Community Brag Posts

My wife wanted a new chest to store blankets in. I saw the plans for the Becca and thought it would be perfect for what we were after.

I used some regular plywood I had laying around and some select pine for the trim. I liked the look of the top in the plan but wanted some more texture to it, so I used a solid piece of plywood for the top and layer pine for the trim features. I tested my new chisels to recess the hinges to minimize gapping under the lid.

We painted it solid black to match the rest of the basement furniture. A few coats of poly finished it off for durability.

This took about 2 months for me to get around to finishing. That's probably about...12 hours of actual work, plus finishing.

Adapted Ana's full length mirror storage idea.  I needed to recess the cabinet into the stud cavity to save needed floor space.  Opened two cavities and made the interior the same length as the cheap $6 behind the door mirror.  Was able to just sit them on a ledger board and the shelves hold them from falling forward.

The cabinet looks wonderful and holds a TON of things.  Thanks Ana for the inspiration!

I made this kitchen island for a friend who wanted it unfinished. I got the plan from Ana's site but it was submitted by Brookifer86. I made no changes to the original plans. I did splurge on a project top from Lowes at $22 and the stair stiles (i think you call them that) for the legs at about $2 each. What a really nice project and so easy to build. Hardest part was the 22 cross members on the bottom shelf. I think I will make another one but try to add a small drawer.

The lady that I made the table for has wanted to start building. So I made one small easily fixed mistake for her to fix. When she gets here to pick the island up I will hand her safety glasses, hearing protection, square, pencil and tape measure and let her go to work. She is also bringing shaker pegs that she can install. Should be fun.

THE TOP OF THE TABLE WAS MADE FROM A PINE TREE I CUT DOWN IN MY BACKYARD, THE LEGS ARE MADE FROM 4X4S I FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

I made a couple of chairs to lounge in and added an end table out of scrap wood. This is an easy project, very fun, and very comfortable. I loved the pillows and wanted to add a fun color so I chose "surprise teal".   I definitely recommend these plans for a beginner like myself. Thanks again Ana! 

This was my first project I used poly on and I messed it up. I knew it was going outside and I put the poly on to thick to fast. Other then that I like how it turned out.

Built from scratch whith fake drawers, 3 big doors with shelves inside

reclamed palletwood top plained and sandered, finished with Osmo hardwax.

Improved with side pocket and lower shelf railings. 100% pallet recovered wood.

Our 1st granddaughter wanted doll crib so this is what I made for her. It has survived over the years and has been used by her two sisters.

Found this awesome project but decided to add on a rock climbing wall and an underslung Hammock to upgrade it to full Birthday present levels. My son now calls it his "Epic Bed" and absolutely loves it!

My dad and I built my closet based off your plans but did a little modifying. we made four instead of two spaces to hang clothes and the very bottom part will have doors to make them into drawers. 

Made some sliding barn doors for a friend.

These were my first set of full size Adirondack chairs. I have several of the kids version. A friend of mine was moving and wanted some to set on her new patio. They were fairly simple to make but the painting was a little time consuming. All in all, I loved the way they turned out and she was pleased :)

The Flickr gallery for this project is at https://www.flickr.com/gp/akutz/86502i/.

A friend of mine asked me if I'd build her a farmhouse table per the plans at http://ana-white.com/2009/12/plans-farmhouse-table-knock-off-of.html. Sadly I still haven't gotten around to building her one (sorry Jennifer!), and that's partly because even after practicing my skills on smaller projects, a full-sized table still seemed like a big job. Around the same time my two year old daughter was walking all over the house, and our coffee table presented a constant threat of head-banging and side-hurting danger. Then I realized I could build a miniature version of the farmhouse table as a coffee table, and in the process round the corners to make it baby-safe!

Unfortunately I'm not disciplined enough to write down the exact measurements, or at least not keep them since I never think anyone will be interested in these things later. I take pictures just to show friends and family. However, since these plans came directly from the aforementioned link of the farmhouse table, it should be easy to figure this out. The only differences were that I created the outer dimensions based on the space the unit would be taking up in my living room. And with a couch with a chéz, it was important to stick to those.

Also, as you can see, I added a second level to the table so that we could place things on it, but also for stability. This was not difficult to do since I just created an internal shelf to place the planks across the bottom.

Since my father is a master carpenter, and I explained to him what I was doing, he also recommended that I not fasten the upper or lower planks to the outside with any single piece. He said that due to weather-caused expansion and contraction throughout the year, if I fastened the planks together at the ends with the bread boards, there would be much cracking. That's why you see the bottom supports fastened to the underside of each plank with an individual block of wood, and not with one long piece. That way the planks can move independently of one another. that's also why they're not fastened together long-ways.

One last note. I built those legs several times. The only way I was ever able to get them correct is when my father told me to buy a long router bit, clamp the legs together, and route them all with guides. He said getting cuts in four separate posts even like that is one of the hardest thing to do if you don't make the cuts at the same time. He was right, and with his approach the table was perfectly level!

This didnt take long at all 2 - 3 hours at most. Really easy and turned out great.