Community Brag Posts

Outdoor Providence Table

Submitted by splout on Thu, 10/17/2013 - 20:11

This was my first attempt at building a piece of furniture. It's an outdoor table based on the providence table plans. I used old 4x4 pressure treated posts from part of my fence that was no longer needed for the base. The posts were fit together using lap joints and secured using fastenlok screws. The base was then painted with french grey chalk paint (first time experimenting with chalk paint) and then covered with a thin coat of brown briwax. The top is made of 8 foot by 1 inch ipe boards that are 4 different widths but the overall width is about 42 inches. The ipe was purchased rough sawn and needed to be planed to uniform thickness. I used a natural stain meant specifically for ipe and other tropical hardwoods.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$220 for me - 200 for ipe boards, 20 for paint, 4x4 posts free
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
French grey chalk paint and briwax for base. Natural tropical hardwood stain for top.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Benchright Knockoff

Submitted by Redducchic on Sun, 01/03/2016 - 22:18

My dad actually built this. I had been drooling over the table at Pottery Barn for two years but couldn't afford the $3000 price. Found the plans here and gave it to him with adjustments on the turnbuckles underneath. I wanted the V shape instead of straight across. The tabletop was obtained from an old wood bridge in Eastern WA. I love, love, love this table. The materials cost was $250. The labor was my birthday present. laugh

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Min wax Special Walnut stain, water-based Poly to seal
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

My daughters platform bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/24/2019 - 05:33

I’m in love with how well this bed turned out. Modified by using a 2x4 for middle support and 1x4’s for slats. It was less money and felt better for support. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Early American stain & matte poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Entertainment Center Build

Submitted by jpeters.us on Wed, 10/26/2011 - 09:04

I have always loved the entertainment center from Pottery Barn. When I saw that the sale price was still $900, I knew my husband and I could build it for way cheaper. This took about a week (with a lot of breaks) and the total cost was around $250. I think the biggest expense was the all the knobs, but I feel like they make the piece!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Top is Dark Walnut Stain, Bottom is Antique White Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Pamelia (not verified)

Sun, 04/08/2012 - 23:53

It looks great!! My OCD is totally soothed by your perfectly spaced faux drawer fronts!! From looking closer at your pic I can see that you made all doors instead of drawers and doors. I want to do the same. It also looks like you used a different type of hinge than suggested. Any reason for that? Do you have shelves in all 4 spaces? Would you mind adding a few more detailed pictures, maybe with your doors open? Or just giving some more details to what you did differently would help.

Dress Up Storage & Puppet Theater

This is a great way to double up on space & creativity! My dad and I built this dress up storage/puppet theater for my daughters using Ana White's plans with added inspiration from The Picky Apple's post about their own top shelf and theater hacks - you can view it here: http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2011/03/24/dress-up-storage-bin-and-p…. We added hinges and magnetic catches to the front so that the storage center can be turned around and opened to lay flat for access to the puppet theater.

 

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
primer then two coats of Valspar semi-gloss (in some pink I can't for the life of me remember or find the chip for!)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

tua16273

Sun, 10/04/2015 - 12:44

Hi, I read you tweaked the plan and then did not know the dimensions of anything in the beginning. Have you gotten them since?

rustic baby crib

Submitted by KL728MX on Tue, 01/05/2016 - 12:32

my wife and I had our first son, Mason, over the summer and I was in love with the idea of building his crib. It was a lot more work than I had anticipated but it was well worth the hard work. it came out beautifully. I made a 2X4 spacer that we can remove as he gets older to lower the mattress height. i used all pine lumber for the crib.

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
rustoleum American walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Crafting Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/21/2023 - 17:18

I had a loft space that was not being utilized so I created a crafting space using an Ana White Barn Door Console plan. I just started building furniture 5 years ago using a jigsaw, a miter saw, and a power drill. You are never too old to start

Comments

coffee table cedar top and drawer fronts

started and made the coffee table first then decided i wanted matching end tables so i looked up some different designs on here and decided on one. made the top and the front of the doors the same to match the top and drawers of the coffee table. next is gonna be the tv stand i think but here are the three all done.

Estimated Cost
200 for coffee table would have been more on end tables but got alot of scrap from my dad so only spent about 100 or so on those.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
just varnished it with a waterproof varnish in case anyone sets stuff on it anyways so i shouldnt have to revarnish it for quite a few years. Ignore the messy basement. i want to bend some wooden handles for them now and fit them to the holes that i already have from the handles that are on them now.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Too many Christmas Toys

Submitted by J Spitzley on Thu, 01/07/2016 - 07:48

What do you do when your child gets too many toys for Christmas? Build a toy box of course. I went with a 1X6 instead of 1X4 as the top front apron, yes it’s not easy to put books in, but when you have a 9 month old I was more concerned with a place to put Legos so I won’t step on them. That small change made a world of difference. The toy box is sturdy which is what I needed, knowing he is going to use it to pull up on while learning to walk. I primed it and then painted the front two aprons and sides with chalkboard paint and the remainder grey to match the table I made in the same room. The chalkboard paint takes a ton of coats and requires a lot of waiting (neither of which I am good at), but I think the outcome was worth it.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Primer, Chalkboard Paint and leftover other paint. Primer was a must on this project, knowing kids will spill on it coupled with chalkboard paint I don't think you can get around it.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Farmhouse Queen

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/25/2023 - 18:59

We made the footboard a little taller, pattern was simple to follow and adjust to meet our needs.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Kid's flip chair

Submitted by pelody3 on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 13:26

My first project, great for learning the very basics, didn't take long to build, but took a couple of days to finish, with drying times of paint and finish.

Estimated Cost
$10
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Used spray primer, then painted pink, did my stencils, and finished with a couple of coats of clear satin finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

mamma_joy

Mon, 11/07/2011 - 21:38

I was excited to see your post made from my plan. I hope Mackenzie loves it as much as my kids do!

Book Ledges { $10 Ledge Plan }

Submitted by Shorty on Fri, 10/25/2013 - 14:58

We used a pocket hole jig to build the ledges (to practice using our pocket hole jig), and loved how easy it was to put these together. We made each ledge 32" so we only had to use 1 1x2 and 2 1x4.

Turns out these ledges work perfectly to "house" or baby's books (and a couple of our own in the mean time). Love this build –and so much cheaper than buying (or building) a bookshelf!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr's Swiss Coffee in Satin
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by higgs9876 on Fri, 01/08/2016 - 12:36

Not the best picture.  This was my first project using plans from this site.  What a breeze! Took about 8 hours total to build and 2 hours to finish (sand/paint/stain)

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint (Legs) (just an off white i had laying around), Stain (Table Top - Grey Minwax), Polyurethane Satin finish (Table top - Clear)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Pantry Shelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 03/04/2023 - 13:03

I have a small kitchen. I found this plan on Ana's site to turn it into a pantry shelf. Initially, I was going to have wheels. That way, I could roll it to sweep. I took measurements to match the height of my upper cabinets and width so my door would clear. I put this shelf up to the side on my fridge. I didn't account for the height difference adding wheels. I still can add wheels if I change my mind. I did differing spacing, considering spices and cereal boxes and items between. I haven't quite figured out the end placement for items. I also am considering appliances to be placed on the bottom. I purchased baskets and spice drawers so I can visually organize and see what works. I used odd and end prices of wood and adjusted the measurements to fit my space. I love my corner 2x4s! They are dark and once planes, have these dark brown ribbons revealing the growth rings. We think they might be brown treated boards. Some of the shelves have a darker brown edge, 5 total. I purposely wanted the dark edge facing out. But I didn't have enough so I used different looking boards (same thickness) and played around with assign them their spot. My friend had copper pipes laying around, so I used those in the back to stop my items from falling off the backside. I polyurethaned to keep the natural wood colors. I really love it and am excited to do more projects!!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Abbi's Cozy Cottage Bed

I was looking for a bed for my daughter, and a project for my sister and me. I looked at a well-known children's website and fell in love with their cottage loft bed, but didn't want to pay $1,300 for it. My sister found Ana's website with plans and everything for the same bed! We built the bed, (with the help of our husbands) that weekend. Abbi loves her bed! Thanks, Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar paint - cottage stone (white), swamp water (green), deep sunset (pink), and Behr Ultra - bear rug (brown).
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Stormie (not verified)

Fri, 11/18/2011 - 23:05

Precious! What is an estimate on price of lumber please?

Gerri Larson (not verified)

Wed, 11/23/2011 - 15:45

Need plans for a cottage loft bed with stairs. Where do I find plans

Guest (not verified)

Sat, 12/03/2011 - 13:32

I need plans for that as well as possible full bed on top plans?

adp7907

Wed, 03/07/2012 - 13:44

Hi. I would love to have a copy of the plans. This is perfect for my daughter!! Thank you

Madeline Layson (not verified)

Sat, 05/19/2012 - 20:28

This photo looks like there is more space under than he other photos. Did you follow the exact plans or alter them. I want to put another mattress on the bottom as well

X Desk

This desk cost me ~$40 to build. I used a precut piece of oak for the top and worked the dimensions around the piece itself.

I omitted the drawer out of laziness.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar spray paint (can't remember the name) with a dark stain applied over top
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Truss table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/11/2016 - 19:14

Fun build 4hrs to complete. 

 

One of of the cuts is off  says long to short it's long to long. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Bench Brag

Submitted by mvanmeg on Mon, 05/20/2019 - 08:56

Farmhouse Bench completed.  Pine base painted black.  Bench top is mahogany stain on maple. 

This is going to the cottage to live at the end of the bed.  Will be used as extra seating at the dinner table as required.  

Estimated Cost
$65
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Black semi gloss on the base
Mahogany stain on maple top. Clear coat of poly over stain. 4 coats for extra durability
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Cup tree inspired by Anna’s plans

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/12/2023 - 14:17

Used Anna’s cup tree plans for this project. Thank you Anna!

I’ve also successfully built a few of your beds. Your plans are always straightforward and easy to follow.

What you do is so appreciated!!!

Angel

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Entry way Table

Submitted by MikeB on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 09:37

I used the narrow farm house table as my starting point. I added two shelves. I used select grade Pine for this project for all except the 1x12 that was used for the shelves. I didn't want to spend 30 bucks for the select grade 1x12 for the shelves, so I used whitewood for that. I used pocket holes to join the 4 1x4s that makes up the top. I sanded the joints to try to give the appearance that it is a single boards. Can't tell unless you really look close. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out. Biggest problem I had with this project was my 10 year old cordless drill. Batteries would only hold a charge for 4 or 5 pocket holes, so this project took me much longer then it should have. That's okay, I used the time waiting on the drill to charge to sand, and measure. That problem has been corrected with the Black Friday sale at Lowes. My next project is a desk for my daughter, I designed it myself, but would never have attempted something like this without this great website!!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
80 dollars
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax pre-stain conditioner, Red Mahogany 225 stain, two coats for minwax Polyurethane clear gloss. lightly sanded with 220 sand paper between 1st and second coat of polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments