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Easy, beautiful, and handy!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/16/2016 - 11:18

Easy, inexpensive, and fun- as always with Ana's plans. 

Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Clear sealer only
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Benchwright Console Table

So now that everyone at work found out that I could build furniture I started getting special request. I modified the top of the benchwright table that way my co-worker can use this table to hold their 30 gallon fish tank. This was a pretty easy build once I found a place without warped wood.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
40.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Light Walnut and Valspar Flat Black. Two coats of Poly on the paint and three coats on the stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

CLubhouse/Treehouse Bed

I took the Ana White plans for this bed and modified them just slightly. I decided to cover up the top opening on the front, and add some plywood "trees" so that the ned looks like it is being suspended by the trees. I used whitewood from Lowe's, a compound miter saw, the AWESOME Kreg Jig, and a drill. The whole thing took about three days to construct and about two days to paint 2 coats. If you see from the pictures that the side pieces of 1x4 trim are missing, you are right. When I measured the 34" instead of the 34 1/4" it was too short for the sides and wouldn't match up with the front trim. Even if I used the 34', there was a gap so I left it off. I added a fourth step and I also put grip tape on the stairs because my homeboy like to sleep in socks and I didn't want him to slip coming down.

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

Farmhouse dining room

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/20/2016 - 12:12

Super easy base plans. Made a few modifications, and it came out beautifully. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150- $200, including bench
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Nice day build for a friend!

Submitted by jwalt66 on Sun, 02/23/2020 - 16:48

All in all, I'm pleased with the way it came out. The person that I built it for wanted a weathered gray stain. It wouldnt have been my choice, but ince applied,  I really liked how it turned out 

Estimated Cost
$100.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
1 coat of Varathane premium fast dry wood stain - weathered gray
3 coats of varathane water based satin spray polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Hand Pump Fountain

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/17/2023 - 07:41

I had an old hand pump that I turned into a fountain.

Lynda Westbrook

Kentwood Bookshelf

Submitted by BeckySmith on Thu, 05/10/2012 - 05:11

This was one of my first bigger builds. I am so happy with the way it turned out!

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Golden Oak. I applied the stain with a foam brush and wiped off excess after about five minutes.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

canadianlam

Thu, 05/19/2016 - 19:05

This bookcase wouldn't be out of place amongst the Pottery Barn's bookcases. In fact, it inspired me to go out this afternoon and buy some cedar boards so I can start building my own version first thing tomorrow. Thank you, Becky.

Sawhorse Bench

Submitted by jtsmith2 on Sun, 02/23/2014 - 18:11

So this was a bit harder than I imagined it would have been given it was my first time to try a plan from the site! The hardest thing was getting the middle beams cut correctly.

I shortened the length of the bench to 56" to fit our space and so that changed all of the angles (well, the angles on the center beam). The Kreg Jig is a must here and really helped.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut on the top, black spray paint on the bottom.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

3 Tiered Flower/Garden Bed

3 tiered flower/garden bed, untreated in pic, need to find a food safe wood sealer this weekend and then we can fill with dirt and plant. We are using it as a garden. 21ftx6ft, 35 inches high.

Estimated Cost
$400-$500 CDN
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Nothing
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic Side Tables

Submitted by zawatkins on Sat, 02/29/2020 - 08:04

Simple to build rustic end tables/side tables. These were stained in a red mahogany stain and satin finish polyurethane top coat. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$115/set
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Red mahogany minwax penetrating stain
Satin finish fast drying polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

School Bus Stop Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/20/2023 - 08:36

My daughter asked me to make a bench for her daughter’s school bus stop. After looking at many different plans I chose your plans for a 2x4 bench with modifications. I made it 7’ wide with an additional support piece in the center. I used pressure treated wood for the base and cedar for the seat and back. I finished it with a gloss “school bus yellow” and gloss black. It was very well received by the children and parents.

Ken Shallcross

 

Seasonal And Holiday

blue loft bed for 8 year old

we have finished my sons room, it has taken us nearly a year but this bed looks fantastic and is much sturdier than the ones you can buy!!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
£200 GBP
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
PAINTED AND VARNISHED
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Farmhouse Bedside Table

Submitted by jager456 on Tue, 02/25/2014 - 11:55

Slightly changed the plans by adding the exotic wood 'Purpleheart' to the top and drawer fronts.

The tapered legs added some elegance but were very difficult to make, as it was my first time trying it.

I used furniture grade Select Black Label Pine which was costly, but I wanted a good contrast between the white pine and purpleheart.

No stain, just clear lacquer to maximize the color.

The pieces of Purpleheart cost was about $60.00, added to the select pine cost.

This is a great plan that you can modify slightly if you want. We now plan on making a much simpler and smaller one for our bathroom.

This one will probably end up in our living room instead of the bedroom!

Thank You Ana for a great plan!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$160.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
3 coats Brush on Watco Clear Satin Lacquer lightly sanded between coats w/220
then rubbed out with 400 grit wet/dry and final coat of Minwax Paste Wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Outdoor Sectional

Submitted by nikkiice on Sat, 05/28/2016 - 17:40

I had so much fun building this! I got a little creative with the corner section and decided to make it a table. I built a small hatch so that I could put in a container for ice and cold beer. When the hatch is not in use, the container can be removed and the hatch can be closed to provide more table space. I also added drink holders! 

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
none yet
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Changing table/dresser

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 16:51

The changing table/dresser came out so much better than I ever thought I was capable of! Thank you for the plans and courage to try!

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Primed with Valspar primer and finished with Valspar semi gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kennel

Submitted by KaraBoo on Wed, 05/16/2012 - 04:25

I'm fostering two mastiff puppies and they quickly outgrew the old plastic kennel they were sharing. So, I built them a new and improved kennel! It's so much nicer than that old one and looks great in my living room. The puppies appreciate the additional room, too! Now hopefully a family comes along soon to adopt them before they outgrow this kennel, too! :)

Building this kennel was the first time I used a Kreg Jig. I LOVE it! I will be using it a lot more on future projects.

I put a stop plate on the inside of the door frame so that the door stops right where it should to latch it and not swing inwards.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

furniturelady

Fri, 09/13/2013 - 20:41

Just wanted to say that I just started fostering and have a German Shepherd/Border Collie mix that came with a large wire crate. If I keep up with this fostering, I think I'll need a small, medium, and large one! Love it, thanks for posting....I'll be buying more lumber again.

Emerson Buffet

Submitted by haus3755 on Sat, 03/01/2014 - 21:19

I installed the shelves and the center dividers with dados. I suggest planning ahead for your hinges, I had a rough time finding the perfect hinges for some reason.

A big, big, BIG suggestion though, is to stain BEFORE assembly!! I nearly destroyed the piece with the difficult staining in the inside corners. It is very difficult to keep stain even in them. I used General Finishes "Black Cherry" water based stain, the first time using a water based stain. I found it very unforgiving and it left bad blotches, brush and rag marks. I topped it with General Finishes Arm R Seal.

In the end, this came together well enough that I felt a little guilty for not using better lumber than pine. It's nice enough, I think, to warrant spending a little more on quality hardwood.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Black Cherry, waterbased
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
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