Community Brag Posts

Benchmark Media Tower

Submitted by lisamin on Sun, 01/19/2014 - 14:39

I modified the tower by making it a little wider so my husband's stereo components would fit. I used hardware cloth in the door for a more rustic look.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Latex enamel distressed finish. I stained the edges with a dark stain, rubbed wax on them and then painted. When the paint was dry, it rubbed off of the areas I had waxed, letting the dark stain show through for a distressed look.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Versatile Wine Holder Gift

Submitted by calcowoods on Tue, 12/24/2019 - 11:39

Plans with accompanying video were just perfect and we built two holders in a few hours.  Stained with 2 coats of Minwax Cherry and applied Minwax Finishing Paste as topcoat.  My wife created a template for the 3 part circle wood section and used a scroll saw for the cuts.  We will be building more sets of the wine holders as gifts for family and friends.

Estimated Cost
Less than $7 dollars with $4 for pair of holders for each
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Cherry and applied Minwax Finishing Paste as topcoat.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Double Bowl Raised Pet Feeder

Submitted by docfin02 on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 19:31

Modified the single bowl raised pet feeder for two bowls.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
paint and tile
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

jeepinjezi (not verified)

Fri, 06/08/2012 - 11:28

Love the tile - totally going to steal idea. Great job (and cute cat)

Love this Patio Chair

Submitted by jmason09 on Tue, 01/21/2014 - 20:14

Let me tell you how happy I am that I have found this site.. This is my second project from this site that I have completed, but definitely not my last ( just haven't "bragged" about the first one yet) But any who....THANK YOU ANA FOR ALL YOU DO!!!

So I recently bought my first home and since then I wanted to make it MINE.. I always find my self glued to pinterest always looking for something to make or get into. That's when I came across this site and my mind started filling up with ideas and things I wanted to do for my house. When I first moved into my home it was during the summer time, and I didn't have any patio furniture and didn't have the finances to buy any. I know that summer is now right around the corner and I wanted to enjoy my back yard this year and be able to sit outside. Well.. I have found the answer to the problem. Why not build one... And o yea.. for $45.. Wow.. cant beat that.. So I have now completed my first Patio chair.. All I have to do now is Just build the love seat and couch and ill be all completed and set for summer.

The project was not difficult at all.. The only thing I alter was the back tie in, which was suggested in the comments that its better inside the chair then out.. Other than that.. follow the plans and it will be easy and wont cost more than expected.

Enjoy

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
45
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Color was Kona ( not sure of the brand, and this was my first time staining.)
Glossy/wax finish (not sure of the brand)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Sweet Pea Bunk Bed for Boys

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/14/2016 - 13:46

This took a lot of time. Many nights and weekends. We used a grey stain and poly for the planks and white paint and poly for the trim. I had to remove the under bed storage because the mattresses we bought were very thick so it was modified a little. Also I added some additional support to each side with another 2x4 because I felt it wasn't sturdy enough with just one support on the stair side. I also included a full roof with cedar shingles so that one of my twin boys doesn't jump out. They are 3 year old maniacs.

Estimated Cost
$700
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Planks are grey stain and poly, trim is white paint and poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

jennings134

Sat, 04/16/2016 - 06:31

Thanks! I posted this as a Guest so I'm not sure how to link it with my account now. I still need to put the second bar on the windows and do the pergola. I'll post new pics when 100% complete!

rustic farmhouse kitchen island

Submitted by shawnkirk on Fri, 12/27/2019 - 10:48

My wife wanted/needed a kitchen island for more storage and prep space. After seeing the prices online of nice kitchen islands, I decided to take the time to make her this one. I would mark this as advanced due to the numerous cuts, joinery techniques, and sheer prep time it took. The build was a success as on Christmas morning once she saw this she cried out of joy! It took the better part of a month because I Hand Hewed with an axe the legs, the whitewash finish is of my own design(a 6 step process), all pieces were sanded, finished, and distressed before assembly. For the butcher block, I used Anna's rustic-x coffee table top design- I only wish I had a jointer so I could have the slabs flush, but I did plane and sand all the way from 80 grit to 240 grit to create a smooth finish. Then all pieces were treated with multiple coats and buffings of citrus wood wax.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400- lumber was around $300, stain and hardware added maybe another $60-70
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax antique American walnut gloss stain, Behr semi gloss white paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Ultimate Play Barn

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 09/01/2023 - 15:42

I built this play horse barn for my daughter. She loves to play with toy horses. It is 33 x 28 Has a removable hay loft, Stales with working doors and drop down hay loft doors. Hinged on both roof sections for easy play. Lots of love and effort went into making this. I hope you enjoy.

charliemugler@instagram

Simple White Outdoor Sofa and Loveseat

Submitted by Peoriajess on Mon, 04/09/2012 - 08:48

I built this set from the plans of the Simple white outdoor sofa. I did make a few changes to meet my needs. My original idea was to make 2 sofas but after doing some measuring I realized a loveseat would be better so I just took about 24" off of the length. I also did add slats to the arms, just to give it a different look. I found this project to be pretty easy with the plans that are provided and I used the link that is attached to the page for sew mama sew to make all of the cushions! I built the side table from the plans for the Ottoman or Accent Table for Simple Modern Outdoor Sectional although I made the table larger width wise (24 x 24) to fit nicely between the sofa and loveseat.
The only thing I would do a bit differently if I were to build it again would be to use a slightly better grade wood so I would have to use less wood filler and sand less ( That is what took the most time ) otherwise this could have been finished in half the time it took me. This is a great project that really transformed my back patio!

Estimated Cost
300.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dutchboy exterior white gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

sgilly02 (not verified)

Mon, 04/09/2012 - 19:29

Fantastic job. It looks nice enough to be "inside furniture". I love the slatted arms, too.
I'm in total agreement with you about using a better grade of wood for some of my projects. For the time it takes to make the "cheap" wood paintable (forget staining it with all the filler and glue marks), it is so worth it for me to spend a bit more and have a finished product that looks so much better and took much less time!
Again, I love your finished project! Great job.

PA PA B

Mon, 04/09/2012 - 19:58

Are you concerned about using pine for outdoor use? I would like to do the same but I am not sure how to protect the wood from the elements here in Wisconsin. Any ideas would help

Peoriajess

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 05:37

Thanks so much for the compliments! I have used pine in other outdoor projects and have found that if you use a good quality exterior paint they are protected enough to endure the weather. I live in Illinois so I know what you mean about the elements but so far they have made it through just fine :) just use 2 coats of paint and make sure all of the exposed pine is covered with the paint. I also put plastic protectors under all of the feet so that no water will be absorbed that way. Good luck!

wishingbee

Mon, 08/26/2013 - 14:06

So I need new furniture inside the house and your photo has convinced me to build these for my living room. I've got a smaller home (670 sq/f) so it's a challenge to find furniture that fits- two loveseats of this design would fit well in our space. Beautiful job, well done, and thanks for the push I needed to get started.

Peoriajess

Fri, 11/08/2013 - 07:29

Hi,
To attach the side slats I countersunk long thin wood screws to the top and bottom rails. I put one screw at the top and bottom of each slat then filled the holes with wood filler. To be honest, if I were to do it again I would definately have used a Kreg (which Anna recommends for most projects) because it would have been a lot less time consuming. The sanding of the wood filled holes took a long time to get filled and sanded just right so there was no sign of the holes. Good luck!!!

SavannahSmiles

Sun, 11/10/2013 - 05:10

Thank you! I hope to have side arm slats installed tomorrow. I am going to 'frame' the slats with 1x2's and then insert the framed set into the arm. :-) we'll see how it goes.

Farm Table with 45 degree angle supports

I have used the farm table plan many many times! My customers always love the classic look the table offers. I decided to switch it up a bit by adding 45 degree angle support brackets to the legs. So far the look has been a hit!

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Watco Danish Oil - Natural
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

6 Laundry Basket Dresser

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/18/2016 - 06:51

Took the plans from the laundry dresser and adjusted them so it would hold 6 laundry baskets. My wife wanted a counter she could throw the clothes on and fold right there so this worked well for our needs. Added some trim to the end to match the shoe bench we built in our drop zone right outside laundry room.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Sand, Primer and Latex Satin Enamel
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Ultimate lumber and plywood storage

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/02/2020 - 16:00

I followed the plans for the wood storage rack pretty closely. The shelf brackets made from 2x4's are quite sturdy. The entire rack is easy to move around on the 4 inch casters. This project took about 4 days to build and was well worth the time and money. All my wood is in one place now- sheets, long boards and short boards. Everything is easy to find and my shop is a lot neater, now.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
unfinished
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Barnwood Coffee Table

Submitted by imlewer on Wed, 04/11/2012 - 11:22

Got a load of wood out of a friends barn and decided it was time for a coffee table. Couldn't find anything that I really loved at any store or that wasn't made of saw dust or a million dollars. So I decided to make my own. Turned out pretty nice and its as solid as can be, actually quite heavy so it doubles nicely as an ottoman or extra seat.

Estimated Cost
$0
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Satin clear poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kitchen Island/Workbench

Submitted by elizarose on Sun, 01/26/2014 - 14:25

We don't have a useable basement, or a garage, so we knew that our first project had to be a multipurpose one- both a workbench and a kitchen island. We changed the dimensions of this plan to make it counter height as well as slightly wider and taller. Additionally, we had some concerns about being able to get the finished product out of the kitchen and out of the house if/when we eventually move. So, we made the pieces in the following parts:
-4 legs
-Shelf and shelf supports
-top and top supports

We then proceeded to use 2.5" 16 gauge bolts to bold all the parts together for easy disassembly. We are thrilled with the results!

Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JoanneS

Sun, 01/26/2014 - 14:49

Great job on your island/work bench! What a smart idea too make it detachable for moving. And your finish looks super!

Craft table

Submitted by MindiL2 on Wed, 04/20/2016 - 06:45

My husband helped me build this awhile back. Not perfect, but for a first build, I am pretty happy with how it turned out. Still need some new baskets to go with;)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Entryway (mudroom) Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/08/2020 - 13:29

This was my first time building anything from scratch! I used the plan "Mudroom Bench with Easy Drawers" for the bottom section. I did not make any modifications, but I did have some trouble with the drawers. First I made the drawers 1/8" wider than the available space (after adding the hardware); so to resolve that I had to notch out the frame and sink one of the drawer slides.

I never realized how finicky drawers can be, but I learned a lot from this project, and my family loves the finished product.

I chose not to use the plan for the hutch, because the cost was starting to creep up, I didn't want walls on the left and right. So I just added bead board directly the wall (glue and brads) and added some trim. For the upper unit (cubbie), I just made a basic structure out of 1x10's, and I used some bead board scrap as a backer (turned the pattern out). I then sunk a couple of anchoring screws into the back (which will be hidden behind baskets) and added a couple of decorative shelf brackets for added stability.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Bright White Acrylic Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Dressing Table and Mini-dresser Redux

Submitted by JoanneS on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 05:24

Used a Lowe’s gift card I got for Christmas, and built a larger dressing table which would give me more elbow room for hair and makeup, and also to hold my mini dressers. The drawers are a re-purpose of the mini dressers from my previous vanity desk, and I built 2 additional drawer boxes for them. The dressing table is a 36” wide Willy bookcase, with a 24” x 36” project panel trimmed in 1x2 as the top. The mini dressers are a miniature version of the Willy bookcase, with drawers made using Ana’s plan for the master closet system drawers. The 3 deeper drawers on the bottom right side hold makeup and cosmetics. I’ve named this my ‘bling tower’ because it holds all the jewelry gifts from my husband and son, several sets of the chunky bead jewelry that’s in style now, and all the little keepsake things my son made for me when he was in school. Gotta have plenty of room for those!

Estimated Cost
$ 55 for table, $35 for 2 dresser boxes (already had the stain and paint on hand, the drawers from my previous vanity are made from scraps, and the baskets were re-purposed from the previous vanity)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Dressing table: 2 coats high hiding white in semi-gloss on the bottom, 3 coats Minwax express color in Walnut + 3 coats Minwax satin polycrylic on the top; Mini Dressers: high hiding white on the dresser boxes, and the drawers fronts are the original white, plus a coat of the Walnut Express Color (dragged on using a chip brush)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse coffee table

We wanted to create a table to fit perfectly within the space of our living room. It turned out great. Using the pocket holes definitely helped and gives it a more professional finish. We stained it with early american and then used pickling.

Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
early american and pickling
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Dining / Gaming Table

Submitted by bette9182 on Mon, 04/25/2016 - 13:18

My wife and I were looking for a new dining table, the one we had was a bar height which worked well for our daughters high chair, but she was going to be transitioning to a booster seat . We shopped around and had sticker shock at the cost of a dining room set. We enjoy playing board games and I had been looking into possible buying a board gaming table, but those more expensive and some had long lead times as well. I tossed out the idea that I could make our table and my wife agreed but gave me a deadline. I had built a few smaller pieces before but nothing like this. I based my plans off the farmhouse table for the top and used store bought legs. The top needed to be sturdy since it is not attached to the base, I did add blocking on the back so the top doesn’t move around and it is heavy enough that it doesn’t flip up if you lean on it. I moved the typical supports down to the bottom of the side rails and added a ¾” piece of MDF that I had for the gaming top. We used spray adhesive to attach some batting and used blue suede for the gaming surface since we are fans of Doctor Who. I added handles to the top on the inside to help when it is moved off the table for gaming. I built the bench too and made it so we could slide it under the table to save on space when we did not need it. The other chairs are hand me downs and Salvation Army finds that we spray painted. The only addition that I have to make is to build some sort of cup holders.

Estimated Cost
$150 - 200 with all the chairs and fabric.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

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