Community Brag Posts

Ten dollar ledges

Submitted by Spolitte on Wed, 03/21/2012 - 20:50

Here are a few of the ten dollar ledges we added around the girls bed. We had no room for tables so we thought we would give this a try. It's working beautifully. We hung the ledges in studs and they are standing up to constant use perfectly. The girls have space for their most cherished nik naks and a drink in case they wake thirsty in the night. We couldn't be more pleased. Now I'm seeing the possibility for ledges in every room.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
6.00 minus the paint.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
No voc semi gloss for easy cleaning
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

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Thu, 04/19/2012 - 19:01

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Sat, 04/21/2012 - 00:28

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Hailey Platform Bed and Kentwood Bookshelves

Submitted by kjw003 on Sat, 01/11/2014 - 16:31

Built the Hailey Platform bed with planked headboard, and two Kentwood bookshelves, for a guest room in our new house! The dimensions of the bookshelves were changed a bit to fit the space, but the bed (should be) built to dimensions in the plan for a full size bed.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Stain was apple cider vinegar vinegar and steel wool mixture. Sealant used was Vermont Natural Coatings Polywhey furniture finish (satin finish).
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Study Desks

Submitted by rosiejane on Sun, 04/03/2016 - 21:54

I built a desk each for my son and daughter. They got to choose the type of base. I used old bed slats 90x45mm (4x2) salvaged from verge ripped in half for the bases. I used 12mm plywood for the tops. 7mm ply for the shelves on the sawhorse leg version. Unfortunately, despite getting the straightest and flattest plywood available and subjecting it to all sorts of manipulation, a couple of the flip-top sections are warped to there are slight gaps on one side.

I modified the plan so that the middle section could lift up as well. The back 1x3 of the storage section extended the full width.

Estimated Cost
AUD$60 per desk
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I experimented with a paint wash finish 50/50 paint/water for the inside of the storage sections. Everything was given a couple of coats of clear satin varnish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

DIY Farmhouse Cabinet

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 08/10/2023 - 15:53

The inspiration for this piece came from an Instagram post. We decided on our overall dimensions (36" tall, 18" deep and 60" long), then more or less guessed what the size of the pieces for the face frame would be. We recreated it as best we could and I think it came out incredible. It has soft close drawers on top and the hand-made sliding shelves are also soft close. The raised panels for the doors were made on a table saw. The doors have soft close hinges. The cabinet is made from maple plywood, oak plywood, yellow pine and poplar. The top is made of cypress and stained with Minwax "fruitwood" color and semi-gloss urethane. Next step is to make the shelves which will be 48" tall overall.

Dave Patterson

DIY Can Good Storage

The can good organizers I found on line were metal and didn't fit the exact opening I needed. I built my own for much less than the metal ones (which were $36 each!). With this plan, you can build up to four of the size I made for under $36. See how they just blend into the cabinet and look like they are built in it? Here is the process. Step one: Cut the sides and the ledges. Step two: Attach pieces to the walls of the unit. Step three: Set the lauan onto the ledgers. See? I told you it was easy! I drew up a sketch of the size I used for my 12" opening with a cabinet depth of 11.5" (if you have doors, it will be a depth of 10.5-10.75"). The height of my can good holders are 11". Again, the plan can be adjusted to any size space, but I think if you go past three cans wide, you may want to use something more sturdy than the lauan. Additionally, if you make the unit taller and add shelves, make certain the cans will fit thru the opening, don't just measure with the can in place on the shelf. Cut list for 1 can good holder: 2 - 11"tall x 11.5"deep walls (the melamine is 11.75" deep, I had to trim mine down) If your doors are on your cabinets, your cuts will probably be between 10.5" and 10.75" 6 - 1x2" 10.5" strips 2 - 10.5x10.75" lauan cut for the shelf If your doors are on your cabinets, your cuts will probably by between 9.75" and 10" I used 1.25" finish nails, but you can use screws if you prefer. Wood glue, wood filler, etc. Cut 6 equal size 1x2 strips. 2 per ledge, one for the back support. The size of the opening subtract the width of the melamine walls (.75x2=1.5"). My opening was 12" and then I subtracted the 1.5" (for walls). Nail the bottom 1x2 to the end of the upright 1x2 as shown above to create the front ledge.  Flip the ledge over and attach the ledge to the front (finished) edge of the melamine. Make sure the bottom ledge is flush with the front and the bottom of the wall. Measure down 5.5" (halfway point) from the top and mark the edge of the wall. Attach the top ledge to the wall keeping the front of the ledge flush with the side wall front edge.  Find your center point again (5.5") and measure up toward the top .75" to create a bit of a roll for the cans to come forward when you remove one. Do the same for the bottom. Measure .75 up from the bottom and mark. Attach the back supports at the marks you made in the last step. Attach second wall and screw or nail supports and ledges. Once all the 1x2s are in place and secure, the lauan pieces will fit in place and stay with the weight of the cans. You can add glue to secure them, your preference. Then touch up the nail holes and slide into place. I hope this gave you a helpful way to store your can goods. Let me know if you have any questions. Happy building! Karen :)

Estimated Cost
About $36 for 4 units
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Chelsea Twin Beds

Submitted by sraper2 on Mon, 01/13/2014 - 13:36

I built these beds last week for the little girls and we all love them so much! I was looking for something girly and this fit exactly what I was wanting. I took some pictures of the build and posted them on my blog. Thanks for the amazing plans!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Triple Pedestal Table

Submitted by Lawwife on Wed, 04/06/2016 - 07:21

I built this table in about 2 weekends. The aprox cost including screws, stain, and glue was about $175. I stained it weathered gray from Rustoleum. My husband thinks it looks great. Now to order the end chairs!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$175
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Weathered Gray
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modern Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by itsmagic on Sat, 12/14/2019 - 15:32

Hi Ana,

We build the Modern Farmhouse Bed frame in Australia. I had to convert the plans to metric and change the width to Australian King size dimensions(who knew there were so many bed sizes). I also modified the plans to have a LED light strip in the top of the head board for reading. A fun project that everyone is impressed with. 

My wife and I lived in Tok for about a year, and love seeing the animals, and landscapes around Delta in your videos. 

Thanks for your hard work,
Jim & Kylie
Gold Coast 
Australia

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
"Coal" Stain, and Antique White
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Cut Out Nightstands

After I built Ana's plan for the Low, Modern Cut Out Headboard, these two nightstands were the perfect compliment. I love the modern, clean look, and big drawer space. The inset design of the drawers make placing the faces on the drawer really tricky, so I would definitely place on the faces after you have installed the tracks and the rest of the drawers.

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Water based stain and poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Leaning Shelf Project

Submitted by bknjohnson on Thu, 01/16/2014 - 10:17

I started with Ana's plans and modified them for our specific needs.  We have a corner in our hallway very well suited for a shelf system like this, and my wife wanted to fill that area.  So, my finished project is 4 feet wide. Other than adjusting the plans for the width and then the lumber needs accordingly, all of the remaining dimensions and measurements in Ana's plan remained the same.  

I built everything using oak 1x4s and oak plywood, and pocket screws to build each shelf and the ladder portion.  

I read the comments here about attaching a piece of oak to the front of the shelves to hide the plywood layers, and wish I had read that before cutting all the pieces. I was able to make that modification without causing too much rework, I just had to cut the trim a little to match the new depth of each shelf.  

This piece is very heavy when fully assembled!  I decided to leave the ladder assembly separate from the shelves during the finishing process, and then carried everything to the living room.  I attached the bottom shelf first and worked my way up.

Each shelf is attached to it's respective support and to the ladder legs by wood screws, and each shelf is screwed to wall studs. Thanks for the plans Ana, this was a nice Christmas gift for my wife. :-)

I listed this project as Intermediate only because I modified the plans to fit our particular needs.  The measuring and cutting were relatively straight forward, attaching with the pocket screws took some time to get everything right.  Finishing took time to allow each coat to dry thoroughly.  Assembly also took me some time, just to make sure each shelf was level and ensuring I was drilling into studs and not sheetrock.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
All Minwax products: 1 coat of Pre-conditioner, 2 coats of Golden Oak stain and then 3 coats of Polycrylic. I only put one coat of the Poly on the wood surfaces that I knew would be hidden such as the back of the trim against the wall, and the tops of the shelf supports.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Niece's birthday present

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/08/2016 - 20:55

Added a few design elements to personalize for the birthday girl.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Easy Doorway shelves

Submitted by elana on Sat, 01/18/2014 - 17:23

Why should doorways be boring? I used 1x6 and 1x8 lumber to build a shelving unit around the doorway. Now I have somewhere to display pictures and creations from my kids too. Measure your doorway to see what size lumber works best for you. Prime and paint with Dove White and add white caulk to any imperfect cuts to smooth things over. BTW, cats love the shelves too!

Estimated Cost
less than $100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Please use a primer that is made for covering knot sap as this will eventually bleed through ordinary primer and paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

My Cassidy Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/11/2016 - 11:24

This is my take from the Cassidy Bed plan. I still have to upholster the headboard...stay tuned

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I floated the surfaces with a hard fill first, then sanded it with 220 to get it smooth. I used a slow drying oil primer, sanded it again. Then used two coats of
Behr premium ultra - Absolute Zero I added Floetrol to the paint so that it would lay down nicely
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Simple Outdoor Chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 08/27/2023 - 12:22

I made two of the chairs using cedar 2x4's and then stained them cedar color. The cushions were on clearance at Lowes for 6.97 each. Super excited about that as well. For the back I did the three board suggestion versus just the two for more back support and I also added an extra board for the bottom seating. Project was pretty easy and the instructions were easy to follow.

Carrie

Tryde Media Center

Submitted by kendaves on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 21:24

I had just built the Tryde Side Table and it was so easy I gave a shot at this project. Took about 4 hours to build and is a really sturdy, good looking entertainment center. The only thing that I did not like that I would change is an overlap of the tabletop in the front. There is an overlap on both ends but not in the front. Other than that, I really like the outcome.

Estimated Cost
$75 - $100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Natural Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic Headboard - King

Submitted by ivanakom on Mon, 01/20/2014 - 20:37

This was a super fun project to do and very easy too. I did this while I was nine months pregnant. The instructions were very clear and the total cost was great too!

Finish Used
Aged the wood with tea bags and a mixture made with stainless steel and vinegar.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Workbench

Submitted by Malka on Thu, 04/14/2016 - 04:19

Great workbench. Made slight modification, in extending the top 2x4s past the counter edge, and then connecting them with another 2x4 so I'd have a place to put clamps/tools. Also used 3/4 particle board, as it was significantly cheaper than the plywood my local hardware store had on hand.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Lego and Art Table

Submitted by ahicks6 on Fri, 12/27/2019 - 08:57

I looked everywhere for a Lego table that would fit my needs and not be super expensive, but I kept coming up with nothing. So I decided to make my own and to make it a place for my kids to do their art as well.

This was my first time using a Kreg Jig as I wanted it to be really stable. I found the drawers at The Container Store. They house all of the color coordinated Legos together.

It has been amazing so far and I'm so glad I didn't settle for any old Lego table on the market that didn't suit our needs. 

If you want more info regarding sizes, cut list, etc, let me know and I'll try to post them. 

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Homemade chalk paint, Minwax Red Chestnut stain, Rustoleum Clear Enamel Spray
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
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