Community Brag Posts

Western jail bunk bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/02/2017 - 13:55

Still waiting to add the stained jail sign. But a dad's twist to a mom's honey do project added the porch to the front to catch my youngest if he falls out of bed. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Cedar stain and high gloss finish
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kitchen set

Submitted by ShannonB on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 06:48

My husband I built this kitchen set for my daughter's 2nd birthday. She just loves it. For the sink I used the same plans as the stove and changed them a little. There is not enough room below but we used the Cute Play Pie Hutch plan too. The double door fridge we use as a pantry. I can't find the plans for the fridge but we used Ana's plans for that too.

Estimated Cost
Under 200.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White semi gloss paint and Pink semi gloss paint. We primed it before we painted it.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

My Farmhouse Queen Bed

I admired this project the first time I saw it, I thought about building it for a few months and got the opportunity when my Fiance left town. I completed this project in a weekend with a had from my friend (more just to hold the pieces where I needed them). I had previously built her a hope chest out of a Rare and Beautiful tongue and groove pine, I used the same wood for the head and foot board so they would match. Overall these plans were great, I changed a few things to make it a little more what I wanted. I made the foot board 24" in height with a total of 20" of tongue and groove. I also used some wrought head nails to give a little more character to the piece as well, you can find them here, http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=1152 . I wont do too much to the piece, more than likely just add a couple coats of shellac to match the previously mentioned hope chest. I hope you all enjoy this project as much as I did.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

liam91

Wed, 07/03/2013 - 08:44

Did you need to pre-drill the nail holes? I am worried the wood will split with these types of nails. Thanks

capecodfarm

Thu, 07/11/2013 - 12:36

Yes you do, I made a jig so I knew all the nails would line up with my wood and be in the same place. The bit was half the size of the nail, they are really just for a decorative look. Good luck with everything.

liam91

Thu, 07/11/2013 - 12:51

I figured out my biggest mistake was not lining up the nails with the grain of the wood. Once i had the nails lined up in the right direction they went in mostly without a hitch. One of the panel boards did split but was hidden by the 1x4 face board. Thanks again for the idea and i'll post pics when completed.

Growth chart

My friends are all having kids these days, and I had a lot of scrap 1x6 kicking around. 

After applying a stain on the boards, I printed the letters and numbers as large as I wanted them. I used ''French Script MT'', size of font 185 and I cut them out to make a template.

I happened to have some chalk board paint, which gives it a nice mat color. 

I recommend to leave enough space for baseboards, in my case Ive started numbering the charts at 8'' high. A picture hook is set in the back to hang it on the wall, you could also simply screw it on the wall. 

Its quick to make and doesnt require a lot of cutting!

Estimated Cost
the price of a 1x6 board, about 6 feet long.
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
The darker color is Minwax ''Colonial American''.
the lighter color is Minwax ''Natural''. I like it a bit better for these boards as I think it will be easier to see the lines that the family will draw to mark their kid's height as they grow.

I used a black chalkboard paint to paint the numbers and letters, I free-handed these after drawing them with a pencil, using a template for reference.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Fancy X table and Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/04/2017 - 12:28

This table and bench was a first build for me and my husband. We had so much fun working on it together that we can't wait to figure out what our next project will be. Would probably not take as much time the next time we did something. Fairly inexpensive but we splurged on the thick reclaimed wood for the tops to add the character we wanted.

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

Farmhouse tables

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 13:46

Farmhouse coffee table, sofa table and end tables, plans from farmhouse but added a twist to the tops, 2” strips each stained a different color.

Comments

Rolling Laundry Cart

I built this entire project out of the scraps from the closet organizer and a 1×2 that I had. You could use the metal brackets Ana suggests, but the 1x2s are working great for me. The wheels are from an old rolling Target TV stand.
We used two tracks, instead of three, because I do huge loads of laundry in my front loaders. If you want to do the closet organize and this, do the closet first.This will be a free project. That's right, $0 out of pocket! Oh, and the top is scrap wood, just glued, and screwed (counter sunk).It made for a more finished “island” look. This step is completely optional. It's just for looks. I would love to add a towel bar to the side of this and a bracket to hold my iron too. The mini ironing board does fit on top!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$0 - Free after closet organizer!
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
White Olympic paint on the sides and then early grey paint, diluted with white for the top boards.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Carrots and Lettuce Raised Beds

I made these for my Mother's Day present to myself. I painted them the color of Carrots and Lettuce. Working on the third one titled "tomatoes today." Easy to build, fun and quick....

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Lowes Orange and Lime Green Paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Farmhouse storage bed - double the storage

Queen sized storage bed in width for  a full sized mattress. I wanted this against the wall, so i put both sets of drawers on one side and hinged the footboard for access underneath. 

Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

bdrez33

Thu, 04/08/2021 - 08:26

I just finished building the same bed and designed it with a second set of drawers above... I WISH I HAD SEEN THIS FIRST!! What an ingenious design with the step built in. I made a step stool for my daughter to get into the bed, but this was really a fantastic idea. Well done!

Toy Box

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/14/2017 - 00:28

I really enjoyed building this toy box! I used rockler torsion hinges on this and loved how smooth they moved and the install. Thank you for the inspirational plans!!

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

Blanket Rack

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 14:35

A modern twist on storing throw blankets. It was made out pine, stained, and three coats of polyurethane.

Comments

Narrow Farmhouse Table

Submitted by beingbrook on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 13:03

I really wanted a sewing table/desk for my office but wanted something that could be repurposed in a few years when we move. I chose the Narrow farmhouse table plan because it was a really sturdy plan that was easy to modify for our needs and was a timeless enough style that I can use it in another room if need be. I especially loved the look of the legs.

We made our table smaller to fit our space and also made it about 1 or 2 inches shorter because I’m really short and wanted a comfortable place to sew and craft. The top of our table is 58″ by 24″. We used MDF for the top instead of slats because my kids use this as a craft/coloring table when I’m not sewing. I didn’t want their pencils to poke through their papers if they got caught on the slats. We used thin molding for the edge of the MDF to give it a nice finished look.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Filled all the nail holes with wood filler. Sanded. Primed and then painted with 2 coats of Sherwin Williams Enamel paint in Dover white.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Jr. Camp Loft Bed with Curtain

Check out the details about how we build the bed on my blog: http://www.brightgreendoor.com/2013/05/diy-ana-white-jr-loft-bed.html

Although nothing about it was difficult, it was time consuming, and consumed the greater part of two weekends.

We followed the plans on Ana White’s blog pretty close, other than narrowing up the stairs by a few inches due to a furnace vent that would have been in the way.

We bought all of our boards at Menards which came in just under $100 including the large piece of plywood. I spent chunks of time throughout the week getting all of the boards sanded. Then we spent a Saturday getting all the boards cut to the proper size. Then it was a week full of giving all the wood 2 coats of Bulls Eye primer and a top coat of high gloss cabinet paint.

I also installed the Ikea Kvartal track system around the inside of the bottom bunk. I used leveler clips from Ace to hang Ikea curtains that I altered.

My boys were SO excited the whole time we were building it and love it. My little one calls the whole bed his “top bunk”, even though he sleeps on the bottom. They also have dubbed the area under the platform the “hideout” and think they are invisible when they are hiding in there.

Estimated Cost
$100 for bed, $50 for curtain and track
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Two coats of Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer and one coat of Ace Cabinet Paint in Bright White. Painted all wood before assembly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

AmandaAK

Fri, 06/21/2013 - 18:46

These are awesome and I think it's so smart you stained them after you cut them and before you drilled them! Thanks for that time saver! Question? Is the bottom bunk raised or did you raise the height of the planned bed? I want to make ours a bunkbed too, but don't want it to be too tall.
Thanks

Truss 4x4 Dinner Table

Submitted by cbos09 on Mon, 04/06/2015 - 08:15

4x4 Truss beam dinner table with matching benches.  Benches are modified to fit under table to save on space when not needed.  This table is large and in charge and demanded a large space to fit in.  Luckily my friend had plently of space in his home to fit this table! 

Estimated Cost
Table: $150
2 Benches: $100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Weather Gray stain
Minwax Water-Based Polycrylic Protective Finish (2 coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Reclaimed Wood Headboard, Queen sized

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/13/2017 - 17:34

My boyfriend and I wanted a calm relaxing beach feel at our Florida vacation home, however with kids in college and two getting married, we were on a tight budget.  We found these plans on Ana White's website.  He made the headboard and bench and I distressed it to make it look weathered.  We used Minwax Dark Walnut as a base,  let it dry over night,  and lightly wiped it down in the morning.  We then used Rustoleum "Chalked" in White Linen and applied it with a large stencil brush we found at Michaels craftstore.  We applied it almost haphazardly,  purposely making it look rough.  The chalk paint dries quickly.  We then brushed on some clear Americana creme wax.  We are very happy with the end result,  it was our first project build, and we nailed it.  Thanks. Ana!!!

Estimated Cost
It cost about 100 dollars to build both the bench and headboard. We also spent about 40 dollars on the medium to finish the headboard.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax: Dark Walnut
Rustoleum Chalked: White Linen
Americana Clear Creme Wax
(All the above purchased at Home Depot)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Minnie Mouse Child’s Adirondack

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 15:34

Made this for my grand niece, who was obsessed with Minnie Mouse. When done, my friend said I needed to add a foot rest, so I did!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Ana White Admin

Mon, 10/04/2021 - 16:42

So incredibly adorable, thank you so much for sharing! Your friend was right, that footrest is the cherry on top!

Drawer bases turned banquette

I took Ana's open base and drawer plans, added a few inches to the height (so that the base trim on the storage units would clear the base trim on our walls), and put them together to create a banquette-style bench with tons of storage underneath. We use the drawers for our family board games and photo albums.

Estimated Cost
$100-$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Sherwin-Williams Pro-Classic in semi-gloss followed by Minwax Polycrylic.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by monster on Sun, 05/19/2013 - 20:43

This was my first furniture building project. I made quite a few mistakes along the way, but I'm happy with how well it turned out. This project took me ages; I'm amazed that people can pull it off in a weekend! I made the table slightly lower and narrower than Ana's plan. It comfortably seats 6 people. I'm so grateful to Ana for her plans, and I also found the instructions at the tommy & ellie site very helpful.

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut stain and fast-drying semi-gloss polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

My beautiful pedestal!

My best friend and I built these Easter weekend with very little husband intervention. I then painted and finished them and installed them with my husbands help. The main modification we made was to figure out the angle to cut the posts in order to adjust for the slope of my laundry room, which is a converted porch on a 1912 craftsman. It was not easy, but we jumped for joy when we tested it out and it was level! We decided to use plywood scraps on the side and back for more support and to keep laundry from falling behind the washer. I had the chair raiI trim from another project, so I used that along with a healthy dose of wood filler. I absolutely LOVE how it turned out...now I just need to find cuter baskets. 

Estimated Cost
I had most of the supplies on hand, so I would say less than $60.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Primed with white primer, followed by blue paint, then I sanded to antique it along with adding a few vanilla highlights. I applied the burlap letters with craft glue and highlighted them with paint, followed by two coats of satin poly spray. I applied the pad on top with craft spray glue.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Modern outdoor chairs

Amazingly easy to build!❤️❤️❤️ My new chairs. The table is made from the Ana White planter. We just used left over 2x6's and 2x4's to create a removable top. It makes a great table with Kentucky of storage.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr deck plus Padre Brown
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner