Community Brag Posts

Modern Patchwork Media Console

I modified the modern patchwork dresser plans to create this media console. Used three different stains for the door fronts and painted the interior a dark gray. Wanted two doors instead of drawers but wanted to maintain the original look. I created a faux drawer front with a flush hinge.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Three different Minwax stains with a poly topcoat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Community Garden Farm Stand

This spring, my neighborhood started a community garden.  Five families came together to break ground, sow, tend, and give away our produce.  The local church close by allowed us to use their front lawn for the "Lakeside Community Garden," located in Duluth, MN.   Every Saturday during harvest season, we gave away our produce to the community.  I took on the project of building a farm stand.  One of our neighborhood families donated re-claimed lumber to the cause, and I started building.  I had research many farm stands on-line, and knew I needed two large boxes to hold the veggies, as well as a sign to indicate what produce we were giving away.  

Estimated Cost
$free!!! Use what you can re-claim, and design your own stand.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

King size rustic panel bed

Submitted by Tia P on Thu, 05/09/2019 - 15:01

I had a client send me a pic of the bed she wanted.  It was very similar to Ana's tall panel bed.  She was upsizing from a queen to a king and wanted it to match her previous set.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$250, only because it was the first time working with crown molding and had to buy an extra piece.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Expresso stain with Varathane polyacrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Easy Build wood headboard - King

Submitted by nestbliss on Mon, 11/14/2011 - 19:14

We used this plan for the reclaimed wood look headboard from Ana-White and these dimension mods for a king. We used lots of tips from Create and Delegate who made the same headboard last year. I love how it turned out! I posted more photos and blogged about everything we did for the finish, etc. at - http://nestbliss.blogspot.com/2011/04/we-made-bed.html

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Perfect End Table

Submitted by monster on Sun, 10/27/2013 - 16:23

I actually made this table to fit inside a wardrobe as we needed some shelf storage space. It worked out well!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White interior paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Little Boy's Platform Bed (w/ a twist)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/12/2016 - 07:05

So, I ended up altering the plans to fit a light.  The light was originally an outdoor, hard-wired light, which I fitted with a cord and added a pull chain to.  The legs were also changed...I doubled the width in order to have a more square appearance (2 2x4's planed and glued together).

Estimated Cost
$175
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Jacobean Stain
Minwax Fast Drying Poly (Satin Finish)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Fancy X Farmhouse table

Submitted by rjgold on Tue, 05/21/2019 - 12:47

I came across some 18'x12"x1" (actual size) boards that were milled around 1870.  These planks came out of the roof for the building.  Rather than cut them down I just built a "double frame"

I used 2x redwood for the frame.

 

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Thompsons water sealer
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modern Farm Bench

Submitted by jackkatie on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 11:52

I was looking to make my foyer a bit more kid friendly while still being coze and practical. I came across the modern farm bench plans, and I knew it was the perfect fit!

I have done a few other plans, but all with help. This project I started around 9 pm (after bedtime) one night, and by 11:30, it was completely built and stained. My son was climbing all over it by the next morning :)

I love it - I think it adds the perfect bit of rustic charm to my foyer, while still giving my little guy a sturdy spot to get his shoes/coat on. I have since added baskets underneath for winter storage.

This will definitely not be my last build! Thanks Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I stained using a mixture of both Kona and Dark Walnut stain from Rustoleum. It definitely wasn't a science - just slopped a little of each on, waited about 3 minutes, and wiped off.

I love the finish - rustic, but not too "country". The dark Kona stain definitely highlights the knots and grooves of the wood!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Wagon for Birthday Boy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/16/2016 - 03:15

I made this for my grandson's 2 nd birthday. I followed the plans to a T. It did cost quite a bit more than was stated, the wheels alone were $60 but should last a lifetime!

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax honey stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Stenciled Santorini blue farm table

Submitted by newhousel on Thu, 05/30/2019 - 11:58

We used Ana White's plans beginner farm table plans to build this table and can't recommend these plans more! Thank you Ana! The build took my husband and I two hours to build. The sanding, sealing, painting, stenciling, and finishing took several days, but the actually build was VERY easy and straightforward. We're total beginners, so we were very happy. The stencils are from Cutting Edge Stencils and are called "Indian Inlay Furniture Stencil Kit by Kim Myles."

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Painter's Touch 2X (Ink Blue, Satin) spray paint. DAP Silicone sealant. Latex paint (Simply white, for stenciling). Waterproof clear coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Brandy barn door console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/21/2023 - 04:47

Wife wanted a cabinet in our front room and she loved this design . She even helped with the finish the top is made from the same birch plywood

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

DIY Dust Collector

I have allergies to wood dust, which can make working in my shop a challenge. To help deal with the large amount of dust I've been kicking up lately with my table saw, I built my own dust collection system. It's not as good as a professional dust collector, but it's pretty good, and it was really easy to build.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

claydowling

Sun, 12/04/2011 - 07:13

On facebook somebody suggested that putting the port for the vacuum in the center would improve the vortex action. That would match the configuration of the vortex collectors, which draw from the center as well.

StacieM

Wed, 12/07/2011 - 16:23

I have got to try this! My boyfriend complains about the sawdust EVERY time I make something and this would really reduce the justification for complaining :-) Thanks for the plans!

Guest Room Farmhouse Bed with planked wall

Submitted by The Allens on Sat, 11/02/2013 - 15:05

We loved the first farmhouse bed we built so much, that we decided to build another one for our guest bed. We loved the red paint, and weren't too sure how to accent it, so we went with a planked feature wall. Just need to build some night stands and hang some pictures and our guest room should be complete!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
We primed and then painted 3 coats of red paint, I think California Poppy BEHR paint. Then I used a glaze, that I tinted with black paint, brushed it on and then wiped off with a damp rag. Finished it off with Minwax Polyurathene semi gloss clear coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

JoanneS

Sat, 11/02/2013 - 18:16

Awesome project! Love the bed and red finish, and the plank wall is brilliant! Love it!

The Allens

Sun, 11/03/2013 - 19:22

We didn't have any old distressed wood, so we bought pine tongue and groove from the hardware store and stained them ourselves. Then we just used a nail gun to attach them to the studs on the wall. It was surprisingly easy to do, just a bit time consuming. And nerve wrecking, we figured it would look either really good, or just awful! W are very pleased with how it turned out!

Action Figure playset

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/19/2016 - 11:03

Action figure playset built from firehouse playset plans.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30 Canadian
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Snack Cabinet to fit dormer

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 03/25/2023 - 10:05

Our son and his wife wanted a snack cabinet in their bonus room dormer. My husband and I used your Farmhouse Desk plan and tweaked it with your Barn Door Cabinet plan. They love it! It was a first cabinet build for us and we were proud! You are our go to for ideas and plans. Thank you!

Comments

Kitchen Island

Submitted by lbrown on Sun, 12/11/2011 - 19:52

I made this kitchen island for my mom last year by repurposing two cabinets and building a bookcase for the back.

For details: http://www.homeandawaywithlisa.com/blog/2011/11/28/kitchen-island-for-m…

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used white paint for the finish
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Finished the amazing playhouse loft bed

Submitted by gftl33 on Tue, 11/05/2013 - 12:27

My granddaughter is so in love with her loft bed! She feels so special, and she is! Thanks for such wonderful plans.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I created the brickwork by using 1/4 " tape 3 colors of paint sponged on to create 3 dimensional looking "bricks". Added trim at seams, mitered corners around window and door. Fabulous house!,,
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

JoanneS

Tue, 11/05/2013 - 14:05

Love this project! It is absolutely beautiful! Your paint details and trim work make it a castle! :)

Great Hall Tree Plan!

Our first major furniture build so the great plan really helped out. Positive feedback from everyone who sees it. We ended up building the "3-drawer open shelf simple entry console" next and modified the design to match this hall tree. We couldn't find baskets that we liked so made the custom crates for storage. On the entry console we built drawers with the crate design on the front.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$340
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Min wax aged oak gel stain with tung oil
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate