Community Brag Posts

We modified the Weatherly Sofa plans to fit the 29" cushion covers we found on sale at Pottery Barn, and we filled the cushions with the DIY inserts from Cushion Source. Instead of using 1x2's for the X's, we used 1x3's and my husband spent the better part of an afternoon trying to figure out the angles!

The wood and paint came to about $100, and the cushions were $500 for the inserts and covers (6 cushions and 14 pillows) when all was said and done. A bit expensive, but we love it!

Added kitchen and dining room storage by building bookcases / shelf units to fit under the peninsula breakfast bar overhang. It's the simplest possible "box with a toe-kick", loosely based on Ana's plans for a bookshelf and the closet master system.

Much of the "working time" was stain and finishing time. Actual cutting and assembly time was under 3 hours.

No dimensions: every breakfast bar is different.

1 - The boards were cut to fit under the overhang, with 1/8 or less clearance. Top and bottom of unit is between the upright pieces.

2 - Width of units was also cut to fit. One unit is the width of the lower section of countertop (appx 23 in), the taller section was divided into 2 equal units (appx 21 in)

Shelves were cut about 1/4" narrower than the insiude dimension of the unit, to allow for insertion and the shelf pegs.

3 - Toekick space cut to match the cabinet on the far side of the peninsula. Used a circular saw and then a hand saw to finish the corners.

4 - Drilled pocketholes in the top and bottom boards.

5 - Used Rockler's jig for drilling shelf pin holes in the 6 uprights. Oops! I should have drilled every possible hole. I drilled every other hole and don't have the shelf flexibility I really need.

6 - Stained and topcoated everything, let it dry.

7 - Assembled each shelf unit, using corner clamps and a carpenter's square to make sure it was square. The bottom shelf is screwed at the same level as the toe-kick.

8 - Slid units under the overhang, shimmed them firmly under the countertop.

9 - Added shelf pegs and shelves

DONE!

Doors could be added, using the hinges for inset doors on frameless cabinets.

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NOTES:
The units are backless. I considered nailing a 1/8 hardboard back onto them, but because the finished back of the peninsula is visible behind them, and they are shimmed into place to prevent slouching it was not needed.

Cost is low because we had some 1x12 boards in the attic. Already had the tools and stain from earlier projects. 3 1x12 x 6ft boards were new, the rest were salvage.

* I have tred EVERYTHING to get this picture right side up!!! So sorry it is upside down! This was my first every woodworking project and I am very pleased with the result. I have used it many time since for other projects now too. The plans were easy to follow and although it took me some time it was easy to make. Very sturdy and a great size to work on. I made it out of wood from orange and stained it with weathered oak stain.

I'm so grateful for these plans! Since we were building in a basement against a concrete wall, we just made each side with the vertical 2x4 supports, then anchored the shelves to the exposed studs on the side walls for safety. This project was so fast and easy -- I put them together one night after the kids went to bed. They're 8' long and 2' deep, very sturdy, and they were highly economical to build. I love that the shelf is smooth and flat, too, as this makes it easy to store small things as well as large totes.

This was my second project (first was a work bench) and it came out great.

Ready to grow my own vegetables.

Jeff DeVries

I changed the size a little smaller to fit the area but turned out great

modified all 3 plans to sizes I needed

This was my first ever project! I built the skyscraper bookcase and then built a second one, only modifying it to make a locker style cabinet for backpacks!

Built from discount 70% off lumber from Home Depot. I planed and cut down to size with a Ridged planer and table saw, then screwed together with kreg pocket screws. Since I will be kneading bread on it, I used a natural coffee stain and then butcher block finish..

I changed the height of this king size bed and upgraded the boards underneath to 2X3 since I'm a big ole boy and I wanted this to last for years. - Don White

I love all the free plans. I built this one last year based off one of the plans. Edited to add space length and width, with an end for taller cans. by Chasity Abbott on Facebook

I have lived in my house for over 9 years and have never done anything to it until recently. I have made the commitment to move away from plain white walls and boring "plug-n-play" furniture. I discovered Ana's site a few months ago and have been a daily visitor. I made this dining room set with the confidence Ana's instructions gave me and I am forever grateful.

I made a few adjustments to the Parson Chair, making it longer in the back and used 5 degree angle instead of 15 and made the seat wider for our hefty hips and I used all 2x3s for the "chair bones".