Community Brag Posts

Classic Cabinet

Submitted by kristyzed on Wed, 09/16/2015 - 11:49

I have a small wall  by my fireplace in my living room that's been difficult to fill.  I've had my eye on this jelly cabinet for months but knew it wouldn't fit in the location I had in mind.  I decided to put it by the fireplace, scrap the metal mesh doors, and go for a slightly more elegant look by using glass.  This suits the room much better and I'm really happy with the final result.

Estimated Cost
$180
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Zinser 1-2-3 Primer followed by a Behr red that I ended up darkening with black paint to achieve the desired tone. It took 3 coats of the red to get full coverage.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Garage shelves

Submitted by Joy on Sat, 09/08/2018 - 18:12

Designed to store 56 qt clear sterilite totes. Spaced 17” apart and used 5 2x4s so 23” deep. We have a lip of our foundation that sticks out so we had to adjust for the difference in leg heights. 

Estimated Cost
Lumber was $8.25 per board (2x4x16) and we used 32. 3 boxes of screws. 2 1/2 for the frame, 2” for screwing down the shelves and 3 1/2 to screw into the wall studs.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Pool Noodle Holder from DIY Planter Box

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 06/04/2022 - 06:58

I modified the plans for the planter box to make a holder for Pool Noodles. I made it 40" tall and used 4-4" fence pickets and 1-5.5" fence pickets. I used a 4" spacer and the openings worked out perfect. I stained inside and out since it would show with 2 coats of the solid stain. It is perfect! Thank you so much for the inspiration and plans!

Comments

Apothecary Console Table from Pallets

Submitted by tsibiga on Sat, 07/16/2011 - 05:50

I used a combination of Ana-White's Building Plan along with close examination of the Pottery Barn Andover Table to create my Apothecary Console. I've recently picked up a bunch of free pallets and have been experimenting with ways to use them.

Pallets were used for about 95% of this project. The only thin I bought was 1/2" plywood for the doors, 20 wooden knobs, and two sets of hinges. I took some backing off an old dresser and used that for the back and I found an old rotted piece of antique wood at an antique store that I used for the top.

Since I didn't buy 1x12", I had to join together some 1x6"s that I pulled off the pallets. There's a lot more to tell about this project so if you're interested, I documented the whole thing on our blog:

http://www.tommyandellie.com/Site/Home/Entries/2011/7/18_A%7Bpallet%7Do…

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White Valspar gloss white, sanded/distressed, and then Special Walnut.

The antique piece of wood just has a coat of Poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

tsibiga

Sat, 07/16/2011 - 05:52

In my blog, I posted that I would not build it like this again......I would buy 1x12"s for sure.

theworldmovesforlove

Sat, 07/16/2011 - 23:15

This looks fantastic! You did a really great job at keeping the false drawer faces straight and uniform. It looks really great!

tsibiga

Tue, 07/19/2011 - 16:06

Thanks for all the great comments. I think it'll look even better once we paint the foyer....the white is just blending in right now....and I think paint on the walls will really make it stand out.

Flip Down Art Desk

This was a first project for us. We decided to make it for my daughter's birthday, and it took us longer than it should, although the painting took the longest, with drying time and all. It turned out fabulous though!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Used plain white paint, and 3 coats of chalkboard paint on the front. I used a touch of blue to outline the inside, and clear glitter paint to overlay the frame on the chalkboard side for pizazz.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mini Pillory (Stocks)

Submitted by mtairymd on Fri, 09/25/2015 - 13:41

Build Instructions: http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini-Pillory-Stocks/

This wooden Pillory makes a perfect stand for your mini skeleton. If you are not familiar with a Pillory, the device was used for punishment by public humiliation and often further physical abuse. This project was made from pallet wood and was scaled to fit the 18” tall plastic skeleton. Only basic woodworking skills are needed and it should take less than 4 hours to build.

 

Estimated Cost
Free Pallet wood
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Coffee & Water
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project
Seasonal And Holiday

Rustic X End Table

Modified to be slightly more modern by removing had the X and having a solid bottom shelf. Also, narrowed it up to be rectangular shape to save space. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Traditional Wood Toddler Bed w/ Straight Headboard and Footboard

Submitted by tducote on Tue, 06/14/2022 - 13:01

I completed this project back in February of 2020. I'm just realizing that I never posted about it here. The bed had held up phenomenally for the past 2+ years.

This was an excellent little project. It was just a little challenging and very fun. I changed the headboard and added a footboard to the bed by using extra 1x6 boards and elongating the feet about 6 inches to make it work. The construction part of this project (including cutting and assembly) took just one evening. I stayed up pretty late working on it, but I was able to complete it in one night. Painting took a few more days.

One note about the guardrails: the pocket screws split the vertical rails that were rounded off at the end. I glued and clamped the splits back together (note the clamps in one of the pictures), so no big deal. But I would recommend maybe not rounding them as much as I did. If I were to build it again, I'd probably just use my little disk sander to take the corners off, instead of taking off as much as I did using a jig saw.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

4 Bright Little Adirondack chairs

These 4 little chairs did not take very long to put together. But they did take me a while to sand, prime and paint. I hate that part of building-haha-so it always seems like it takes forever to get through with that and on to the fun part. They are very easy to make and inexpensive. My grandkids and others who have driven by and seen them out front have loved them!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About 22.00 per chair(the spray paint was the majority of the cost). I think the chairs without finishing would be only about 10.00 apiece.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Valspar indoor/outdoor gloss spray paint. Definitely use a primer and paint or stain before putting together.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

tonjacoy101

Fri, 07/22/2011 - 05:52

What a cute little guy and cute chairs too! I bet the grandkids love them :)

Double Inset Bookshelf Doors

Submitted by dholubar on Wed, 08/21/2013 - 07:08

You made this project look so simple that I just had to try it. However, to suit my needs I had to make a few alterations to the plans. I had a set of bi-fold doors that were in need of replacement and I thought inset bookshelf doors would be the perfect way to replace them. This project was easy enough for me to do it myself and I am really new to the DIY game but I did have some help. I really love the way they turned out. You can read all about my my adventure at http://heresalittletmi.blogspot.com/2013/08/bookshelf-doors.html

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$120.00
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Stable with lights and enclosure

Enjoyed building this. It was taken from ana's plans, and my little girl loves it. She wanted one side of the stable enclosed so she could keep her stuff in it and she wanted it to light up at night for a night light. The lights are 12 red and blue leds running from a 12v power 1.2 amp power supply.

Estimated Cost
30
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Mike’s Cedar Shed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/14/2018 - 19:29

My husband Mike built Ana’s cedar shed over the course of a few weekends. He wanted it to be 3-ft deeper than the original, so he made those modifications, and it turned out great! We added some vintage/historical knobs and brackets to really make it pop! It is ready to be filled with lawn mowers and tools! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$600
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Blanket ladder

Submitted by JMG on Fri, 06/24/2022 - 21:04

I built a ton of these as Christmas gifts and they were a huge hit! I used 2x3's and made them in different heights. Thanks, Ana!

Comments

DIY Copy Cat Nesting Tables

I found the cutest little nesting tables on PB, but I didn't want to spend $400. Instead, I adjusted the sizes a bit and built my own.

Estimated Cost
For both talbes (excluding paint), it was just over $15
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Distressed. Painted with turquoise (no primer), then glazed with walnut.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Cherie Heltne (not verified)

Tue, 07/26/2011 - 07:47

I am so making these. Your blog is great, too.

bhoppy

Tue, 07/26/2011 - 15:44

Wow you make it look so easy! Your details on your blog are awesome! Makes me want to go out and buy a router! LOL Hope your thumb is healing.

The Quaint Cottage

Tue, 07/26/2011 - 17:50

hahaha...I had to laugh at the thumb comment. I did break it, but that didn't stop me from picking up the router to finish the top :) I mean, it is just a thumb, not an entire arm, right?

Thank you for the kind comments. I try to post as much information as possible (and if I don't, please ask). I love seeing great project blogs, but found it frustrating when they would show the supplies or paint they used...then the finished project. But nothing in between. How did they do it?

When I found Ana's site, I was so relieved that there were communities where they thrive on sharing information. Y'all are amazing! A-MAZ-ING!

AnnaK

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 08:33

I'm moving from a teeny tiny apartment to a real house next month, and the first thing I'm going to do with the garage space is build these nesting tables. They really are great. Well done! Love the blog too.

Outdoor patio table

Just a simple, but solid and stable patio table to replace the IKEA version that was warping and disintegrating. So much happier with this version. Also used bolts and wing nuts for attaching the legs for easy disassembly and storage for the winter. Should get many years out of this table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Opaque stain and polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Izzy's Bed

This took a little longer than a weekend and it helps to have some help because it is so big. I would cut the legs about an inch shorter if you have 9 foot ceilings, other wise it will scratch your ceiling when you tilt it up. I put the door on because I was worried about my 3 year old falling out. She loves it and it was fun to build.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Garden Bench

Submitted by JMG on Wed, 07/06/2022 - 19:32

Combined several different plans from several different sites, but my mother in law is a master gardener who loves birds and wanted a new bench for her garden. I used 1x4's on the seat slats (instead of 2x4's- added an extra support in frame), made the seat a bit deeper, and I modified the arms to allow somewhere to rest a glass of her southern sweet tea. :) All made from box store non PT lumber and sealed for outdoors. The ideas for the "pickets" on the back and birdhouse came from "MyOutdoorPlans.com"- want to give credit where credit is due.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Factory Cart Coffee Table

After finding the build plans for this while browsing Ana White's site, I knew I had to convince my husband to help me create this. I'd been drooling over certain high-end decor store's version for a while now, but refused to pay the costly price tag. This is now one of my favorite pieces in our home, and I love saying that we built it ourselves :) See the full post at: http://www.fromourhidingplace.com/2011/07/how-to-get-your-husband-to-bu…

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
stain, polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

The Quaint Cottage

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 07:06

I love this coffee table. I've been thinking about getting rid of the oversized ottoman and going with one of these...I think you made up my mind.

Great job.

Karen

jennywenny

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 10:19

Mind sharing where you found your casters? I am having a hard time finding anything I like. Thanks!

Benchright Farmhouse Bench nid:[3117]

Submitted by LiziT on Sun, 08/25/2013 - 21:47

This was my first project..took me a week but I loved creating this!! Got plans for more! Love your website

Estimated Cost
Aready had timber - other costs $50
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Intergrain Ultradeck - natural
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

couch and two chairs

Submitted by Hunter1971 on Fri, 10/09/2015 - 09:23

Used the plans for the 2x4 couch added an additional 2x4 across the back for a little more back support. Then made two chairs by modifying the couch plans to fit the cushion width 

Estimated Cost
100.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Kona stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments