Community Brag Posts

Made this project from the Storage Bin design. We have an annual holiday party at work. Since I work in the timber program for Ca Fish & Wildlife, I decided to make a project out of wood, stuff it with firewood and s'mores makings. I applied our logo using the instructions here: http://www.unexpectedelegance.com/2011/09/01/wax-paper-transfer-tutoria…
Super happy with the results.

built for client

These were inspired from a few different projects of Ana’s, great fun to build and have transformed our patio area

Very easy plan to follow! This was my first project and also my first time to use power tools. I made a few mistakes, but learned from them all and was very pleased with/proud of the bench!

We needed to make sure this was strong enough to hold a 20 gallon fish tank.So, we decided to use poplar wood and stained it with golden mahogany. The height was adjusted to 37 inches.

My dad and I built this together. It's perfect for the entry way in my home!

My wife was watching TV and she saw a Bookshelf on a Home Depot commercial with diagonal shelving. She kept telling me how much she wanted a bookshelf like that. So, for my first wood project ever, I decided to try and tackle it for her. It is slightly over 7 feet wide and a little over 6 feet tall. I am currently trying to learn sketchup8 to create plans for this project.

Unfortunately I didn't use a certain plan from Ana's site for this project, but you can find any bookcase plan and place the diagonal shelves in place of the horizontal ones.

We recently decided to turn our bonus room into a Den/Play room for our energetic 20 month old son. It quickly became apparent that we needed storage... and FAST for all of those little toys that toddlers love so much.

I loved the idea of the 5' x 5' room divider cubby, but needed something that would accommodate the sloped roof. I modified Ana's plans to allow for a tiered storage option that would work with the roof line.

Cutting/prepping and assembling went quickly with the Kreg Jig. I prepped all the materials and assembled the unit in the room as it is quite heavy completely assembled. Cutting and Assembly took about 1 and 1/2 naps for my toddler (so about 3-4 hours). Sanding and Painting the following day took about another naps worth of time (2-3 hours).

The unit is still 72" tall at its highest point- and I modified the plans slightly to ensure that all cubbies would be a minimum of 13.5 inches tall/wide. After 2 coats of paint, it was ready to be mounted against the wall for safety. I installed 2 L brackets on the top and middle rows and screwed directly into the drywall- can't be to safe when it comes to toddlers and their love of climbing!

Cost Breakdown:

1 x 12 x 8 (6): 65.00
1 x 2 x 8 ( 3): 10.00

Low-Voc all in one Paint/Primer (Valspar) (Quart)- $2.50 (a paint department return area find!)

Total Project Cost (estimate) $80-90 (including screws, wood filler and supplies)

I changed the plans just a little and instead of using the 1x12's on the bottom I used some left over 2x6 scraps. I had to use the table saw to rip one board to fit. I personally think it gives it a better look. also the top of the table I added to butt boards to match  the rest of the furniture in the house.

Check out our new King size bed! Thanks to the plan by Cassidy– King Size Bed posted on Ana White’s website. We adapted our design based on the size of our mattress and personal preference on the height of the headboard and footboard. Lots of fun making it!

I built this step stool for a friend. I may build one or two more for my kids if I ever get around to it. It was a fun build and a learning experience! It was my first time attaching hinges. I also used a chest-lid hinge support to avoid the lid slamming on little fingers.

This project took 2 days (weekend) plus a few days of drying time. Looking back, I would have measured the thickness of the box spring and mattress and made adjustments to the footboard height so that it would sit flush with the mattress.
The provided plans had to be altered as my local Canadian home building stores do not provide wood with the exact finished dimensions. Also, it is difficult to find 4x4 posts which are not either cedar or pressure treated. I was lucky to find them in Spruce!
Definitely fun to make and getting lots of compliments!

This was a fun project for my husband and I! My 4 year old absolutely loves her bed. We have plans to add a curtain to the bottom to let her open and close it for her reading nook (or as curtains for her "stage")! :) 

38lx37hx15w Rope decoration doubles as handles. Color is in Cabot oil stains (Sunlit Walnut & Sundrenched Oak.

- Built by James P

I love this project. My dogs Goldie and Chloe love their new house. They are sisters who just have to sleep with each other. They had their own metal crates but when Chloe was a puppy she would always go in with Goldie and they would snuggle. It was a tight fit for them as Chloe got older but they still had to snuggle. Now they are in heaven with their new bedding and house.

My husband and I made 3 of these folding lap desks for Christmas presents - one for our son and one for each of our nieces. My husband is a bit of a perfectionist, so it took slightly longer than I would have liked to sand, build, drill the pocket holes, and put them together (oh yeah, and sand sand sand again!). Oh and then there was the priming and painting. But then I took just as much time with the decorative paint and then the clear coat! If we had been working on it every evening, we could've completed the 3 desks in under a week but it actually stretched out for a month. I've never painted anything in my adult life (probably haven't picked up a brush since I was in elementary school), and even then I was only doing it because they forced us to! So if I can do this, anyone can! :-)

Full size bed frame.  Made from 4 by 4 posts.  ! by 4 and 1 by 6 boards for footboard and headboard.

Side rails from 1 by 8.