Community Brag Posts

BABY/DOG GATE

Well with a new addition to family it was time to start baby proofing the house. With some help from the wife we decided to build a dual purpose door to keep babies out and dogs in. After looking all over the internet this is what we found. I hope you like it. sorry about the photo being so dark..

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
antique white paint and kona stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

L shaped loft beds

Submitted by AbiCurrie on Wed, 01/13/2016 - 00:49

We have 12 foot studs in our house so I wanted to make use of the height of our ceiling to provide more space on the floor for the boys to play! With two boys sharing a room, the beds were going to take up a lot of valuable floor space. I found the bunk bed plans in Ana's book and decided to modify them to make loft beds. We had to do two so decided on an L shape so we could fit them into the room! Once we made the first bed we decided we should put only one set of stairs in to save space. The safest way we could think to do this was to place the stairs against the wall so the boys were less likely to fall. The stairs double as book shelves. The coloured rope was an added safety feature we thought up and gives me peace of mind! This was a fun, relatively easy build for two non-builders making their first big project. I bought a Kreg pocket hole jig for this project and it was a life saver. I can't imagine doing this build with out it!!! We completed it in about two to three days while my brother was down on holiday. It was fun and good brother sister bonding time! I am about to embark on phase two of the boys room, this time by myself , adding a storage dresser under one bed. I will modify Ana's laundry dresser plans to fit some plastic storage boxes. Then a day bed/sofa under the other bed using Ana's Alaska cabins day beds plan and finally (if I'm still standing) a shorter version of the craft table for the middle of the room! That's my year planned! Hope you enjoy the pictures, the beds are so big and high it's very hard to get a good photo. 

Estimated Cost
$300-400 NZD
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dulux - White paint matte finish. I painted all the wood before assembly, I highly recommend this. It needs another coat post build but I can confess I haven't gotten around to it yet!!!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse King bed headboard, frame and platform

I followed most of the farmhouse plans for the headboard and footboard.  Adjustments were made for the size of our mattress being 80x77 here in Canada.  Also the primary reason for building a bed was to get away from boxsprings as I am am just too sensitive with previous back injuries to they 'not so flat' feel.  Because of this I somewhat designed a slat system based on our mattress' guidelines for maximum gap between slats.  I framed a simple setup just 3/4" below the side rails so the slats would be flush with it.  Also our floor is not flat (yikes) so the side rail is not the same measurement from end to end it is instead done using a level (out 1/4" over about 7 feet).

 

 

Estimated Cost
Cost was actually near $500 here in Canada. Lumber in about $240 and I did not have any wasteful cuts. I did not have all of the screws, brad nails, glue and so on so the greater cost was paint plus hardware which was a shock. I do have plenty left over for future projects though. Still happy though as the bed would be far more new and I know its not made form mdf with a veneer. A week in and very happy still with everything.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
We ended up painting primarily because of the Cedar/Spruce contrast. The Cedar was primed then 2 coats of white. The Spruce was all done in 2 coats of white with about 8 hours between coats. We definitely cheated construction and started 4 hours after the last coat, which I wouldn't advise even though we didn't have issues. It was a risk because of a time crunch.

Behr No 7900 Alkyd Satin Enamel
Kilz Premium Primer/Sealer and stain blocker for the cedar
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

I can’t believe I did this! Thanks Ana!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/17/2023 - 11:21

My first “real” build! I’m thrilled with how it turned out! Thanks Anna for giving me the confidence to give it a try.

Comments

learning tower

Submitted by clamoss on Wed, 10/30/2013 - 23:02

Thanks for the plans. I'm a novice at best, but this was an easy, well designed project. Our boy is going to get a ton of mileage out of this!

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Quilt Rack

Submitted by mtairymd on Sun, 01/17/2016 - 11:04

Build Instructions: http://www.instructables.com/id/Quilt-Rack/

This is a nice little project that can be made in an afternoon. The simple design allows for easy construction with only a few basic tools. All joints are interference fit with glue added for extra strength.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Optional
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

My wife built a bed.

Submitted by AKMan279 on Sun, 06/02/2019 - 20:45

We looked for a simple plan for a bed and found this one on Ana’s site.  Easy to build in a weekend.

Estimated Cost
$140 with all lumber and stain.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Poly stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Full Size Simple Bed with Arch

Submitted by jalfieri on Mon, 12/05/2011 - 17:14

I'm building new beds for my daughters for Christmas. My oldest wants a bigger bed, so she's getting the full size simple bed. My baby bear needs a little more space in her room, so she gets the loft bed. The loft bed is finished but no pic's yet, as I can't assemble it till Christmas. For the full bed, I combined the Simple Full Bed with the Simple Bed with Arch. It's not quite finished yet, but here is a picture of the headboard. I'll add more pics when I'm done. I want to thank Ana for the hard work she puts into this website. To go out and buy similar beds to the ones I'm building would have probably cost me a couple thousand dollars, and would have been made of flake board. Because of Ana's plans, both my children will sleep on good quality, solid wood furniture for under five hundred dollars. Thanx Ana!

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr Premium Plus Ultra
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Small Rolling Kitchen Island Rustic X

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/19/2016 - 15:43

This was my husband's first furniture build and he really enjoyed it. The whole project took about three or four hours to build. He changed the top to a plank style with Douglas fir pine planks which I then beat up with a hammer and a screwdriver to look old. The top was then stained with five layers of Minwax Ipswich Pine and sealed with two coats of satin polyurethane. The base of the island was chalk painted, then distressed. I then took the Minwax furniture stain and wiped it on over the chalk paint and immediately wiped it off to age it and darken the chalk paint. I then sealed it with Rustoleum Chalked Matte Clear. We love our new kitchen island and it really fits in with our little cottage!

Estimated Cost
$75-$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Chalk paint, Minwax Ipswich Pine
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Little Kids picnic table

Submitted by nkukona on Wed, 06/12/2019 - 14:23

Preschool picnic table from plans posted on Ana White. Thanks for sharing the plans. My kids and family love the table. Doesn’t take long to make, but painting with two colors added some extra time.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Mirror

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/27/2023 - 09:26

This is a simple project that requires very few tools and a beginners level took about a hour to make:)

Comments

headboard, queensize

Submitted by elainefour on Tue, 12/13/2011 - 08:34

I needed a guest room, pronto, so I made this bed in an afternoon. I used lots of glue and my cordless finish nailer. I'm very happy with the outcome and thinking about my next project. Thank you, Ana.

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
dark walnut stain painted over with antique white milk paint, then distressed around the edges.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Farmhouse table

Submitted by TCrilly on Tue, 11/05/2013 - 17:29

We originally re-sized these plans smaller to make a worktable for my office. Once that was built and we realized that we actually could make a table, we decided to make the full sized version. It turned out beautifully! A couple of clients have actually asked if they could pay us to make them one! Thank you, Ana, for the plans. :-)

Estimated Cost
$110
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Cabot walnut with semi-gloss poly
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Rustic coffee table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/21/2016 - 04:18

I used pallet wood on the top and regular 2x4's on the bottom section.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Polyurethane on the top, and black paint below
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Outdoors couch

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/04/2023 - 18:12

After thinking about it for 2 weeks, going over and over in my head of the sizes to cut and remembering the video of what went where, I put it to action. Took me about 2.5 hrs to build and modify where I needed to.

Comments

Flip Top Storage Bench

Submitted by trev88 on Sat, 12/17/2011 - 13:43

I came across Ana's website while searching for bench ideas and I liked her Flip Top Storage Bench a lot. I like the idea of wood lap joints which can add an antique effect, so I added two wooden squares in the corners of the top 1 x 4.

I still haven't put the lacquer finish on yet but will upload finished photos soon.

Estimated Cost
$50 (minus the finish)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax conditioner, Stained with Minwax Red Mahogany and will be finished with Sherwin Williams Vinyl Sealer then S-W Gloss lacquer.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Victoria Marie (not verified)

Tue, 02/21/2012 - 18:51

You did a great job with this! I love the finish.

I'm actually in the process of making it as my very first building project, and I have a question for you. My bench is kind of wobbly so far. I attached the shelves with one pocket hole in each corner (all that would fit) and I think that's the reason. I think I'm going to need to attach L brackets underneath the bottom shelf for support. How did you attach the shelf, and is your bench sturdy? Thanks! - Victoria

trev88

Tue, 04/24/2012 - 08:13

Victoria,

For the top shelf, I put two pocket screws in each board, in each corner (so 4 per corner).

For the bottom, I put one pocket screw underneath the 1x12 in the corners (total of 4 screws), then the 1x2 or 1x3 strip i nailed into the 1x12.

Everytime board touches board I use glue also. Mine is holding up pretty good and sturdy. I know this stuff is hard to explain so if you send a photo that might be easier to explain.

Trevor

DIY Upholstered Dining Chairs

Submitted by katie0910 on Fri, 11/08/2013 - 08:35

We built these Parson chairs to go with our farmhouse table. We wanted to save some money as well as have chairs that matched our table perfectly. We absolutely love them! I modified the plans a bit, so please check my blog post to see how I made these to fit our table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40 each
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Provencial
Minwax Polycrylic
Wood conditioner
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JoanneS

Fri, 11/08/2013 - 17:00

Your chairs look awesome! Beautifully done and the upholstery looks very professional. The finish and colors look perfect with your table. Great build!

Double art desk

We have two girls of drawing age so we made this one a double desk, so each of them could have there own paper roll. We used eye hole fastness on the top and elbow brackets on the bottom to secure to the wall.

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments