Community Brag Posts
Custom Wall Media/Entertainment Center
We purchased our first LCD TV, which meant we needed a new entertainment center to put it on. We looked at quite a few furniture stores and couldn't believe the price tag on the big centers. I wanted more than just a TV stand, so I convinced my husband to help me build an entertainment center ourselves. I looked at a lot of different entertainment centers, even a few on this site, and then I drew up a picture of what I was envisioning, tweeking things here and there (I have three little kids so I needed to make sure the center piece was high enough to keep little fingers off my expensive TV, and I also knew I wanted all Satellite Receivers and DVD players out of reach), and we went to work figuring out dimensions. We designed the TV opening around the exact dimensions of our new TV (it's a 46" tv, if that helps you imagine the opening size) and then figured out the rest of the dimensions after that. Once we had the dimensions figured out, my husband went to work calculating what materials we would need. Then we got to work. We built the center in four different pieces (two side shelf units, the middle bottom stand, and the middle top piece). We spent every night for the next week working in the garage to build the entertainment center, and it turned out absolutely beautiful! And the best part? The price, of course. In total, we spent $546.00. That includes wood, trim pieces, paint, primer, hardware (knobs and hinges). Not too bad for a beautiful entertainment center made of real hardwood!
Comments
In reply to Wow! This is absolutely by Lori E (not verified)
Mon, 08/08/2011 - 12:14
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 09:38
This is beautiful! Do you
This is beautiful! Do you have any tips on cutting and getting the crown moulding to fit right?
In reply to This is beautiful! Do you by Diana (not verified)
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 16:17
Crown Moulding
I was worried the crown and bottom moulding would be tricky, but it wasn't too bad. To make sure it all lined up perfectly, we screwed together all the pieces (the top center piece to the two side shelving pieces and then both the side shelving pieces to the bottom center piece) first. We had it all put together just as it would be in the house and THEN we measured and cut the crown and base moulding. I had painted all the moulding first and then just touched it up after we put it on the entertainment center. I think we wouldn't have been able to get it to line up perfect if we hadn't screwed it together first, screwing it together get it a nice snug fit.
Mon, 08/08/2011 - 07:16
Beautiful!
If I didn't actually see the building process of the entertainment center, I wouldn't have believe you built it yourself!
In reply to Beautiful! by kaytrishjr
Mon, 08/08/2011 - 12:13
Thank you!
I wouldn't believe it either, if I hadn't been the one spending so many hours in the garage building and painting! Thank you! :)
Wed, 08/10/2011 - 13:59
Fabulous!!!
This is exactly what I need! Happen to have the dimensions? I know I could modify it to fit our TV but I'm really wondering how deep your side bookcases are. Thanks!!
Wed, 08/10/2011 - 14:16
Dimensions
Thank you! The dimensions are as follows:
Side Bookcases:
19.5" Wide
12" Deep
72" Tall
Center Piece:
54" Wide
19" Deep
84" Tall
Hope that helps!
Wed, 08/10/2011 - 14:35
Thank you!!
I appreciate your quick response and help!! We're in the process of planning this one right now! :)
In reply to Fabulous!!! by sdking1981
Thu, 01/03/2013 - 10:23
We finally got cracking and
We finally got cracking and put together formal plans to build this piece. Go to our website to see them, here's the link:
http://www.jrlwoodworking.com/2012/12/furniture-plans-custom-entertainm…
Good luck! Let us know if you build it!
Wed, 08/31/2011 - 23:53
Height of TV Ledge
Wow! Your entertainment center is beautiful and seems wonderfully functional! Just wondering what the height is of the ledge for the TV in the center console. We have little ones too and need TV and componenets to be out of reach! Also, would you mind sharing which plans you used as inspirations for each part? I think it is the Basic Collection for the bookcases and the Tommy for the center? Is that correct?
In reply to Height of TV Ledge by Guest (not verified)
Wed, 01/18/2012 - 14:19
Hi, sorry for the slow reply!
Hi, sorry for the slow reply! I am not 100% sure (I can't find my tape measure!) but I think the TV ledge is either 30 or 36 inches high. I wanted it high enough that it wouldn't be hard to watch the TV while sitting, but enough that it would be hard for little fingers to touch the TV.
Mon, 11/21/2011 - 16:24
Wonderful/Question
Hey Kristen,
Your entertainment center looks beautiful!
Did you use Pine wood for the entire project or did you use plywood for the top of the side book cases and the top part of the Media center. Did the paint cover up all the knots?
In reply to Wonderful/Question by azca33 (not verified)
Wed, 01/18/2012 - 10:59
Thank you! We used plywood
Thank you! We used plywood on part of it, mostly for the center pieces. If I were going to do it again, we would have used plywood more because it was knot free and much straighter. The paint did a good job covering up the knots, and I am overall really happy with it!
In reply to Wonderful/Question by azca33 (not verified)
Wed, 01/18/2012 - 11:00
Thank you! We used plywood
Thank you! We used plywood on part of it, mostly for the center pieces. If I were going to do it again, we would have used plywood more because it was knot free and much straighter. The paint did a good job covering up the knots, and I am overall really happy with it!
In reply to Wonderful/Question by azca33 (not verified)
Wed, 01/18/2012 - 11:00
Thank you! We used plywood
Thank you! We used plywood on part of it, mostly for the center pieces. If I were going to do it again, we would have used plywood more because it was knot free and much straighter. The paint did a good job covering up the knots, and I am overall really happy with it!
Sun, 01/01/2012 - 16:27
Doors, etc.
My husband was sure we wouldn't be able to tackle building an entertainment center until we saw your photos. We are excited to take on this project. Yours turned out beautifully! Can you fill us in on the finishing that took place after this blog ends: doors, etc.?
In reply to Doors, etc. by JennieB (not verified)
Wed, 01/18/2012 - 14:22
Thank you, we love it! And
Thank you, we love it! And we loved building it ourselves and saving a ton of money while we were at it. Sorry for the slow reply on this as well. We cut and measured the doors, gave them a simple finish by routering the edges, and hung them. For the drawers, we build a basic box, added the runners, and then finish nailed the drawer front onto the box. They work perfectly! I distressed all the edges once everything was completely finished and hung.
Wed, 01/18/2012 - 06:52
Entertainment Center/ Apothecary Center
What is the style/ color of knobs and pulls you used on this project. I am in process of building this. ALso, what is the cherry stain? Did you use that on the distressed parts of the center??
Thanks for your help!
Chris
In reply to Entertainment Center/ Apothecary Center by Chris Manitz (not verified)
Wed, 01/18/2012 - 14:27
Congrats on building the
Congrats on building the entertainment center! You will love it! I ended up using brushed bronze knobs and hinges (similar to this: http://www.handlesets.com/rusticware-950-1-1-4-modern-mushroom-knob-fro…). They turned out perfect with the black paint. They stand out enough, but not too much to distract. As far as the stain, I just used a Minwax Cherry gel stain. I would wipe it on the areas I had distressed (around the drawers, cabinet doors, edges, etc.) then let it sit for awhile and then I wiped it back off. It gave the distressed areas enough color to not look raw, but it still stands out. I hope that answered your questions!
In reply to Plans by Jeff (not verified)
Thu, 01/03/2013 - 18:35
Plans
Okay, the plans are now posted here:
http://www.jrlwoodworking.com/2012/12/furniture-plans-custom-entertainm…
Hope that helps you out!
In reply to Plans by Jeff (not verified)
Thu, 01/03/2013 - 10:23
Plans
We finally got cracking and put together formal plans to build this piece. Go to our website to see them, here's the link:
http://www.jrlwoodworking.com/2012/12/furniture-plans-custom-entertainm…
Good luck! Let us know if you build it!
In reply to entertainment center by Brandi Vancott (not verified)
Thu, 03/01/2012 - 18:56
No Plans
No, sorry, there are no official plans for this. I just drew a picture of what I wanted and my husband calculated everything out from the picture. The general dimensions are listed above, though, if that's any help!
In reply to Love this by Carey (not verified)
Tue, 02/25/2014 - 13:36
JRL Woodworking
Yes, you can find the plans at http://www.jrlwoodworking.com. Best of luck!
Fri, 03/02/2012 - 16:40
You guys did a beautiful job!
You guys did a beautiful job! I am so glad to see someone built almost the exact unit I was picturing. :) Ana's inspiration strikes again!!! I didn't see one, so wanted to ask if you blogged this elsewhere so I can read more details about the process. Thanks!
In reply to You guys did a beautiful job! by Cheramie (not verified)
Thu, 01/03/2013 - 10:24
Plans
We finally got cracking and put together formal plans to build this piece. Go to our website to see them, here's the link:
http://www.jrlwoodworking.com/2012/12/furniture-plans-custom-entertainm…
Good luck! Let us know if you build it!
Mon, 12/31/2012 - 13:40
Plans
Okay, I finally posted (actually, my husband did) plans for our entertainment center. They can be found on our woodworking blog here: http://www.jrlwoodworking.com/2012/12/furniture-plans-custom-entertainm…
Please take a look at them and let me know if you have any questions. Hopefully this will help other to build their own similar projects.
Sat, 03/16/2013 - 15:53
Looks great
I love the the shelf above the TV. If you make that shelf about 6 inches tall, you would have enough room for a center channel speaker, or for an XBox Kinect.
Chunky Rustic Kitchen Island
I wanted a Super Rustic and Super Chunky Island with out the Super High price tag. So I turned to pintrest for inspiration. I switched up a few things , but the end result was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Score!!!!
Lovely entertainment center
I went with inset doors with chicken wire instead of the sliding barn doors, and I added an additional shelf.
For the top, I stained the bare wood with the antiquing glaze, then I added the whitewash pickling stain over that once dry. Then a sanding sealer, and finally the antiquing glaze again, concentrating on the outer edges and knots. It gave it an old, barn wood look.
For the rest, I used the whitewash pickling stain (Minwax), sanding sealer, and then the antiquing glaze (Valspar). I did 3 coats of polycrylic on everything after.
Crooked Dog House
Thanks for these plans! Worked perfectly. One day build.
Comments
"Sweet Dreams" - CUSTOM KING-SIZE HEADBOARD
I constructed this generous sized king-size headboard (tagged "Sweet Dreams") from a large number of beautiful deep discounted photo frames (pretty matting, exotic glass, all black purchased from Kroger for $1 each on a clearance rack) and featuring favorite photos of my daughter (for whom the headboard gift was intended) and her husband and children. For little more cost in wood for the framing and rope lighting to provide a soft glow through the channeled glass that surrounded each photo in the center frames made this the perfect gift. When it was hung on the wall with legs for support and mounted on a "french cleat". I coupled the headboard with two beautiful black nightstands I bought from a yardsale and painted to match the headboard. Then we placed wrought iron candlelabras over each nightstand and VOILA! It is a beautiful beadroom! Total cost: approximately $60 Best footnote, the photos can be changed out to keep the headboard fresh and current. (Do know...this is VERY heavy and must be handled with great care because of all the glass in the frames.)
Comments
Mon, 08/01/2011 - 08:36
Resourceful!
What a great idea. Would love to see a photo of all the projects combined for the full effect!
Tue, 08/02/2011 - 16:12
Could you add some close ups
could you add some close ups and different angles please i really would like to see how this was done.
Wed, 10/17/2012 - 14:35
Sweet Dreams King Size Headboard
Unfortunately Luis, I do not have other photos of the headboard...none of the "construction process" nor other angles of the finished piece. The basic process was first knowing the average width of a king sized headbard, then acquiring the inexpensive photo frames and laying out the configuration you like best. Then I took 1"x1" 8 or 10 ft long pieces of unfinished wood and built a "frame" of horizontal pieces..first laying the wood on the floor, then putting the frames in their planned final arrangement by using cut pieces of 1x1 to put vertically between the individual frames to get the spacing correct. Then I put the end 1x1 pieces on to complete the 4 sided "frame". NOTE: I worked with the framing wood "face down" so that once the entire configuration was determined and all wood pieces were cut and in place, they could be joined together. I used glue and small metal plates that spanned the tiny joints and screws that made the joints more "permanent". Once all joints were finished, I used tiny wood screen moulding and glued it in place on two of the four sides of each opening (toward the back, precisely placed so that each photo frame fit flush with the face of the front of the frame). Then I painted the wood frame black (front, back, sides, top, bottom, etc). Once dry, I glued each frame in place in each opening. NOTE: Each frame, accessible from the back,allows for photos to be inserted and changed out. Finally I glued tiny wood medallion wood embellishments in each of the four corners and applied narrow wood trim that appears "carved" and three dimentional (using glue and tiny finishing nails) to the primary vertical and horizontal frame pieces. Then I carefully applied a final 2 coats of black paint. Lastly, on the back side, I took rope lighting "holders" that screw in place and mapped the hidden rope lighting and installed the rope lighting...out of view of the front view but where the soft light could illuminate the headboard. The final puzzle was how to put the headboard in place. First I built a wood rectangle the width of the headboard and the heigth I wanted the overall headboard to be and glued and screwed the base together...and painted it too. Then I made a "french cleat" that is simply a 2x4 cut at an angle so that when one piece is permanently attached to the back of the headboard with screws. Attach the other half to the wall, screwing it into the wall. Then 2 people can lift the heavy headboard onto the wall cleat. The base should rest on the floor and the cleat holds it to the wall. NOTE: You can google "french cleat" an look at photos and note instructions to see how to do this part. Hope all this helps. I will be glad to answer any other questions. Good luck.
Cedar loungers
I used 2 x4 x8 cedar instead of the the 1x4x8
Patrick's Beach Cottage Media Center
Modified the plans to have sides like the wide cabin dresser, and took out top two drawers for media center
Comments
Wed, 11/14/2018 - 05:54
Thanks, the stenciling about
Thanks, the stenciling about killed me... Stupid OCD... lol
Simple 2x4 potting bench modified to include antique window.
I made this for my Mom as a birthday gift. I adjusted the dimensions a bit to accommodate the window, gave it a shabby chic look, and then added some decorative hardware. Very happy with the result!
Comments
Mon, 07/25/2022 - 21:43
Great gift!
The end result is fantastic. I am sure your mother is thrilled! Thanks for sharing:)
Dress-up Storage finally!
I made this for my girls' huge collection of dress-up clothes. I had to modify the plans a little to fit more costumes, and also to try to fit the longer length. I was hoping the longer dresses would hang without filling the bottom quite so much, but to make it tall enough for that the little one wouldn't have been able to reach the hanger bar.
I ended up with 4 foot boards all around - 6 pieces of 1x12 cut to 4 feet long, including the shelf at the top.
The eight year old cut the letters out of scrapbook paper and we glued them on with elmers glue then varnished over it.
All in all it looks great and holds 4 big plastic totes worth of dress-up (11 Halloweens/4 little girls/5 flower girl dresses and miscellaneous other outfits).
Now I'm just hoping they'll learn to use hangers and it will stay neat and tidy!
Construction was very easy and went well - took us longer to shop than it did to build!
Painting on the other hand took a long time, mostly just to wait between coats. I used spray paint and some polyurethane to gloss it up.
DIY Storage Lockers {No Mudroom? No problem!}
I love my new lockers, and I am in love with building! I think the Kreg Pocket Jig is my new best friend!
This is my first project, and I made a couple of changes to Ana's awesome plans. I used bead board for the backing instead of ply wood, and I added divider shelves on the bottom shelf. I also added hooks on both sides of each locker so that my kids can hang lots of stuff.
Since I am a total beginner builder, I made a few mistakes as I built these lockers. If you are a beginner, too, please check out my post on OneCreativeMommy.com so that you don't have to make the same mistakes! I included a chart that shows the order I used to put everything together and added instructions for the extra dividers.
I am loving my organized space (and so are my kids)!
See the project now: http://bit.ly/lockers-kids
Pin it for later: http://bit.ly/14FpeHD
Hint--one quart of paint is not enough! I bought one quart of primer and one quart of paint. I scraped the cans clean and had to leave a few hidden spots with only one coat of paint. I have nothing left for touch up. Splurge and buy the larger can. You can always use it to paint accent pieces to match!
Easy night stand!
I made this fast and easy table, I was using as a small night stand in a small bunk room at my work for a coworker. I used scraps that I had and had him choose a paint I had on hand! Covered the top with polyacrylic to add some protection!
Comments
Red Hen Home: Vanity Project
Although it looks like a console now, the eventual use of this project will be as a vanity with a top-mount sink!
Blanket Ladder
My husband was an amazing woodworker and when he passed away he left me a wood shop full of tools. No skills but with amazing directions, I was able to make a blanket ladder to hold the quilts that I so dearly loved. I think my husband would be very pleased!
Comments
Fri, 08/05/2022 - 12:06
Very sweet and touching!
This is fantastic, great job indeed, thank you for sharing.
Apothecary Media Console
My wife first saw these in Pottery Barn one day listed for over $2,000.00, we then stumbled upon Ana White's Website and noticed she had plans. I printed them out and went to lowes to buy the material. I didnt own a saw so I had them cut the MDF for me. They ended up cutting it way off from the measurments so I ended up buying a skil saw and some stain grade pine and went to work. I get frustrated following measurements, so I ended up just looking at a picture and making it custom. Took me a few months working on it every few days, sometimes a week at a time. Thanks for looking!
Comments
Mon, 08/08/2011 - 08:04
Nice job! Thanks for
Nice job! Thanks for including the progression pics. I'll have to attempt this soon.
Wed, 08/31/2011 - 07:39
Looks like you built 3 boxes
Looks like you built 3 boxes and joined them together ? You said you used pine for this. Did you just go with 1x12's or did you join boards together with a kreg jig to make it deeper ? Awesome job this is my next project.
Reclaimed beauty
All wood used was reclaimed. Some tabletop pieces were warped, but added character to the table. Took about four 6-hour days with interruptions in between. I bought the stain from the Habitat store for $1.50 and the poly was left at the house we recently moved into. The stain was brushed on then rubbed in with a rag. I originally used about six coats of oil-based poly and when that didn't seem to work, I applied 2 coats of Polycrylic.
Kitchen Cabinets with Countertops
I would like to thank www.stonecoatcountertops.com for the ideas on the countertops,
first off I used 3/4 MDF for this project, Ana White's momplex cabinet plans and just extended the plans to the size i needed, i created the doors out of MDF cut to size and used a router to create the design on the edge and the countertops are made with MDF, expoxy,spray paint, and metallic powder in 91% alcohol. this plan was so eazy, and my kids had a blast doing it, Thanks Ana for the cabinet plans
Epoxy $95gal
spray paint
metallic powder $30
Modern Park Bench Plan
I love the plans for this bench! Very well thought out plans, easy to cut the wood and easy to put together. Thank you for all the hard work in coming up with all of these great plans!
Reanna Tovar
Comments
Corner Hutch Storage Bed for my Girls
I made this bed for my 2 girls who share a room. It was my first real attempt at building anything substantial. They are thrilled. The plans were so easy to follow. The only thing I did different was use 3 inch screws in the hutch base because I felt it made it more sturdy. I used bead board for the outside of the hutch and the back of the book cases. Thanks Ana for such great plans.
Comments
Tue, 12/25/2012 - 04:39
I really want to do this for
I really want to do this for our twins who are about to move to big girl beds. However, I do not see the plans for this. Do you have a pdf to show how to build them? I especially love the hutch!
In reply to I really want to do this for by Rachel Stacy (not verified)
Wed, 01/16/2013 - 18:16
bed plans
It's from the twin storage bed plans, and the storage hutch plans too. I don't have a pdf myself, but all the plans are from Ana's site. Good Luck!
Comments
Ana White Admin
Fri, 07/01/2022 - 11:11
Stunning work!
Thank you for sharing, this is amazing!