Community Brag Posts

Modern Farm Table

I built this table back in May so a little late posting. It is the second Modern Farm Table that I've built. The first was built for my sister and this one for my nephew and his partner. I am very happy and so are they with how it turned out. Thanks again Ana for your plans.

Estimated Cost
The estimated cost was approx. $300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Before staining I did a whole lot of sanding. I first used minwax wood conditioner-one coat. Second Step was to apply one coat of minwax weathered oak and then two coats of minwax special walnut. For the protective coat I used minwax polycrylic. I applied two coats all over and a third to the top of the table and benches.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Twin Over Queen Loft Mod

This is the nightly sleeper for our 6yo (queen) and 4yo (twin) boys, but we have in-laws who visit from out of town frequently and we also wanted a place to allow them to be comfortable as couples.

 

To accomodate adult headroom on the queen, I raised the entire loft 7" (72" high) and to fit the queen beneath, I had to lengthen the loft rails by 9" (84" long). To fill the resulting gap, I just used some 39" scraps of 2x4 and 2x6 overlapped to create a 4x10 landing which actually ended up a cool addition since it gives the kids a spot lower than the mattress to make the transition from the ladder to the mattress. It also has given us adults a spot to sit off the mattress while comforting them to sleep when needed, so we don't end up waking them when we leave.

 

I based the height of the queen legs (made four of them) off the size of a standard storage tote, which was ~13". We can fit 12-16 totes of clothes or other random storage under the bed as a result. The queen frame was just a simple 64"x84" rectangle out of 2x6s with 7 2x4s used as crossbeams to hold the mattress.

 

Note on the mattresses - these 8" memory foam mattresses are just as comfortable as our expensive name brand king mattress, but MUCH cheaper!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-8-inch-Memory-Foam-Mattress-Multiple-Sizes/47826185

 

Despite raising the loft, I kept the height of the stair platform the same, but just added a second 'ladder' rung to get up to the loft (refer back to the 4x10 landing spot on the loft). To keep with the using available storage space theme, instead of attaching the stairs permanently, I used 1"x4" hinges to that we could swing the stairs up and put 4 more storage totes under there. (However, we quickly found that the kids liked that area as a 'fort', so we've left it open for their use.)

 

In the picture, you'll note there are four treads/steps on the stairs because I thought to myself "little feet, little steps" would be better. I soon learned that the littles are more than capable of using adult sized steps while adults nearly killed themselves coming down the little feet, little steps. As such, I ended up removing one of the middle steps and moving the new singular middle to a spot between the other two. Much better, stay with 3 steps.

 

While the queen can stand alone, I still attached it to the 'legs' of the loft so that our rambunctious boys didn't 'sweep the leg' and bring the whole thing down on themselves while under it.

 

Estimated Cost
Only need an additional 8 2x4s and 6 2x6s from the original plan.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Actually no stain on this. Instead, used a Benzo torch and burned every board to produce the grain patterns seen. Just sealed it with a standard clear poly to lock in that grain and protect the wood a little.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Princess Pocket Bookshelf

Submitted by Ana White on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 23:15

I pinned, I built and today I post!

 
Last week when I teamed up with Katie, Sherry and Erin 
 
 
 
To host the Pinterest Challenge Fall Edition (not affiliated directly with Pinterest), I joined them to not just challenge myself to complete a project from my pins, but to challenge you as well.
 
 
 
Because who isn't guilty of pinning and pinning ... and never getting around to nailing and cutting and gluing and screwing?  As charged.
 
I love participating in the Pinterest Challenges put on by Sherry of Young House Love and Katie of Bower Power because it's fun, I get to meet great new people, challenge myself, and get super inspired by others projects.  I hope you participated in today's Pinterest Challenge, and will share your project with us today!  I've created a Link party for those of you who blog, and if you don't blog, you can always upload a brag post right here (you have to be a member of our site) and then link the brag post up.  Make sure you let everyone know your project is part of the Pinterest Challenge - you can use the graphics above.  So looking forward to seeing your projects!
 
