Community Brag Posts

Rhyan End Table - hardwood plywood, aspen, pine

Submitted by bryanvold on Sun, 08/19/2012 - 18:05

This all started with wanted to clean up my side of the bed. I have a CPAP machine, I like to read and I am a techno-geek. There simply wasn't enough space for things to fit, so they find themselves on the floor.

I started looking around at furniture stores, and none of them were exactly what I was looking for, and the ones that I would have considered were $500+. I thought to myself that I can use this as a learning opportunity. I found Ana's site here and immediately knew I had found the right place.

I downloaded the plans to the Rhyan End Table and was so impressed with the layout. I wanted to know how the construction pictures were built and downloaded Google Sketchup and the Rhyan End Table plans and proceeded to build the end table virtually. I am truly in awe of the power of that tool.

Then I started the actual build of the project. I hadn't really done a lot of woodworking - but I am now a fan of the Kreg Jig. What a great tool!

I know I should have read everything *thoroughly* - but I didn't. Because I didn't have all my own equipment, I went to a friend's house to cut all the boards. In hindsight, I now know why that wasn't a good idea. Because I had pre-cut everything (and was as accurate as I could make it), when I got to the drawers, I was really in over my head. I had a woodworking friend help me set the drawers and shave off a bit of the drawer slide mounting boards, so the drawer would fit. One side effect of that is that I decided that putting the spacer board in-between the two drawers would made things more difficult and could possibly make the drawers not work very well, so because it is for me, I decided to leave the spacer board off.

I just finished putting the last coat of Pecan Poly on last night and moved it in.

As this was my first project, I learned a _ton_ of stuff. So I left it rougher than other people would like but I already love it.

Now my wife wants one for her side of the bed :-)

Thank you Ana for your site, your passion and inspiring me to start doing a little woodworking!

-Bryan

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Too much sanding initially, but I learned ... stripped too much of birch plywood veneer off.
2 Coats of MINWAX PolyShades Pecan Stain and Polyurethane Satin 320
I didn't sand in between, just left it kind of "rough" - I'm fine with the results. My friend said it best when he said you can't be a perfectionist in wood, it will drive you insane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Awesome Farmhouse Style Table!

Submitted by Andrew_P on Mon, 06/09/2014 - 10:21

Plans used from Ana-White.Com's awesome recreation of a commercially available table. Ran through this construction in no time and it came out like a charm. Thanks!

Estimated Cost
$74
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Min-Wax Espresso Brown
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Outdoor seating made with thrown away cushions

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/22/2020 - 18:01

Someone on my street had thrown out 2 couches. The cushions were in perfect condition. So I built chairs and fit the cushions! I built a matching coffee table to fit a glass I had. To finish the space, I added a table to have my morning breakfast.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint and stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Here's our version...

Submitted by bethnapp on Wed, 08/22/2012 - 07:23

This is our version of the factor cart. I used 12 inch boards on the sides to make the table have a little more height.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Jacobean from Minwax.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modified providence bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 09/11/2016 - 20:20

Started with the providence bench plans and made a couple changes.

Finish Used
Charred the wood finished it with waterlox.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

We built our kitchen cabinets and hood!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/25/2020 - 16:50

It took us awhile but we built these white cabinets from scratch. It turned out great and looks better in person. Thank you for your articles!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White acrylic latex.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

Outdoor Comfort Collection and Simple Outdoor Dining Table

Modern Comfort Outdoor Sofa and Loveseat to go with the Simple Outdoor Dining Table and Benches that I made 2 years ago. I love that the "Modern Comfort" plans don't require angles or a miter saw. I used a circular saw for all of it!

 

Harriett Higher Chair

Submitted by jcordle on Fri, 08/24/2012 - 06:21

This seat is awesome for my 5 year old because now she can have a big girl seat and reach the table!

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint and fabric for the seat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

modified 4x4 bench

Submitted by Angel Rose on Mon, 06/16/2014 - 13:48

I used 2x4 instead of the 4x4 to create this bench for my entry way. I left off the stretcher so my shoe baskets could fit underneath.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
maybe $15 I used a lot of scrap wood
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I used left over blue paint from a bathroom redo. I watered it down to make it more of a wash. Finished with rub in wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Fancy X desk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/13/2016 - 21:21

Loved this desk, for my first project I was extremely pleased how it turned out.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
base is done in warm white with a white wash on the top
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Narrow Console Table

This is my first try at one of your projects. I made the console table 48 inches long to fit the space of our entry way. I thank you for all of your amazing content, and still having informative and wholesome things to watch.

Estimated Cost
60
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Sherwin Williams Weathered Teak
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Deadly, Deadlier, Deadliest Medicine Cabinet

Submitted by Jake on Sun, 08/26/2012 - 05:59

I needed to add some cabinet space in the bathroom and saw this medicine cabinet on DesignConfidential. It turned out great. It is big and heavy so if you build it make sure you use substantial fasteners when you place it on a wall. I spent more than necessary because I wanted certain drawer pulls and glass. In a small town they are just not available. I got the drawer pulls on-line from Kennedy Hardware and the glass at a local glass company. Big Blue and Big Orange just do not carry much. The door is probably backward but I am tall enough that it doesn't make much difference. Now my big old Lab and I don't have to share the same cabinet. I will redo the drawers so the ends of the plywood bottom doesn't show. The design is such that you have a lot of flexibility in how you use the interior.

Changed the look of my medicine cabinet with the help of photographer Sonja Caldwell whom I ran across on ETSY.com. She had a wonderful pic of a medicine cabinet she found in a medieval French charity hospital. She worked with me to get the image to fit into my cabinet window. I really like the result. It almost looks 3D. I changed the drawer labels to the best French I could come up with and still fit in the little slots. The words are Mortel (Deadly), Plus Mortel (Deadlier) and Le Plus Mortel (Deadliest). I understand that there are not comparative endings in French but i hope these translations will do. Here is a link to Sonja's site:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SonjaCaldwell?ref=seller_info

Estimated Cost
About $60 or $70 dollars
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-O-Leum spray on enamel. I used three coats on visible areas and one or two for the other areas. The back is black only because I did not want to use my valuable moss green so I found some spray black in the garage.

The photo in the window is by Sonja Caldwell http://www.etsy.com/shop/SonjaCaldwell?ref=seller_info
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

New counter height planters in use

Submitted by jrbdmb on Fri, 06/20/2014 - 05:05

Using the counter height planter plans from Janettx. Thanks!

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Janettx

Mon, 09/20/2021 - 13:24

Nice job!!! I'm still using mine. I ended up putting 12"x12" pavers under each leg to extend their life. After the 2nd year now we get bumper crop out of ours each season.

Mantel Moulding Headboard

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 09/18/2016 - 21:29

I made this in one day.  I used builders grade lumber and made it full size instead of queen. 

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

Workbench with pegboard

Submitted by bredbu on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 18:37

I made a workbench for my garage it was pretty easy. I also made an instructional youtube video if you want to learn how to make it. #diy #workbench #bench

Estimated Cost
125
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
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