Community Brag Posts

4x4 Truss Beam Table Black

I had trouble with the angled cuts not fitting perfectly. I have a circular saw, not a table saw or miter saw, so I had to measure with a protractor and mark, then try to follow my lines exactly. Tedious, but I like the table. It is mad heavy though!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30 for stain. I had all the rest of the reclaimed wood. Otherwise, $150.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax "ebony"
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

My Dream Sofa and Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/24/2022 - 11:55

I am so grateful to you as I have learned a lot from your videos. I get the true inspiration from your videos and explanation.

During the pandemic, I was taking my classes online which gave me some extra time and I built two out door sofas and a coffee table. The sofa is from the home depot website and the table is again from hoe depot website but it was you who built it/

Dr. Akhter

Built from Plan(s)

Bathroom Sign

Submitted by jsle_bel on Wed, 06/29/2011 - 19:49

I've been wanting to create some bathroom decor....here it is!

Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Wine Glass Rack

I made this after seeing the Rustic Wood Entertaining Shelves on the Pottery Barn website. I fell in LOVE with the wine glass rack, but $80 was way too much for me. I had some leftover 2x6s in the garage, so I Kreg jigged them together to make the shelf. I found some under cabinet mount wine glass racks at Bed Bath & Beyond for $10, so I bought them and spray painted them with Rustoleum oil rubbed bronze, and attached them to the bottom of my shelf. I found some shelving brackets at Home Depot and used those to hang the shelf on the wall. I could not be more proud of my wine glass rack/shelf!

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Stain in Kona & Rustoleum spray paint in Oil Rubbed Bronze
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

2 x 4 Outdoor Couches

Submitted by Liz Miller on Fri, 05/04/2018 - 10:14

I actually made these a year ago and finally got around to blogging/brag posting. This was the very first DIY furniture I ever attempted. In fact it's what introduced me to Ana White and got me inspired to start my blog! I saw outdoor couches at Pottery Barn that I loved but were way out of my price range, especially because I wanted two. This project could not have been easier. It took me two afternoons, one for each couch, but now that I know what I'm doing I could put them both together in a few hours. They held up with heavy usage all summer. I'm so excited I took a chance on these plans!

Estimated Cost
$45 per couch
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used a Minewax deck stain to help protect them from the elements.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Ana White

Tue, 06/05/2018 - 14:49

What a lovely first project!  Looks like it's holding up well!  I love the dark finish!

Thanks so much for sharing a brag post, can't wait to see more from you!

Ana

Liz Miller

Wed, 12/05/2018 - 06:00

Thank you Ana! I've gone on to build a few more of your projects and I can't believe how much I'm learning following your plans and videos. You have have been a game changer. I didn't think we could afford to update our house in a meaningful way, but through your site I've been able to add pieces that are quality, affordable, and most of all meaningful. I hope more women get invovled in woodworking, you have made it so accessable. Plus, powertools are fun! Thanks for all you do!!

Outdoor Bench

I started giving much needed attention to my deck and found Ana's plan for this bench. I modified it slightly to make it longer (for four seats instead of three).

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Our Simple Outdoor Dining Table

My husband followed the plans Ana-White provided to make me this. I love it! We're also going to make the chairs in the future. To check out additional photos of this table and other home projects we've tackled please take a look at my blog, Our Up House Love.

Estimated Cost
$200.00 for table and benches
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Outdoor Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Coffee Table (Minus the X)

My sister came to me with a picture of a coffee table.  She wanted to build it!  Together we spent a weekend building the Rustic X Coffee table.  She is a little disappointed with how dark the stained turned out, but I actually really like the color!  She has found a new hobby in woodworking and I really look forward to building new projects with her.  Next up, she wants a new tv stand. :)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$65
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Wood Finish (Jacobean), Vermont Natural Coatings PolyWhey (Satin)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cottage Bunk Bed

Submitted by kottmer on Tue, 06/12/2018 - 09:58

I used the surf bed plan and put a plywood face on the front and added the roofline, windows and flower boxes. The steps double as a bookshelf. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Semi-gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Ana White

Thu, 06/14/2018 - 11:32

This is adorable!  Glad you used the surf bus plans - those plans are so easy - smart to just add your own front too it!  Very much appreciate you sharing a photo.  Great job!

Playhouse

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/27/2022 - 10:44

I built this playhouse for my great granddaughter out of pallet lumber and the 2x4’s from the pallets. I just designed it as I built it.

Comments

Project numero uno!

This is my first build from Ana’s plans. First I had to build the work bench in order to have something sturdy to work on. Thanks to home depot it was very inexpensive to build. I didn’t use wood conditioner and now I wish I had. I also used a 2 in 1 stain and seal. In retrospect would have used stain and then a varnish. All and all I’m very happy with the look and the stability. Even though I built it in my garage while its 94 degrees here in Florida I still enjoyed the project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
7.50 in Lumber thanks to Home depots Scrap wood. I already had nails The stain was $6 and I have tons left over.
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Mahogany Red
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Guest (not verified)

Mon, 07/25/2011 - 05:36

Wow great looking little bench. Thank u for all of the procedure pictures it makes it so much better to visualize. Will try to make this with the hubs.

Luis (not verified)

Mon, 10/24/2011 - 21:40

Thank you for positive support. I hope to see your projects soon. Email me with any questions or to show me your projects. Ill be waiting.. [email protected] good luck

Rustic X end table

Submitted by raflis35 on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 15:05

Took a Saturday to make this project. Loved the plans!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
40 dollars
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

yurra-bazain

Sun, 08/11/2013 - 20:50

I'm amazed by 1 day projects and the builders, like you, who pull them off! =D It must have been an incredible feeling to built it and bring it the same day.

Twin Farmhouse Bed with Trundle

Took the farmhouse plan and added a Trundle.   Was initially going to build two farmhouse beds for my two girls, but thought adding the Trundle would free up some much needed floor space.  The girls love it!

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Latex paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

DIY Faux Marble Round Table

Hi friends!

Jen Woodhouse here from The House of Wood. 

Take a good look at this round marble side table. Would you guess that isn’t real marble? It’s contact paper! Yep. It’s true.  We’ve been wanting to put a table here between our sofas for months now, so I’m thrilled to have this project finally crossed off the list. This sleek side table cost about $50 to make!

 

I built this table in about 3 hours – the super simple yet sleek, modern design is beginner-friendly so if you’re wanting to tackle your first project, this is a great one for you. 

Be sure to tag me @jenwoodhouse if you share photos of your build on social media. I'd love to see it!

You can get all the details for this build on my website jenwoodhouse.com.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Rustic Farmhouse Table

This table was quite simple to build. The hard part was the sanding and the painting/staining. It is sturdy. I also like that I can sand or touch up stain if it is ever damaged. Most store bought tables don't have that ability since the table top is usually a veneer.
Step by Step Summary on my blog - http://thequaintcottage.blogspot.com

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
I think it cost under $50 with all the lumber, stain and screws. Me likey!
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
The base has a faux-aged paint finish. Top is Red Oak stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JES

Sat, 07/09/2011 - 18:47

Your paint job for the legs is awesome. I went to your blog to look at the whole process. Great work. The colors for the legs and top go together beautifully. Wonderfjul job! :) J

The Quaint Cottage

Sun, 07/10/2011 - 17:45

Thanks! I really didn't know if all the colors were necessary or if it would turn out how I pictured it in my head, but I just posted a close up pic of the finished leg and hints of the colors show. It is as close to I could get to weathered boards without waiting years to make them.

grandeb3660

Tue, 08/30/2011 - 14:52

Would really LOVE to have the step by step for this table. Love, love, love it!

My new Table inspired by Big Ur, Farmhouse and iTable plans

Submitted by BryanP on Mon, 08/12/2013 - 11:38

We needed a Dining table to fit our growing family and our friends. Combined ideas from the iTable, Farmhouse and Big Ur table plans. Used 8ft boards so with the breadboards it measures roughly 8ft 7in long. Rustoleum Kona stain. Only took the weekend to build. Thanks Ana!

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Kona
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Board and Batten Fireplace

Our fireplace wall was quite plain to say the least. We thought about stone, tile but then ended up doing a simple and inexpensive board and batten wall.  This is a simple DIY project, we kinda made up the pattern as we went.

 

More details on my blog - http://www.woodworkingfourdummies.com/blog/board-and-batten-fireplace

 

Cheers,

Ian

Estimated Cost
$100 - I ran out of white paint, the rest was for mdf boards
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
satin white paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Country shelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/15/2022 - 08:14

Just a country shelf . hubby made this

My firZt Ana White build

Submitted by Francoise on Wed, 07/13/2011 - 17:17

I moved from a big apartment to a small house and I needed more horizontal space. Shelves look great in use and are very stable. All the newbie mistakes in picking wood, cutting and sanding fade into the background.

What did I learn? - This is one time when getting the nice dressed lumber is worth it since they laminate better. I spent a lot of (useless) time applying wood filler trying to get the gaps invisible. - Get the scraps out of the way ASAP so I don't keep confusing them with the cut pieces. - It's hard to set the miter saw to the "same" 10 degrees more than once since its not a preset on the miter saw, so do all the angled cuts at the same time. -For some reason, one shelf was shorter than the rest.

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Spray Paint, 2 cans
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project