018 - 10:13

This is a ocean/mermaid version of the sweet pea bunk bed. I had to add an additional section above the original plans in order to accommodate for the slide. I also forwent the bottom storage and opted to just put a bigger door, which allowed more headroom inside and the ability to put both a mattress and box spring on the bottom bunk. I used real shingles and painted them gold. The slide came from Home Depot. The octopus door handes I got off of Etsy for about $5 each. I found a doorbell on an old plastic outdoor house set laying around. I added some seaweed from Joann Fabrics. The steps are made out of 2x6 boards vs 1x boards. I also changed the plans so both beds are full size instead of twin size. The top bunk has so much support...it was tested with 600 lbs up there and held up fine!

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

Comments

SoCalMom

Mon, 11/19/2018 - 12:09

That bed is amazing! My daughters would never ever sleep and my 3 year old said when I showed her "mama, I wanna go there"... 

Farm house table

Submitted by hough18 on Tue, 08/09/2022 - 10:14

Decided paying $600 for a coffee table was ridiculous so my wife said build this then. I read the comments on this and went with picture frame ends, wife is happy and that means I am as well! Also drilled holes first just to ensure no splitting of the wood.

Comments

Our Farmhouse Bed

Shopping for bedroom furniture, my spouse found a bed that was way more than we wanted to spend. After finding this site, and a bit of convincing he finally agreed to try building this. Now he wants to build everything! We now have a long "to do" list of plans we want to try.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$240
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
We used two coats of Miniwax Dark Walnut and two coats of Miniwax semi-gloss polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Farmhouse Table!

Submitted by Megmac911 on Sun, 09/01/2013 - 21:11

Farmhouse table made from 100 year old wood. The wood was taken from a porch at my great grandmother's house in Vernon Parish, Louisiana.

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

Free Standing Barn Door Cabinet

I needed a pantry cabinet for my walk through kitchen (I have a generic 1970's ranch with a walk through kitchen--10' wide and the dining area is small, so I wanted lots of storage with minimal depth) and I am a big fan of cabinetry that looks like furniture--when I saw this project, I knew I had to make it.  

 

I enlisted the help and guidance of my 73 year old Mom----she has been making things for years and has an entire basement full of all the woodworkig machines I will ever need.  We started this project about a month ago and have been working at it on and off since (my Mom is a thinker and has lost sleep over a few issues we ran into, but the final design is AWESOME!  Thanks Mom!).

 

I would have loved a much wider cabinet, but the wall I will be putting it on had a few items that I did not want to move or cover up (light switches & a cold air return).  I ended up making the cabinet 89" tall (my ceilings are only 91") and 57.5" wide (I'm a stickler for symmetry and I wanted the white space on either side of the cabinet to be the same.  This project took a couple of weeks to complete due to work, kids, pets, etc).  I just had my son and better half carry it in tonight and it fits perfectly----now to clear out all my upper cabinets and start taking them down so I can fix my ceiling and start making my kitchen cabinets!  

Thanks Anna!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Total cost for materials, paint, hardware - $250.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Chalk Paint - Aged Grey
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Our Farmhouse Bedside Table

Our first project

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Two coats of Miniwax Dark Walnut.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments