Community Brag Posts

4 Bright Little Adirondack chairs

These 4 little chairs did not take very long to put together. But they did take me a while to sand, prime and paint. I hate that part of building-haha-so it always seems like it takes forever to get through with that and on to the fun part. They are very easy to make and inexpensive. My grandkids and others who have driven by and seen them out front have loved them!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About 22.00 per chair(the spray paint was the majority of the cost). I think the chairs without finishing would be only about 10.00 apiece.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Valspar indoor/outdoor gloss spray paint. Definitely use a primer and paint or stain before putting together.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

tonjacoy101

Fri, 07/22/2011 - 05:52

What a cute little guy and cute chairs too! I bet the grandkids love them :)

Double Inset Bookshelf Doors

Submitted by dholubar on Wed, 08/21/2013 - 07:08

You made this project look so simple that I just had to try it. However, to suit my needs I had to make a few alterations to the plans. I had a set of bi-fold doors that were in need of replacement and I thought inset bookshelf doors would be the perfect way to replace them. This project was easy enough for me to do it myself and I am really new to the DIY game but I did have some help. I really love the way they turned out. You can read all about my my adventure at http://heresalittletmi.blogspot.com/2013/08/bookshelf-doors.html

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$120.00
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Full Size Camp Loft

Submitted by jcygan on Wed, 09/30/2015 - 16:37

We modified the plans for the Camp Loft Bed to accommodate a full size mattress.  We also extended the platform so that the bed spread wall to wall in the bedroom.  Since the platform was extended, we added a short railing to prevent falls.  The height was pushed up to make it taller than the junior size of the original design.  This way we were able to place a desk and add 2 pine shelves underneath the head of the bed.  

We added a board along the long side at the bottom to take out some wiggling.  The bed itself still seemed a little shaky until we attached the platform and now it is rock solid.  We have had 1-2 adults and multiple kids up there at the same time with no problem.

The bed itself could have been built in a weekend.  However, the time it took to sand, stain, and clear coat added many more hours.  Those hours were definitely worth it for a finished product.

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
We used the medium warm stain used on the original bed. The directions are found here: http://ana-white.com/2012/07/medium-warm-stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Albright777

Fri, 10/02/2015 - 10:43

Thank you so much for posting this.  My oldest wants a loft bed, but has a full right now.  I am building my 2 youngest the junior loft this fall and the oldest was jealous.  I was scared to build one.  Afraid it would not hold up.  Thank you for showing that it does.  Great job!!!

 

Child's picnic table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/14/2018 - 14:31

This turned out to be a great birthday gift. So much better than more toys. My 5 year old nieces loved it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Hard to say, used a lot of 2 x 4 scrap I had already.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
2 coats of deck stain. Sanded all the surfaces with a course grit, then a lighter grit, especially the top and seats.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Desk

Submitted by JMG on Fri, 06/24/2022 - 20:59

I needed a new desk for my office and this one is perfect. I made it a little longer than the plans so I could accommodate all my "stuff". Mine is 6' wide

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

DIY Copy Cat Nesting Tables

I found the cutest little nesting tables on PB, but I didn't want to spend $400. Instead, I adjusted the sizes a bit and built my own.

Estimated Cost
For both talbes (excluding paint), it was just over $15
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Distressed. Painted with turquoise (no primer), then glazed with walnut.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Cherie Heltne (not verified)

Tue, 07/26/2011 - 07:47

I am so making these. Your blog is great, too.

bhoppy

Tue, 07/26/2011 - 15:44

Wow you make it look so easy! Your details on your blog are awesome! Makes me want to go out and buy a router! LOL Hope your thumb is healing.

The Quaint Cottage

Tue, 07/26/2011 - 17:50

hahaha...I had to laugh at the thumb comment. I did break it, but that didn't stop me from picking up the router to finish the top :) I mean, it is just a thumb, not an entire arm, right?

Thank you for the kind comments. I try to post as much information as possible (and if I don't, please ask). I love seeing great project blogs, but found it frustrating when they would show the supplies or paint they used...then the finished project. But nothing in between. How did they do it?

When I found Ana's site, I was so relieved that there were communities where they thrive on sharing information. Y'all are amazing! A-MAZ-ING!

AnnaK

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 08:33

I'm moving from a teeny tiny apartment to a real house next month, and the first thing I'm going to do with the garage space is build these nesting tables. They really are great. Well done! Love the blog too.

Outdoor patio table

Just a simple, but solid and stable patio table to replace the IKEA version that was warping and disintegrating. So much happier with this version. Also used bolts and wing nuts for attaching the legs for easy disassembly and storage for the winter. Should get many years out of this table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Opaque stain and polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Outdoor Sectional and Cocktail Ottoman

Submitted by Annacakes on Mon, 10/05/2015 - 11:48

I made a few changes to Ana's plans to basically work with my cushions.  I found cushions on clearance at Ballard's Backroom.  I had to adjust the size of the sofas in order to fit the cushions.  I also adjusted the height of the sofa, as I found it to be a little higher than I would have liked.  The project took a while to complete, but it wasn't due to difficulty.  This was an easy project for a novice like myself.  I just primed every piece of wood with exterior primer and then painted the whole thing with 2 coats of exterior paint.  It was the drying time that added to the total project time.

I also made a cocktail ottoman out of a lounge chair cushion that I purchased at Ballard's.  Basically, the ottoman is a rectangular box built to the size of the cushion.  I added feet purchased at Home Depot just to make it look a little less box-like.  I applied a couple of coats of primer as well as the exterior paint to every piece.  

Estimated Cost
Not sure really, but I know it was a lot cheaper than the sectionals at the outdoor patio store down the street.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Binz Exterior Primer
Behr Ultra Exterior Paint in Satin Finish - Espresso Beans
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/21/2018 - 18:03

this was my first  furniture piece that I have built. Next is a round farmhouse kitchen table super excited to make it. 

Estimated Cost
I honestly don’t know I bought a 2 x 4 ripped it to 2x2’s but also ripped the rounded sides off the slats I ripped from s scrap piece of 2x6 I had laying around cut them to just over a quarter inch.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Crib Mattress Bunk Beds

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 07/06/2022 - 13:56

We took existing twin size bunk beds and modified the measurements to fit for 2 crib size mattresses. 1 for my 3.5yr old and the bottom for my soon to be 2yr old. It took us 12 ours to build from start to finish then about another 1hr to place in room and set it up completely. All in all they love them and sleep thru the night in there own beds lol. I also have a 7mth old in my room too...

Comments

Factory Cart Coffee Table

After finding the build plans for this while browsing Ana White's site, I knew I had to convince my husband to help me create this. I'd been drooling over certain high-end decor store's version for a while now, but refused to pay the costly price tag. This is now one of my favorite pieces in our home, and I love saying that we built it ourselves :) See the full post at: http://www.fromourhidingplace.com/2011/07/how-to-get-your-husband-to-bu…

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
stain, polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

The Quaint Cottage

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 07:06

I love this coffee table. I've been thinking about getting rid of the oversized ottoman and going with one of these...I think you made up my mind.

Great job.

Karen

jennywenny

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 10:19

Mind sharing where you found your casters? I am having a hard time finding anything I like. Thanks!

Benchright Farmhouse Bench nid:[3117]

Submitted by LiziT on Sun, 08/25/2013 - 21:47

This was my first project..took me a week but I loved creating this!! Got plans for more! Love your website

Estimated Cost
Aready had timber - other costs $50
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Intergrain Ultradeck - natural
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

outdoor dining table

Submitted by Hunter1971 on Fri, 10/09/2015 - 09:04

Farm house design. I used 4x4 for the base instead of 2x4.

Estimated Cost
80.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Tudor color with a kona stain accent then good marine varnish since it's on the pool deck. It only took 3 hrs to make it the rest was staining. My advice is to stain the top boards before screwing it together
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Media console

Submitted by jdawn1988 on Sun, 10/28/2018 - 10:36

We built this piece exactly to fit our space. We needed more storage and wanted something that would hold our TV so it didn't have to be mounted any more. We used Behr paint to finish it. It is made out of pine and is very sturdy. It took us about a week to build but could have been done In a few days if we could have dedicated 100% of our time to it. 

Estimated Cost
200 to 250
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr ultra
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Arbor bench from leftover trellis

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/16/2022 - 17:57

The previous owners planned to built a rose Arbor, and left the pieces in our barn. Using the Arbor bench plan I was able to use all the pieces to build this version. Great summer hangout!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Toddler Bed and Doll Bed

Having done a few doll beds I decided to tackle a toddler bed. I ended up donating this pair to an auction benefiting Montrose Street Reach and Little Footprints Children's Ministry. If you are interested check out http://www.littlefootprintscm.com

Estimated Cost
again....free. I have a cousin that brings me the remains of HUGE shipping crates and pallets :)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
sanded, primed, sanded, dark pink paint, sanded very lightly, light pink paint, sanded to distress
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Bunk Beds

Submitted by lwinchip on Wed, 08/28/2013 - 11:07

I combined the loft bed and the storage daybed to make this bunk bed. I also modified the plans slightly so that the posts extended to the ceiling and added stairs instead of a ladder.

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

Comments

Linda7

Wed, 08/28/2013 - 18:41

Lwinchip, this is so beautifully done and practical, too! I love it! Thanks for sharing...I love how the posts that go all the way to the ceiling. I'm going to copy you with my granddaughter's loft that I plan to build soon (is that okay?). :-)

Industrial desk

Just finished up this industrial L-shape desk.  The desk top is solid walnut.  I added a pencil drawer and a vintage locker basket mounted to a drawer slide. :) 

Estimated Cost
$500.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
dye, shellac, gel stain, arm r seal varnish
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Doll House

Submitted by samueldodd on Fri, 11/02/2018 - 08:39

I made this house using oak plywood for the floors a using a straight edge and paper knife to score it to look like planks and made the lengths vary by using a chisel. The roof is made from 1/4" underlayment painted with red oil base paint and cut to make it look like shingles. It is on heavy duty 4" casters. I have made two identical houses for the same lady who purchased them for an aging aunt. This is the first of the two and was lost in a house fire. The second one was to replace this one. If I make another house I will be installing working lights in it. This is a very large house and fun to build

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Red oil-based paint, white paint and Special Oak wood stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Modern Slatted Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2022 - 15:39

Loved making this bench! Simple enough using a stop block on my mitre saw.
Followed directions except made it shorter in width. I got so many compliments!

Comments

Numbered cubbies on the wall

Submitted by ajcajj on Fri, 08/05/2011 - 11:36

I saw this and fell in love! I've made three so far!

Built from Plan(s)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments