Community Brag Posts

My First Project - 6 Cube Bookshelf

Submitted by katiemakes on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 02:10

I desperately needed some storage in my workroom and finally decided to make this! It's from the 6 Cube Bookshelf plan and it works perfectly in this space I've got in my workroom.
I would've rather used real wood throughout, but this is my first proper project and to keep the cost down I used MDF for the main boards (all cut to size by my local B&Q, yay!) and planed whitewood 1x2s.
I definitely learnt a lot on this project, but most of the mistakes are hidden under the paint :-) and in the end I'm really pleased.
I wanted an off-white finish and, after a baffling time in the paint aisle, chose a very pale grey, it sits in the room perfectly! I'm hoping to make some fabric boxes for it, but not sure what colours I want yet.
Now for the next project...

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
£70
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
'Grey Tint' (from Homebase) matt emulsion over white primer, with matt clear water-based varnish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

katiemakes

Tue, 03/26/2013 - 15:07

Thank you :) the fabric problem is made worse because I work in a fabric shop, so just have way too much choice!

Simple Wood Slab Coffee Table

Submitted by MOX13 on Fri, 02/06/2015 - 10:37

This was my first solo wood project I have done without my dad, now that I have moved across the country. It was a great intro to woodworking, and I definitely learned a TON. I did this with a generic "tool set" I got for christmas a few years ago, all battery powered.

Note to other beginners:

- Circular saws that are battery powered may not have the juice to cut through those 2x8's, which led me to have some uneven cuts. 

- Careful with the wood glue. If it leaks out between the boards it can be a B**** to clean up and will cause some issues with staining down the road. 

Long story short: Love this project, super happy with the turnout even with some imperfections! Has me bit by the DIY/Woodworking bug! 

 

Estimated Cost
Wood - $50-60
With extra supplies I needed to get besides drill/circular saw: $120ish
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Jacobean - Two coats separated by 24 hours (was cold in the garage ~15 degrees outside) so gave it plenty of drying time.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Beautiful table!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/05/2017 - 10:29

These plans were very easy to follow and the end result is beautiful. Thank you so much!

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Kona stain with matte poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Red Hen Home's Gray Providence Bench

Providence Bench with a top made of three 2x6's rather than 2x4's. Tried to get it to stain gray, but had BAD luck with stain, so it has a multi-layered painted finish.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Sunbleached stain was a major FAIL!
Ended up dry-brushing on white and gray paint, and glazing with Minwax Ebony stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

LisaMarie

Thu, 03/28/2013 - 22:05

I love this-I need to make one for my entryway. You did a great job on the dry brushing.

Twin Beds

Farmhouse twin bed with trundle made of yellow pine with a dark stain.

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

Dog Crate with a twist...

Submitted by AlexO on Mon, 05/08/2017 - 19:08

I really liked the Large Wooden Dog crate but wanted the sides to be lower and wanted to make sure there was no easy chew escape.  Not sure if you can see from the photo but the cats have taken over... Will need to make a larger one for the dog!

I followed the plan pretty much other than lowering the panel on the side and replacing the wooden bars with rebar.  The rebar was a bit of a learning curve getting the holes lined up perfectly but I figured it out and I think it came out pretty good!

Used all pine 1x3 and 1x2s.  Picked up a pine panel for the top and the bottom is a 3/4 plywood. Made our own chalk paint for the finish and sealed it with wax.

Oh, forgot, added tongue and groove pine for the back and finished it and the top with Antiguing wax.

Lots of fun and I think I will make a double one next!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Around $100 if you don't count all the practice pieces for the rebar!
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Chalk paint and antiquing wax
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Living room bookshelves

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/06/2021 - 06:27

We ordered 2 custom bookshelves using the configurator. Each is 48" x 72" and 11.5 in deep. We primed and painted the pieces first, then assembled using pocket screws. A little touch up required. We attached a back of 1/4 in plywood for a cleaner look, and attached to wall, added baseboard trim. Attached a small facing piece to top edge only. We love them!

Estimated Cost
$450
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Lightly sanded, applied Shellac primer, lightly sanded any rough spots, then applied 2 coats of white trim paint. We painted the pieces first, then assembled.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Beautiful Headboard

Submitted by EmilyE on Sun, 03/31/2013 - 10:05

This was my first project from this site, and I couldn't be happier with it! It was easy and fun. I didn't have ANY supplies outside of a hammer, so my cost was a little higher since I had to purchase everything - nails, wood conditioner, stain, polyurethane, sand paper, etc.

Overall, very happy with how it turned out!

Estimated Cost
$110
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Children's Bunk Bed

Over a year ago my wife Rebecca and I decided that our two oldest children would love to have bunk beds.  They are close in age and already share many toys, so sharing a room made sense.  Plus we had to make room for our third child that was on his way!

We searched for bunk beds and found that those within our budget were made of low quality plywood.  We were concerned about the safety of potential bunk beds and whether they could withstand our boys’ roughness.  Quality bunk beds, on the other hand, were easily above a thousand dollars which was way beyond our budget.  We were pretty bummed that we could not find our kids a suitable bunk bed within our expectations.

Then Rebecca suggested: “You could build them one.”

Hmmmmmm.  It was an interesting statement from my wife, perhaps even a challenge.  A challenge that I immediately immersed myself into.  Mission accepted!

What I did differently:

  • Added extra posts for a sturdier bunk bed.
  • Bunk bed is longer to fit twin mattresses, height increased.
  • Added rail slats and trim.
  • Added LED lights.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Approx $500
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-oleum Light Walnut = 3 coats, Polyurethane Satin Interior = 3 coats
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Rustic X Console Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/12/2017 - 17:11

I built this table for my sister-in-law's townhome. I also put the stone on the fireplace.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Homemade with 0000 steel wool and vinegar
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Coffee Table

Submitted by Dan Dodd on Fri, 05/14/2021 - 06:37

Here is one of the coffee tables I built for a customer. Honey Stain, gloss polyurethane. Took about 4 hours total. Fun build

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
80
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Honey Stain, gloss poly, white gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

King farmhouse bed, black distressed finish

Submitted by CaraRene13 on Tue, 04/02/2013 - 22:24

After seeing one in the brag posts and reading pretty much every one of the farmhouse bed plans,I too modified the original farmhouse king plans to create a four poster bed. The 4x4s are untreated Douglas fir. I cut each 4x4 only once. The top posts are 35in. and the bottom are 61in. I personally think the bottom posts are too tall but my husband really likes them the way they are.Since this bed was his birthday present, he wins :) The post caps are 1x6s cut to 4.5 and 5.5 squares then stacked on each other.
I used 1x4 furring strips to make the headboard and footboard panels instead of 1x8s. I made the wide center panel from a 1x8 I had on hand. This made the total width of the headboard and footboard 76 in. (between the 4x4 posts) As I did not wish to use a box spring, I used 2x6s for the side rails with 2x4s spanning the width of the bed. I then ran a a 2x4 down the center and mounted a 5th leg, made from a 4x4, under the center of the bed. The 2x6 side rails are covered by a painted and distressed 1x10.

Estimated Cost
250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Black distressed finish. After my initial sanding I applied a base coat of Valspar signature in Cracked Pepper and a second coat of color place black onyx (because it had it on hand and wanted to save money) if I had it to do over I would use two coats of the Valspar. There is an amazing difference in the color and finish of these two blacks...I then sanded the edges and applied minwax early American stain to the sanded areas. Please forgive the dark picture. it really does not do the finish justice...I work nights so we keep our bedroom very dark. This made photographing a black bed quite difficult.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

CaraRene13

Wed, 04/03/2013 - 22:55

Thanks :) We're very happy with it. I finished it a couple weeks ago.
I also built the nightstand on the right side of the bed (left in the picture) from the mini farmhouse table plans. I modified it so I could use scrap wood I already had and to fit the odd angled wall of our bedroom.I also did not want to make another trip to the store since its a 50 mile round trip for me.
I absolutely love Ana and the plans on this site!! My to-do list is a mile long ...

Vanity Built In

My hubby built this because of the original inspiration of the one on your site.  The Vanity Hutch with recessed lights.  So thankful to have had the original photo and plans to work from.  I love how it came out. The countertops are concrete.

Love, love, love the ideas on your website.  Thanks so much!

Estimated Cost
Hutch was approximately 20 dollars for wood, 24 dollars for lights, mirror is stock from Home Depot and cut at a glass shop to size 40 dollars.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr semi gloss pure white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Outdoor Sofa Build

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/15/2017 - 11:33

Im so proud, this was my first big proyect. The instructions are just perfect like a nice recipe :)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Wood 50$,screws 10$, Stain 8$
And the cushions some that i have at home and few from IKEA.


Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain minwax 211. I sand it first.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Adirondack Chairs built by High School Class

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/24/2021 - 18:07

Thirty High School Students spent several weeks in the classroom building a dozen of the Adirondack chairs. By the time they were completing the last of the chairs, they pretty much could build them from memory. They really had no trouble building the chairs and learned how to use all of the tools in the school shop.

Estimated Cost
$70
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
We painted the chairs several different colors using latex exterior paint from Lowes.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Upholstered Bed

I used your chunky bed plans with Big Box Detox's plans for upholstery. It wasn't hard, we just spent a lot of time thinking and not doing. Ha. I wrote a little blog about our adveture. http://thepreppyparent.blogspot.com/2013/04/making-bed.html

Estimated Cost
$120
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Emmett & Luka's Hallway Murphy Desk

My wife and I live in a 575 sq ft Manhattan apartment with two young boys so space is extremely limited! Last year when our older son was 6 he had the idea to turn our tiny bathroom hallway area into a work space for his growing homework assignments. It took me a year, but it all fell into place when I found this design. Luckily we live in a quirky old 1844 brick row house and I've been lucky enough to craft a small space in the basement where I can keep my tools and work on projects. Even a small desk like this takes more space than you think!

I had to make it a bit smaller to fit the wall space we have. Then I realized the exterior hinges wouldn't have enough clearance because of the door frame. I found a neat set of interior hinges made by Pojjo but they attached to the sides as well as the bottom so the craft paper section was in the way. Then my wife said, "Can you flip it upside-down?" Absolutely. The only other hack I added was adjustable peg slots for the shelf on the left.

I did a twist on the chalkboard theme by painting the desk in a semi-gloss but the entire hallway in hot pink chalkboard paint--pink is my son's fave color =:-) Hudson Paints has an amazing range of chalkboard paint colors.

We love, love, love this design--thanks, Ana!

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Benjamin Moore Natura "Margarita Green" in semi-gloss; walls Hudson Paints "Sweet 13" pink chalkboard paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Farm Table with Built in Coolers

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/19/2017 - 11:35

I built this table using a modified version of the Ana White, Fancy X Farm Table plans. The coolers are two, 36 inch plastic planter boxes. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
My wife used classic Gray stain from Minwax along with a Lime wash and glaze.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Outdoor Dining Set

Submitted by ikeymedesu on Sun, 05/30/2021 - 20:00

First part of the outdoor entertainment build was a 6-person dining set. Learned a lot from this build, and it was a great project to build confidence and get back into woodworking. This set is a tank - heavy, durable, yet comfortable and beautiful. We look forward to many gatherings with friends and family, just quiet dinners with the two of use and the pups.

Estimated Cost
700
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Sanded down to 80 on all framing pieces and to 150 on the tabletop and parts of the chairs that make contact with the body. Used Behr Premium Cedar Naturaltone Transparent Waterproofing Exterior Wood Finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Simple Modern Outdoor Sectional

Submitted by KrysFL on Sun, 04/07/2013 - 19:29

I modified the measurements and used 2" x 4" boards instead of 1 " x 4"
I also modified this to fit 22" cushions from Target ($29.99 each). I bought the pillows from Ross for $16.99 each. I used deck stain in Ebony from Lowes (Olympic Brand).
I built the coffee table myself, no plans for this one.
I was very happy that what I thought would be more of a rustic look turned into a more modern look (which fits my style better).
Not too shabby for my first build! Can't wait to build a matching chair.
Great plans! Thank you Ana!

Estimated Cost
With cushions/pillows $220 (without cushions $100)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ebony solid colored deck stain from Lowes (Olympic brand)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Clara table & chairs

Submitted by bdubay on Sun, 02/22/2015 - 19:13

I made the one with the different color chairs and chalkboard table top first. 

I then made the batman set for my nephew.

I recommend using 2x2's for the legs on the chairs like another bragger does, the 1x2's weren't sturdy enough for my kiddos.

Thanks for the plans!

Estimated Cost
About $50 for one table and 4 chairs.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner