Community Brag Posts

Finally finished my 2x4 modern adirondack chairs!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/28/2020 - 07:52

I finally finished my DIY Modern Adirondack Chairs! Frame made with 2x4 cedar lumber and seat and backs with 1x10 pine planks. Stained with Benjamin Moore Aborcoat silver grey semi-transparent stain with a clear coat. Used a free diy plan by Ana White with some slight modifications to make the chair back higher. Cost was a bit higher than expected but lumber has gotten more expensive during the Covid time.
Thanks Ana for the design and the YouTube video. I watched it at least 20 times!

Estimated Cost
About $100/chair
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Benjamin Moore Arborcoat Silver-Grey semi-transparent again, Arborcoat Clearcoat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Seasonal And Holiday

2 Story American Girl Dollhouse

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/27/2016 - 11:57

I built this as a christmas present for my daughter.  Three stories was a bit too large, so I modified the plans a bit and cut out the bottom floor.

Estimated Cost
Wood cost around $100 and paint was another $30.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Ladybug Moped Rocker

Submitted by sbowes1 on Mon, 12/03/2012 - 21:24

There were some parts missing from the plans. I wrote out what I did to build this rocker on my website.

http://www.domesticated-engineer.com/1/post/2012/12/ladybug-moped-rocke…

Make sure to use hard wood! My rocker broke within the first hour. Wood glue fixed it but it gave me a good scare!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint and clear coat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Raised Cedar Fence Post Berry Patch

Submitted by AmyJM on Fri, 12/07/2012 - 17:56

I used the same cedar fence boards, but for a large berry patch made with minimal cuts. The end boards are 1/2 the length of the long side boards. I made them 2 fence widths high - about 11 inches. Each bed is nearly 12 feet long. I joined the dogeared ends of 2 boards in the center, making a diamond cut out pattern that looked good. In order to support the tall sides, I used cedar 2x4x8 boards. Use 18-24 inch posts on each corner and at the center joint. I cut an additional board in half, affixing it to the center posts, to brace the long sides and add stability. Each box is approximately 3 feet wide, 12 feet long, and 11 inches tall. You'll need 8 fence posts for the long sides, 2 for the short sides, and 1/2 for the brace - you could use a different piece of wood for this, but the cedar fence posts are such a deal. You'll also need approximately 9 feet of cedar 2x4 for the corner posts - I bought 8 foot lengths and cut each into 2 foot posts for stability. The cost was around I'll add 2x4 posts in the spring and put a trellis behind the raspberries. If the birds start to steal my blueberries, I'll add metal or wooden corner posts that will support fruit netting. We're planting strawberries around the base of the larger fruit bushes. The 11 inch sides should keep rabbits from invading. If they are persistent, I'll add a few inches of chicken wire around the top edge. This made the equivalent square footage of 4 of Ana's original $10 beds.

Estimated Cost
Around $75 for 2 - most of the cost was in the 2x4s.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Light sanding, no finish
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

CEFreeman (not verified)

Sun, 12/09/2012 - 10:40

I'm putting together several L-shaped raised beds out of 6x6s with the internal walls being 2x6s. This gives me encouragement. I really like the look of this! Thanks.

CEFreeman (not verified)

Sun, 12/09/2012 - 10:42

I'm putting together several L-shaped raised beds out of 6x6s with the internal walls being 2x6s. This gives me encouragement. I really like the look of this! Thanks.

American Girl Doll Beds

I made these two American Girl doll beds for my nieces. For one bed, I followed Ana's plans exactly. For the other, I used plywood and cove molding in place of the 1x3 slats.

You can find more details about the build and finish I used on my blog.

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Zinsser primer and Rustoleum spray paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Triple Doll Bunk Bed

Submitted by dananryan on Sun, 01/13/2013 - 21:18

My friend's 7 year old daughter custom ordered this bunk bed! She asked for a bunk bed for her 3 dolls and she even picked the color! I had a lot of fun building it and learned a lot in the process. As usual, finishing took longest. Lucky for me, my hubby likes spray painting :-)

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
3 coats of Rustoleum Berry Pink spray paint, sanding btw. coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Large square Balustrade Coffee Table

Submitted by Dea Roc on Mon, 02/20/2017 - 13:53

About This Project

Loved loved the table and thought it would be perfect for our living room. I wanted an oversized square table so I adjusted the plans for a 55" square.  I also added center support frame due to size

I found round feet at Home Depot and counter sunk a nut onto bottom to screw in. 

I ordered the legs from Osborne. We assembled the table in sections since it was too large for our work table. I stained each section prior to assembling top to bottom. 

I used Minwax Pre stain. 2 coats Minwax Special Walnut. One coat Minwax classic grey which I wiped on and off immediately. Top coat Minwax poly 

My first ever wood project!

Thanks Ana and Jen's House of Wood for the idea and plan. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
275. Including legs.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Minwax Pre stain. 2 coats Minwax Special Walnut. One coat Minwax classic grey which I wiped on and off immediately. Top coat Minwax poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Farmhouse Table with Industrial Hardware

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/17/2021 - 11:26

My hubby and I used the tressle table plans to make this awesome table. We changed it up, adding the turnbuckles like a Pottery Barn table that we wanted. I think this turned out way better!

We used yellow pine for the lower portion and poplar for the top.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)

Comments

Tapered Crate

Submitted by dmcarwin on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 08:06

I was so excited when I saw the plan for this! I love making crates out of wood. It was quick and easy and I already had a cedar fence post! It was less than 30 minutes start to finish! For more pictures check out my blog post. Thanks Ana!

Estimated Cost
Free!
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
It was naturally finished for me!
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

sarahwilley2

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 10:45

Great job! This looks awesome. I can't wait to make some of these babies!

My daughter and niece's new stables, they painted them themselves

my first project, the second went a lot easier. We are still waiting on the doors to dry to hang them but the girls are excited for their horses to have a place to sleep.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Kids Birdhouse Project

Submitted by gzarate on Tue, 04/30/2013 - 19:36

My two daughters really enjoyed helping daddy make these birdhouses but most of the loved painting them.

Estimated Cost
$3 to make two
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Kid safe paint and I sealed it with exterior clear finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Eva_15

Tue, 04/30/2013 - 22:33

Hey I was looking through brags and here you are!! I just posted my Cedar Planter on here!

Triangular Rabbit Hutch

Submitted by Medeek on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 18:14

This is a rabbit hutch I created for my kids 5 rabbits. The thing that makes this hutch really nice is if you have a large lawn you can just move the hutch a little bit every day and the lawn gets mowed, fertilized and you don't have to worry about cleaning up all the rabbit droppings. I also mounted a rabbit feeder on the inside of the house door to keep the food dry, which has worked really well.

Here is a short blog of all the steps in its construction:
http://design.medeek.com/gallery/RH3080_COPALIS_2013/RH3080_COPALIS_201…

Estimated Cost
150
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Exterior Paint brush or spray. Choose your color.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Medeek

Sun, 05/05/2013 - 01:52

I apologize I haven't got the completed planset up for this project yet but I will try to get it up in the next couple of weeks as well as a very complete materials list. You will need to go to a farm/feed store to get the correct 1"x2" wire and 1/2"x1" wire for the floor. Do not go to Home Depot and use the cow wire they have or the hardware cloth for the floor, neither of which are the correct choice. Home Depot has the lumber but not the wire. If you have any questions or even improvements to my design I would be interested in hearing from you.

Medeek

Sun, 09/13/2015 - 19:18

Finally got around to uploading the plans.  I still need to create a material list for this plan but the basics are there now.   We've had rabbits in it for about a year but recently we've tried some guinea pigs and it works great for that as well.  The guinea pigs can pretty much live off just the grass and dandelions but you do need to move it daily to give them plenty to eat.

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by hnick78 on Tue, 10/05/2021 - 15:06

This was my first Farmhouse Table build. 8ft long with 2 benches. Distressed white with True Brown tops.

Comments

My Z Gallerie inspired Outdoor Dining Table

I used Ana's plans and only made one adjustment. I could not cut the 50 degree angles on my miter saw so I just borrowed the "V" design from one of her other plans. This table is really heavy and sturdy. A helper is necessary to flip the table top back and forth.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80-$100
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Ultimate Wood Stain in Early American
Rustoleum Ultimate Spar Varnish in Satin (2 coats on base, 3 coats on tabletop)
I'm having issues with the Spar Varnish drying as white spots keep appearing when the table gets wet. I'm assuming it takes longer than 3 days to fully cure like the label says.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Version of the Rustic Desk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/21/2022 - 14:13

I’ve built 2 of these and on my 3rd now. This is the 2nd one and isn’t a desk obviously but a bench for my Weber BBQ and storage underneath

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

lawn and garden shed

Submitted by brittanyj on Wed, 08/19/2015 - 13:17

Needed a shed to store bikes and mowers, etc, so I'd have more room in the woodshop : )  I made a lot of modifications to the plan to fit my space and make it much larger.  The completed size is 7 foot tall at the peak, 6 feet deep and 5.5 feet wide.  I made it as a 3 sided shed, using the wall as the 4th to save on cost, increase air flow, and make the exterior house wall accessible.  I also made an egress in the back of the shed in order to get behind the shed if needed. 

Instead of roofing shingles, I opted for ribbed metal sheets and one clear sheet in the middle to make a skylight, so there would be light in the shed.  This is my favorite part of the project.  It was a huge pain to attach the roofing from a ladder with very limited access, but it looks great and I love the light coming in.  We have very little rain in CA, so I'll have to wait until winter/rainy season in order to test out its waterproofing. 

Since the shed sits between the house and the neighbors block wall fence, and I wanted to use as much of the space as I could, I decided to design the shed to have the side wall against the house rather than the back wall, as shown in the plan.  This took a large amount of modifications, but with careful planning and measuring, it can be done.  This also meant blocking off access to behind the shed, so I cut an egress in the back wall and added hinges so you can lift the back cut out panel, and rest it on a stop block attached to the fence behind it in order to have access.  That's what woodworking is about- problem solving.  Love it. 

As you can see by the full shed picture, it fits a large amount of stuff- 2 adult bikes, mower, edger, trimmer, chainsaw, hedge trimmer, garden tools, shovels, etc, with plenty of room for more.  I now have a free corner in my garage that I've already filled with a DIY rolling workbench and more pegboard space for tool hanging.  Woodshop increased space= happy Brittany. 

I should also mention that building the frame and adding the pickets was quite a quick and easy job.  The hardest and most time consuming part was the roof (I didn't have metal cutting tools), rolling each very heavy wall to the site (I was alone) and the previous 2 weeks in which I built the paver patio the shed sits on.  Hard work, but worth it.  I love it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$280
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

brittanyj

Mon, 01/25/2021 - 13:15

It has been incredibly useful for storing! One thing about the skylight- Over time the sun has warped it and there is now a hole and crack there. So I wouldn't plan on the clear roofing being a long term solution- I will be replacing it with either thicker clear roofing or 2 layers.

Teeter Totter

This is one of the cheapest projects for my kids I have ever completed!! And the most rewarding. I think everyone of my neighbors has been on the teeter totter...including adults :) My kids just love it and I am thinking of making a few for my nephews for Christmas. I was able to find all the wood I needed in my scrap pile. I had the PVC pipe and bolt already also so all I had to make a trip to the store for was the foam for the seats. My son helped me build this in an hour. I liked the unfinished look so I just sprayed it with a little Thompson Water Seal. Thank you Ana White!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$0 Lumber (scrap wood) $5 Foam padding
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Thompson Water Seal
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Modern Adirondack Chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/24/2022 - 12:05

I made these from your plans thanks for sharing your ideas with us.

by Jeff

Farmhouse 4x4 Truss Table & Benches (Glue & Dowels)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/22/2022 - 07:16

Built this from the plans and customized so it was a finer finish. No pocket holes, went with dowels and glue. Some screws in base for added strength.

Comments

Custom Wall Media/Entertainment Center

We purchased our first LCD TV, which meant we needed a new entertainment center to put it on. We looked at quite a few furniture stores and couldn't believe the price tag on the big centers. I wanted more than just a TV stand, so I convinced my husband to help me build an entertainment center ourselves. I looked at a lot of different entertainment centers, even a few on this site, and then I drew up a picture of what I was envisioning, tweeking things here and there (I have three little kids so I needed to make sure the center piece was high enough to keep little fingers off my expensive TV, and I also knew I wanted all Satellite Receivers and DVD players out of reach), and we went to work figuring out dimensions. We designed the TV opening around the exact dimensions of our new TV (it's a 46" tv, if that helps you imagine the opening size) and then figured out the rest of the dimensions after that. Once we had the dimensions figured out, my husband went to work calculating what materials we would need. Then we got to work. We built the center in four different pieces (two side shelf units, the middle bottom stand, and the middle top piece). We spent every night for the next week working in the garage to build the entertainment center, and it turned out absolutely beautiful! And the best part? The price, of course. In total, we spent $546.00. That includes wood, trim pieces, paint, primer, hardware (knobs and hinges). Not too bad for a beautiful entertainment center made of real hardwood!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$550
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
We used an oil based primer, tinted as dark as possible, and then an oil based semi-gloss (satin) black paint. After painting was finished, I distressed quite a few areas (edges and around drawers and cabinets) and then used a q-tip and stained them with a cherry stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Diana (not verified)

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 09:38

This is beautiful! Do you have any tips on cutting and getting the crown moulding to fit right?

In reply to by Diana (not verified)

kristenlotz

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 16:17

I was worried the crown and bottom moulding would be tricky, but it wasn't too bad. To make sure it all lined up perfectly, we screwed together all the pieces (the top center piece to the two side shelving pieces and then both the side shelving pieces to the bottom center piece) first. We had it all put together just as it would be in the house and THEN we measured and cut the crown and base moulding. I had painted all the moulding first and then just touched it up after we put it on the entertainment center. I think we wouldn't have been able to get it to line up perfect if we hadn't screwed it together first, screwing it together get it a nice snug fit.

kaytrishjr

Mon, 08/08/2011 - 07:16

If I didn't actually see the building process of the entertainment center, I wouldn't have believe you built it yourself!

sdking1981

Wed, 08/10/2011 - 13:59

This is exactly what I need! Happen to have the dimensions? I know I could modify it to fit our TV but I'm really wondering how deep your side bookcases are. Thanks!!

sdking1981

Wed, 08/10/2011 - 14:35

I appreciate your quick response and help!! We're in the process of planning this one right now! :)

Guest (not verified)

Wed, 08/31/2011 - 23:53

Wow! Your entertainment center is beautiful and seems wonderfully functional! Just wondering what the height is of the ledge for the TV in the center console. We have little ones too and need TV and componenets to be out of reach! Also, would you mind sharing which plans you used as inspirations for each part? I think it is the Basic Collection for the bookcases and the Tommy for the center? Is that correct?

In reply to by Guest (not verified)

kristenlotz

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 14:19

Hi, sorry for the slow reply! I am not 100% sure (I can't find my tape measure!) but I think the TV ledge is either 30 or 36 inches high. I wanted it high enough that it wouldn't be hard to watch the TV while sitting, but enough that it would be hard for little fingers to touch the TV.

azca33 (not verified)

Mon, 11/21/2011 - 16:24

Hey Kristen,

Your entertainment center looks beautiful!

Did you use Pine wood for the entire project or did you use plywood for the top of the side book cases and the top part of the Media center. Did the paint cover up all the knots?

In reply to by azca33 (not verified)

kristenlotz

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 10:59

Thank you! We used plywood on part of it, mostly for the center pieces. If I were going to do it again, we would have used plywood more because it was knot free and much straighter. The paint did a good job covering up the knots, and I am overall really happy with it!

In reply to by azca33 (not verified)

kristenlotz

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 11:00

Thank you! We used plywood on part of it, mostly for the center pieces. If I were going to do it again, we would have used plywood more because it was knot free and much straighter. The paint did a good job covering up the knots, and I am overall really happy with it!

In reply to by azca33 (not verified)

kristenlotz

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 11:00

Thank you! We used plywood on part of it, mostly for the center pieces. If I were going to do it again, we would have used plywood more because it was knot free and much straighter. The paint did a good job covering up the knots, and I am overall really happy with it!

JennieB (not verified)

Sun, 01/01/2012 - 16:27

My husband was sure we wouldn't be able to tackle building an entertainment center until we saw your photos. We are excited to take on this project. Yours turned out beautifully! Can you fill us in on the finishing that took place after this blog ends: doors, etc.?

In reply to by JennieB (not verified)

kristenlotz

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 14:22

Thank you, we love it! And we loved building it ourselves and saving a ton of money while we were at it. Sorry for the slow reply on this as well. We cut and measured the doors, gave them a simple finish by routering the edges, and hung them. For the drawers, we build a basic box, added the runners, and then finish nailed the drawer front onto the box. They work perfectly! I distressed all the edges once everything was completely finished and hung.

Chris Manitz (not verified)

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 06:52

What is the style/ color of knobs and pulls you used on this project. I am in process of building this. ALso, what is the cherry stain? Did you use that on the distressed parts of the center??
Thanks for your help!
Chris

In reply to by Chris Manitz (not verified)

kristenlotz

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 14:27

Congrats on building the entertainment center! You will love it! I ended up using brushed bronze knobs and hinges (similar to this: http://www.handlesets.com/rusticware-950-1-1-4-modern-mushroom-knob-fro…). They turned out perfect with the black paint. They stand out enough, but not too much to distract. As far as the stain, I just used a Minwax Cherry gel stain. I would wipe it on the areas I had distressed (around the drawers, cabinet doors, edges, etc.) then let it sit for awhile and then I wiped it back off. It gave the distressed areas enough color to not look raw, but it still stands out. I hope that answered your questions!

Jeff (not verified)

Sat, 01/28/2012 - 22:29

Are there plans for this?

In reply to by Brandi Vancott (not verified)

kristenlotz

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 18:56

No, sorry, there are no official plans for this. I just drew a picture of what I wanted and my husband calculated everything out from the picture. The general dimensions are listed above, though, if that's any help!

Carey (not verified)

Mon, 02/27/2012 - 17:05

I really love this too.. is there any plans for it?

Cheramie (not verified)

Fri, 03/02/2012 - 16:40

You guys did a beautiful job! I am so glad to see someone built almost the exact unit I was picturing. :) Ana's inspiration strikes again!!! I didn't see one, so wanted to ask if you blogged this elsewhere so I can read more details about the process. Thanks!

claydowling

Mon, 03/05/2012 - 07:20

Those arches are most easily cut with a jig saw. You can clean up with a curved rasp and file, or a spokeshave.

ktambascio

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 15:53

I love the the shelf above the TV. If you make that shelf about 6 inches tall, you would have enough room for a center channel speaker, or for an XBox Kinect.