Community Brag Posts

Best Lounger Ever

Submitted by teeninyg on Sun, 08/21/2011 - 13:37

This was my second project from the site. I wanted somewhere to read my book on the back deck. This chair is perfect. When I get tired of reading I can lay it down and take a nap. It is very sturdy and easy to put together. I do recommend using pocket holes to assemble it. I found it much easier.

Estimated Cost
$70.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I sanded the seat and sides of the chair. Then stained it with oak and finished it with polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Garden Planter Boxes

Just in time for Fall Mums, I wanted a set of sturdy planters that I knew would hold up in the winter. I wanted to try something that felt more 'simple' to me than the pattern I was inspired by.

I used some 2" wide pine so they ended up quite heavy, but I know they'll hold the test of time.

It was quite an easy project, and I encourage anyone to make their own. It took me only a Saturday once I got going. Painted them the next day... then done!

Enjoy the details here --> http://projectjumanji.blogspot.ca/2013/08/homemade-decorative-planter-b…

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Hose Post

Submitted by KG1000 on Thu, 11/19/2015 - 13:42

We built this from a 4 x 4 left over from another project and 2 - 4 x 4s 36" long from a pallet I rescued from work.  The middle post is 78" long with 3 feet buried in the ground.  The "Fancy Iron Hose Holder" was purchased from Amazon for about $20.  The post cap was a used one rescued from my husband's woodshop.  We layed out the 4x4s on the garage floor and screwed them together, added the hose holder and end cap, and spray painted the project black.  I am going to remove the hose holder and paint it a different color so it will stand out better.

Estimated Cost
Less than $30
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Spray paint rated for outdoors, less than one can.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Modified Trestle

My vintage table collapsed, so I built it new legs using the farmhouse plans. I didn’t want to lose the expandable leaves however, so I decided to reuse the top and add a second trestle so the table can still expand. I sanded and restained/polyed the top and leaves and cut a space in the center support to hold the spare leaves. I’ve never seen a table like it and I’m very proud.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Provincial
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Dressor project

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/14/2022 - 16:57

First Dresser project using the plans on this site.
My wife is very happy with the result and so am I!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Sarah's Easy Build Headboard in King

Probably one of the most popular plans, and possibly my favorite...maybe I am biased because it was my first Ana build. Being my first Ana build, and my first carpentry project in several years it took a little longer than I hoped. Mostly nerves I think, and the fact that I am a perfectionist...what others may call picky =0) I really enjoyed building this piece, frustration at times included. It was great to be back in the shop after so many years of apartment living and no space or tools to speak of. A word of caution - once all my hard work was done it almost didn't make it out of the basement, not enough clearance. I was ready to shorten the legs but thankfully after some careful pivoting and ingenuity (my father in laws, not mine) it found its home in our bedroom...and I couldn't be happier! Having been 1 of 4 girls in a high school house carpentry program full of boys it is so inspiring to see so many women building, creating, and loving every minute! Thank you Ana for all you do!

Estimated Cost
$125.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut & Gloss Poly

Some of the wood already had some flaws which helped to add to the reclaimed look, and I took liberty and added some gouges with a variety of tools, hitting the wood with the claw and nose of the hammer, screws for scrapes, etc...a great place to take out the aggression I built up when I ran into snags while building.

I sanded and sanded, added several coats of Minwax Dark Walnut stain, and then coated it with two coats of poly gloss. Then I hit the piece with steel wool to cut back the finish slightly and even out some inconsistencies.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Outdoor sectional couch with reclined back

I designed and built this sectional for some friends, and then wrote a how-to about the process! There are free plans for it, and a time-lapse video of it being built at http://www.iliketomakestuff.com/outdoor-sectional/

Estimated Cost
$150 in Lumber
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Will be painted once the wood has time to dry out
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Great idea, though I added to your design

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/11/2019 - 19:39

Well for starters, we wanted a bed with a slide. There are few options that a 19mo would not fall off/out of. (Yes are getting a tad ahead of ourselves). My wife liked the design, but was hesitant about the open part so we included a removable top cover with a look-out window. I also changed how the hinges mount so as to allow the flap to lower all the way down. Now we can simply slide the mattress out to make the bed, and put back as well as insert our son through the slot when he is asleep. I also added a platform in the corner for the stairs and slide to attach, and made the entry point to the bed at the foot of the bed and not the back side. This made the opening more stable. The room does not allow for much access to the other end of the barn so for appearance sake, we added a partial cover for the play area to make it still look like a barn from the side. I was able to make everything in sections, paint outside, then bring in and assemble. I made a "prop" of sorts, to assist in positioning the bed frame while I brought in and attached the head-end of the barn. We did it in 5 days, but it was legitimately a 7 day job that we just overworked ourselves on. The cost estimate is primarily wood, screws, and paint because I already had the stainless sheet. Thank you for the basic idea, but as pics show, we modified it in many ways. 

Estimated Cost
$600.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Latex Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Chunky Leg Bed Frame slightly taller

Submitted by nagariz on Sat, 08/27/2011 - 01:06

First time really building anything out of wood. Getting a kreg jig was probably the best decision I made on this project. I made the legs slightly taller (7") for a bit of underbed storage and used a 2x4 brace instead of 2x6, so I could sit the slats down a bit lower but still keep a gap above the legs. The mattress sits 3" below the edge of the bed. I put a few legs under the center support, but they probably weren't necessary for the queen size bed. I spent about $150 for the lumber ($50 just for the bigger slats for my memory foam mattress), and about $50 for the kreg jig jr. and screws. I did not use any glue so I can take it apart later, and so far it seems pretty sturdy with no creaks. Thanks so much for the plan Ana!!! On to a headboard and bedside tables...

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ebony Minwax stain one coat for 15 minutes
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

VelvetSky

Sun, 08/28/2011 - 20:16

I love this! I am looking to build something like this, so I can get rid of my box spring.

Larissa (not verified)

Sat, 10/08/2011 - 13:11

This looks awesome for a first timer! Good job and I agree about the Kreg...it is a wonderful investment for any future projects. I have memory foam too so will probably do the same with having wider slats.

Adirondack Chairs made from Pallets!

Submitted by m_jonesrn on Wed, 09/18/2013 - 17:36

Built these two adirondack chairs from pallet wood that I had at home. Made the perfect seating area for my fire pit. Can't wait to enjoy the fall evenings in my $0 chairs!

Estimated Cost
0
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark walnut Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Floating Bunk Beds and Desk

This little girls room needed a little happy birthday!  I planked the wall with birch veneer, made simple box frames for the beds and desk, and attached them to walls with heavy duty cable.  Then my friend added her designer touch, and made it cozy and  girl CHIC!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
white paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

My Rustic X Console table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/14/2019 - 11:11

I decided to give this a go after checking out the plans months before, and my kitchen table/floor and my foyer became my workshop and assembly area, and my dogs were absolute angels letting me do the work. This table completely transformed my living room from what it was before. I think it took me a total of two weeks to complete this table, after work and during the weekends.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Less than $100 in wood
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax weathered grey for the base and Minwax Old American for the top
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Classic Adirondack Chairs - modified arms

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 11/09/2022 - 19:53

I used plans from the classic Adirondack chairs and modified the arms for a wider width to place cups/glasses on them. I also curved the top as well. It was a fun project and took about a day and a half, off and on. Thank you!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Adirondack chair

Submitted by takahler on Wed, 08/31/2011 - 10:53

My fiance and I built 2 of these chairs. He took one to his house and one is at my house...for now. Picked up 2 cushions at Walmart on Clearance. I sit in it quite often. Great plans!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$35
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut and polyurethane (2-3 coats)

We stained the boards before putting the chair together. It takes a lot longer to build this way, but maybe it is easier in the long run.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Built in dresser

Submitted by dmather82 on Sat, 09/21/2013 - 09:04

This is my favorite build so far! My two younger daughters share a room with an inevitable shortage of floor space. What they do have is a fairly large closet for 1 and 3 year old. I removed the crumby sliding doors and filled the bottom third of the space with the dresser, leaving plenty of room for kids clothes to hang above. I combined two separate plans and adjusted the measurements to fit the space. What I ended up with is a monstrous 6 drawer dresser that I would never have room for in the bedroom otherwise. The drawers are enormous (a must for a house with three little girls. They have more clothes than their mother and father combined).

I took the frame concept from the Shanty2Chic rustic rolling dresser and the drawer concept from the Madison dresser from Old Paint Design. (Thanks Ladies!) It took me some significant math adjustments (I'm not a math guy) in order to alter the drawers for wood slides, alter the frame to fit that, and alter both to fit the 70 3/4" x 24" space.

The finish took the most time with a bizarre mixing of Rustoleum Dark Walnut and Rustoleum Classic Cherry. I love the color now. Clearly I have not fixed the wall paint yet :)

The wood is big box pine as I am still working up the confidence to work with more expensive wood. The top is 1x12's and 1x2's. The sides (hidden) are 3/4" plywood. The hardware is from Lowes.

My daughters were nice enough to decorate the dresser during the build with crayon requiring a 40 grit sanding Grrrr.

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Dark Walnut
Rustoleum Classic Cherry
Rustoleum Ultimate Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

JW

Sun, 09/22/2013 - 12:40

Built-in closet dresser - genius! I am already thinking about how I can make this work for my daughter's room. Looks great, too. Good job!

Reclaimed Wood Look Bedside Table

Submitted by PhilCo on Sun, 11/29/2015 - 12:08

Having recently completed the Californian King size Bed, I needed matching bedside tables, these were an obvious choice, but due to the size of our bedroom, I had to downsize on the plan. Although I kept to the spirit of the plan, I made a few changes, other than just size. I made up the table tops and side panels, prior to assembly, much as I did with the bed, I pocket holed and glued the planks together to ensure they stay that way. I also decided to use hardwood runners, and not buy metal slides, because I had plenty of mahogany scrap, and the drawers are small, so it was easy to do. The drawer knobs were obviously bought, but to ensure they never come off, which is usually my problem with store bought knobs, I fixed them to the drawer face, using epoxy to glue the knob to the bolt, before attaching to the drawer carcase. I built these from pine and used a matt oak varnish to match the bed. The full build and more photos are on my Blog

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Matt Oak Varnish
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/24/2022 - 12:51

Using your plans, I built this king size farmhouse bed and console table.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Farmhouse Bedside Table

My take on the farmhouse bedside table. I found it difficult to get this square, and I think it suffers because of that. Also, I found that the drawer is much harder than I thought it would be; with that being said, it looks great and is sturdy; I enjoyed the challenge of this project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used 2 coats of Minwax English Chestnut stain and 2 coats of Minwax Gloss Polyurethane. I used a simple brush for all 4 of these.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments