Community Brag Posts

4x4 Truss Table

Submitted by Mermac117 on Sat, 09/02/2017 - 17:43

Took us about a week but have two young toddlers... love the table. Awaiting Chairs from wayfair and my husband is starting the bench this week!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dark walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X End Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/05/2021 - 10:52

I built this pine Rustic X end table for my Mom-in-Laws' cottage. They wanted it plain as possible, so I built it to please.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Play Pie Hutch

I used Ana's plan to make this pie hutch...in about 45 minutes (except for painting)!! It was lots of fun and my daughter helped paint it afterward. She still plays with this almost every day!

Estimated Cost
>$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cottage loft bed

Submitted by Krae on Wed, 05/29/2013 - 10:59

My husband and I made this for our daughter's 6th birthday. She loves it! It took us about a week to complete it. We were able to reclaim the room we had her toys in, since this gave her more room to play in her bedroom. We used wood shims for the shingles, and we made the windows a little narrower than the plans.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Julia Nightstand with Shelf

This was my first project for my new house. I think it turned out well. I added a middle shelf. I built two for our bedroom, one for both my wife and I.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Golden Oak Wood Finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Adirondack Chairs for fire pit

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 03:51

We have a contemporary house on a lake and the standard Adirondack chairs were not fitting in this setup. However, Anna’s modern Adirondack chair plan was just perfect for what we were looking for. The chairs are comfortable and the result is amazing! Thanks!!

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

vintage step stool

Submitted by rhonit on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 05:17

This is my first ever build. Now I have cut wood all my adult life, trim wood and straight cuts for husband. As to actually build something all on my own, this is a first. I started small, and have other things in mind to build up too (excuse the pun). I did have my husband drill the holes with his Kreg Gig. It might look like old barn wood but that was a happy mistake. First I used oak stain, then black stain, white paint, red and turqouise paint. And sanded like crazy, again, Happy Mistake!!

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
stain & paint
oak stain, black stain, left over paint: white paint, acrylic paint, barn red & turquoise
sand like crazy and ta-duh, looks like old barn wood. Looks like One Hot Mess, prior to sanding.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

First project Kids Beds

Submitted by elfranzen on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 17:44

First project I have done since high school. I built and my wife painted.

Estimated Cost
$80 a piece
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Front load pedestal

Fun project, took little time and we love not having to bend OR spend 279 per pedestal!!!  Very strong and my machine stays put, doesn't dance around. Love!!!

Estimated Cost
less than 100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Dining Table

Submitted by Malka on Wed, 09/13/2017 - 00:43

Used the pub table plans, but went regular dining table height so as to make matching dining chairs. Painted in Rustoleum Latex Ultra White, and Stained in Minwax Espresso. Built using Douglas Fir lumber. Table top and chair seats are 2x4's and 2x6's that were biscuit joined. Table has adjustable leg levelers drilled into bottom of legs.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200 for Table and 4 matched chairs
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Ultra White paint, Minwax Espresso stain, Minwax Gloss Fastdry poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Clara's Table with Oak tabletop

Submitted by rhilborn on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 11:23

This was our first project to build. It was a great experience and a fun project to do as a family. We chose to make the tabletop out of red oak so that it could take a beating but the base is pine utility boards just as suggested in the plans. My husband has woodworking skills from school days and I have a fair amount of finishing skills. We had some pitfalls getting familiar with the Kreg jig but now that we are our second project was a breeze! We already made 1 of 2 modified bitty benches to go with the table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut, Minwax Wipe On Polyurethane-Gloss; Behr Home Premium (Leftover housepaint), Minwax Wipe On Polyurethane. I have used 2 in 1 stain and polyurethanes before for finishing and I've also used spray on polurethanes, the wipe on stain and polyurethanes were my favorite combinations thus far! I did countless coats of stain on the tabletop with 120 grit sanding and/or 00 steel wool in between. There are also quite a few coats of poly on the tabletop since it's a work surface. The base has 2 coats of paint brushed on with a brush and then knocked down with a foam mini roller. I sanded with 120 grit sandpaper in between coats and then roughed it up a bit after the paint was ready before applying poly. I only felt it needed one coat of poly on the base.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

So happy with my console table!!

Ever since I saw the beautiful rustic X console table, I knew I had to have one in my house. And I finally built one all by myself!! Thanks to Anna and Hilary. I am so very happy with my console table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
mixture of dark walnut and weathered oak
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Patio Table

Submitted by AndyH on Fri, 05/01/2015 - 18:57

Patio Table.  Made from pressure treated wood - hence not stained yet as waiting a while to season.

Measures 94 inches long by 49 inches wide.

Will post plans shortly.

Estimated Cost
$150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Not yet finished as waiting for wood to fully dry.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Linda7

Sat, 05/02/2015 - 15:34

This table has a beautiful top. Can't wait to see the plans, and please post again when you have finished staining.

Calmly

Sun, 05/03/2015 - 14:16

I love this table! Forget the patio, I'm seeing this inside my dinning room.

DIY Modern Desk

I used Ana White's Modern 2x2 Desk Base Plan and Desktop with Storage Compartments plan to create this gorgeous desk for my sister!  This was my first real build, and first solo build, and I could not be more proud of how it turned out!

Estimated Cost
$90
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used matte black chalky finish paint for the legs and stain for the top (with two coats of poly).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Table & Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/08/2021 - 11:26

I have a friend that is in a wheelchair and needed a table that she could sit at comfortably. This table was measured specifically for her and the bench measured for her family so that they can all enjoy meals together.

Comments

Queen Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by teenyblnd2 on Fri, 03/18/2011 - 15:14

This is the Queen farmhouse bed (still unfinished) That we created. Our old bed had died--Ikea just doesn't last!--so we decided to use our new skills to make our own bed. Here are the results!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150-$175
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
none yet...what do you think (we're leaning towards an espresso finish!)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Smaller Crate

I loved the look of the crate, but my dog is a small Lhasa Apso - Poodle mix, so I had to cut down the size of it. To figure out the approximate sixe that I wanted to make the crate, I measured his current (ugly) wire crate. I forgot to take into account that a 1x2 is acutally .75x1.5 ish so my measurements were slightly off but the only thing it mattered for was the door. I used 1x2s for everything. I did not have a jig, so I predrilled holes and did it a little differently. I would have prefered to have the jig, but Home Depot doesn't cary the mini in their stores and I would have had to wait a few days for it. I built this on my own (I am a 22 year old girl) while my boyfriend is out of town as a surprise for when he gets home, and I am more then pleased with how it came out!

Here are my measurements:

21 inches high (the walls are 20 inches high, and the top gives it about an extra inch)
26.75 inches long (24.5 inches excluding the overhang of the top)
18.5 inches wide (17 inches excluding the overhang of the top)

I needed:
6 - 8' 1x2
1 - 20 inch wide pine board, 5 feet tall (for the top)
Corner brackets to connect the walls
Hinges
Latch
Screws

Tools I used:
Table Saw
Drill

Hope that this helps anyone who wants to build one for their little dog!

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modern Farm Table at cabin

Submitted by jehenslee on Mon, 05/04/2015 - 10:38

I pretty much just followed the plan. It did not take long to build, but I spent quite a bit of time on the finish. I sanded and sanded and sanded. I was going for a restoration Hardware type finish and got pretty close. This was the first piece of furniture I built. Recently moved to a farm so have been building farm needs projects and finally had time to build some furniture.  I purchased the bench cushions. 

Thanks for the awesome plans, information and site Ana! I love it!

 

Janice

Estimated Cost
$150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used the colors and process from this post:
http://ana-white.com/2013/08/rustic-yet-refined-wood-finish
I wanted my table darker though so I used more of the darker stain. Started with the gray, then dark, then a mixture.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner