Community Brag Posts
Fold-down Backyard Bar
Hi Ana,
I saw your link on Facebook to the fold-down bar by Home Depot, and I wanted to show you the one we built last year. We're pretty proud of how it turned out! It was easy to build - we just used a reference photo we found on the web and built it to our own specifications. We have a very tiny backyard with absolutely no space to set up a drink area, so this works perfectly. It folds up out of the way when it's not needed (and doesn't have to be packed away for the winter!)
After installing it, I handpainted the back (bottom) with an inside-joke between my husband and his friends. "Duffy's Bar and Grill!" is how they answer the phone whenever one calls the other.
I hope you like it!
Barb Steadman
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Outdoor furniture
I built this set of furniture and tables over two full days and spent another whole day on the finish. Thanks for your inspiration and plans to get this project from a list to something we can enjoy. Cushions (Sunbrella) were purchased at clearance from Restoration Hardware (not shown) last year. The plans were changed slightly for the cushions and choice of lumber dimensions utilized (4x4 cedar instead of 2x2). That's a heck of a lot of pocket screws--the mounted jig is required for this much work.
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Convertible benches
We love these benches! We actually just leave one of them in bench form and the other in table form for everyday use.
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My First Project
This is my first ever wood working project. I had a blast learning how to use the Kreg Jig. I learned a lot!! I finished it in about 6 hours, then sanded it and painted it the next day. It is not perfect, but I like it.
loft bed and daybed combinations
When we moved to our new home, our three boys wanted to share a very small room so we came up with this combination. The daybed is actually two stacked beds because we needed more storage space. We plan to create the desk/shelves under the loft bed soon!
Ash Trestle Table with benches
The Ash for this table was sitting at a friends house out in a field for years. There were several 8/4 x 8' boards with various widths laying in the dirt. After many hours of planning and sanding I brought the Ash back to life.
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Farmhouse X Desk
My fiance wanted a new craft desk so I sent her some ideas from Anas site, and she loved this one. I had her pick out paint (bright white by behr) and stain (minwax dark walnut), then got to work. Easy build overall, though I strongly recommend people measure the X brace angles they'll need before cutting them, because using the angles provided in the plan left gaps I wasn't happy with and had to redo the cuts.
Pallet Shelf for books
My daughter's books never seem to end up on her book shelf in a way that she can easily see them. They are usually laying on their sides and stacked in heaps. We needed a way to keep them organized and easy for her to find the books she's looking for. I made two shelves in less than 20 minutes total.
Patio Sectional
I absolutely love this sectional! It is a little awkward for my pregnant wife to get up and down from because of how low it is but when you are down it is really nice and you can just kick back and relax.
It has its flaws but for my second ever attempt at building something I am very proud. And out of this project I found a great local lumber mill with excellent straight boards for great prices, learned when it comes to something like a counter sink drill bit spend a little extra learned this after snapping both kobalt and ryobi brand and buying the sturdy dewalt that is in my garage now.
After sanding I used Rust-oleum spray paint and sealed it all with two coats of Cabot spar varnish.
Added bonus our Wal-Mart had cushions on sale for 50 + percent off!
Cabot spar varnish
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Fri, 07/19/2013 - 06:33
Looks expensive
Very nice design. Love the cushions (and bargain) you found.
Planked Wood Look Headboard
Really great and easy plans to follow. The only thing I would do different is replace all the 1x3's with 1x4's.
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Sun, 07/26/2015 - 10:03
Beautiful!
The bed looks great, and so does that nightstand! Thanks for sharing!
Fun project
We used the plan from the basic open base collection. I attached four and left two unattached.
Thank you Anna! Salsa Console Table Project
I have to give a massive shout out to Anna White and to all the other folks who did their own variation on the Salsa Console Table.
I started this project before my daughter was born, and needless to say, that turned it from a "couple of weeks" project to a "most of the year" one!
The good news is that in taking my time, I was able to think and re-design and that made the final project so much better! I kept the original idea of a 'criss-cross' wine rack, elevated the drawer/cabinet design with shaker-style joinery, and laminated the top myself (sooooo happy with how that turned out). I made the extra bits of trim around the mid-section and base myself with a router and scraps from the drawer faces (since trim is so expensive at box stores)
Lastly, the finishing involved two of my very favorite products: Benjamin Moore Advance for the body(expensive but diamond-hard finish) and Varathane Poly Stain and Seal (there is just no substitute for slow-drying oil finishes on tabletops - so smooth and rich in colour)
All in all, the project cost me around $600 (high prices of wood during Covid to blame) but there is just no substitute for doing it yourself, and since most solid wood buffet tables run $2000+ I still came out ahead.
Cheers fellow woodworkers!!!
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Fri, 04/01/2022 - 09:35
Really GORGEOUS!
WOW, you did amazing, love the finish choices and all the little details! Thank you for sharing:)
Simple Outdoor Lounge Chairs
I am going to be making more of these, but I just loved how they turned out. The cushions were ten bucks at Target.
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First project - thanks Ana!
I built this for my daughter, and she loves it! Looks great and feels even better to relax in. Now I'll have to build one for me, 'cause she's not sharing
Craftsman cottage loft bed
So thankful for these plans! My daughter requested a cabin loft bed that could double as a "crafting nest". I only had to make a few architectural modifications, but I built this by myself in five days, so I would say it's a very DIY-friendly build! My daughter loves it and it adds functional and aesthetic appeal to the room!
2x4 Modern Adirondack Chair
I used the 2x4 modern Adirondack chair plans. I made it entirely from old treated lumber that came from a deck I tore down. All decking boards and 2x10 beams that I ripped to size. The finish is burned.
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Mother's Day Gifts
I built two of these benches for under $30 of lumber and supplies. They were great Mother's Day gifts that thrilled my mom and mother-in-law. I will have to upload pics of the other one soon. It's already at the lake house and painted a beautiful barn red.
First Project - 85% success!
This is my first real project that I took my time on. Actually my first real project ever. I wanted to replace my Ikea console table because it has started to bow (Ikea furniture does not fend well on moves). I modified the measurements and this is now 24" wide 18" tall - same length. Solid piece of furniture. I could not find all the lumber, but I improvised. Since this was my first project, I could not get the boards to match up all too well, and I do not have a chop saw that would cut a 2x6 - when I placed the 2x6 I did not like the look so I swapped it out with 2x4's.
I used Rustoleum black lacquer spray paint. I like how the grain came out, however, it took way too much spray paint. I will consider using black latex paint next time.
I have since applied 2 coats of poly and sanded it down and steel wooled it - and finally a coat of paste wax to preserve it. If I do not like the imperfections, I just might make it an outside patio table.
Thank you so much for these plans, I spend 3 hours at work looking through all the plans on you site. I even have bought the lumber for my next project - an outdoor table (same design) so that I can use it next to the grill as a counter surface and wire baskets.
***UPDATE*** - I finished the table, however it came out 4" less wide than the old table, however I was able to re-purpose it and use it as an end table for one of the guest bedrooms. The table could have come out a little better, I guess I can only get better!
Again thank you!
poly-urothene high gloss
DIY Convertible Bar / Pub Table
This rustic modern version of a pub table has multiple uses - it can rest along a wall to make a 16 foot long bar, or rolled together to form an 8 foot long pub table. It is standard counter height 36" and will accomodate seating for 8-10 counter stools. If you don't have live edge wood slabs, you can also use construction lumber (2x8s or 2x12s) to achieve similar dimensions and versatile use in a more cost effective way.
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Fri, 07/31/2015 - 04:10
Dining table
Awesome idea! I think I will have to try for a dining table version of this table. Do you happen to have a way to lock the 2 pieces together?