But first, I'm pretty darn excited to share with you my Pinterest Challenge Project.  This is a first for me, to share the plans, then build and brag afterwards.  It was fun and my project turned out better because I had some time to think of ways to modify the project and read your comments.  
 
So here's my original Pin:
 
 
 
 
 
 

Source: kidsrooms.co.uk via Ana on Pinterest

 
 

And then here is the plan I designed

 
 
And this is what I built from the plan:
 
 
Thank you so much for the Pinterest Challenge - because now my daughter has a beautiful forward facing bookshelf!  
 
 
We especially love this bookshelf because it fits her books just perfect, leans just right over the baseboard, and keeps all the books leaning back and not falling forward.
 
 

Modifications

The structure of this bookshelf is the same as the plan.  But I did use 1x4s for the shelves and sides to hold more books, and because I choose to use moulding for the shelves instead of the 1/4" plywood.  I also cut the tops of the sides out with a notched arch shape ... it's the little things that take basic and make them fit for a princess.
 

Materials

We used solid wood for all the components and 1/4" PureBond Plywood for the back - so not only is this bookshelf functional and attractive, but it's also good for the indoor air quality of my home.  
 

Time

Building this bookcase took about an hour, and my husband sprayed it with white primer and paint.  We used a simple handheld sprayer - results are amazing.
 

Cost

The materials cost for this bookshelf run right around $35, not including paint and primer and screws - as I buy them in bulk.  There's definitely room to shave costs if your budget is tighter.
 
 
Well, enough about me - I really am looking forward to seeing your projects!  If you took the Pinterest Challenge (awesome, thanks for joining us!!!) it's time to share.  
 

If you've blogged or bragged, you can simply

  1. Click on the blue “Add Your Link” button at the bottom of the thumbnails
  2. Add a link to this post from your specific blog post about your project in the url field (not your home page)
  3. Give your project and appropriate name cause thumbnails are so tiny, a good name really helps!
  4. And please share the love and quickly link back over to our project posts within your own (here’sKatie’sAna’sErin’s, and ours) – it’s also nice to link to your inspiration project on Pinterest as well as to directly link to the original project/site, just so they get some love too.

Can't wait to see your projects!

 
 
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Primed and painted white with handheld sprayer
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Fiona (not verified)

Wed, 11/02/2011 - 20:20

No tools here, but I love the idea. Bookshelves are not working so well for us right now.

momsthewordus

Sat, 01/21/2012 - 14:15

I can't wait to make this for my girls. I'm planning on two tall, narrow shelves to go on either side of a desk. Thanks for the awesome plans and inspiration!

lankylee76

Wed, 12/10/2014 - 07:50

I love this plan and want to build one for my son's room. Can you tell me how you secured the molding to the sides? also, did you use 5 or 10 degrees for the bottom of the sides? thanks!

lankylee76

Wed, 12/10/2014 - 07:50

I love this plan and want to build one for my son's room. Can you tell me how you secured the molding to the sides? also, did you use 5 or 10 degrees for the bottom of the sides? thanks!

Coffee table

Submitted by meghanwb on Tue, 10/22/2013 - 19:16

Love how this turned out! Great build, added a back to the table. It looks awesome in our living room.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax wood conditioner and minwax espresso stain for the top. Rub stain on and wipe off immediately. One coat and light sanding. Also did espresso on the interior of the box. Coffee distressing on top of the white base.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

bclute

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 17:48

Really nice finish. I am planning on building a table and I want the tabletop to look just like yours. I have never stained, but when you say rub stain and wipe immediately, what do you use to rub? Also what type of wood did you use for the top? Again, great job.

First Project

Submitted by J Spitzley on Thu, 01/07/2016 - 07:20

This was my first project, probably a little ambitious for a first project but the plans made it super easy. As soon as I was done with the 4 chairs (two armless and two corners), I immediately made two tables that we have used as side tables, as a single table and as seats. It was dirt cheap to make, probably less than $100 for everything, that’s a complete steal. The cushions cost twice as much as the entire build.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Wood Finish Ebony - Stain

The chairs were difficult to stain with complete coverage, on the tables I stained the piece before I assembled them and it was significantly easier and turned out much nicer.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Pantry

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/25/2023 - 13:48

Thanks again to Ana White we learned the skills to create our pantry unit.

Comments

Front Hall Armoire

Our big old house doesn't have a front hall closet, so I decided to make the Nursery Armoire for our extra coats and shoes. Since our ceilings are so tall I decided to make it the full 96" that I could get out've the sheet of plywood.
I also modified the plan to adjust the door heights so that the top would make good coat hanging and the bottom can be used for shoes and boots. I also changed the drawers to be on the outside instead of behind the upper doors.
I used 3/4" plywood for the box and pine for the doors and trim.
For the doors I pocket holed the frames and then routed an edge on the backside and stapled pine paneling to fill out the middle. This matches doors I made previously to make cupboards in our full-wall brick fireplace (and the hardware matches too).
I did the top trim as in the plan, and I decided to leave the bottom plain.
It's quite large! But in the space a smaller one would've looked silly, so I'm glad I went with the height.

I decided to paint it so that I didn't have to fuss with staining, but went with the same paint as the walls for the backs and undersides of shelves to lighten it up.

Can't wait to fill it up! ....just have to give the dark paint one more go-over....

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint! "Wine and Dine" Exterior semi-gloss from Canadian Tire! And an interior yellow paint leftover from the walls in the foyer.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Coat Rack with a Cubby

Our mud room/laundry room is very busy with 2 boys and 2 adults. Scarves, gloves and hats are generally tossed here or there, usually far and wide when it comes to my boys.

My solution was a coat rack with cubby. Like most of my creations, it is a Kelley Special, all up in my head. I don't have plans, although I will make some when I make the next ones for me and my husband.

I used poplar 1x4's for the sides, bottom and back attachment and 1x6's for the front where coat hooks will be mounted, 2 small coat hooks on the sides, wood glue, and pocket holes to construct it.

If you add the time I spent on it, it didn't take too long, but it took a while since it was a few minutes here and a few minutes there. I am very happy with the final product, and we are starting to test it out now that the weather is cold again.

If you want to see more pictures take a swing by my blog: www.trekkiemom.com

Estimated Cost
$20-$30 per coak rack - not sure anymore
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
2 Polycrylic clear coat, light sanding between coats
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse bedside table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/07/2016 - 22:07

perfect nightstand for our guest bedroom.  We love how easy the plans are. It was exactly what we were looking for and the cost to build was around $40. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Hand rubbed stain finish with poly sealer.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

DIY Greenhouse

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 16:02

Thank you so much for the plans. We enjoyed building it. We love it!!!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Modern Craft Table *tweaked*

Completed Modern Craft Table! We tweaked the plans a bit because I was looking for a larger table top. The top now measures 48" x 76". We simply did this by adding an extra set of cubbies to the other side of the shelves. Absolutely LOVE how this turned out! All I need now is 4 counter height stools built and lots of shelves to complete my craft room! Will be sure to post those once they are completed!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ultra White Latex Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Ana White

Thu, 11/17/2011 - 01:10

Darn I was so excited to see you craft table! I apologize that your brag post did not show images. If you can send me images at knockoffwood(at)gmail.com I'd be happy to post. Thanks so much for submitting a brag post. Ana

Guest (not verified)

Sun, 03/04/2012 - 07:31

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your craft table. I want one! Looks like my husband wil have to get busy! Thanks for sharing!
Kristina
Houston, TX

Kimmy (not verified)

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 17:51

Is this the pic of the one you did ?? I am wanting a bigger table top too. I have waited years for just the right table and this is it.

Kimmy (not verified)

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 17:51

Is this the pic of the one you did ?? I am wanting a bigger table top too. I have waited years for just the right table and this is it.

Kimmy (not verified)

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 17:54

Is this the one you made ? I want a bigger table top as well. But I don't see the extra cubbies.

Kimmy (not verified)

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 17:54

Is this the one you made ? I want a bigger table top as well. But I don't see the extra cubbies.

naildoctors

Tue, 05/29/2012 - 00:05

This is great!! I am planning something similar, but what is your idea or the plan you used for the middle support to keep it from sagging over time? My idea is to run another cubby in the middle from side to side. What do you think?

Laura Mulholland (not verified)

Mon, 01/21/2013 - 09:54

I love the modern craft table, just what I have been looking for, do you share instructions, dimensions, etc.? thanks, Laura

HapETexanGal

Thu, 05/12/2016 - 15:14

I'm loving this and would love to have FIL build it for me but the plans look like its for the regular modern craft table but not the tweaked?  Also is there support for the middle?  Can you send me a link for the tweaked supply list please, can't seem to find it.  Love what you do!

Children's Zoo

I made this as a gift for a friends Baby Shower. It's meant to mount on the wall and hold Baby's stuffed animals. After the Shower yesterday, it's half full of animals already!

I used pine, and a "walnut" stain by minwax. We only stained the structure part so the bars would look like they were a different material. I also used glue, a staple gun and my Ryobi Airstrike automatic nailer - it's a new toy for me, but one I'm in love with already :)

Please feel free to click over to my blog for details on how to help build yours! ---> http://projectjumanji.blogspot.ca/2013/10/what-ive-been-up-to.html

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
minwax stain - "walnut"
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Industrial Closet

Submitted by cgarrett42 on Mon, 05/20/2019 - 05:35

After being "so done" with the original closet that came with the home, I decided to rip out all the wire shelving and make a custom closet out of 1x4s and 2x4s.  I pre-stained all the boards and cut to custom lengths.  I kept the integrity height for the shelves of 42" and 84".  Instead of using galvanized pipe, I used Halefe Premium Oval closet rods.  In the end, I have a very stout closet and a much better use of space.

For the small shelf beside the window, I used 1x4s cut to custom length.  Under the hanging shelves, there will be a shoe rack.

 

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$350.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Walnut Polyshade
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Ariel's Coffee Table

I built that table for a friend using primarily hand tools. The only power tools were a table saw to rip the legs from a scrap 2x12 from another project, and a drill for draw-bore holes.

The table is made from pine, so that it is light enough for a woman of small stature to carry it up to a third-floor apartment. The frame is made with mortise and tenon joinery for strength, and the joints are draw-bored to make sure it doesn't fall apart in our lifetime.

The top is a glued-up panel from five other boards. This was my first panel glue up, so it was a little bit exciting in the same way that a kitchen fire is exciting. The surface has a rustic texture, made by planing it smooth with a cambered jack plane. The texture isn't visible under normal lighting, but with a raking light you can see it. It's very interesting to run your fingers over this table because of the texture from the plane, and the strong grain of the white pine.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
The finish is amber shellac, with four coats of gloss polyurethane, thinned 1:1 with mineral spirits to improve the flow and help the finish self-level.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Wood Trug - Kit Form

Submitted by rosiejane on Tue, 10/29/2013 - 01:25

I made these back in February. I came across this project on Jamie's site (http://thatsmyletter.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/t-is-for-trug-naked-versio…) earlier in the year and thought that it would make a fantastic birthday gift for my 6 year old nephew. I gave it to him in kit form complete with nails and glue so that he could assemble it himself. I predrilled the nail holes. Of course I then had to make one for my own 6 year old so that they could build them together. I adjusted the size to accommodate some tools my dad had given them for Christmas. Time indicated includes personalisation time.
I've had a bit of practice painting names since this project. Each time I get better at it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
under $5
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Used cheap craft acrylics for the stripe and the name. Due to time constraints I skipped the protective poly coat. I did go back later and add poly to my son's one.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project