Community Brag Posts

Daughters Desk

This was one of my first, bigger projects. It was so easy! I still need to finish the trim, but my daughter loves it as is!

Estimated Cost
20.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

modular locker with old shutter

Submitted by KendraRyan on Wed, 05/21/2014 - 14:20

This was my first project! I used the plans for the modular locker, but used an old shutter for the door instead. Next, I think i'm going to try to connect 5 or so in a row for an entryway, all with different shutter doors :)

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Love your plans!

Submitted by grhoden on Wed, 06/03/2020 - 14:35

Thanks for posting all of the great plans! Just finished this one after doing a couple of benches and a table. I needs to be sanded and stained but it was a fun project.

Stone Fireplace Entertainment Center

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 03/02/2024 - 11:14

We took out the tv entertainment cabinet and built a frame for a 60” electric fireplace. We found the ledger rock to match the wall I completed two years ago and then I tiled the rock over the backer board and installed the fireplace. The wood on top of the fireplace came from an oak tree that was growing through our deck. I milled the wood and joined three boards to give me the depth I needed, sanded, stained and put a poly finish on it. Love the final result and we gained 6” of space in the room.

Wes Silvey

beachy cottage laundry room with Sausha's pedestal!

Submitted by imeeshu on Mon, 07/30/2012 - 07:33

we remodeled the laundry room to have a beachy cottage feel. best part is getting the washer and dryer off the ground with Sausha's pedestal.

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Benjamin Moore's Ultra White in flat as a primer. Annie Sloan's Louis Blue over primer, then dry brushed Annie Sloan Paris Gray. Sanded with fine sandpaper. Wiped clean and vacuumed. Then clear wax and dark wax, rubbed in very well.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Table

Im sure this wont be the only one of these I make! Thanks for the awesome plans!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Easy planter

Submitted by anm8ed on Sat, 06/06/2020 - 19:21

Love this little planter. Already have ideas for anew version. Need to work that out, but that’s another brag. Thanks for the easy planter plans.

Comments

My Own Chestwick Headboard!

This is my first attempt to make any kind of piece of furniture, and I am really happy with how it turned out! I have been searching for over a year for an affordable solution to the blank wall above my bed, but never found something I loved enough to spend money on or time on to repaint, etc. I just loved the way this one looked in the pictures so even though I have never built anything before I thought I would give it a shot! I found the instructions to be really easy to follow, but the actual process a little harder than I'd thought it would be (due to my own mistakes). I thought I'd list some of the mistakes I made in case someone else reads this and can stop themselves before they make the same ones :)

First, I put the padded part a little wider than the allotted space, so when I went to nail the boards on the edges they didn't go down as smoothly. If I had just kept it within the lines I marked, this wouldn't have been a problem.

Also, I somehow missed the part of the instructions where I was supposed to use glue when I nailed the boards, so between that and the relatively flimsiness of the 1/2 piece of plywood, my boards came undone a couple of times. I eventually decided to use screws to hold everything and that was WAY better and sturdier, even though you can see the screws.

Also, I did not square it well enough along the way and I ended up with a sliver of extra plywood hanging off the side of the board, which made the trim piece on one side have a little gap at the bottom. I don't care though, since the bottom is out of sight anyways!

I saw other people had wondered how to attach this to a metal bed frame, but I never read a way to actually do it. I plan to figure out a way to either attach it to the bed frame or the wall, but for now, I just have it wedged between my mattress and the wall, and it seems stable enough. I hope it doesn't fall on me in the night ;)

I followed the lead of the Shanty to Chic lady and used a 5 dollar canvas drop cloth from Lowes for my fabric and I LOVE the way it looks in my room. I also took her advice and used Rust-Oleum stain (in Kona) and applied two coats of the stain to get the really dark wood.

Overall, I am super stoked to finally have a headboard, and to have made it myself! There is definitely a great feeling of accomplishment for building something like this so if you are hesitant to do it, I suggest you go for it! Next, I think I am going to make the tilt out trash can cabinet for my kitchen :)

Estimated Cost
70
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-Oleum in Kona
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

First Buffet

Submitted by Samdr33 on Tue, 05/27/2014 - 12:52

I took the plans from the Fancy X Console table and made all but the end "X's". I painted the legs and trim with a vanilla white, and stained the top and shelves with a golden pecan. Turned out great and looked amazing in the house of the woman I made it for......AKA my mother.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$70
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
HGTV Vanilla White paint
Minwax Golden Pecan stain
Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Multi-Use Desk with File Cabinets - 3rd configuration

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 08/28/2016 - 15:36

The first version of this desk was built for our office prior to having kiddo #2. My husband altered the plans a bit to fit our room and instead of open shelving on the end cubbies, he converted them into drawers and a file cabinet.

 

Checkout more photos and details on my blog at www.momontrend.com

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Expresso stain on top. Sherwin Williams Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

2x4 Adirondack Chairs

This is the regular (not modern) plan for an Adirondack Chair. The plan worked great and was easy to follow and even more importantly the chair was easy to build! I swapped out the 1x4 for old barn board for the backer and didn't cut the scallop. Nana loved them for her birthday present!

Estimated Cost
< $20 as everything was recycled! I had to buy the screws and glue.
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
The beautiful part about this gift is that Papa can finish them how Nana wants!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

X Bench...with a small twist!

Submitted by RyAngel on Sun, 08/05/2012 - 19:04

We just absolutely LOVE this little bench! Ryan found Ana's site while searching woodworking tips and thought this bench would be a great replacement for the dinning room chairs that were falling apart. It was a great idea!

We have an Etsy shop and create and sell lots of stuff! We loved the bench so much that we thought why not put a few twists to it and see what our customers think. Well they LOVE it too! Of course everyone wants this color and that size, but the core design from "some great plans" is what does the trick!

The benches featured here just show you that the sky is the limit with mix and match options. From a slightly distressed blue X bench to a 100% solid Cedar bench to a reclaimed wood bench! We just love coming up with ways to tweak and add our own twist to the design.

Also...and most important...If you notice, there are NO screws showing on the outside of the bench!!! Yep..figured out how to hide the screws for the 'X' part of the bench. Just email me for the details ... (I get long winded).

Thank you Ana and everyone else who contributes here! Great site with awesome intentions....Can't wait to show you the coffee table we are working on!

-Angel
Email me here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/RyAngelsCreations

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Depends on type of wood and the finish you are after...from $20 to $80!
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
We love to stain! Don't forget to condition the pine BEFORE staining!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mail Sorter

Submitted by abaxter2 on Thu, 05/29/2014 - 13:23

Threw this together in a couple hours with scrap wood that I had from an Ana White project I did over spring break. Had to buy some hooks and the hanging brackets and that was it. Very simple! Not sure how I'm going to finish it. I don't have time for the finishing right now anyways so I'm going to use it as is and finish it later!

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

Console Table Modification to Utility Room Bench/Sink

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 08/30/2016 - 14:09

 Very much like the console table look but decided to modify it to create a utility room bench and sink with open storage space below. Got a 1.75" pine slab to put on top and then cut out the space for a utility sink. Did not put in the cross pieces as the bench was to run from one wall to the washer/dryer setup.  Used dimensional lumber from Lowe's (after perusing several second-hand sources for more interesting woods but prices and quality fell short) and stained with an oak stain. Now may try my hand at an actual furniture piece that will be in a living area and needs to be done right.

Estimated Cost
$500 - lumber for frame, pine slab, sink, plumbing,
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Oak stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Jacob's new bed

Submitted by Pammylaine on Wed, 08/08/2012 - 06:52

I built this bed for my 4 year old son over the weekend....I'll admit to a LOT of help from his Mamaw and Pawpaw. We converted it to a full-size bed instead of a twin...simply so I didn't have to buy new mattresses. We LOVE the way it turned out and he thinks he's King of his own personal "castle". Thanks for the plans!

Estimated Cost
$57.00 for lumber plus cost of paint
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
All I used on the bed was a good coat of Kilz primer (since it was new wood that hasn't had anything on it) and followed it with Valspar Bistro White in a satin finish. I would have LOVED to stain it but, the walls are pretty dark and the white really helps to brighten up the room.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Pammylaine

Wed, 08/08/2012 - 06:53

I should have mentioned that we're not quite done yet. I still have to fill in holes and do a bit more touch up painting on the bed. And there is still stuff going on in the room. I just wanted to get some pictures up on here.

Pammylaine

Thu, 09/27/2012 - 08:10

Thank you :) We had to do some rearranging, the leaf blocked his small television, but it ended up looking really cute. We used lots of green (it's his favorite color and he wasn't too pleased with me for painting the room blue) and that shade really pops against the blue and white.

Chris Nelson (not verified)

Sat, 09/08/2012 - 05:48

I have a couple questions...

1) how is the mattress supported? It's not really part of the directions in the original plan? Are the boards included in your cut sheet?

2) when did you paint?

3) how much sanding did you have to do?

4)What are PH screws and PH holes?? I was thinking Phillips head, which makes sense for the screws, but not the holes.

Thanks!!! This is awesome!

Pammylaine

Mon, 09/10/2012 - 12:07

Hi :)

To answer your questions....
1.) We used 2X4's to support the mattress...They are not included in the cut sheet, they were just left overs that we had. We used 7 2X4's cut at 55 inches as supports. You will want to measure the width of your bed on the inside to make certain you have the appropriate length.

2. and 3.) We cut the boards and sanded (it felt like a lot, but with two people sanding it wasn't too bad) and painted the same day. My parents sanded and then I painted. That cut down the work time. We did have to go back the next day and do another coat on one or two boards but, it wasn't bad.

4.) I took PH Screws to be Phillips head as well, and that's what we used. 2 and 1/2 inch long ones to be exact...we got them at Lowe's...they were kind of a grey color, not the black one. PH Holes are pilot holes. We invested in a Kreg Jig Jr to make our pilot holes. It drills a hole at an angle which allows your joints to be stronger. That way your screw is biting into more wood. The Kreg Jig was about $40.00 and completely worth it. Just make sure you have a C-Clamp if you get one. We did not use a Kreg brand C-Clamp but, the next time we do a project, I'll get one.

We weren't real sure how to use the Kreg Jig so, we searched on YouTube for an instructional video..it's amazingly simple to use and the added security of having strong joints is totally worth 40 bucks.

bhoppy

Tue, 09/25/2012 - 08:09

I loved how your bed turned out! My daughter also has a full sized bed and I don't want to have to get a new mattress so I really appreciate you taking the time to post such detailed instructions on how to convert to a full sized:-)

I could be wrong, but I always thought PH stood for Pocket hole screws... They are actually a little different than phillips head because they are "self tapping” you don't have to predrill a pilot hole into the joining board in order to keep it from splitting... I usually buy the Kreg brand ones that they sell at Lowes but I have read on this site that you can buy them online that aren't the Kreg brand and they will work.

Pammylaine

Thu, 09/27/2012 - 08:08

You're probably correct about the screw thing. When I first read it that was my assumption as well. However, I was told by my dad that I was incorrect, but what does he know?! I tried to make the information that I shared as detailed as possible because I know it can be a bit of a pain in the rear end to have to try to modify something without really being sure of what you are doing.

Good luck with your build if you haven't already finished it. I'm sure she will love it as much as my son does. My only real down side to the bed is that even at 5 feet 8 and 1/2 inches tall I have to stand on my tiptoes to give my son his goodnight hug and kiss. But, whats a little stretching going to hurt? I figure I may as well get as many as I can before he decides he's too cool or old to kiss his mama.

Play Deck/Fort

Submitted by seeca13 on Sun, 06/01/2014 - 10:06

I wanted to build a structure for the kids to play in, but not include a playhouse. I used the playhouse deck design and made it slightly smaller (6 feet by 8 feet). The "roof" is removable to provide shade when it's sunny. It's just PVC and a tarp - pretty simple, but it does the job. I used treated posts and untreated lumber for the rest of it. I painted everything in my garage before assembling it. Once all of the wood at been painted, but came together pretty quickly!

Estimated Cost
$300 (including screws and paint)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Thompsons deck stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
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