Community Brag Posts

Doll house for 18" Dolls

Both my princesses absolutely LOVE their dollhouse. It was my first diy project and it's wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. 

Estimated Cost
I spent roughly $46 on the wood. We had a bunch of extra paint lying around the house and left over carpet pieces we decided to use.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

6 Cube Bookshelf - Poplar

Submitted by kev117s on Tue, 07/28/2015 - 18:29

I built this set of cube shelves for my 3 yr old son's room. THANK YOU, ANA! I used poplar as I did not want to paint the wood and I love the irregular pattern of the wood grain. To save money, I used pine for the inner shelves and dividers. I stained it using the oxidized solution (http://www.friendly-home.net/2012/05/oxidized-x-console.html) that Ana recommended from the instructions of the Rustic Console. I added a cup of coffee to the solution to get a darker browner shade and unevenly sanded the wood for the distressed look. It matches the poplar wood more so than keeping the pine wood as is.

I also created a 5-tier version to match the 6 cube shelves but did not include the legs. I thought it would be more stable to keep the lower frame on the ground.

I purchased the storage boxes from Amazon It was around $20 for 6 boxes!

 

I am ready for the next project!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Oxidized solution for the shelves and dividers.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Table : Restoration Hardware Replica

Submitted by tsibiga on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 09:43

This is the first building project that I've tackled and it's all thanks to Ana-White. I did lots of things different than the building plan but it was definitely my inspiration and extremely useful. I loved the Restoration Hardware table and so I went to the local store to put my eyes on it for myself. Some of the things that I noticed, liked, and included in my design are; I used 4-2x12"s for the tabletop, I used 2x8"s as the breadboards, I used 4x4"s for the legs as well as the side stretcher, I used 2x4"s as the undertable supports, I built two 15" extensions using 2x8"s and 2x2"s, and I attempted to distress the wood yet stain it to match our dining room as best as I could.

www.tommyandellie.com

I've documented the build and you can check it out yourself at: http://tommyandellie.com/?p=14

I've revised the plans with even more details here; http://tommyandellie.com/index.php/2012/01/13/new-and-improved-farmhous…

Hope it helps.

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I banged up the wood using random things around the garage and then used a Dark Walnut Stain. Additionally, on the tabletop I did two coats of Briwax (light Brown) for a nice, shiny, and smooth eating surface.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

niecey

Mon, 06/20/2011 - 15:06

This is stunning! I'm working on this table right now, but it's no where near as good as yours. I'm jealous. I love your extensions. I'd love to see a tutorial on adding extensions..

ispeakwhale

Tue, 06/21/2011 - 05:16

It looks beautiful. Did you attatch the 2x2 to the underside of the extensions and then notch out a place on the support for them to slide into? Can you please take a photo of the underside with the extensions on?

Tommy (not verified)

Tue, 06/21/2011 - 14:42

That's exactly right. Here's a link to the picture you asked for; http://www.tommyandellie.com/Site/Home/Entries/2011/6/10_Farmhouse_Tabl…

There's some more details and info specifically about the extensions on my blog at; http://www.tommyandellie.com/Site/Home/Entries/2011/6/10_Farmhouse_Tabl…

It's a super simple addition to the design and can take my table from 96" to 126"!!! Or take it from a 8-10 seat table to potentially 16 seats available for those Big thanksgiving meals.

Guest1 (not verified)

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 15:41

Hello,

I was just wondering that since your table is a bit wider than Ana's table, did you make the support for the stretcher wider? As in, did you increase the length at all (in addition to making it stick out a bit at the ends? If so, what did you extend it to? Thanks and gorgeous job!

tsibiga

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 18:49

Hello,

I followed Ana's example and allowed for a 1" overhang on both sides. So the tabletop is actually 44" wide and the stretchers are approximately 42". The long 2x4" stretcher is approximately 88".

Hope that helps. Thanks for the positive comments.

Guest (not verified)

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 20:28

I cant believe how good that looks. Great job! Out of curiosity, how did you make the notches (dados) for the 4x4 legs where they meet the table top? Really impressive table!

tsibiga

Thu, 06/30/2011 - 04:43

For the table legs, I set my table saw blade to a height of approximately 1.5". I then made a first cut at 3.5" from the bottom, then made a cut at 7", and then made several subsequent cuts in between those two cuts. After it was all slivered, I used a hammer to knock it all out, and then swirled the opening all around on the table saw (blade still at 1.5" tall) to smooth out all the cuts. I used the same technique for the stretcher as well.

Guest (not verified)

Sat, 08/06/2011 - 21:36

Hi Tommy, I tried clicking on your site and was told the site could not be found. Last week, I saw it fine and showed my hubby our next project, but now it's gone. Help!

Keri Beth (not verified)

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 07:17

What inspiring pictures! Apparently everyone agrees, because I just "pinned" one of these pictures to Pinterest and it was immediately repinned 27 times and counting. So nice work! I hope to make mine this weekend.

DES.II (not verified)

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 06:29

She and her boyfriend would like to build it using lumber i cut from my mill. They are thinking walnut, hickory or maybe ash but im not sure how that will work out with being distressed. And your extentions, do you have a 2x4 or two that slides out from under the table to help support them on each end ? Are there pics of the under side of the table as well? This is a great table and i think they will have fun as a family assemblimng and finishing it.
Thank you. DesII

Marci (not verified)

Thu, 10/11/2012 - 12:12

Where can I find the bench instructions??

James Groover

Tue, 04/14/2015 - 13:31

Hey Tommy, I saw the Farmhouse table design with extensions, I don't have Excel to open the cut list and need the buy list and cut list to complete the project, I am really short on time and need to start this project tomorrow. Please if you can, do you have a word document or a PDF that shows the page for those?

4x4 Truss Beam Table -Modified Size

My husband and I moved in to our new house last fall and we needed a dining table that would seat at least 8. We picked this plan from Ana's site because I love the look of the 4x4 beams. I used Adobe Illustrator and my math skills to modify the size and scale to fit our dining room with exact spacing all the way around. We had difficulty finding untreated 4x4 beams but were able to special order some for a reasonable price from a local lumber company. It is more expensive than combing 2x4s but I did not like the pieced together look of the 2x4s. We stained with Rustoleum Dark Walnut and Matte Poly just like the blog post from Ana's site. We also used the Kreg Jig HD which is SO AWESOME! We love the table. Now we just need to decide: chairs vs. benches. I hate to block the beautiful truss design of the base. Its so gorgeous!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Around $200 including the Kreg Jig HD, screws, sandpaper, and glue.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Dark Walnut
Rustoleum Matte Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

MrCoffee

Mon, 08/31/2015 - 14:18

I love this table.  The finish came out great by the looks.  My wife and I are moving into a house soon and I think this is going to be the design for our table as well.

jlandttc

Mon, 09/07/2015 - 06:21

What a beautiful table!  Is this table square?  We are also looking to build a table to sit 8 and love the look of yours.  Could you share your cut list or dimensions?  

Spayton821

Thu, 12/10/2015 - 06:59

I am so in love with his table. We have a family

of 7 and are looking to replace our current dining room table and this would be perfect.  Is there any way you could share your measurements. 

Jake'n'Leelo

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 06:08

Thank you for all the kind comments! I did not know that I had gotten any and had not checked back over the past year. The jump drive with my dimensions on it got damaged last year shortly after the build and I lost all of my home decor files including the AI with my cut list and dimensions. I know it had been a while since several of your comments but I will see if my husband can help me measure the table and figure out what the dimensions are and post them on here for you. Happy Woodworking!

topdowndoorsoff

Tue, 11/15/2016 - 18:01

This table really looks great!  I'm about to start making one and would love to know the dimensions you used. I also noticed that you didnt use the bread boards on either end.  How many people does this table fit?

Thanks!

 

Camp Loft Bed with Matching Doll Sized Loft Bed

Submitted by lisatw on Tue, 08/20/2013 - 17:20

We made this loft bed for my daughter's 4th birthday. I did all of the cuts, sanding, and painting on my own, and had my husband help me with the assembly of the bed. It took us 2 full days to complete this build. The sanding and painting was the most tedious part of the project. I think it cost us about $150 for all of the lumber, paint, screws, etc.

My daughter's really into playing with 18" dolls right now, so I decided to make a mini version of her loft bed for her dolls. I think it turned out really well and she absolutely loves it! The doll sized loft bed only cost about $15 to make (including wood, foam for the mattress and fabric). You can't beat that price for a wooden doll bed...and what little girl wouldn't love a matching bed for her dolls?!?!

I'm so happy with how both beds turned out!

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Semi-gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JoanneS

Tue, 08/20/2013 - 18:32

This looks awesome! Love the pink on the steps. And the matching doll bed, how cute is that?! :) Great job!

Farmhouse bed king

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/09/2019 - 18:02

Such a fun project. This is the 5th piece my husband and I have completed by Ana White. This bed is by far my favorite piece of furniture in our home. So sturdy and only took a few hours (not including stain and poly). We have a love for knots, so we chose pieces of wood that had a lot of beautiful imperfections. We went very light on the stain, and it looks weathered with still some of the natural wood color shining through. We got our wood from our local Home Improvement store, and had minimal cutting to do. Neither of us are pro woodworkers by any means, and we completed this with ease.

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
One thin coat of Rust-Oleum Weathered Gray then two coats of Minwax clear Polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

The perfect sewing table!

I have been looking at sewing furniture for years, but the prices always made my jaw drop. I have a small craft room, so I needed a table that could also triple as a cutting table and fabric storage. Thank you so much to Ana White for this plan! I built exactly to the plan in The Handbuilt Home, and it's the PERFECT size.

So the sewing machine can sit flush with the top, making working on big sewing projects way easier, I traced the outline of my machine on the MDF and cut it out with a jig saw. Then I built a small shelf using a 1x12 scrap and 2 1x3 scraps. Putting the 1x3s on top of the 1x12 made the shelf 3.75 inches deep, which is exactly the depth I needed. I attached it to the underside of the tabetop using a pockethole jig and screws.

I built 2 boxes using 1/4 inch plywood, and installed drawer pulls on them, giving the illusion that the table has 2 drawers built in. This is where I keep my ugly stuff--interfacing and fabric scraps.

I got the color scheme for the table from the entryway console plan in The Handbuilt Home. In order to make the MDF top look like it had a wood grain, I applied mahogany gel stain with an old washcloth in very thick strokes that spanned the length of the tabletop. It soaked in and lost the "grain" look in some places, but the majority still looks like wood. I did have to apply several coats of polyurathane over the stain; the MDF has a prickly texture that grabs fabric and makes it hard to feed through the sewing machine.

My only complaint is that I didn't quite think through the fact that seating is bar height and I'm 5'7". It's a little difficult to reach my sewing machine pedal. I may build a small stool for the pedal to sit on so I don't have to half sit/stand to sew.

This is the first woodworking project I've done alone from start to finish: from going to Lowe's and picking out the wood, to cutting the wood with a circular saw, assembly, and finishing. (My fiance did carry it up the stairs for me. :) )

I'm so in love with this table! And now to finish the quilt I started 6 months ago....

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used 2 coats of Valspar Signature paint in Laguna Beach, and Minwax mahogany gel stain on the MDF tabletop.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

MissMehndi

Mon, 09/23/2013 - 15:22

I love this idea!! I too have wanted a sewing table for a long time but the prices of them take my breath away. I may have to make myself one! Thanks for the inspiration!!

Washer Dryer Pedestals Bases

This pedestal base for the washer and dryer really created the perfect opportunity to organize and declutter our tiny laundry room. Had to resize it a bit to fit the space but it turned out perfect! I added a super easy top for an even counter space and bought some stock laundry room cabinets to sit in the back for extra storage. Such an upgrade!

Modified clubhouse bed

My daughter wanted to remodel her room with a peacock farm theme. These plans worked perfectly. I decided to just enclose the bottom, add 3 drawers and a barn door to give it functionality and add to the "farm" theme. Enclosing the bottom mad for way more storage in her room. I'm going to add a cubby on the head board side. It's going to mimic a "lean to" shead to further add to the rustic farm look.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

DIY Mug Tree

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/04/2023 - 09:23

I made this as a special housewarming gift for a family we are helping out this Christmas. I didn't need to buy anything, but I love how it turned out.

Built from Plan(s)

Dining Room Shelves

My shelves are about 2.5 ft long. I wanted a display area in my dining room to show off some plates I had made for my boyfriend a while back.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
One coat Rustoleum Dark Walnut stain with one coat Miniwax Gunstock stain on top. Two coats of polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Farmhouse Medicine Cabinet

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/13/2024 - 12:42

A medicine / bathroom vanity I built for my son’s master bathroom. Constructed of 3/4 oak veneer , 1x2 and 1x3 red oak for the face frames and doors. I used a combination of dowels and dominos to assemble. The metal for the doors was purchased at The HD. Finished off with Minwax English Chestnut stain and 4 coats of Shellac.

Gary Fox

Farmhouse Nightstand

Submitted by rendall28 on Sun, 05/31/2020 - 14:10

This was my first furniture piece that I have made. I made two night stands, one for each side of the bed in our master bedroom. I chose to modify the plan so I could have ball bearing drawer slides.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Briarsmoke Stain for table top...Special order white paint to match the white woodwork in our home.

Tall Farmhouse Headboard

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 03/02/2024 - 11:34

 am thrilled with my new headboard. The plans made every thing about this project FUN and DOABLE. I'm a 70 year old Granma who loves to DIY. SO fun to show my photos of what I did ALL BY MYSELF! THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL PLANS! With out them my pretty new headboard would never have happened. WHAT FUN. I mounted an LED picture light fixture on the top for reading in bed and mounted the corded on off extension cord switch to the side of the leg for easy on off ! Again, THANK YOU!

Cheryl King

Modern Adirondack

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/10/2020 - 10:10

My wife and I were tired of the cheap plastic chairs but not wanting to spend a fortune. I came across Ana’s site and these great plans so I gave it a shot. Everything was pretty straightforward. I decided to use 1x6’s for the seat and back slats instead of 1x10’s. I also used dowel rods instead of wood filler to close all of the screw holes and I Roy fed the edge of the front seat slat one the router. I’m currently working on a partner for this chair with some adjustments (Making it 2” wider and using pocket hole and other techniques to hide the screws).

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax English Chestnut stain.
Valspar clear deck/outdoor furniture sealant.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

2x4 Outdoor Sectional with Matching Ottomans, Chairs & Table

Submitted by cqueiruga on Fri, 06/12/2020 - 21:01

We were looking for outdoor furniture for our deck, and for the size and amount we needed it would have cost us at least $2000. We really like the idea of having an outdoor sectional that we can also use for dining, and we had trouble finding a set we liked. We found Ana's plans for the 2x4 Outdoor Sectional, and i loved the look. After seeing what others have done with the plans, I thought I would be able to modify it to get everything we needed for much less cost than buying a set.

We ended up extending the size of the 2x4 outdoor sofa by one 24" section, for a total length of 96". I then used the same design to make two outdoor chairs, just reduced the length to 24". I modified the 2x4 outdoor coffee table plans to create two ottoman's that can be moved around to make the seating more lounge style Finally, I modified the coffee table plans to make a 5 foot outdoor dining table. All in all, it took about a week and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out!

Estimated Cost
$800 ($200 for wood, $600 for cushions)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Valspar Semi-Transparent Antique Oak Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

jwood4

Mon, 08/02/2021 - 09:44

Looks amazing! What method did you use (pocket holes, dowels, deck screws, etc) to join the visible portions like the arms?

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