Community Brag Posts

Hall Tree

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 07/22/2020 - 05:00

Hall tree I got off your web site, very simple to build, out standing plans I put my own twist into it. I had some cedar tree limbs on my property that I had cut down . I ripped down on my table saw and added to my project. it was a challenge to turn limbs into small boards but worked out well.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Almost $200.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used a Minwax Red barn stain off the shelf at Lowes, brushed on and wiped off . Had to do three coats, sanding is a must and sealer recommended for uniform color.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Wood Chaise Lounge Chairs

Submitted by TexCin on Tue, 09/25/2012 - 14:31

We built two of these wood chaise lounge chairs from Ana's plans. We wanted to make sure they could endure the Texas weather so we sanded, primed and painted them. We used wood we had left over from other projects so our costs were limited to screws and chair pads....about $125 (chair pads are expensive).

Estimated Cost
$125
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
We used primer and paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

First Project - the work bench

Submitted by twinlife on Tue, 07/22/2014 - 00:44

I've been a long time creeper, pinner, favoriter of this site. I finally got a garage sufficient to build. Of course, the first project had to be an actual work bench for the many projects to come.

33" was a bit short for my tastes so I adjusted the leg height to 40". Also half way through my project I realized that my 2x4's were not true 2x4's. This became problematic with the four support beams for the top board. I was able to cut some proper length boards from some backup/emergency lumber. I still plan on figuring out what I want to do with the stain but that was all time allotted for!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Still deciding
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Simply White Homework Desk

Had to make some modifications since I was using some old hinges.  Use some 1/16" cable with an eye fitting on either end.  Since my kids have a habbit of leaning, standing, jumping, and hanging on things I attached it to the wall using a french cleat system using a circular saw.  Pretty easy to do and extremely stable.  Last mod was the corkboard on the back for my wife to post homework and to-do lists. 

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

X-brace Farmhouse Dining Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/23/2020 - 11:59

I used this awesome plan from Ana White and tried to add my own touch on it. After painting the legs, I then routed the edges and stained them to match the table top. Thank you for this plan!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Valspar Ultra interior paint- Black Magic
Varathane stain- spring oak
Minwax finish- polycrylic (gloss)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Play Fences

My first ever building project! I learned a few important lessons: it's really hard to make a straight cut with a jig saw, and you have to use large hinges (the tiny hinges I put on there first ripped right out). It was a great learning experience, the fences really were easy to build, and my two-year-old LOVES them! Now I'm ready for my next project. :)

Estimated Cost
$10 for the wood, I had to get some other supplies too!
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Rusty Cottage

Mon, 10/01/2012 - 04:44

Use a carpenter's square (shown in the "getting started" section to draw a straight line where you will cut. Now for the secret to straight cuts... line up the blade of you jig saw with the cut line and then slide the carpenter square up to the jig saw base and hold it firm so it acts as a straight edge and make your cut.

Wall Jewelry Cabinet

I made this awesome jewelry cabinet for my teenage daughter's room. It holds all her jewelry and then some, and it keeps it looking nice and organized. I followed the Wall Jewelry Cabinet plans, and made just a few minor modifications to better suit the style of my daughter's room. Plans were super easy to follow and this only took a few hours to build.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr Refreshing Pool paint with Ralph Lauren Tobacco glaze
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

jleigh333

Sat, 04/25/2015 - 12:42

I just love the details you added with the trim! It is beautiful! I really love the color too. You did such a great job! I think I may try that with my next cabinet.

Little Kids Picnic Table

Built this picnic table for our twin foster nephews for their 2nd b-day.  It was a hit!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Lumber $15
Paint $20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Exterior Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Console Table

Submitted by katprausa on Sat, 07/25/2020 - 12:55

Pretty impressed with our first project! Thanks for the excellent plans!! I can't wait to start on the matching side table and coffee table!!

My Version - 4 Cubby Bookshelf

Submitted by Jake on Thu, 10/04/2012 - 10:56

I was inspired by Ana's 4 Hole Cubby Bookshelf and a bookshelf I saw on line one night. So I incorporated the two somewhat. I took stair parts for the corner legs and connected them to form a frame with 1x3 on the bottom and 1x2 around the top. Then installed the inside side walls such that the ends are inset. I added a top with an inch or so of overhang on the sides and front. I also made the two shelves adjustable with my new Kreg Shelf Pin jig. It was so easy and accurate. Dimensions are about the same as the 4 Hole Cubby but I admit I winged it at times. Came out very nice and now the wife wants to add another shelf and I think there is plenty of room.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About $50. I overbought the wood and the legs and top cost $16 so I think $50 is a good guess.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain - Minwax Gunstock 231
Paint - Rust-o-leum Moss Green enamel spray
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Jake

Fri, 10/05/2012 - 04:50

If you have not noticed I put the top on facing the back of the bookshelf. How stupid can I be? I'll answer that question. I am often stupid but at least not dangerous. I will add trim to the front to hide the stuff I don't want you to see and then post a new photo.

2x4 Bench

I found this plan on morelikehome.net and had to try it this was my first project in 20 years and I had so much fun building it. I am looking forward to building more in the future! Enjoy!

Estimated Cost
50.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Brown semi - solid stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

farmhouse queen

Submitted by hurley on Mon, 11/07/2016 - 12:05

This was my second project. I built it with my hubs and we had a blast. We have a boxspring so we used 2x6s, but laid them flat. We also used 2x12s for the sides and instead of attatching the sides permanantly we used bed hooks that we ordered online to attatch the sides. 4x4s were impossible to find. We ended up buying treated ones and sanding them for ages.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
minwax special walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic Hall Tree with a Few Tweaks

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/28/2020 - 07:52

Made a few tweaks to support using some leftover wood from a previous project and hide a seam in the beadboard.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Console Table, very fun and easy to build

Submitted by dalio1610 on Sun, 10/07/2012 - 17:19

Was very easy and fun to build , built from very easy and cheap console table plan

Estimated Cost
50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax, Dark Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Classic Chair X 8, a poker room is born

Great, beefy chair with a rustic look around the poker table with side tables (another project that took longer than anticipated); the plans were great and easy to follow. I made a few modifications:

- Reduced the width from 19" to 16" to fit around the table.
- Made the seat out of 1x4's horizontally mounted with an extra support underneath. It helps to keep the cushions from sliding and I liked the look.
- Rather than pocket holes I counter-sunk and used oak plugs.

I did the whole thing assembly-line style creating "kits" as I went along. That allowed me to make jigs for each cut so things were reasonable close from chair to chair. Also, I only made one attempt at the jigsaw cut for the rear angle...the jigsaw got very upset. For the rest, I used the chop saw to make little slices and then chiseled and sanded.

Two coats of Danish Oil on everything gave me the look I was trying for, kind of the back-room-in-an-old-John-Wayne-cowboy-movie vibe. Leave your pistols at the bar.

The times and costs are per chair, the whole thing took a whole lot longer!

Estimated Cost
$35/chair
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Danish Oil, Dark Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Hidden Desk

Submitted by Sb1212 on Fri, 11/11/2016 - 12:46

This is my favorite build so far!! Mines measure 52Wx30Hx14D. I use 11 3/4(1x12) strip plywood boards instead to fit our space. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Rusteolum Heirloom white spray paint. Two coats of polyacrylic in satin.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Wall mounted bottle opener - rustic

Submitted by Ulrike on Fri, 07/31/2020 - 09:44

Quick and fun little project. Had everything laying around the house except for the actual bottle opener.

Estimated Cost
$5
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Beginner Coffee Table

Just finished this farmhouse coffee table for my in-laws who live in Nova Scotia, Canada! This was my first try with the coffee table, but I have used plans from Ana for other projects and genuinely appreciate the simplicity as I am far from a master carpenter. As I started this project, I was determined to use pocket hole joinery (and glue) wherever I could. It took a little more thought, but the goal was accomplished! I finished the wood with BEHR water-based stain & poly, golden oak, and high gloss. I added crates, finished with a natural stain, for storage of small blankets; I also added the felt pads to protect their laminate floors. Thanks again for the plans, Ana!

Letter H Shelf

Submitted by Huthbert on Tue, 10/09/2012 - 15:07

We're expecting a baby in November and we picked this as our first Nursery Decor project!

We were originally inspired by the Letter Z project we found on here on Ana's site. So we went ahead and made our own design on google sketch-up. It was a good first project for us to learn how to use Google sketch-up (although we still aren't very good at it).

We wrote about building the project on our blog here: http://thehuth.blogspot.com/2012/10/brought-to-you-by-letter-h.html

This was a fun project and we love the way it turned out!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
25-30
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
-Behr Paint- Irish Mist
-Polycrylic (We used Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Bunk Bed Build!

Submitted by ladyj on Sat, 08/02/2014 - 12:46

I built this for my kids who are now having to share a room due to another baby on the way. These plans appealed to me because it's junior height and it had stairs instead of a ladder, both of which made the top bunk sleeper feel safer. It was my first furniture build but I do have quite a bit of building experience. I was pregnant but loved these plans and had to build it! I stained/painted each piece separately before assembling it. I also drew up my own stair plans so I could add more storage (it fits 18 cube storage bins!) and built it using 2x6s and 2x12s and galvanized steel pipes for a railing. I added a bottom bunk as well. Under the top bunk mattress, I stapled a $7 grey flat sheet, with the staples hiding, to cover up the 2x4s supporting the upper mattress. The kids love it! Thanks Anna for the inspiration!

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax classic gray, then flat latex white ceiling paint, distressed with sandpaper, then top coated with two coats of minwax polycrylic.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
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