Community Brag Posts

A 30th birthday gift for a friend.

Submitted by deanna_g on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 16:03

My best friend's 30th birthday was approaching and she had mentioned that she needed some nice chairs for her front porch. I got so excited when I saw these. So I made her one! Unfortunately, I had a few issues with the prop support, but I think we've remedied it. The dowel kept splitting when weight was bared on it. Now, neither of us are "small" girls, but we're not huge, either! So I replaced it with an oak piece of 1x2. That seems to have fixed the problem, and the corner of the 1x2 fits in between the slats nicely and holds it in place. Sorry the pictures are awful. I'll have a finished product picture up soon. (-:

This was actually my first "real" project. I've fixed several things before and tinkered around with woodworking, but I'm just starting to get into it. I can definitely say that I've found my hobby!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Mahogany Stain and satin poly coat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

jeckora

Mon, 08/12/2013 - 02:48

This tends to happen in situations where the gift is given with an understood or explicit agreement between the giver of the gift and its receiver that some type of service will be rendered often exterior of usual legitimate methods because of the gift. http://bestdaggers.tumblr.com/

raniokoye

Fri, 03/07/2014 - 05:08

Though I must say I like the chair, I personally would have reservations about the choice of colours. I think something a little more colourful would be more befitting, maybe something more immature, because people don't like to be reminded that they are getting old, the extent of which depends a great deal on their achievements. With that said, it gives me ideas about what I might decide to give to a friend as a gift.

Twin Bed With Drawers

I built this twin bed with drawers for my daughter and I LOVE all the storage the drawers provide.  I slightly modified the plans it was based off of--you can find more info and see details from the build on my blog House Becoming Home.

Finish Used
paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Repurposed wood projects

Submitted by tig2k2000 on Sat, 04/23/2022 - 21:01

The bench and 2 chairs were made from old pallets (hate throwing wood in the skip) the medicine cabinet  was an old single bed frame and an old wardrobe the wishing well was a reqiest for a friend and was made from off cuts from other projects and last but not leased the handsome cab was more off cut in my shed.

Lydia Bed in a yurt

Submitted by florabora on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 18:22

We made the Lydia bed for one of our yurts. This bed is a perfect fit for our beloved Betty yurt.This bed adds a touch of whimsy and femininity. Guests love this bed and comment how it adds to the experience of staying in a yurt.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White Dove from Benjamin Moore
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

In reply to by marlaandwilliam

florabora

Mon, 06/27/2011 - 13:41

Yurts are traditional houses from Mongolia, Kazakhstan and has been the primary shelter for nomadic herdsman for centuries. These circular wooden dwellings were traditionally covered with felted wool and skins. As the nomads lives revolved around the rhythms of nature, the yurt’s design was portable and able to withstand high winds and extreme temperatures. Even today, many pastoral families in Mongolia still prefer life in a yurt.

The yurts we have are a modern version of this with full amenities of kitchen bathroom etc. We are located in the lake country of Northern Saskatchewan Canada. You can find more photos or information about yurts on our website http://florabora.ca.

Thank you for the question

jigganancy

Mon, 06/27/2011 - 14:39

I live in Colorado and we have Yurts here. Yurts in CO tend to be more rustic, sustainable, easy to build, and small space in the mountains typically. People usually stay in yurts when they're backpacking, skiing, etc. Rather than leaving the mountain and going back to town, the yurt system in CO allows you to keep your adventure going.

Here are some links if you're curious

http://www.parks.state.co.us/Reservations/YurtInformation/Pages/yurtinf…

http://www.coloradoyurt.com/yurts

PS: cool space and awesome build!

Jen Elder

Wed, 10/07/2015 - 07:42

Seen this on pinterest and just had to say that Flora Bora is amazing, We stayed there a couple yrs ago and 100%enjoyed it. Such a welcoming family that owns Flora Bora too. They go above and beyond to make your stay a memorable one. Definetly recommend to anyone.

Toddler Bed

I needed a new toddler bed for my daughter because we have another baby coming soon. Instead of spending $60 on some rinky-dink bed from the store or pay way too much for a quality bed, I decided to try this project. I was able to use quality or standard pine for the entire bed (with a lot of sanding) so we saved a lot of money. Be sure to use dimensions specific to the bed and not what was listed. For the curved top, I recommend cutting and sanding a template out of MDF and then using a template router bit for the actual piece to be used. Great plan and cost savings!! Thank you, Ana!

Estimated Cost
30
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint and clear coat by Rustoleum.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic x Console

Submitted by BnDRoller on Tue, 08/25/2015 - 05:31

My wife has been wanting this project for months. Had to shorten the size to fit our wall. Thank you Ana for such easy to follow guidelines.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Approximately $75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kitchen Counter Height Table

Submitted by Sue Hill on Mon, 04/09/2018 - 15:53

This counter height farmhouse table fit my space perfectly. I made it narrower than Ana's table but the same length, 48" x 27".  Instead of a 3/4" plywood top, I joined five 5/4" x 6 pine boards for the top. The stools fit exactly under the table when I want to use it as a workspace. I can also use both sides of the table if I pull it out. 

Estimated Cost
Hard to say since I had been saving the cedar posts for a few years, so I didn't have to purchase them.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I primed and painted the legs & table.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Table with Bench

Submitted by tsibiga on Wed, 06/29/2011 - 05:37

After finishing my Farmhouse Dining Room Table, my brother asked me to build him a new kitchen table. We chose the Modern Farmhouse Design but changed the dimensions to fit his kitchen. I also used the same building plan to create a matching bench.

I've documented the construction of the table here: http://www.tommyandellie.com/Site/Home/Entries/2011/6/20_Modern_Farmhou…

And I've documented how I did the finish here:
http://www.tommyandellie.com/Site/Home/Entries/2011/6/23_The_Finish_Mov…

Creating the table legs was the hardest step for me. I used a combination of pocket holes, biscuits, and wood glue. I also rounded off all the edges with my router. For the table I added corner blocking.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$140
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Semi-gloss Valspar White on the base. Special Walnut on the table top. And then the base was lightly sanded/weathered and then I used the Special Walnut ontop of the paint. And then I finished off the table top with two light coats of Briwax (light brown).
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

tsibiga

Thu, 06/30/2011 - 04:46

I should also mention that I made the table as two separate pieces. The tabletop was always kept separate from the base since I was going for this two tone finish. Upon delivery to my brothers house, I just centered the tabletop onto the base, clamped it down, and screwed it together.

Jennifer Duckworth (not verified)

Mon, 08/15/2011 - 13:08

Very nice finished product. Quick question-- how tall are your benches? Do they fit between the legs when not in use? I'm trying to find plans for the benches on Ana-white's website, but not finding exactly what you built (although I know you made some adjustments).

Thank you.
Jen

tsibiga

Fri, 08/19/2011 - 05:14

Thanks for the comment

The bench height sits at approximately 17" (a somewhat standard chair height) and I allowed for a 6" gap on both sides of the bench so that it can be tucked comfortably under the table. I then used those dimensions along with the Ana White plans to create the bench.

I've got a pretty detailed write-up here....if you'd like to check it out;

http://www.tommyandellie.com/Site/Home/Entries/2011/6/20_Modern_Farmhou…

Thanks,

Tommy

jessabender

Fri, 01/27/2012 - 12:32

What a beautiful set! Great job! I'd like my husband to build us a table like that, but he is hesitaant to do so because he worries the top will not be sealed well enough to withstand spills and be foodsafe. What is your take?

tsibiga

Mon, 01/30/2012 - 14:42

You can always use poly or shellac on the tabletop if you'd prefer. A couple coats of that and you'll be good to go.

Pantry Spice Rack

Submitted by SaraLodise on Tue, 08/06/2013 - 13:35

Love this simple plan! I took down a wall in my kitchen and, when cleaning out the cabinets, I found crazy amounts of spices. With this it's so easy to see all of them and find the one you want.

I did shift the shelves to make two 3 1/2" shelves and this made the bottom shelf 9" for some taller things. I found that I could not fit my shorter spice containers in the very top shelf due to the hanging board in the back of it. The hanging board may have been thicker than used in other's builds.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Primer & some left over interior paint from previous house owners.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

OptimusGoof

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 12:55

I love how you shifted things around to accommodate for the bottom taller items. I need something exactly like this so I can tame the wild animal that is my pantry. Thank you for the inspiration. Great build!

RandyW

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 14:46

Is that a solid door? If not, how did you anchor it?

Farmhouse Queen Bed & Kentwood Night Stand

I built this Farmhouse Queen Bed & Kentwood Night Stand for my Granddaughter. She loves it !

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax water based stain in "Coffee", and then used Minwax white washed pickling to finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

DIY Outdoor Storage Bench

Hi friends!

 

Jen Woodhouse here popping in to share with you an outdoor furniture option for you. This DIY Outdoor Storage Bench has served me so well. It's still in great condition after being outside, and has a huge added bonus of storage as well. The fretwork detail on the back makes it look extra fancy, but those angled cuts are all at 45 degrees, so this project is totally doable. Be sure to tag me @jenwoodhouse if you share photos of your build on social media!

 

You can get all details and the free plans on jenwoodhouse.com!

 

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Clear exterior-grade polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Twin storage beds and modified corner unit (secret storage)

Submitted by k slampa on Sat, 07/02/2011 - 22:17

I loved doing this project. I used Anna's plans but modified them just enough to help be with my biggest problem, stuffed animals! :) I increased the height by eight inches and cut one of the bead board panels just above the mattress. Next I attached the top panel using a piano hinge. Finally, I reinforced the bottom panel with an extra piece of 1x1 (horizontally) so that my daughter can climb in to and out of the corner unit and not crack the bottom bead board panel. She now has a place to put all her stuffed animals and as a bonus a new "secret hiding place.

To spruce up the storage beds and corner unit I added moulding to the front of everything and then painted everything cream colored to match her dresser. The molding took extra time, but it was well worth it! Because I increased the height of the corner unit I also added a thin piece of plywood behind each piece of bead board (heard boards) to help reinforce it and would support the weight of someone leaning back on the "head board". All in all it was a great project to work on, Anna's design plans were easy to read and allowed me to make adjustments when necessary without any trouble.

Estimated Cost
$700-$800 total
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Latex high gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

stcarroll

Thu, 07/07/2011 - 12:36

This is so perfect! The trim makes it all look very professional. I love the idea of the door and utilizing the extra storage...something we all need more of! I also built the storage beds, but my girl's room isn't big enough for the corner unit, but if we ever move and they have a bigger room I will be back to look at you design for the corner unit! Good job!

Bookshelves from Kids Storage Leg Desk

Submitted by Ktosaka on Wed, 08/07/2013 - 19:58

I created this pair of bookshelves from the Kids Storage Leg Desk plan for my two older children to help relieve their book clutter. I used the larger boards from a pallet and a couple of boards I scored at the local ReStore that had been abandoned from a bed frame for $4. With stains I had on hand, I think we did this for around $5. The pallet wood was shorter than the lengths given in the plan, so these book shelves were made at the height of 1/2 of a pallet board or about 22". They work great for what we need and when the kids outgrow these, I have one kid still under the age of two that can use it as a desk and all we'll need is to add the desktop.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$5
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
1. One coat of Watco Danish oil in cherry with a couple of coats of quick drying Minwax polyurethane.
2. One coat of Minwax provincial stain with a couple of coats of quick drying Minwax polyurethane.
The pallet wood really soaks in the stain so wiping it off didn't do much to lighten it up.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Bathroom Vanity

Submitted by stacynabby on Mon, 08/31/2015 - 21:09

I have only one small bathroom in my house built in 1946. I couldn't find a vanity on the market that was big enough or small enough to fit, so I built my own based on a design from the Decor and the Dog blog page.

 

Estimated Cost
~$200 inlcuding vessel sink and hardware
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax American Colonial
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Small table and benches

Submitted by sylvialh on Fri, 05/25/2018 - 11:28

I found the table to be pretty wobbly so I reinforced it with some triangulation and I moved all the legs into the centre so the triangulation wouldn't get in the way of people sitting on all sides. 

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

sylvialh

Fri, 08/27/2021 - 05:25

I found that when the benches flexed a bit it would pinch my skin so I don't recommend this design! but none the less this set lasted me ten years and I learned a lot from it. Yesterday I took it all apart (easy enough since I didn't use glue - one of the reasons it was wobbly), and turned it into four stools and a planter. This project was an ana white gateway drug, one of my first projects!

DIY Chaise Lounge Chairs

Submitted by jroubinek on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:44

This was my very first project to take on with Ana's plans. It took a little longer than I would have liked only because I got frustrated and put it to the side for a MONTH. I realized how important it was to pre-drill my holes and then got the motivation to get back to it. Once I got started again, it was finished in NO TIME! I still need to stain one of them, but I couldn't be happier with the result.

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Wood Conditioner to make sure I didn't have to worry about blotchiness. Then I used a paintbrush to apply Minwax's Dark Walnut stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

geophyrd

Sun, 07/31/2011 - 07:55

I'm right in the middle of building one of these. My problem is that the 2x4s specified are 2" thick...having to rip them down and that took a lot of guts. Did them all except the long boards. Going to do those later today (if I don't melt) and when my wife can give me a hand.

How did you rip them to size?

Also, did you use a router table to round the edges?

MichelleC

Fri, 07/20/2012 - 09:21

These look great! Geophyrd...do you mean 2x2's? You just use the ones straight from the store, also referred to as furring strips...that will save you a lot of time and stress rather than ripping down 2x4's. When the plans say 2x2's, they aren't going to actually be 2", and the plans don't say that they have to be 2". Ana writes the plans as simply as possible without us having to do complicated steps like ripping down boards thank goodness!