Community Brag Posts

Playhouse Loft Bed- Ladybug style

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/29/2020 - 21:14

I had to change around a bit of the plan because my daughter's room has a weird shape. So she gets into bed on one side of the bed, but the playhouse side is opposite so that it would be able to accommodate a window and a door on that side. We were able to put in 3 full sized windows this way.

Inside her playhouse is the play kitchen set I built her several years ago (it's seen a ton of use), as well as the doll crib that I built her (which has also seen a ton of use.)

Inside, we used coated mug hooks around the top of the inside to hang rope lights, and we used the same hooks as curtain rod hangers for the cafe tension rod curtain rods we used for the windows.

Estimated Cost
$450
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Satin and semi-gloss furniture paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

12 foot long cedar Providence Buffet

My mom asked me to build her a buffet to match the Provence style dining table I built her a few months ago. I used the Providence Table plan as a jumping off point. Here’s a quick breakdown of the changes I made to the plan:
• Supply list – 3 2x6x12′ boards for the top
2 2x6x10′ boards for the shelf
5 2x4x8 boards for the legs and supports
• Design – I cut the legs to the same dimension, but flipped the legs 90 degrees so the profile matched the table’s. I placed the leg support 4″ from the ground, again to match the dining table. I added a shelf by drilling the 10′ 2×6′s down onto the leg supports, and used scrap 2×4′s under the center to keep it from dipping. I nixed the center top support, and decided to keep the cross supports at the same angles and length, but doubled them and used scrap 2×4 cut at 18″ wide (the width of the buffet) to span the three boards so the center wouldn’t dip or warp over time.

We chose cedar to match the table and cut down on chemicals, but it could cost a lot less if you used untreated pine for indoor use. Either way, $120 for a twelve foot long buffet isn't too shabby!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$120
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
left unfinished, my mom will probably sand and use deck stain on it.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Patriotic Picnic Table for Kids

I built this for a silent auction at my school. My students chose the theme. Each of the kids in my class signed the white legs. Super easy to put together after following the plans to cut each piece of lumber. The painting was another story thanks to those stars!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
leftover paint and varnish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Chris' Tatum Toddler Bed Build

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 08/18/2016 - 10:37

I was thinking of buying the conversion kit for my son's crib when I came across this bed. I modified it a little but used the base design. It came out great and this was the first time he saw it and got in it. Now all we need to do is figure out how to get him to use it! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
~$200 since I used select poplar. It could easily be reduced by using pine.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Semi-Gloss White paint rolled on
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farm Table Sewing Base

Submitted by fallon on Wed, 07/25/2012 - 18:52

We just slightly modified the plan to accommodate our really great industrial sewing table base.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
First coat - Glidden Natural Linen
Stain - MinWax Classic Gray 270 (one person brushes while the other wipes it right off)
A little sanding for some aging
Several Coats of MinWax - Polycrylic, satin finish (sand between each coat)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Great weekend project...the "love swing"

Submitted by Don Ellery on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 15:49

A great weekend project...the "love swing"! I used the plan from Ana for the swing seat and added two arm rests from left over 1x6, rounded them off and sanded.

I cobbled together an A-frame to hang everything, made from five 8 foot 4x4s and two 8 foot 2x6s laminated together for the stretcher. Assembled with 1/2" galvanized carriage bolts and hung with 1/4" chain.

Definitely going to want a good miter saw for the A-Frame angles (the top ones are a bit tricky to get everything lined up)

Love it! Thanks for another great plan Ana..and of course..Shanty2Chic!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200 ish..including the A-Frame... the hardware and chain can be pricey!
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr exterior weatherproofing stain - Chocolate.

Just 2 thin coats, dries fast...second coat can be applied later the same day.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Carpenters Daughter

Mon, 12/12/2016 - 17:09

Could you please post the plans to build the a frame as well? I really love what you did and would like to copy it! Great Job!

Don Ellery

Wed, 07/19/2017 - 11:31

Hi! I wish I could, but I didn't take any notes on the angles or lengths when I made this and I left it with the house when we moved. 

DIY stowable boxing speed bag platform

Submitted by lookitsash on Sat, 08/20/2016 - 21:07

I’m an avid boxer and wanted to be able to work out in the convenience of my garage without making too much noise, and still make it easy to carry out normal garage functions (workshop and parking the car). I came up with an original design of a speed bag platform that locks away in a raised position, completely out of the way for normal garage usage. Then it unbolts and slides down when ready to engage. I also used rubber dampeners where I mounted it to the ceiling rafters to reduce vibrations and cut down on noise travelling through the house. 

 

I documented the whole project in my blog post at http://www.justmeasuringup.com/blog/diy-boxing-speed-bag-station-that-stows

 

I work on a lot of projects in the garage, and having a speed bag right in the middle is a great way to take a short break in the middle of it all - or when I bang my thumb with the hammer and want to release some anger :)

Estimated Cost
$40 (used all scrap wood, so cost was really low)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
none used
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Custom Built-In Medicine Cabinet

Submitted by boxermum on Sun, 07/29/2012 - 18:29

We love the medicine cabinets that are found in 5 star hotels and had come across a blog (Batchelor's Way) that had built one very similar. We decided during our renovation that we wanted one, too. In the photo you can see that we still have to install the light fixture, which fits perfectly within the high top molding, and the vessel sink and wall-mount faucet below.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Primer - Kilz
Paint - Behr's Silk Pillow in Satin finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

birdsandsoap

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 18:42

This is beautiful. It turned out so great, I think I may have to copy you! We have such a tiny bathroom, and need all the storage space we can get. We have similar taste, I have beadboard in my bathroom too.

Did you get the latches some place special?

In reply to by boxermum

birdsandsoap

Wed, 08/29/2012 - 10:02

Thank You. I looked over her bathroom post (several times actually) and it is amazing. Did you see their kid's room? The pirate room? another amazing DIYer. I'm really thinking about making this, just have to finish my other million projects first.

boxermum

Wed, 08/29/2012 - 15:40

I can totally relate to having a million projects in the mind bank - I want to build the Lydia daybed, farmhouse night stands, the apothecary console for the living room, leaning shelves for the breakfast room, installing board and batten in the dining room, plank wall in the guest room, and the list goes on and on and on. We installed the light fixture on the medicine cabinet yesterday, and what a difference it made. We still haven't installed the wall faucet or vessel sink, though. Just so much to do and life gets in the way!

I did see Ronda's other rooms (her pirate room was featured in This Old House magazine) and it really is creative. She was really helpful when I asked her questions about the medicine cabinet, too. Totally classy lady.

What projects do you have in the works?

birdsandsoap

Wed, 08/29/2012 - 22:09

I just finished remodeling my kitchen for the 2nd time in 3 years due to a leaky water heater. I am currently finishing up a bunkbed that I built my girls over the summer (it has taken for-e-ver!), I have to tile my bathtub surround since we added a new tub when we did the kitchen. I've got to paint both rooms, and also paint a desk that I built earlier in the summer. I'm homeschooling, and we've got a bunch of furniture that goes in our "schoolroom" that needs refinished, ugh! I think I've done more painting in the last 4 months than my entire lifetime and I've got a lot more ahead. I'm going to build a divided shelf for the schoolroom (the plans are somewhere on here, it's a PB knock-off) and I've also got two dressers planned in my head for my bedroom. We want a built-in look and since our bedroom is tiny (old house, tiny bedrooms) I have to build two separate dressers so that we can move them into the room. I also wanted to do wall-to-wall shelving in our schoolroom up around the ceiling, but I don't know if I will get to that or not. I keep piling on the projects and I'm running out of time! As soon as winter hits, I'm done building; so if feels like a mad rush to "get 'er done!"

TV console

Submitted by Kmtgolden on Fri, 05/23/2014 - 08:20

This was my first attempt at building something with doors- the one on the right got knocked off square at some point and required some finagling to get it to fit. As a result, there's a gap above it, but it opens and closes smoothly. I'm okay with it. It's not perfect, but at least it's MY not perfect.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100-$125
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Printers Triple Console Cabinet

Submitted by Huthbert on Wed, 08/24/2016 - 08:22

This project was very straight forward and fairly simple.  The only big changes we made to this:

-Used solid wood paneling in place of plywood.  We are now fans of using this stuff over plywood (For furniture building)

-Made the top drawer faces flip down isntead of building drawers

-Added roller catched to all drawer faces to keep the kids from gaining access

-Added a 1x4 on the back to have something solid and easy to strap our tv to

 

This is now our favorite piece in the whole house, very funcitonal!  Thank you for the plans Ana!

 

You can see more pictures at: http://gingerandthehuth.com/2016/08/restoration-hardware-tv-console/ 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
200-300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
A mixture of Early American, Dark Walnut, and gray stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Simple modern outdoor chair modified to match my porch.

I built a set of these chairs based on Ana's simple modern outdoor chair. I wanted it to match my front porch which I built a few weeks ago. Thank you for the plans.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Still waiting for it to dry, then I will use a oak stain and outdoor polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

boneill

Wed, 07/29/2020 - 19:24

Looks awesome. Would be great to see how to do this step by step . What size seat slats did you use ?

Seasonal And Holiday

Easy stool

Inspired by a photo on a DIY site i made this simple stool from pallet wood. No plan, just an idea, and i know that the hight should be around 20".

Estimated Cost
<5$
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Nothing, just a little sandpaper #120, and a spray-text on top
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Double X Bench

Build this bench for our dining room. Had some left over stuff and got a 11 feet plank for free at the lumber yard.
66 inches long, 14 inches wide and I made it a little higher, 19,5 inches.
Have a weakness for red benches :-)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Painted it twice and put one layer of polyethylene on top.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X-Console Table

Submitted by LN2014 on Sat, 08/27/2016 - 17:54

My new handmade Rustic Console, made from 4x4 Douglas fir, 2x4 pine and 2x6 pine wood. This stained using leftover stain from Minwax Expresso and Special Walnut and mixed them together and created a deep golden dark brown color with made the grain texture stand out more. Then I applied Varathane Polyurethane to protect the finish. The entire project was fairly easy besides the angle pieces on the legs since my miter saw only can achieve a 65 degree cut. I ended up creating a jig to cut the angle pieces.

44in long X 15in wide X 33.5 in high

More pictures available on my Facebook:

https://m.facebook.com/Ngo-Inc-912298105544682/

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Stains
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Console table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/09/2020 - 07:53

This was our very first project! It went amazing ❤️ I absolutely love it. The plans provided were exactly what I needed and broke down everything for a first timer. Thank you so much Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Scuff resistant paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
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