Community Brag Posts

I really wanted to build something for our first home so 3 months after moving in (and 7-8 months pregnant) I started on our dining table. To fit our dining room, the measurements were modified to have a 7ft-table, with the bench just long enough to slide all the way under the table. The legs are made of 4x4s of Douglas Fir and everything else is pine. I also removed the stretchers underneath because I wanted to be able to have chairs on the ends. The table seats 8 people very comfortably. It took me a little longer than anticipated, since I couldn't do any of the lifting until my husband came home, and he stained it with 2 coats of Rustoleum Weathered Grey stain and 2 coats of poly (with my light sanding in between each coat).

We made these beds for my daughters, who were ready to pass on the bunkbeds to their little sisters. We have 4 girls in one room, so use of space is crucial! I originally wanted the hutch as well, but as you can see in the picture, we had to work around a wall cut out, so we modified the corner unit to have a larger shelf area to fit the space. We also left the sides open to be able to slide containers in to store out of season clothes and blankets, though the ends have a backing.

Couldn’t wait to share this one. I’ll post the finished pics on here once the painting is finished and the cushion is sewed.

This build is a reclaimed wood version of Ana’s Simple White Outdoor Loveseat. We’ll be using this inside. This started as a way to repurpose those blue vinyl cushions (which I made 11 years ago for a hot tub bench – these had been stored in the garage for a few years). Using reclaimed wood on hand – reclaimed 2x4 studs, an oak 1x12 shelf and some pine 1x12 scrap ripped to 1x6 for the aprons, plywood from an old entertainment center ripped to 1x4 size, some 1x4 that used to be trim, a left-over 1x2 and S4S, and some left-over 1x6, constructed the frame and back. After I got that together, Hubby suggested we add some wide arms so it wouldn’t need to have a side table. That was the only wood I had to purchase on this one – a 1x6x6 for the arms, and a 2x4 for bracing the arms.

So far this has been a weekend project, including re-sizing the plan to fit my 24” x 24” x 4” cushions, doing the math to use 1x4 size instead of 1x3 size for slats and rails, and sizing to use the 2x4 frame on their ends rather than flat, to save a tiny bit of space in the footprint. Originally there were going to be 8 1x4 rails for the back, but I was 1 piece short, so instead of having 8 rails in 1x4, I have 6 1x4’s plus the 1x6 in the center (now I have 1 piece of the 1x4 left over). And it’s very comfortable for sitting!

Still left to do: sand the filled screw holes on the arms and paint the arms, and sew the cushion. I got that high density foam with a 60% off coupon at JoAnn Fabrics. Also the fabric was 30% off (right now it’s just draped around the cushion for the photo). The fabric and foam was only $90, and I’ll have enough fabric left over for a few accents. Hopefully I’ll get to that during the week, if not, on the weekend.

I used the plans for the craft desk and modified it a little. I made the top like a lid that just sits on top so I can take it apart easier. I also put on full extension drawer glides and made the drawer larger. This took me quite a long time because I was working on it and studying for finals! Well worth it though!

I had my eye on this clubhouse bed from the Pottery Barn kids catalog and was so excited when I came across this plan and my hubby offered to build it for my 4-year-old. I think it actually turned out cuter than the Pottery Barn version! Thanks so much, Ana!

This is my take on a few of these I have seen. It started out seeing the retail version of this table at a large furniture store with a $2k price tag on it. I really like the look of it so I decided to build one and searched for additional pictures and found these plans.

I used the plans as a guideline for overall dimensions for the table. I was using reclaimed oak fencing from an old Kentucky horse farm (who uses oak for fencing!!). This stock came in 5/4" x 6" x 7' boards so I had to get creative with the dimensions, etc. It was a mixture of red and white oak and this stuff was HARD!

The boards also came painted black with years and years of build-up and weathering. On a side note, if you ever work with reclaimed wood that has been painted or stained, please test it for lead. Lead based paint was banned around 1973 and you don't want to be planing or sanding on this stuff unless it is safe. Fortunately, I had this tested using a kit from the local big box. Most of my time was spent planing the boards down enough to show the oak but also leave some character as you will see in the pictures.

I like the look of knots and this wood had a few of them so i left the knots exposed on the support frame, however, on the top, I used a clear epoxy to fill the knots. This allowed the top to be smooth but you could still see the depth and character of the knot on the surface of the table. I did some mild distressing on the table top but nothing too dramatic as the wood really was cool. I also added the bolts near the tops of the legs and used threaded rod and turnbuckles for an industrial look.

The stain is a dark brown, almost ebony color. This went will with the black paint that was left in the saw marks after planing. I finished the table with 2 coats of satin polyurethane and and additional 3rd coat on the table top.

I have built furniture in the past but this has to be my favorite for both the history of the wood and the character.

We couldn’t be happier with the outcome! This bed is beautiful and everyone who sees it is impressed. We did raise both the footboard and headboard so that both gave a bit more impressive appearance and so that the footboard rises above the mattress.

I really wanted to put a barn door in my husband's home office, but have you looked at the prices of the kits?  No way was I going to spend that for a door.  So I decided to fabricate it myself.  For the rail hardware- I used a 72" steel rod, copper pipe fittings, and lag screws.  For the door hardware, I used 12"ish, long pieces of steel, pulleys, and carriage bolts.

The door itself is made from plywood siding, 1 x 4's, 1 x 6's, and 1 x 3's.  The entire door and hardware cost around $80 to make myself.  It's functional and looks amazing!  The entire tutorial is up on my blog!

I made these boxes for my daughters for Christmas. I used maple, and I rabbeted the drawers and backs so that the plywood would sit flush. On the first box, I attempted to join with dowels, but as a novice, that didn't work well, and I converted to a few countersunk screws. On the second box, I used glue and nails as the plan suggested, which was much better. Installing the box hinges and lock was the most finicky part of the project.

My son saw this project and wanted a rocketship.  I was also tired of piling up his books on the floor.  The only wood I bought for it was 1/4" ply for the back as I used leftover 3/4" plywood for the bookcase itself.  Fairly easy with a Kreg, it just took a little while to finish all of the painting.

The house is 48" high and 36" wide and 28" deep. It has 3 floors with a total of 10 rooms. Floors were made to look like hardwood floors and stained. Was fun to build and my granddaughter cried when she saw it. Due to the size of it, I installed wheels on it also. I made it from a picture on Ana White of Kidkraft Chic Dollhouse 2011-12-06 Paint all your pieces before you assemble. It makes it a lot easier than trying to paint afterwards.

My bed frame dimensions were 76 wide by 80 length. So that is the inside demension after assembly. My headboard posts were cut to 54" and footboard posts were cut to 24". Headboard panels are 31.5" (14- 6" boards) and footboard panels are 15.5" (14- 6" boards). My posts were made from combining two 2x4s together. I plan on mounting the metal bed frame to the inside of the bed rails. I enjoyed this project greatly.

I’m in love with how well this bed turned out. Modified by using a 2x4 for middle support and 1x4’s for slats. It was less money and felt better for support. 

my wife and I had our first son, Mason, over the summer and I was in love with the idea of building his crib. It was a lot more work than I had anticipated but it was well worth the hard work. it came out beautifully. I made a 2X4 spacer that we can remove as he gets older to lower the mattress height. i used all pine lumber for the crib.

I love this workbench! I added casters so I can move it around the garage, outside, wherever it's needed. I just took 4 inches off the bottom of the legs. My hubby is admiring my handy work and planning on making one for himself.