Community Brag Posts

Outdoor BBQ-help table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/21/2022 - 12:43

I love you and your site and have learned tons from it. Last week I picked up this old bookcase on a website for free. I then worked on it to turn it into a BBQ-help table. I'm very happy with it and hope the weather in Norway will soon be hot enough to get out in the garden and BBQ!
Love and best wishes,
Pauline

Comments

Simple Outdoor Lounge Chair in Coral.

I built this chair for my sister. I added small 2X2 support for the front legs and the arm rests because the pocket holes split. It was a little tough building this one since I had to rely on the HD staff's cuts, which are not always exact. But I'm happy with how it turned out, and my sister loves it too!

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
3 coats of paint, and will be putting poly on soon.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Guest (not verified)

Sat, 06/25/2011 - 15:17

These chairs look great! I got all my wood cut and ready to build two of these chairs and went to access the plans but have found they disappeared. Anyway they could be reposted?

Wedding Guest Book Bench from Modified Fancy X Bench

I was honored this past March to be Matron of Honor in one of my best friend’s wedding, and as a gift to the happy couple I made them a guest book bench. I wanted this one to look extra special. I started out with Ana White’s Fancy X Bench plans and made a couple of modifications. I reduced the overall length to 54″ to sit at the foot of a bed or under a table, and used only 2 pedestals instead of 3. To make the top better for signing, I decided to substitute the planked 2×6′s for a pine 3/4" thick “hobby board” that was 15″ wide, purchased at Lowes. I framed it out with some 1×2′s to make it look chunkier. Once it was built I gave it three coats of white semi-gloss latex, and then drew up the art for the center. It’s the same font used on the wedding invitations. I wish I had thought to take a photo of the signed bench at the wedding! But I was a little bit busier at the moment. I’m really proud of this pretty little bench. As I received in one of the messages on my own wedding bench, I hope it sees the butts of many friends for years to come!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
three coats of white semi-gloss latex. As it was going to be signed with paint pens, I left it unsealed for the bride and groom to seal later
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

brookifer86

Sat, 07/27/2013 - 09:15

I design the art in Adobe Illustrator, though I'm sure word would work just fine too. Then I print it out at the size I want (tiling the pages if I need to and taping them together), tape it down in place, then trace over the letters with an unclicked pen to make an indention in the wood. I use that to fill in with paint. Here's an old tutorial I made about it http://www.killerbdesigns.com/wrapping-it-up/ . Though I skip tracing the back with pencil now, it's just a redundant step.

Linda7

Tue, 08/05/2014 - 15:24

Brooke, it's over a year since this post, so I hope you'll see my reply. I built a wedding bench for a dear friend's daughter using your mods for Ana's plan. Thanks so much for the details, especially on your blog. It was a big help, since I don't wing anything! The bride loved her guest bench. I am posting on Ana's blog if you'd like to see it. Thanks again.

My version of the Madison dresser

Submitted by Medickep on Sat, 08/08/2015 - 22:37

I made this dresser to replace two cheesy dressers my wife and I had when we first moved out on our own.  The style was taken from the Madison dresser design.  I added two more drawers as we were condensing two dressers to one and  I wanted to ensure I was able to use it!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
150-200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr marque paint. Advertises one coat on any surface but I did two coats to sand down grain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Makeup table

Submitted by kgclark31 on Thu, 04/21/2022 - 18:02

Made this table for my sons girlfriend for her makeup and to use as a table for her laptop.

Comments

Farmhouse Bed

King Size Farmhouse Bed

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Provincial
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farm Style Dining Table

Submitted by petesveen on Mon, 07/29/2013 - 09:45

I absolutely love this table and couldn't believe how easy it was to build. It was a weekend project and gets so many compliments.

For the finish, I mixed steel wool with vinegar and brushed it on. The table really darkened up nicely and made the distress marks in the wood come out. I then applied walnut stain and followed up with 3 coats of poly.

In my post I have pictures of the finishing process and a video showing how to distress wood and apply the vinegar solution.

If you are looking for an affordable table that looks great, I'd highly recommend building Ana's table.

Estimated Cost
$90 or so for the wood
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Vinegar / Steel wool, Distressed with hammer, nails, chains, and walnut stain from Minwax.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JoanneS

Fri, 08/12/2016 - 07:28

Hi Smith8ar,

2x4, 2x10 and 2x8 stud type lumber and untreated 4x4 post is what most folks are building with to get this distressed look on their farmhouse tables for that low cost.  Stud lumber also takes that vinegar stain very well.  Local lumberyards will probably have nicer and straighter studs than the local big box stores, but you can find them there if you pick through them for the nicest ones.  Our local Lowes calls them common boards, and I've also seen them listed as SPF (spruce/pine/fir) - - here's an example of what is in our local Lowes: 

http://www.lowes.com/pd/Top-Choice-Common-2-in-x-8-in-x-8-ft-Actual-1-5-in-x-7-25-in-x-8-ft-Lumber/4082914

http://www.lowes.com/pd/Common-2-in-x-4-in-x-8-ft-Actual-1-4687-in-x-3-4687-in-x-7-9375-ft-Stud/1000074211

http://www.lowes.com/pd/Top-Choice-Common-2-in-x-10-in-x-8-ft-Actual-1-5-in-x-9-25-in-x-8-ft-Lumber/4082924

Our Lowes doesn't carry 4x4x10, but I found a 4x4x8 douglas fir untreated post:

http://www.lowes.com/pd/Timber-Douglas-Fir-Lumber-Common-4-in-x-4-in-x-8-Ft-Actual-3-437-in-x-3-437-in-x-7-937-Feet/1000028817

:)  Joanne

 

Kendal Extra Wide Dresser

Submitted by Fulton610 on Mon, 03/12/2018 - 09:34

Overall I am very pleased with this project and I deviated from the plan with the drawer fronts and the slides as well.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
used walnut stain with general finishes flat poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Shutter Entry Table

Inspired by a photo online and Ana's cheap and easy console table, I decided to make an entry table out of salvaged materials. I found a shutter at a thrift store for $5 to make the top, rescued some legs from an old kitchen table left on the side of the road, and some leftover barnwood from my rustic cooler project. I used the Kreg jig to put it all together, and now have a simple, rustic table that's the perfect size for my entryway!

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
3 coats semi-gloss white latex
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

jloftus18

Sat, 06/18/2011 - 12:36

Hey Brookie

Love your table! It was a really neat idea to use a shutter...

Bye!,

Jessica

trukinranger

Thu, 07/07/2011 - 09:03

Cool idea.. and definitely a way to save money and feed your hobby at the same time!

Creating a Kitchen Island

Submitted by JoA on Wed, 07/31/2013 - 12:49

I made these shelves to connect to a vintage sideboard that with a new granite top will become our kitchen island. Since the sideboard was dark and highly carved I wanted something chunky, sturdy and with a bit of style. Use links in the original post for all the building details.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Less than $100 (not including new tools we purchased)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax English Chestnut over Minwax Prestain Wood Conditioner. After the stain was totally dry, I waxed with tinted Briwax.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Console

Submitted by leojtv on Sat, 08/15/2015 - 13:11

This project was for a wedding gift... My wife gave the young couuple some ideas to choose from and after seeing these plans on Ana White they loved it. Thank you Ana for the great plans!!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White Vinegar/Steel Wool Mix and a polyurethane to protect it.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Beach Chair

Submitted by Anna H on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 04:51

I knew I had to make this the first time I saw the plans! It was super easy to make, I will definitely be making more of these. :)
I used duck cloth for the sling and embroidered a nautical design on the front.

Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Spray primer, Rustoleum Painter's Touch-Semi-gloss White
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Love the bunk beds!

Submitted by Zkidsmom on Thu, 08/01/2013 - 21:41

I loved the plans, they were perfect~ hope to make more!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Barn Door Farmhouse Bed

I built this bed for my daughter and we decided to build a farmhouse bed but it didn’t stop there.. We added a barn door feel complete with handles and then we bought some vintage wall sconces and turned them into lights for the headboard. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$115
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner