Community Brag Board – Find Your Inspiration

Kid's country bench

This was my first building project from scratch! I have modified some thrift store finds, but this was the first from lumber. I learned to countersink! I was amazed at how easy this was, and I'm so excited that this bench will sit by our front door for my three boys to perch on when they put on or take off their shoes. I went with 3 cubbies to hold three pairs of shoes. It also works great for a couple of kids to sit on at the table for when we have guests and need some spare seating.

Blog Link

Kid's Country Bench

Built from Plan(s)

Country Shoe Bench

Estimated Cost

$30

Estimated Time Investment

Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)

Finish Used

Oak stain (one coat) and polyurethane (2 coats).

Recommended Skill Level

Starter Project

Cubby Shelf

I am a beginer and I am following my dream of having my own tools and workshed. As a result of finding your site Ana I believed I could achieve it and now I have.

Thanks so much for your great plans and inspiration. This bookshelf is my third project from your site.

I will post the two other projects pictures when they are finished, they need paint touchup.

Built from Plan(s)

4 Cubby Bookshelf or Nightstand

Finish Used

Gift for the child I childmind.

Recommended Skill Level

Beginner

Veggie Bin

I followed the plans as written and my veggie bin came out looking awesome.

Built from Plan(s)

Vegetable Bin Cupboard

Estimated Time Investment

Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)

Finish Used

Pre-treated with Rust-oleum Weathered Wood Accelerator then gave distressed look by dry brushing Waverly Chalk Paint in Crystal. Finished using Mini Was Polyurethane Clear Satin.

Recommended Skill Level

Intermediate

Outdoor Sectional Furniture

I love the versatility of this furniture. I wanted the ability to move it around in different seating sets. It was my first project with no help from my husband. So very easy to do and follow. I made a few tweaks and made wood plugs for all the screw holes. I plan to stain it later. I used ikea cushions.

Built from Plan(s)

Simple Modern Outdoor Sectional - Armless Piece with Corner/End Option

Comments

Ana White Admin

Tue, 10/05/2021 - 10:47

Very versatile!

YES, love the different options to use and move around as needed! Way to go, thanks for sharing!

Liberty Wall Art

When Ana posted plans for this I immediately fell in love with it. I had a friend visiting, and I thought this would be a great project for us to do together.
A lot of time spent on this project was taking apart pallets, not an easy job. My poor friend did that part, she is great! I think the old pallets really made this look as good as it does, they were already so rustic.
The pallets were free and collecting free pallets was an adventure of it's own. I found a large piece of particle board in the depot's scrap bin for 51 cents! Can't beat that.

Estimated Cost

cost of paint

Estimated Time Investment

Day Project (6-9 Hours)

Finish Used

I chose paint samples from the depot and had them mixed in the cheapest paint they had, which was Glidden. I just got the flat.
I used a drybrush technique to let some of the wood texture show through.
I had to cut out my own stencils to get the stars just right, but I love how it turned out.

Recommended Skill Level

Starter Project

Modern Adirondack Chairs

Modern Adirondack Chairs

Built from Plan(s)

Modern Adirondack Chair

Estimated Time Investment

Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)

Finish Used

Rust-oleum Spray Paint

Recommended Skill Level

Beginner

Date in the backyard patio table and bench set

I made this for my wife. I used 2x3 glue and screw together for the table top. I have a conception that a heavy table top create a sturdy table. I used redwood 2x3 with lag screw. The sitting bench is completely made out of 2x3.

Estimated Cost

Estimated Time Investment

Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)

Recommended Skill Level

Intermediate

Box chairs with an added back

Thanks for the plans Ana. I substituted 5/4 x 6 for the 2x6 and it is plenty strong and sturdy. Also added an angled back to support 24x24" cushion. Very pleased with the finished chairs.

BTW: I have now used 4 of your plans. The X harvest table, an outside dining table and patio loungers (4 of them) and the box chairs. Cheers!

Recommended Skill Level

Beginner

Storage bench/ coffee table

The storage bench/ coffee table, customized for a small room to hold my son's lap top, and game controllers.
I cut it down from 48" to 36" and it worked great!

Estimated Cost

40.00

Estimated Time Investment

Day Project (6-9 Hours)

Finish Used

Minwax goldon oak with 3 coats of poly clear satin.

Recommended Skill Level

Beginner

Bunk Beds with a Maine Cottage twist

I built these bunk beds for my almost-10 year old twins this spring! These were modified from the Side Street Bunk Bed plans to accommodate the longer Twin XL mattresses. I took inspiration from the Maine Cottage bunk bed collection for the end panels of the beds, and added furniture feet as finials on each post. It was a fun build, but pretty time intensive as I built both sets at the same time. This was my first major build.

Built from Plan(s)

Modern Bunk Beds - Side Street

Estimated Time Investment

Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)

Finish Used

Valspar premium paint+primer

Recommended Skill Level

Intermediate

Kitchen Lazy Susan

This is a sample of what I have done using Ana's plans. Thanks Ana!!! I will be posting my entire kitchen Reno in the near future.

Built from Plan(s)

36" Corner Base Pie Cut Kitchen Cabinet - Momplex White Kitchen

Estimated Cost

Cabinet was $98.00, Lazy Susan was $145.00

Estimated Time Investment

Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)

Recommended Skill Level

Intermediate

Comments

Ana White

Mon, 04/06/2015 - 16:30

Beautiful! Thanks for

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

Green House

I built this amazing green house following your plans! My wife and I moved our family from the city to an amazing 5 acre homestead out in the country here in Wisconsin. We are super happy that we will be able to keep our new garden going longer! Thanks so much for the plans!

Built from Plan(s)

DIY Greenhouse

Estimated Cost

We spent about $800 for the frame and plastic panels. Then we spent another $250 for the reclaimed barnwood siding. We found the door at a reclamation site for $25.

Estimated Time Investment

Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)

Finish Used

I followed Ana's plan pretty closely. This was the first building I ever built from scratch. It was a little difficult to get the foundation level. But I figured it out. I used pressure treated 6x6s on top of gravel. I was able to screw the actual walls down to the 6x6s.

I'm actually building a second building from these plans to use as a chicken coop. Once it's done I will post photos.

Recommended Skill Level

Intermediate

Comments

paul sy

Fri, 06/21/2019 - 05:05

Cute, nice job. I'm going…

Cute, nice job. I'm going to build one in Tennessee.

Dirtdigger17

Mon, 09/06/2021 - 23:44

Green house

adorable. I love the use of repurposed barnwork.

Seasonal And Holiday

Spring

Entry console

I used one by material because I wanted a piece that was less bulky. I also made side tables from the same plan.8 love these, they are exactly what I have been looking for!

Built from Plan(s)

Brookstone Desk

Comments

Ana White Admin

Mon, 10/04/2021 - 16:55

Great tables!

Excellent builds, love the color choice! Thank you for sharing ~

Danielle's Shoe Crates

We went a little crazy bringing pallets home once I got the idea that we could build something so cool and functional out of only a small amount of new lumber! We've had these about 6 months now and they still look great and serve our family in a very real and functional way! My boys have been WONDERFUL about keeping all their shoes in their crates!

Blog Link

Another Day Another Project

Estimated Cost

About $10 per cart

Estimated Time Investment

An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)

Finish Used

Just lots of sanding and Mod Podge to seal the customizations!

Recommended Skill Level

Starter Project

Coffee Table - First build!

This was my first build and I loved making it! I wasn't able to make the 60 degree cuts needed for the x's but I hope to be able to add them in the future!

Built from Plan(s)

Rustic X Coffee Table

Estimated Cost

$50 for lumber, $70 for tools & supplies (Kreg Jig, screws, clamps, stain, etc.)

Estimated Time Investment

Day Project (6-9 Hours)

Recommended Skill Level

Starter Project

Simple Outhouse

I built this outhouse to go with a dry cabin I'm working on, and also as an emergency backup for my house. I used treated lumber on the base/deck and splurged on T-111 for the siding. I wanted to use greenhouse polycarbonate for the roof, but found a piece of metal roofing in my shed that was exactly the right size so I used that instead. I thought about doing a fancy cutout on the door but ended up going with a half moon because it was easy. I'm thinking about cutting out stars of different sizes all over the rest of the door to let in more light. I'll trim and stain it next summer.

Built from Plan(s)

Simple Outhouse

Estimated Cost

$450 - I used T-111 which is $40/sheet here in Alaska. I also used treated lumber where recommended and stainless steel screws.

Estimated Time Investment

Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)

Recommended Skill Level

Beginner

Comments

Mon, 01/13/2020 - 15:25

OUTHOUSE

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE 'STUFF' THAT YOU DEPOSIT IN THE TOILET? I DIDN'T READ ANYTHING ABOUT DIGGING A PIT/TREATMENTS, ETC. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU! CH.

Outdoor Sectional

Build an outdoor sectional easily with these free plans.

Built from Plan(s)

2x4 Outdoor Sofa

Painted Modern Farm Bench

I built this bench the day before Thanksgiving. I used scrap 2x6's left over from building our son's bunk bed. I shortened the plan to 43 1/2" total length to fit my space and accommodate the boards I had. The top of the bench is 4- 2x6 boards instead of a 1x12 board. The legs are 2x4's instead of 2x6's. I wood puttied all screw holes, sanded, painted 2 coats of Behr's decorator white, and applied 3 coats of Polycrylic.
After using it over the last few months I have noticed some of the pine knots have bled a little yellow into my finish. If I were to do it again, I would prime all knots with Zinsser cover all primer.
We really enjoy this bench and are happy with how it turned out. Although unfinished at the time, our Thanksgiving guests were impressed that I could whip out a bench by myself. Thanks Ana!