Community Brag Posts

Rustic Table w/ two tone finish

Submitted by Ash_Ahrens on Wed, 08/21/2013 - 19:35

This was totally my first real build. Like most others I modified the plans to fit in my mother-in-law's dining room. I used 4x4s for the legs and built two benches to go with it.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Varathane Cabernet stain with polyurethane top coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X

Submitted by Burrel on Sat, 10/03/2015 - 08:22

I built this for my daughters house warming gift.

Estimated Cost
125.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Love this bench!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/16/2018 - 10:38

This was my first real project from start to finish. We bought rough lumber from The Home Depot.  Between having a toddler, tweenager and a life it took about a month of sporadic work but it was a great bonding project for my husband and I.  Guess the overachiever in me should have seen that one coming, I wanted have the full experience of jointing our own wood.  I learned a lot and had a lot of fun working with the table saw, miter saw, jointer, and kreg jig, all of which my husband already owned.  I did not use any glue on this project simply because I wanted to avoid the mess.  The best part about this project was the easy measurements..I'm not too good with the confusion.  It made it so much easier when cutting, specifically the 45degree angles. 

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
None at this time
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

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!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$550
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
We used an oil based primer, tinted as dark as possible, and then an oil based semi-gloss (satin) black paint. After painting was finished, I distressed quite a few areas (edges and around drawers and cabinets) and then used a q-tip and stained them with a cherry stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Diana (not verified)

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 09:38

This is beautiful! Do you have any tips on cutting and getting the crown moulding to fit right?

In reply to by Diana (not verified)

kristenlotz

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 16:17

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.

kaytrishjr

Mon, 08/08/2011 - 07:16

If I didn't actually see the building process of the entertainment center, I wouldn't have believe you built it yourself!

sdking1981

Wed, 08/10/2011 - 13:59

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!!

sdking1981

Wed, 08/10/2011 - 14:35

I appreciate your quick response and help!! We're in the process of planning this one right now! :)

Guest (not verified)

Wed, 08/31/2011 - 23:53

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 by Guest (not verified)

kristenlotz

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 14:19

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.

azca33 (not verified)

Mon, 11/21/2011 - 16:24

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 by azca33 (not verified)

kristenlotz

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 10:59

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 by azca33 (not verified)

kristenlotz

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 11:00

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 by azca33 (not verified)

kristenlotz

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 11:00

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!

JennieB (not verified)

Sun, 01/01/2012 - 16:27

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 by JennieB (not verified)

kristenlotz

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 14:22

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.

Chris Manitz (not verified)

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 06:52

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 by Chris Manitz (not verified)

kristenlotz

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 14:27

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!

Jeff (not verified)

Sat, 01/28/2012 - 22:29

Are there plans for this?

In reply to by Brandi Vancott (not verified)

kristenlotz

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 18:56

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!

Carey (not verified)

Mon, 02/27/2012 - 17:05

I really love this too.. is there any plans for it?

Cheramie (not verified)

Fri, 03/02/2012 - 16:40

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!

claydowling

Mon, 03/05/2012 - 07:20

Those arches are most easily cut with a jig saw. You can clean up with a curved rasp and file, or a spokeshave.

ktambascio

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 15:53

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!!!!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Early American stain from Minwax.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Lovely entertainment center

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/24/2018 - 15:22

I went with inset doors with chicken wire instead of the sliding barn doors, and I added an additional shelf.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Whitewash pickling stain, an antiquing glaze, sanding sealer, and polycrilic.

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.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Crooked Dog House

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/11/2022 - 06:45

Thanks for these plans! Worked perfectly. One day build.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

"Sweet Dreams" - CUSTOM KING-SIZE HEADBOARD

Submitted by BamaGurl on Sun, 07/31/2011 - 22:23

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.)

Estimated Cost
60
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Black semi-gloss enamel.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

spiceylg

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 08:36

What a great idea. Would love to see a photo of all the projects combined for the full effect!

Bama Gurl (not verified)

Wed, 10/17/2012 - 14:35

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.

Patrick's Beach Cottage Media Center

Submitted by bcarter_1 on Tue, 10/30/2018 - 04:36

Modified the plans to have sides like the wide cabin dresser, and took out top two drawers for media center

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

Comments

Simple 2x4 potting bench modified to include antique window.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/25/2022 - 17:10

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

Seasonal And Holiday

Dress-up Storage finally!

Submitted by tannisg on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 17:10

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.

Estimated Cost
$50
Finish Used
spray paint, polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

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

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
This project was painted with 2 coats of Bare Wood Primer and finished with two coats of Valspar Rapids in Semi Gloss.

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!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Easy night stand!

Submitted by Medickep on Thu, 10/15/2015 - 08:33

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!

Estimated Cost
Free, since I used stuff on hand, otherwise 40-50???
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used two coats of an old based primer and than two coats of paint, which was Renaissance Alkyd paint. 3-5 coats of polyacrylic on the top surface.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Blanket Ladder

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/05/2022 - 05:12

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!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Apothecary Media Console

Submitted by ratizzle on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 13:13

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!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint and Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

gdayskippy

Wed, 08/31/2011 - 07:39

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.

classic bunk beds

Submitted by jenherndon on Sat, 08/31/2013 - 18:30

Easier than I thought!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dark mocha stain, then sanded edges, then restained with natural cedar color, then 3 coats of satin poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Reclaimed beauty

Submitted by mkrgolf on Thu, 10/22/2015 - 20:38

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.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Colonial maple stain with water-based satin poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner