Community Brag Posts

Restoration Hardware Style Coffee Table

Submitted by AndyH on Tue, 11/04/2014 - 07:53

Restoration hardware style coffee table.  We saw a coffee table we liked but didn't want to spend $2000 on.  Designed my own and managed to build for $200.  Main expense was the $130 for the legs from Osbornewood.com.

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Not sure yet - need to find a color that will look good!!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

rachelbebop

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 13:29

I love this, I have been wanting to make a really nice coffee table.  I this this is gorgeous!

Darb1001

Fri, 05/13/2016 - 06:18

I went to Osbournewood.com for the legs. All I got was a listing of other companies selling them. The cheapest was $69. How did you get four for $130 or where did you go for that price?

Darb1001

Fri, 05/13/2016 - 06:18

I went to Osbournewood.com for the legs. All I got was a listing of other companies selling them. The cheapest was $69. How did you get four for $130 or where did you go for that price?

Darb1001

Fri, 05/13/2016 - 06:18

I went to Osbournewood.com for the legs. All I got was a listing of other companies selling them. The cheapest was $69. How did you get four for $130 or where did you go for that price?

Darb1001

Fri, 05/13/2016 - 06:18

I went to Osbournewood.com for the legs. All I got was a listing of other companies selling them. The cheapest was $69. How did you get four for $130 or where did you go for that price?

Darb1001

Fri, 05/13/2016 - 06:19

I went to Osbournewood.com for the legs. All I got was a listing of other companies selling them. The cheapest was $69. How did you get four for $130 or where did you go for that price?

Side Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/11/2017 - 13:03

I love this table. I modified it to fit my needs.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Espresso stain, Gloss Poly, White enamel paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

X bench

Submitted by ART.S on Sun, 11/08/2020 - 10:53

My first bench ever, i like it

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

Comments

Little Red Toy Box

Submitted by hawaiitara on Thu, 01/10/2013 - 20:47

I built this toy box for a friend who just had a baby. I followed the plans, except I used pocket holes for the main box. Instead of the base moulding I used 1 x 4's and carved out the shape with my jigsaw. I also used quarter rounds instead of cove moulding because I couldn't find that.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
less than $50
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
rustoleum painters touch ultra cover in apple red gloss

Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Little Helper Tower

Submitted by Huthbert on Thu, 11/06/2014 - 14:58

Ana's plan called for using 8 hinges (I'm not sure on the placement of those).  I used a total of 16 to ensure sturdiness.  I put two hinges on each corner of the 1x8 piece and a hinge anywhere the corners connected.  I used Narrow Utility Hinges (1-1/2" Zinc plated).  The pack of 2 cost $2.27 and comes with screws.  My biggest regret is not painting the hinges before I put them on. I waited until after screwing them in and it was a pain and makes my paint job look sloppy.

 

Although I priced this build out, I ended up using wood I already had in the garage.   I didn't have enough 1x3 to make the anti-tipping feet so I used a 2x4.  I also didn't make the rounded edges, just a few angled straight cuts.

THESE ANTI-TIP FEET ARE A SAFETY MUST, DO NOT SKIP THEM!!  I've seen a few commenters say they skipped the anti-tip feet, but for us they were a must.  My kid would have easily knocked his tower many times if it weren't for these anti-tip feet!

 

Couldn't be happier with this build.  Totally worth  every penny.  Hands down my favorite kitchen addition!  

 

Wrote about this on the blog too: http://thehuth.blogspot.com/2014/11/ana-whites-little-helper-tower.html

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60.50- for wood and hinges. The 1x2's select pine board make the cost a little higher. If you were to the skip hinges, this project would set you back $42.34
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Glossy blue paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Reclaimed wood kitchen island

Not much to say here other than THANK YOU ANA! I built it right to the plan, used plain dimensional spruce for the drawer box, and reclaimed fir for everything else.  Had fun using my thickness planer to save many hours on the belt sander.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Cost was mostly in the reclaimed lumber, so no useful info here.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
tung oil
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Modified Alexia Bench

Just under a year ago, I decided to put together a small project using up a few of my scrap wood pieces I had. This "quick" project ended up sitting half finished in my shop until this past week. I'm on a mission to finish up the remaining unfinished projects I have and this one was higher on the priority list. I based it on the Alexia bench with a couple modifications. The only thing I ended up purchasing to complete it was the drawer slides and pulls.

Built from Plan(s)

Simple Workbench

Submitted by coolove on Sun, 11/09/2014 - 15:27

A few months ago, I made a simple workbench to store my miter saw and other power tools when I'm not using them. I love it. It was a very easy project. I opted to do a full bottom shelf and added more 2x4s instead of the standard three.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
No finish but I applied three coats of wood hardener for the top.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Castle Loft Bed "Frozen" Themed

I present the "Castle Loft Bed" with minor modifications. Finished in a "Frozen" theme.

It was time to upgrade my youngest to a "big kid bed" and she was insistent on a frozen bed. After searching for various options we settled on the "Castle Loft Bed" from the Ana White catalog of plans.

We left the slide off, due to available space. Also we changed the steps to be more of a usable toy box/storage and hamper area. I also modified the internal bookcase to have a small "secret" cubby for her "valuables". We also added color changing LEDs to fit the little princess's mood.

 

I hope you like my rendition and keeps in spirit the DIYers quality.

Estimated Cost
$425.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Various paint colors
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic X Hall Tree

Rustic Hall Tree
I have been looking for a really nice Hall Tree with out having to spend an entire week just to build it and I found it here. I followed the plans with the exception of the width, which I had to narrow due to where it was to go. I also had to shorten due to wife's height (5 ft 1). Because I help with my friends projects I end up with left over odd and ends and can use them in my projects. The backing I used is T- 1-11, that I sanded down till smooth and then painted. The seat and shelf is a 1 x 12 x 6 bullnose that was left over from a prior project that I cut to 1 x 12 x 3, then ripped the other half to fill in the seat making it 18 inch wide and used the other half to make the top self. The trim was left over from a book shelf that I helped a friend build. I painted the tree but stained the seat, shelf, trim and X with red mahogany stain to match the floor and then sealed with 4 coats of semi-gloss polyurethane.
Thanks for the plans, next project will be a desk for up stairs.

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Little foot stools

Very quick stools: 45 Minutes

Materials:
Lumber (plywood or solid 3/4 stock)
foam & batting to size
Straight Legs Plates
pre-made legs (finish to taste)
spray adhesive
staples
fabric

Tools:
Hammer
small flat head screw driver (helps to have one on hand)
small drill bit and screw driver (or cordless drill)
good shears and a razor blade. I circular fabric cutter is awesome and leaves a clean edge)
Staple Gun

* Out of a reclaimed 1x12 cutout 2 8"x14.5" pieces of lumber.
* Space out and attach the Straight Leg Plates (pre-drill the holes)
attach legs
* spray adhesive foam to the board.
* drape your batting over the foam. (I stretch and stable the batting).
* drape and cut fabric to the right dimensions (leave a little overhang to fold under.)
* Staple the fabric (either pleat or 45 the corners)
* Hot glue or nail head on your trim. If using nail heads make a ribbon from the fabric you are using.
* Done :)

My next set will be solid with nailheads

Estimated Cost
25
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Poly or Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

thebeatonpath (not verified)

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 09:20

So excited to see this! Recently purchased leg plates and legs for pennies at an estate sale and thrift store and wanted to make something from them, plus I already have the foam, batting and extra fabric. I have now found just the project because we have NO foot stools. THANKS for posting!

Tryed Side Table

Submitted by CJaq7 on Wed, 11/12/2014 - 17:16

Absolutely love this site. Built 2 of these for my living room. Now building the matching sofa table to match. Couldn't be easier and I think they turned out great. Thank you for all the great plans

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Golden Pecan with Minwax Satin polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Night stand

Submitted by JReed on Mon, 01/21/2013 - 13:03

We had a lot of scraps left over from a previous project so my husband decided to piece together a night stand for our daughter's room. We modified some end table and bar stool plans to fit what we were looking for accordingly. Because her furniture is natural color, we left the wood and just coated twice with polyurethane.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Simple staircase bench

Submitted by BenjiRPX on Sun, 11/16/2014 - 12:02

A simple bench to try my first Kreg Pocket hole Jig. I designed the bench myself, but did not create plans. I used pine wood and 3 layers of varnish for protection. My wife wanted to natural finish so I preferred varnish over paint.

Surprinsingly easy project ! And my wife is very happy that the staircase if finally tidy. Happy wife, happy life ;-)

Estimated Cost
20 euros
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Varnish - 3 layer
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Little Helper Tower

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/20/2017 - 07:54

This project is so great! At first I put one side of the hinges on backwards but it was easy to fix and now it actually folds flat. I left the stabilizer feet off because I only have about four inches beside my fridge to store the tower in but it it's still completely stable. My son was "dancing" on it yesterday and it held up perfectly! Thanks Ana, I'm so excited to use this for years!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Christmas pie safe

I found the knob on clearance for 59 cents at Lowe’s and the hinges were under $3. The rest was just pretty plywood and some thin poplar instead of edge banding with a boiled linseed oil finish.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Under $5
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Boiled linseed oil
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

mamasue72

Sat, 11/25/2023 - 12:17

I am so in love with this! I love traditional and antiques this old time pie safe is what I have been looking for. Especially with cats around. Beautiful and simple!

Seasonal And Holiday

julia nightstand

Submitted by jjsarkinen on Wed, 01/23/2013 - 13:55

Nice plan to do. Used an off white paint and antiqued it with stain pen.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Coffee Table

Submitted by jesskb on Tue, 11/18/2014 - 14:37

This was my first build and I'm really happy with how it turned out!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$45
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I used the oxidation technique and finished with 5 coats of satin poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Custom built kitchen

Submitted by DIYMomof4 on Thu, 02/23/2017 - 11:30

With our old kitchen crumbling to pieces, I decided to build a new kitchen.  I followed several of Ana's cabinet plans to build the entire kitchen(more than I could list at the bottom).  I was able to customize the cabinet sizes in order to maximize my kitchen space.  I made the doors myself, so I didn't need to worry about standard sizing.  It took me about a year from demolition to completion.  I had to buy a few new tools, all the wood, appliances, the floor, and countertop, and still spent around $5,000.  I learned so much from this project and we all love our new kitchen!  Thank you Ana for all of your wonderful plans!     

Estimated Cost
under $5,000 - including a table saw, hardware, appliances, flooring,
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Target Coatings golden chestnut stain and waterborne alkyd varnish semi-gloss. You can order this online.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate