Community Brag Posts

Michaela Kitchen Island

Modified the plan to use 2x2 with pocket screws to support the shelves.

Shelves were made edge glued board from Lowes https://www.lowes.com/pd/Common-1-in-x-24-in-x-4-ft-Actual-1-in-x-23-25…

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150 - not including the granite countertop
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Spray painted the legs with Flat white paint
Stained shelves with General Finishes Gel Stain in Antique Walnut - 3 coats
Applied General Finishes Top Coat in Satin to everything - 3 coats
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Platform bed

Cedar and pine. The pine ,pine,head and foot board, on this project have ants holes, which one cannot reproduce.

Comments

Tryde Coffee Table

Submitted by dreamer43 on Sun, 07/24/2011 - 01:35

Tryde coffee table made from a combination of pine and recycled wood from old pallets.

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

Comments

Tryde Media Console with doors

Submitted by blawson972 on Wed, 08/21/2013 - 15:04

This was my second project. It took a little longer than I wanted because I don’t have a table saw :( I didn’t trust Lowe’s to cut the plywood for me since it needed to be perfectly square and they only guarantee their cuts to be within 3/4" so I had to wait to go to my dad’s house to borrow his, but other than that it went pretty fast!

I kept to the plans for the most part, but I added some trim and cabinet doors. I knew that at my house the inside of that cabinet would be a hot mess in a matter of days, so I wanted to have a way to cover it up! I just used 1x4’s to frame the doors and leftover scrap 1/4" plywood from the back for the faces. I used a router to rabbet out the doors so I could inset the plywood instead of it just sticking off of the back. They turned out pretty good considering they were my first and I had never used a router before! Overall, I am really happy with this one! I’ll be making the matching pieces this weekend - the coffee table, end table, and entry table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75-$80 + stain/poly
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Minwax pre-stain wood conditioner, 2 coats of dark walnut oil based stain, and 2 coats of polycrylic in clear satin. It turned out great!
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Picture Frame Sliding Door Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/15/2018 - 07:41

I took the original plans and modified them to work with my requirements. Most of this piece is made with pallet wood. I made the rails from aluminum bars and sliding door pulleys. 

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark walnut for top and doors. White chalk paint for cabinet.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Parsons Coffee Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 06/25/2022 - 11:33

I host an Airbnb and wanted to add a small fire table feature to the outdoor front porch of it. Everything prebuilt was either very large or very ugly, so I decided to build a small coffee table and add a tabletop lp gas unit I found. I had built Ana's Farmer's table before so I searched the site and found the Parsons Table series. Ana's plans are so straightforward and easy to customize so I scaled it to fit the space. I added some privacy panels to hide the lp tank making one hinged for access.

Comments

Bathroom Storage Cabinet

I built this cabinet to store magazines and diapers (towels when the time comes) in the small 1/2 bath.

The top was made with left over oak pieces from when I ripped out the carpet and 2x12 stairs and replaced with oak treads.

Estimated Cost
$20 (already had the treads)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
jacobean stain on top, pale sandy beige paint with jacobean stain used as glaze on body.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Debi G

Wed, 07/27/2011 - 11:15

I just created something similar. The way the top and body coordinate, and how the top cubbies are sized make this a stand-out.
Something similar would work for my classroom, too.

Cedar 2-Drawer Desktop Storage Cube

Submitted by JoanneS on Sat, 08/24/2013 - 15:02

This is the prototype build for the Cedar 2-drawer desktop storage cube. It is made from 1 piece of ½” x 5 ½” x 6’ fence picket, about $3 for wood. I had based this plan on a board that is ½” thick and 5 ½” wide, and had identified areas in the plan where you’ll want to measure and cut as you build. I found this especially important on the prototype build, since it turned out the picket I bought was 5 3/8” wide, which affected the depth of the shelf, length of the drawer sides, and the size of the drawer bottom. Measuring and trimming as you go gives the best fit for all the pieces. Probably the most helpful thing besides keeping the measuring tape handy, was some 60-grit sandpaper. After everything was assembled, I used 60-grit sandpaper with my palm sander to sand down any high spots caused by cupping, to get the outsides nice and smooth. Followed up with some 220-grit for a nice smooth final sand. The pulls are some ¾” x 1 ½” pieces of the cedar, sanded well on all sides. I just cut these from the scraps, and they are glued on. You can use regular knobs or pulls if you like. You may need a shorter screw or a ¼” spacer, since the drawer face is only ½” thick. The screws for regular knobs are normally sized for a ¾” thick door or drawer face. This build took about 3 hours. Finishing time will depend on the type of finish used. My words of advice for building this would be: Take your time measuring. Measure twice before cutting. Sand thoroughly. Have fun!

Estimated Cost
$3 for wood, + finishing materials
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I plan to stain this with Minwax Express Color in walnut, to match the 1-board cedar desk accessory set that I posted last week. But I had to brag this one with it au naturale, because I thought the grain on the cedar was so pretty and I wanted to show it off. It has a neat kind of striped look which is pretty all on its own. I’ll add the stained picture of it below, later this weekend.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

X-less Rustic X Console

Submitted by ianp on Wed, 10/07/2015 - 12:36

I made this using the Rustic X console plans but changed a few aspects. Instead of 2x2's I used 2x3's to beef up the cross beams and removed the X. Also extended the shelves out a few extra inches.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax classic grey and Minwax Dark Walnut.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Love this ladder!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/22/2018 - 13:42

It took me about  2 hours to finish my ladder. I used 3 2x4s. The sides are 6 feet long and the rungs 17 inches each with a space of 13 inches in between. I used PH for the rungs.

I stained it with medium walnut Danish oil.

I left 5 inches from the top. I wished I had left more room in the bottom but still pleased with the outcome.   

 

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Laundry room pedestal

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/08/2022 - 21:38

We decided to redo our laundry room, and my wife really love the idea of doing a pedestal for the washer/dry. Built the first off your plans then made a smaller one to add more storage space. My Wife loves the loves the laundry now.

Comments

cubbies

Submitted by vic b on Mon, 08/26/2013 - 13:31

I love the numbered cubbies from pottery barn kids, and decided to make a version of them for our son's new desk in his playroom. Our son keeps his science things in them.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$5
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
white paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Gift Wrap Organizer

Submitted by biz_kid1 on Sat, 10/10/2015 - 20:55

I built this to donate to our church's fall festival's live auction.  My peg board didn't line up with the boards for me to completely screw it in, but I just used nails in those spot...no big deal at all!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
All in all, it took about 8-10 hours (not including paint drying time) and I spent about $50, INCLUDING all the fillers!
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-Oleum Spray Paint in Regal Red
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

large blanket chest

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/29/2018 - 06:34

chest  size   60" long 22" deep  22" tall

   made with pine

  painted white with a walnut stained top

Estimated Cost
100.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
gloss white and walnut stained top
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

artsy twist on the coat rack

Submitted by diggspot on Tue, 08/02/2011 - 23:56

An artsy twist on the typical coat rack. Instead of coat hooks I used railroad ties. Instead of paint, i used a blow torch and burnt it black and for the art.... I used a dremel tool and engraved a classroom of 1st graders artwork into the wood.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
blow torch, dremel tool and a clear coast finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Larryshandywife

Wed, 08/22/2012 - 22:36

What a great idea!! My husband works for the railroad and he would love this idea. Thanks for sharing!!

Asa's Clubhouse Bed

Submitted by h.abbott on Wed, 08/28/2013 - 18:16

This project has taken longer than anticipated. I love how it turned out, and so does my son. My husband did most of the work on this. I will be adding pictures once I finish the window grids and the bottom curtains.

I blogged more details if interested in reading.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Around $300 estimated
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Conditioned the wood and sealed with water based glossy seal.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic X-Console Table

Submitted by LN2014 on Wed, 10/14/2015 - 14:19

Rustic X-Console Table made from just 2x6s striped in half to make the legs instead of using 2x4s and cutting down a 2x6 to 1 1/2in cuts to make 1x1 stripes.  I used 3/4in sanded plywood for the shelves. Everything was put together with Kreg jig screws and wood glue. Stain was applied using an air compressor and spray gun to spray a even coat of stain in sections at a time, while the stain is still wet, I wipe off the excess stain with a clean rag leaving an even wood stain finish results. This cuts the staining from what would normally take hours of painful hand staining to just minutes with a spray gun. After the stain drys, I go over the table with either fine wool pad or 1000 grit sand paper to remove any rough spots. I then apply the polyurethane with the spray gun as well. Once that dries, I go over the table again with 2000 grit wet/dry sand paper leaving a ultra smooth even finish. I use a total of 6 (2x6 white pine boards) striped to needed sizes and half of (4x8 sanded 3/4in plywood) for this project. I had to modify the demensions for the different sizes of cuts, but overall saving money instead of buying the individual 2x4s,1x1s, and solid pine boards. It takes a bit longer but well worth it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane Ash Stain
Varathane Satin polyurethane water based
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mail sort/locker inspiration on a flip top bench

Our old cluttered coat closet is now lockers with lots of storage. I chose not to do the Braden bench due to a space issue so I framed a bench out with 2x4's, lined it with ply wood, covered the front with some trim and bead board and topped it with a nice piece of stained oak 3/4 inch plywood. The lids were cut and attached with continuous hinges and inside I used 2 lift hinges so that little fingers won't get smashed. I attached the lockers to the bench with a few Kreg jig screws which worked really well.

Estimated Cost
less than 300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

StacieM

Sat, 08/06/2011 - 21:35

Wow that looks great! It really opens up the space and I like the stained oak top, very classic.

kelli224

Sun, 08/07/2011 - 07:22

This is so nice!! It makes the area look so different and I'm sure you appreciate all that extra storage. I also love that stained top. It looks perfect with the floors.

Debi G

Sun, 08/07/2011 - 13:42

Love this idea! I think I'll make a flip top bench to fit my closet. I could climb on it to reach the upper shelves, or sit on it to put my shoes on. And it will be so much nicer than the hampers I'm using for shoe storage right now. Thanks for the inspiration--it looks fantastic and is a great use of space.

Craftycraftswoman

Mon, 08/29/2011 - 06:48

Thanks. I am glad you ladies like it. It has been a God-send for us! The old backpack dumping ground is now a hallway again:). I have even added a "daddy locker between the door and the lockers with a small box for his stuff....I think I need one now too.

mrsmillikin

Mon, 09/12/2011 - 17:41

This looks amazing! If you can, would you tell me the dimensions from top down, just heights, of the cubby system. I'm trying to get a feel for the propotions.

Thanks!

Craftycraftswoman

Tue, 09/20/2011 - 16:06

We have 8 foot ceilings. This nook is 65inches wide so each locker is 15 inches wide (and change). The bench is 18 inches high. The lockers are 45 inches high. The paper cubbies are 4 inches. The square cubbies are around 10 to 12 inches as are the top rectangular cubbies. I wish now that I would have also bumped out the square cubbies to make the deeper and provide a place to put some more down hanging hooks but it has been so handy that it is hard for me to complain about much.

Folding (or not) Plant Stand

Submitted by Beth H on Sat, 08/31/2013 - 14:28

This was the most complicated project I've built yet, and of course I had a few problems. First, I drilled some holes in the wrong places, and things didn't line up. So i drilled them again. Then I had trouble with holding everything level without a helper. When it came time for the plant stand to stand ip, it wouldn't.

No worries. I screwed a couple of short boards underneath the top rack and made it a Stationary Plant Stand!

The thing is really cute and everyone asks me where I got it. I tell them I made it myself from Ana White plans. They never notice the extra holes in the legs or wonder why I can't fold it up and store it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Spray paint with primer
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner