Community Brag Posts

Chest of Drawers Build

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/03/2023 - 13:15

I got the idea to build this chest of drawers after watching your mudroom bench tutorial. They turned out great! It’s very sturdy and holds a lot of clothes. Thanks again for the great videos and plans👍.

Leslie

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Harriett Higher Chair

Submitted by Barbarazzi on Tue, 10/18/2011 - 05:29

I made this chair for my two-year old niece so she can sit at the table like a big girl. We call it the "Share Chair" because she has to share it with her two sisters. It was fairly easy to make; I think I spent more time painting it.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Polycrylic over paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kentwood Bookshelf

While staging my sister & brother-in-laws home so they could list it for sale, I ended up with an "empty wall" in their living room and nothing to fill it with, but knew a small bookshelf would work perfectly! I loved the look of the Kentwood bookshelf plan. I'm not the fastest builder, but after a couple hours, I had everything cut, all pocket holes drilled and everything fully assembled. I only applied one coat of stain and a single coat of poly and skipped adding a back...for now. I may go back and add a back later, but for now I'm thrilled with it (and so was my sister!)

Edit:  I finally added a back to the shelf - just in time to sell it to a friend. ;)

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Jacobean stain, Minwax Wipe-on Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Coffee Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/02/2016 - 13:06

This is my first attempt at a rustic coffee table build based on Ana's designs. I used redwood (mostly) and pine for the bottom shelf. The solution was created using white vinegar and 00 grade steel wool. The solution was not diluted (should have done 50/50 with water) and sat for about 15 days (only needed 5-7 to dissolve all wool).  

Hope you enjoy!

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$115
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Vinegar/Steel Wool oxidized solution - two coats, not diluted + Satin Clear Minwax Polyurethane finish (three coats, sanded w/220 grit sand paper in between).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Sweet Pea Bunk Bed turned Castle Bunk Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/18/2019 - 17:40

Used the frame portion of the plans and the window/door layout, skinned in plywood, then skinned in insulating foam board, carved and sculpted to look like stone. Then painted with a combo of 5 different colors. My daughter loves it. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dry brushed laytex paint on foam board
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Farmhouse Bedside Table

This project was a lot of fun and didn't take very long. Already thinking of making another one with different color finish.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
45.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar Ruby Red Spray paint. Used Dark Walnut stain on top and to get the aged look on table.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Toy Workbench

Submitted by spiceylg on Thu, 10/17/2013 - 01:56

Second project for annual church craft show. Loved the idea of using pegboard, so I modified it accordingly. Guessed at cost as we bought 2X6s and 2X12s on clearance and ripped them down ourselves which brought the cost down.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$7
Finish Used
Behr Plus, sorry don't have color name.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Tall Bookshelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/03/2016 - 18:26

easy to follow steps. Good weekend project for a beginner. I just got tools for Christmas and I tackled this without prior building experience. Excited for more projects

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut stain and Sage page with rustic finishing
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Upholstered bench

I loved working on this easy upholstered bench. It was so much fun and so simple. I followed the plan except I raised the bench to 20 inches, because my husband and I are quite tall. I also wrapped the fabric underneath about 1/2 inch and stapled it so it has a tighter look. Thanks for the plans Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Walnut Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Media Center

Submitted by Greenmet29 on Sat, 10/19/2013 - 09:44

I had a ton of fun making this media console! It is my second big project, and I would still consider myself a beginner, but I paid very close attention to detail and I think it turned out great!

I stretched the console out by about 4 inches, so that if I ever decide to put my TV on it, it will fit.

Thanks Ana for your great website!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Three coats of stone hearth semi gloss and 3 coats of minwax polycrylic.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

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