Community Brag Posts

Master Closet - Wraparound

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/29/2016 - 11:41

I thought I'd wait and take these glorious after photos once I was done - but nevermind that idea.  Here are some pictures of progress, start to finish.  I still plan to build some shoe cubbies for the towers so that my wife has a little more shoe-room.

We have a 5th bedroom directly off the master with a double door entrance where the 5th bedroom's closet would have been.  The room had been an office for the previous owner and my wife decided it would be a perfect closet for her.  I followed the plans quite closely for the towers.  I wish I had considered my 8+ foot ceilings and just built the towers taller because 1) storing stuff on top will look messy, and 2) The hanger rods aren't spaced quite well enough for longer clothing.  Because of this, I had to build her another hanger on the other side of the wall, which increased the complexity of the project (corner shelves, more wood, more staining, more finishing, etc).  In the end, I think it turned out great.  I will walk through the process very quickly.

  • Bought premium birch plywood, had them cut it down in the store.  They did a good job.  If I were doing it again, I would buy Aspen or Pine in precut boards, and I estimated it would have cost less than $100 more with a much higher quality and more workability, especially considering I stained instead of painted.
  • Built Towers - used my kreg pocket hole jig a TON on this project.  For boards across the top, I put the pocket holes on top, where they will be out of site.  For bottoms, I was able to use finishing brads to nail down my boards to the frame.
  • Stained wood.  I used an oil stain.  After letting it dry 24hours+, I used finishing wax to turn make the plywood very smooth.  I painted on the wax real heavy and then buffed with an electric polishing wheel.  *tip* no matter what you are thinking, stain your wood before cutting and assembling.  It will save you hours.
  • Built 2x4 bases for the frame of the system.  I used my bases as a template for cutting back the carpet.  I then fastened the bases into the wall studs and sub flooring.
  • Installed towers, played with spacing until it felt right and then fastened them into the walls and into the base.
  • Cut wood down to size for the top and bottom pieces and installed and nailed down.
  • Cut down scraps into strips to support the corner shelves and nailed them into the wall.
  • Cut down scraps into corner shelves.  I used 2 pieces of wood for each shelf and added supports on the underside so that they can bear decent weight.  I should have just done more pocket holes.  It would have been stronger and cleaner.
  • Installed mini crown molding along top border.  Installed 1/4 inch trim on all facing edges (rather than mess with laminating strips). Installed baseboard trip to cover frame and clean up border of frame and carpet.
  • Built drawers using scrap plywood from the project (via the drawer plans on this site).  I didn't mess around, just cut my wood down to the right size and brad nailed the heck out of it.  They are very sturdy.  A thinner bottom and back would have decreased their weight, but I don't see any issues the way they are built.  I opted for the 1/2 inch gap around the border of the drawers.

That is pretty much it.  I think I have about $500-600 in it. Probably 60-70 hours.  If I did it all over again, I could do it better and faster and on the same budget.  As noted in the plans, SQUARE is the most important thing.  I had to fix all the tower shelves once I had them mounted to the wall because they just were not level/square enough.  

Estimated Cost
$500-600
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Varathane Premium Fast Dry Oil Wood Stain and MinWax Dark Finishing Wax
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Hall tree build

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/23/2020 - 16:34

These plans were awesome! Thank you so much for sharing!! I added a few hooks on top for my keys and found this top board at Lowe's for $10, no I have a place to lay my wallet and phone. I tweaked mine to fit my needs but again, this plan was amazing, that KS for sharing! I look forward to making more of your projects.

Note: I chose this project as a weekend long project because I applied paint and it did take much longer for the paint to dry in this cold weather. The build was approximately 1 day.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

DIY Custom Wood Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/18/2023 - 15:11

Modified two building plans into one farmhouse style table. Two of Ana’s benches as well.

Grace LeBlanc

Comments

New Room for Hayden

I promised my daughter that I would build her a new room for her birthday (in February). I finally got around to it in late March and I couldn't be more excited! She picked out the paint color (blue) for her room. And I got to work! Every time I go in her room I smile and feel so incredibly accomplished! I did the whole project myself! The only exception was carrying it up to her room. I overcame my fear of the circular saw which was awesome. The only problem was my oldest took one look at the room, fell to the ground in tears and wanted to know why her little sister had a "better" room than she did. And where her bed was! So I told her we'd get her a desk - she looked at me and said "No Mommy - I want you to build it!" I love that!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Prime and painted.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

dananryan

Sat, 04/21/2012 - 09:11

You have every reason to feel accomplished! The room looks stunning. And you've already inspired your daughters to DIY. Time to build some memories ;-)

Abdul Wahid (not verified)

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 02:48

thankyou very good idea

barnes7483

Sun, 07/12/2015 - 19:31

Okay I have found the plans for the bed, the towers and the hutch on top but i cannot find plans for what the hutch is sitting on.  I know its non on the bed or that would shorten it.  Where can i find plans to build the headboard that the hutch is on?

Porch Swing for a 1924 FourSquare Home

I was shopping for a porch swing for my 1924 Four Square home and I couldn't find any to my liking...I stumbled across this web site on Shanty2Chic's Blog via Pinterest....and I am thrilled by what I have found!

Attached is a photo of the swing I built. I need to finish sanding, filling in the holes and then paint it. I will post a pic of the hanging on my front porch once the weather breaks.

The only deviation in the plan design is that I made the back 2x4 50' long so I could attach eye bolts to support the back. If you have scrap lumber, it would have cost me hardly anything.

Think spring!!

Estimated Cost
$90
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Will use an exterior white paint and poly on it for additional protection from the elements.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Toy room shelving

Submitted by Ybrown118 on Mon, 05/02/2016 - 15:14

Super easy project. My space is smaller so I modified to 6ft instead of the 8ft used in the plana. I plan to make the white board crates to finish the project. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$31
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farm House jewelry Cabinet

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/28/2020 - 12:23

The plans were simple to follow. Made some small changes, used some pine wood wall paneling from Lowes. The pine paneling was used on the back and door. Both were inset with a routed step the same thickness as the panels.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
minwax stain espresso
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Table Top Just Add Legs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 09/21/2023 - 12:21

I built a simple, yet very classy table using table legs from Bear Hollow Supply. All you need is a table top, which in my case I used a nice looking wood slab. Then you just attach the legs and you're done. It's a very simply process and the final results is a great looking table.

https://bearhollowsupply.com/blogs/news

Liberty Casual 2-Drawer 2-Shelf Sofa Table

So my wife got her new Country Sampler magazine the other day and she saw this table in there that she liked. After an hour of research I found the table at Becker Furniture World online. The table is called the Liberty Casual 2-Drawer 2-Shelf Sofa Table by Steve Silver. I decided to draw up some plans in my head and give it a shot. After 2 rounds of Home Depot warped 1x 12s we got the table together. Instead of making this a sofa table, I extended the table top out a little to make it into a console table. If you want to see my inspiration google search Liberty Casual 2-Drawer 2-Shelf Sofa Table by Steve Silver. If you like it let me know and I will give out the wood list and the cut list.

Estimated Cost
40.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Glidden pale yellow and clear coat
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Compass rose plywood table

Submitted by katieclapp on Fri, 02/07/2014 - 15:07

Compass rose dimensions: 22×22 (90 degree cross) tilt 45 degrees 16×16 (90 degree cross) then connect lines with a ruler, start with the 16" lines connect from outer point to 2" from center of the 22" crossed lines, once that star is complete make lines from point of the 22" lines to 2 1/2" down side of star adjacent to that point (hint: it's much easier to look at a picture of a compass rose while trying to sketch it). Cut sizes should turn out to be: 8- 9"×7"×2 1/2" triangles and 8- 8"×7"×2" triangles (hint: we had best results using a table saw to make all the cuts)...

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax stains (black cherry (half the star and the frame), golden oak (other half of the star and strips), golden pecan (strips), and American walnut (strips)); minwax water based polyurethane (blueish green can) for the finish (Awesome Finish Because It Can Be Used With Both Oil and water based stains).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Sweet Dreams

Submitted by Tbacks on Sun, 02/02/2020 - 11:44

A lady that my husband works with just got her forever home through Habitat for Humanity.  We wanted to do something special for her and her kids so we used Anna’s platform plans to build one queen and 3 full size bed frames.  The plans were easy to follow and assembly was a snap on delivery.  

To make the fulls we took the queen dimensions and modified the cuts for the full size mattress dimensions.  
 

Thank you Anna for helping us to make 4 beautiful additions to our friends home.

Estimated Cost
$200/bed
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Varathane Cognac
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Brookstone Headboard

I made this Brookstone headboard (and then made up a bed frame). Total cost for headboard was $30. This is my 3 year old son's big boy bed, and I love it! For the stain I used Minwax water-based, clear tint base, with some black in it.

Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax, water-based, clear tint base, with some black added in. Use water-based wood conditioner first! Polycrylic topcoat.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Jewelry Cabinet

Building this Jewelry Cabinet was really fun and easier than I expected. I made one to give away as a birthday gift, could not resist making another to keep. I don't really have that much jewelry, I just think its gorgeous! I loved the look of the original posted project, that I wanted to duplicate it just as it was.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$35 for wood, hardware, and hardware cloth
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Weathered Gray, then sanded for weathered look
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Slanted x coffee table

Submitted by ephr0n on Sun, 05/08/2016 - 23:01

Weekend Project :)

Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mudroom bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/10/2020 - 05:00

We built upon the mudroom bench plans. The length dimensions had to be modified to fit our room, but for the most part we stuck to the directions. We switched to metric for this project and it was the best decision. Make sure you have a Kreg Jig.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
350
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

Standing Desk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/02/2023 - 10:53

I built this table be ie for a medical student w hi o wanted a standing desk. It’s a basic butcher block design ( my own design) and made from pine 2x10’s. I’m a self taught novice woodworker.

Scott F Hiorns ( Buggies Birdhouses and Other Crafts)

Square Planters

Submitted by kari on Sat, 04/28/2012 - 14:15

When Ana posted plans for these a few weeks back I knew they would be perfect for the front of my house. Instead of putting them on the never ending "to do" list, I just made them!

I kreg jigged them all together.

I used wooden eggs from the craft store for the finials.

Lined them with landscaping fabric.

Fairly easy to make and I love them, but I think I need a couple more :)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Kryon black satin spray paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Barn beam ledge with hidden storage

I modified this plan to allow for interior storage space within the shelving. Rather than nailing the front board on, I attached two lower hinges so that it functions as a drop-down panel. The front panel then secures to the top board with a centrally located screw-in hook and eye (not visible if the top of your ledge is above eye-level).

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Finish in photos created using: http://ana-white.com/2013/08/rustic-yet-refined-wood-finish

...Later discovered a similar but less toxic approach using green tea followed by steel wool dissolved in vinegar.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Sofa Table with Reclaimed Wood Top

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/12/2016 - 06:27

I took the Rustic X Console plans and used some rouch sawn pine and hemlock from a reclaimed lumber yard. We left some of the character (nail holes, saw marks, imperfections) in the table top for a more rustic look. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White is Olympic Assure Ultra White Satin (primer + paint) and stain is Minwax Special Walnut and then I applied Minwax wipe-on satin poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
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