Community Brag Posts

Outdoor Tables and More - Thank You

Submitted by rhogle2000 on Thu, 08/04/2022 - 09:04

Thank you the inspiration!
I'm a retiree and beginner woodworker, through your videos I used leftover lumber and Trex decking from new deck to make two side tables, coffee table, and a bench.
Thank you so very much!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Easiest Hanging Daybed

Submitted by ajcajj on Fri, 08/05/2011 - 11:46

My boys have a small room, so once I saw these plans I knew I had to make them! I also used the plans for the rolling cubbies.

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

Comments

LAF (not verified)

Fri, 07/20/2012 - 11:20

How does one secure this hanging bed securely to the wall if one chooses to hang chain support 45 degrees from the front side to the wall?

Kitchen Island

Submitted by Kstudinski on Sat, 08/31/2013 - 10:52

I have a small kitchen with no room for a table and no storage space. When I saw the plan for this kitchen island i knew it would fit perfectly in our space and a project my husband and I could work on together. It took several days in total, but we had to work around the kids, so probably could be done faster if need be. It is made out of white pine, including the top and legs. We probably spent around $150, but we looked at several similar islands going for over $600 and not even made with wood. We are so pleased with the outcome. We cannot wait to get started on the bunk beds for our son.

Thanks Ana White!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Pine
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Channing Desk/1st ever project

Submitted by jodie0100 on Wed, 10/21/2015 - 13:01

My husband and I have never built anything.  We decided to build our teenage boy a desk, as I could not find anything I liked online.  The project was pretty simple for amateurs to follow.  The cutting and assembly was done in a day.  We decided to add the drawer and pull out shelf for the printer.  Really, figuring what color to stain it and the staining process was the most tedious.  We routered the drawer sides and the top of the desk for a nicer look.  So proud of our work and the fact that this will last our son for years to come.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Water based Charcoal w/ Black Glaze for the base and water based Vermont Maple with a top coat of water based toffee stain. For both the top and bottom pieces, I brushed on the stain, let it sit for 3 mins and then applied medium pressure to wipe. Let dry for 2 hours and completed process again. For the bottom piece, after the two coats of stain, I applied the black glaze using the same method. However, after wiping off, I then used a damp cloth to wipe down one time. I used a polyacrylic protective finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mug tree

Submitted by SoCalMom on Wed, 11/14/2018 - 17:22

Fun and easy build to use up some scraps and try out some finish techniques and router edging. Not perfect because I was getting the hang of a new router, but perfect low commitment project to practice on. I only did 2 hooks for my needs and preferred not having to knob on top. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$2 for hooks maybe? Everything else I already had on hand.
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Vintage aqua stain followed by weathered grey stain and a coat of poly. F
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

My very first woodworking project!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/12/2022 - 07:31

Just bought myself a miter saw and this was my first ever woodworking project... had a lot of fun putting it together. I opted to build the back the same as the sides rather than just putting the piece of plywood as suggested in the plans (and shortened the length of the drawer accordingly), so I could add a surge protector/usb port with extension cord in between the trim boards since the outlet placement in my bed is horrible and requires pulling out the bed from the wall anytime we need to plug something in. Took a bit longer than anticipated, with never having built anything before, but now that I know what I'm doing I expect the 2nd one to go much quicker!

Comments

Farmhouse Bedside Table

Submitted by peaches76 on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 17:55

I built this nightstand several months ago, so I honestly don't remember my time or money investment all that well. It was a fun, easy project though. As usual the biggest time investment was in the finish work.

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
Primed. Painted in Behr Cotton Fluff - Satin finish. Sanded and stained with Minwax Dark Walnut stain. The stain was pretty dark but I wanted to use up what I had. I just kept plenty of paper towels and paint thinner nearby to thin it down to the shade I wanted.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Guest (not verified)

Sun, 03/18/2012 - 10:44

I read your description of the finish for your table but I was wondering if it was really paint, then stain in that order. I know nothing about finishes so any tips would be greatly appreciated.

General Store Cubbies

We are a military family who ended up with a very small house on our most recent move. We needed something that was functional for storage but nice enough to fit with our decor without looking too industrial, Ana White's General Store Cubbies to the rescue! We modified the plan to make it a 3x9. I finished it with Behr's lap pool blue and Glidden's delicious apple (which I plan to use for my next project as well) and then glazed with minwax jacobean stain mixed with behr glazing mix. The front tags are from Michael's crafts store in the scrapbooking section and in instead of putting tags on each cubby I added some stick-on tags with positive words on them. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out! Thanks Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
200
Finish Used
Behr Lap Pool Blue/Glidden Delicious Red and minwax jacobean stain mixed with glaze.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Anniversary wall art

This is my first project! My friend and i were debating what to gift our friends for their anniversary. This was perfect. Good first time beginner project. 

Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Bookshelf

Submitted by SmeesAlf on Fri, 12/07/2018 - 15:57

Currently redesigning our living room and needed a bookshelf to put next to our prop picture. Found this rolling bookshelf and decided to give it a go. We already made a few pieces of furniture so we already had the kreg Jig (my favorite tool ever!) and assorted screws. I found the directions to be fairly easy to follow, but then again, I had already built some furniture so maybe for a beginner it'd be harder to follow. I spent about 20 hours, and $66 on this - $40 for wood and metal emt pipe, and $26 for the 3"caster wheels (work brakes) found on Amazon. I already had all the screws and stain around from other projects   I used Walnut Minwax stain with 2 costs of polycrylic. Really loving this bookshelf!

Estimated Cost
70
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Truss Beam Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 08/21/2022 - 16:47

I can't believe I made this table myself!! Thanks so much Ana for your plans. It's super sturdy and oh so pretty! Yay!!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Lydia Bed & Trundle.. uhh... And doll bed!

Submitted by Lady Goats on Thu, 08/11/2011 - 10:28

My oldest daughter was beyond needing a "big girl bed" - the poor thing couldn't "fit" in her toddler bed, and had to sleep curled up! So I had her help me pick out a bed, and she ended up asking for the Lydia bed (and she mimed that she wanted a trundle, since she didn't know what it was called!). The bed itself was a quick build, but then I lost steam when it came to doing the trundle. It came along a few weeks after the bed was in her room, but, as you can see, I still haven't painted it... or added a bed to it.... Then she wanted a bed for all of her Sonic dolls (I think she's kinda transitioning from being a tom-boy to being a girly-girl... she picked out everything in her room!)... So I built her a "matching" bed based on the farmhouse doll bed plans. Side note - I haven't cleaned her room in a while, so ignore the fact that the floor needs swept!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Olympic Gloss White Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

beccadawn (not verified)

Mon, 10/03/2011 - 20:47

did you change the length between the posts in order to fit the trundle? on the page that she has to build a trundle it says to make sure there is 77" of clearance between each end.. not sure if I should leave it as is or adjust it for a trundle....

Lady Goats

Thu, 10/06/2011 - 20:18

I increased the length to allow for the trundle, and there is a couple of inches between the mattress and the head/foot board. But her last bed had no room, so changing sheets was a "B". Now it's much easier :-)

I don't remember how much I increased the length, but it made the clearance 77".

End Table

Here is an end table I recently built for our living room. I modified the Rhyan End Table plans to include a routered top and some modification to the drawer fronts.

Finish Used
Minwax - Red Mahogany
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by Sbarker645 on Wed, 10/28/2015 - 16:55

Built this for our dining room. Added two feet to the length. Neighbors started talking and now I've been commisioned to build a table and bench!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Laundry basket organizer

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/26/2018 - 08:10

Inspiration came from this site, but the design is mine. I didn't have plans, so it was drawn out on paper from the sizes of the laundry baskets themselves. Birch plywood with Home Depot feet painted with rattle can white. Sanded and stained with a Minwax redwood stain and coated with Minwax poly. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax redwood stain with Minwax poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Jeffrey's Fancy Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by JellyBug on Fri, 08/12/2011 - 19:38

Time: About 15 hours
$: 150 (wood, stain, sand paper)
Stain: Minwax Red Mahogany (2 coats)
Finish: Satin Polyurethane (1 coat, light sand, another coat)

We had to change a few of the measurements just slightly, but overall the directions were awesome!

The only change that we made was to the "footboard", instead of 2x2's and a 2x4, we changed it to one 4x4. We added moulding at the base of the feet and at the top of the footboard we added a routed headplate. It gave it a real "finished" look.

Sorry for the "spotty" pictures...dang camera!

Estimated Cost
150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax- Red Mahogany
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Tile Finished Tryde Coffee Table Variation

We wanted to build our own coffee table with a mosaic tile top, so we searched for plans that would give us a good, sturdy base to work with. The Tryde coffee table base with this design was simple, yet contemporary when paired with our tile table top. We tweaked the measurements slightly so that a 24"x48" piece of plywood could fit on top. Couldn't be happier with the result!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200-$250
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Black satin spray paint, sanded for smoothness. 3 coats total, with sanding in between for a smooth sheen.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Lthomas

Fri, 09/06/2013 - 08:38

Very nice job! How you were able to keep the tile and trim flush? What was the thickness of the wood and tiles? Thinking of doing something similar on some cabinet counter tops in my family room.

Heavy Duty, from reclaimed deck boards!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 12/29/2018 - 12:31

Heavy Duty, from reclaimed deck boards!

Especially with having to store active military gear, the huge gorilla trunks, and conveniently having a huge pile of 2x6's from disassembling a small deck . . Worked out perfectly!

Also, because they are heavy and tall, we did anchor them to the wall!

(I personally want to figure out how to add a sliding ladder, haha)

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None, pressurized deck boards
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

My first build--LACK inspired bookcases

Submitted by cbrowan on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 18:43

I decided to start with the most simple design I could for my first build. I've always wanted some big, ginormous bookcases and these seemed to fit the bill. I was surprised with how difficult it was to work with the thick 2x12 boards, but all in all I'm really happy with the results. I did modify the dimensions to make them not as wide, making the width of the shelves only 31".

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150 for both (wood, polyurethane, screws, and leftover paint)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
We had leftover chocolate brown paint from an accent wall, so I sanded (all by hand as our sander went kaput in the beginning) and added 2 coats of Valspar eggshell brown paint. Covered with 2 coats of Minwax polyurethane for more shine.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

annabelle0879 (not verified)

Tue, 07/24/2012 - 03:58

I agree! The 2" boards are SO difficult to work with. I am almost done building my bookcase. If I could do it all over again I would use a thinner board. This is something I thought I could quickly pull together for my husbands bday but was mistaken! Its definitely doable, just really hard to work with the thick wood.

First Build - Redwood Adirondack Chairs

Love the results of my first building project.....a pair of redwood adirondack chairs. Angled cuts were a great way for a beginner to learn to use the miter saw.

Estimated Cost
$75 for redwood per chair
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Discovered a non-toxic, non-flammable, water-based, environmentally friendly product called Seal-Once. Quick and easy two coat application in natural clear to protect wood outdoors for up to 10 years. Soaked right into redwood without leaving a shiny finish or residue.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JoanneS

Sat, 09/07/2013 - 19:59

Love these gorgeous redwood chairs! The color and grain on that wood is awesome, and the clear coat is perfect for it. You did a great job on this build! I popped over to your blog and I enjoyed your post on this build very much. Well done!

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