Community Brag Posts

five board cross brace console or side table

Submitted by alimvru on Sat, 06/15/2013 - 14:49

I saw this on Pinterest and loved it. It looked simple enough for my first project. I made it from barn board that my uncle gave me.

Estimated Cost
Free
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Rustic 4x4 Bench

Submitted by AlexO on Thu, 05/21/2015 - 08:27

Modified the Cherished Bliss plan a bit to include Carriage bolts instead of pocket holes and I notched the top of the legs to make a shelf for the top.

Legs were cut at 18" and the top is 40". The two center 4x4's are connected with two internal (and smaller diameter) carriage bolts and glued together. The end 4x4's are glued and then a 1/2 x 6" carriage bolt with a pre-drilled "Head" hole (using 1" paddle bit).

Very easy to make but this baby is heavy!!!

Estimated Cost
$50-$75
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Clear Watco Dutch Oil and Varathane 3x Poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

First rustic build

Submitted by WhyteSage on Sun, 12/17/2017 - 05:18

My wife loves the farmhouse style, so this was my first build based on the X console plans for sofa tables. Its very "rustic" to say the least, but is very functional and was a great project to get started.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
We used duck egg blue chalk paint and then waxed. It was our first time using chalk paint, and it served as almost the majority of the project cost. We sealed it with chalk paint wax, but in retrospect, I'd use simple furniture wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Modern Adirondack Chairs!

My mom and I made these together as our first Ana White project! So much fun making both these chairs and memories! Next up is the three pedestal farm table and bench!

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Not quite the same

Submitted by cyfry77 on Sun, 04/10/2011 - 14:45

This was something I build a couple years ago, it's not the same as this plan, but very similar. When we moved in to the house, the slab was already poured, with 4x4s already in place, I just used what was there and my imagination for the rest.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Purple outdoor deck stain. (Behr?)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Scooter

This was such a fun build! When I found out my youngest sister Lindsay was expecting her first baby, I wanted to make her something special and when I saw the plans for this scooter I knew it was perfect as both of us love scooters. I made a few adjustments to the plan (thicker hardwood for the main body, cross supports attached to inside of rails with pocket hole etc.). I also added a bell on the handle bars and a mirror. I can't wait to give it to her. My 2 1/2 year old daughter isn't sure she wants to share it. May need to make one (slightly bigger) for her!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar "Barely Pink" Valspar "Polar White" and Behr Premium Luminoso no. 743 Silver" Any metallic silver should work. Finished with Minwax wipe-on Poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

ShaunaK

Wed, 03/04/2015 - 07:42

I know this is an old post but this scooter is adorable! Where on earth did you find that cute little mirror? And did you cut out the 2x10 out with a jigsaw or a bandsaw?

cutepickles

Thu, 12/03/2015 - 20:49

What an adorable little build!  I would love to know how you created the "wheels" and like the above poster, how you cut out the 2x10. :)

Family Treee

Made with 1X6 pine. Stained with Minwax Classic Grey, tree is latex white paint I had, and birds are chalk paint that I already had in my supplies.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
15
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse bed

Just love your site so many great ideas

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Vanity, Console Table, 2 End Tables

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/15/2021 - 12:08

The Vanity was my first attempt ever at building any type of furniture. Then the console table w/ matching end tables. It was not hard at all I’m not even a carpenter. Just a guy who enjoys working with wood. I Just follow Ana White’s plans. This will not be my last builds bc my wife keeps finding things she wants me to build. Happy wife, Happy life.

Comments

King Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by boxermum on Wed, 04/13/2011 - 14:17

Classic king farmhouse bed build

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Antique White Finish:
*Primed with white primer
*Painted with Behr Silk Pillow - Satin finish
*Sanded edges to expose wood (rotary palm sander and palm block sander)
*Applied Minwax English Chestnut Stain over whole surface using foam brush being sure to saturate exposed wood areas
*Used old T-shirts to wipe away excess stain
*Sprayed with matte clear sealer (Krylon)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic Country Shelves

Submitted by cculver on Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:26

Super simple and great looking shelves! Because of my set up, I chose not to do the key-holes on the back and instead drilled directly through the back lip. I also adapted the shelves to be 6" deep vs. 4". In order to make it easier to lift my jars from the shelves, I trimmed the front lip a 1/2". The color is "Ebony". It goes on jet black, but ends up looking like old barn wood--with out the splinters! They turned out perfect!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used a stain color from Home Depot. The color was Ebony. It goes on jet black with a foam brush. I did 2-3 boards at a time and wiped off with an old t-shirt. Let them dry about an hour before assembling them.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Corner Cupboard - Bookshelf

Submitted by CustomPulp on Thu, 05/28/2015 - 10:38

Modified corner cupboard to use as corner bookshelf in boys room. Omitted the lower doors otherwise shelf cut to specs. Painted with bold blue to match boys colors.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar - Royal Blue
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Bedside table

Submitted by Kslabbe on Fri, 12/22/2017 - 21:14

Added front to the drawers using the scrap 12x1 and feet on the bottom for maximum leveling

Estimated Cost
$180
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Semi-gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic Barn Door Cabinet

Submitted by Agonzalez on Wed, 12/22/2021 - 11:15

This was a great project. My son and I took your design from "Barn Door Cabinet with Mini Fridge and Microwave" and changed it up a bit. Let me start off I needed something small to a mini fridge in my "man cave". When I saw you design I used the plans to make the frame but then I took old fence slats and gave it a twist. All we need now is the mini fridge.

Comments

Farmhouse Table TOP repurpose

A big thanks to Ana for the original plan and to Kelly Hurt's brag post. Between the two, I got up the courage to repurpose my old table with Ana's farmhouse table. All was done with the Kreg jig so no holes to fill!

Estimated Cost
$50 for wood and screws...had everything else
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I spray painted the base of my old table with satin black paint and spray poly since it was hard to get into all the grooves. I used wood conditioner on the top, followed by some leftover stain (not sure what color) and then 5 coats of polycrylic.

I used the kreg jig for all my joinery. This is my first major project and only the second using the kreg. I found attaching the bread board ends a little tricky and so the ends sag down a little bit. They're very sturdy though. Rather than making the table in Ana's order, I actually made the entire table top first and then connected it to the table base. I added 5 extra supports under the tabletop to handle the extra weight. Now that it's finished and altogether, I wish i had gone ahead and used 2x boards. I thought it would look to heavy for the base but now I don't think so....there's always next time!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Base Cabinet Awesomeness

Submitted by romanweel on Fri, 06/21/2013 - 12:34

This is the very best thing about DIY: the ability to fill the gaps beautifully. This cabinet filled what was once a big, weird gap in my mother-in-law's kitchen (as in, hey why'd you take that cabinet out?? Oh, there never was one? Um, weird.). Of course the dimensions of the gap weren't standard...even if we'd wanted to buy a flat-pack cab, it wouldn't have fit. So I borrowed some elements of Ana's cabinets, some dresser plans, and some internet inspiration and came up with this.

I'm disappointed I never took any photos with the drawers open...they are pictured in the third "more" picture. The one on the left has a drawer box on top (holds silverware now) with two storage shelves below for flour and sugar and the George Foreman grill. The right drawer (the one with the angled strut things) is kind of odd, I know, and I'm sure there's a more elegant way I could have accomplished it, but this is what I ended up doing (it felt like I was making it up as I went along, and I'm just glad it works!). It has that first very low shelf to accommodate the stand mixer in order to get the mixer off the counter, but not so low that my aging MIL can't lift it onto the counter to use it. All she has to do is lift it about a foot and slide it back onto the counter to make her some cookies! The pull-out cutting board is the same maple butcher block as the counter (but the counter is 1.5", and the board is only 1"). It is 22" long, so she can pull it out for added prep space, then pull it ALL the way out to wash it in the sink.

The carcass is 3/4" ply with 1x2 pine trim and 2x2 pine legs. If I did it over again, I'd use the more expensive 2x2 poplar posts for the legs, simply because they had better edges. The counter supports are poplar, as is the middle divider, the cutting board supports, and the fancy footer. There are two strips of 1/4" ply backing the footer to keep bits and pieces from escaping under the cabinet. The "drawers" are a mix of 1/2" ply, poplar, and pine mounted on full-extension glides. The faces are made of 1/2" ply panels framed in cast-off maple floor boards. I took the floor boards, cut off the tongue, and cut off half the groove wall to make one single ~1/4" lip on each board so that the ply would nest nicely behind. You might have to see it up close to understand.

The butcher block is not DIY...after an extensive internet research session, I determined I would need to purchase planing and jointing tools and specialty glue to do this project correctly; so I purchased the top and the cutting board from a local cabinetmaker instead. The counter is sealed on the bottom, back, and sides with marine spar varnish, and given seven solid dosings of plain mineral oil (sold at the pharmacy, apparently it's a natural laxative). Once the block is very well seasoned, I may come over and wax it for added protection, but from what I've read, this should do it pretty well for now.

Estimated Cost
$175 for the base, purchased butcher block for $300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
2 coats of primer, one coat of SW ProClassic extra white in semi-gloss
Countertop soaked in straight food-grade mineral oil
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

In reply to by JoanneS

romanweel

Sat, 06/22/2013 - 13:14

I think the countertop is what really makes it...but I am super proud! Last year at this time, I was doing well just to get a straight cut on a board that wasn't 1/4" too long or short!

Rasied Herb Garden - Recycled

Recycled raised herb garden. Simply removed all the innards of an old grill I was going to throw away. Once it was gutted I pressured washed it and touch up the paint. Then I built a simple cedar box and placed it inside. Wa-la added basil, parsley and oregano.

Estimated Cost
12.00 Cedar planks
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Grandkids’ Play Table

Plans were great, thank you. We made our table a little deeper to accommodate 3 to 4 little ones, and purchased some little chairs at IKEA. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane Water Based Floor Finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Jade’s Christmas

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 12/26/2021 - 12:45

I made this for my 4 year old Granddaughter, and the first time she sat down she said “it’s just my size.”
I made the desk two and a half inches shorter than the plans.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

My version of the Chunky Bed frame, low modern headboard, and take-off of the squared headboard plans.

I've been on a building spree lately, and one of the things I have been wanting to do was change the look of our bedroom. We had a nice, traditional sleigh bed that we had since shortly after we got married(13 years ago), but really hadn't done much with our room since. We talked about platform beds, and I toyed with making the west elm one for a while. Finally hubby went out of town and I could get to work.
I decided to use 2x6s instead of 1x6s for a few reasons:1)It's a king bed and I wanted a heavier feel, 2)the 2xs were way straighter and way cheaper than the 1xs at my local store!
Just fyi--be sure that yo take into account the fact that you are using 2xs when you take your measurements! I was sloppy there and had a few tense moments when I thought I would have to do two sides over, but I made it work. Our mattress fits, but not as it is supposed to.  I should know better by now, but live and learn.

The frame came together great. The legs look like they are separate, but I ended up going with that look and making it deliberate.

Headboard: I used Ana's plans for the low modern cut out, but without the cut out. I used scraps! Yay! The structure is the same, but I used 2x3s for the legs and 2x2s for the interior frame. I happened to have a piece of 1/4" ply sitting around that was the perfect length and used it for the front. Then I used two shorter scraps for the back.

Finish is valspar glossy black spray paint. I like spray paint. A lot. I use it for everything.

Squared art: I originally wanted the squared headboard, but ditched the idea because I lean against my headboard while I have that first life-affirming cup of coffee, and it looked two uncomfortable. Then I picked up the latest issue of the  Do It Yourself mag, and they showed a room where there were two painted decorative screens on the wall very similar to the this pattern. I was super excited, because I knew I had plenty of scraps for this one. I started out with the kreg jig, but then decided that since the piece didn't need to bear any weight, I would use glue. Glue it was, and it went together fine. If you measure, there are some...creative differences in the squares, but most people won't notice. Impatience is my biggest downfall!

Finally--duvet cover is two 8.00 queen sheets sewn on three sides. The small pillows were what sparked the color scheme. I wanted the whole duvet cover to be that fabric, but it came from my stash and has been discontinued. The side tables are my own very convoluted plan, and were also made from scraps(I had a LOT of scraps). The lights are two 2.00 plastic bowls from Big Lots, with a hanging bulb-type fixture that I purchased from Pier One. I'm still on the lookout for a different shade, so those may change, as they are not quite long enough for me.
Now, it's time to turn the rest of the room into the same century and get rid of the mish-mash of broken old stuff that we have. Bookcase and dresser are next up.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
~60.00 in wood for frame, the rest was scrap
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Coffee Table - The Schorr Thing

It's such a solid piece and it's super heavy so I am glad we built it inside, because I am not sure the two of us would have been able to get it inside. Once it was built and the X's were fit in, we moved it to the kitchen to start staining.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$53
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax water based stain in slate, homemade whitewash, sanding and polyuerethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate