Community Brag Posts

Modern Adirondacks

Submitted by ae1ret99 on Wed, 06/02/2021 - 09:15

First of all I want to thank Ana for these awesome plans. It wasn't quite as easy as she made it look, but I learned as I went, and the chairs look awesome! Lumber now days is probably 2-3 times more expensive, but good quality chairs like these would probably be around $300 plus if buying!

Estimated Cost
$70 for lumber...and another $10 - $20 for hardware
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar Cedar toned Stain from Lowe's
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Kitchen Island

Submitted by Sakman on Tue, 02/24/2015 - 13:09

My first attempt at serious home project. My daughter needed a Kitchen Island and purchasing one was out of the question.

 

Not too tough.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
220.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
MinWax Cherry stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Console Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/24/2017 - 08:28

I really enjoyed this project. Really happy with how it turned out! I ended up using a thin flexible panel board in a nickelboard pattern for the back to help make it lighter. Easier to transport. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
50$
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I had a left over cedar wood top that I left unfinished.
Spray painted the metal in oil rubbed bronze
White paint for the rest
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Geo Bed/Headboard (Queen)

Submitted by cameroneil on Wed, 06/09/2021 - 12:16

Built from the modern bed and geo headboard plans. I edited the plans so the headboard was roughly the same width as the bed. All I had to do was take off everything to the right of the vertical board. I also flipped upside down to look more like mountains. These are the 6 inch hairpin legs. Enjoy!

Estimated Cost
300
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr Dark everglade, semi gloss. Behr black semi gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Outdoor Sectional

Submitted by jwhipp on Thu, 04/11/2013 - 11:38

We followed the outdoor sectional plan from Ana Whites blog to create this outdoor sectional. First we bought the cushions and custom built this sectional to fit the cushions. We used 2x4's and the kreg jig for pocket screws, then covered the base in beadboard and some pine trim, gave it a good sanding and a nice paint job.

Estimated Cost
900
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
bead board and pine trim
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Juanita_r

Thu, 04/11/2013 - 15:12

I just want to curl up there with a book and spend the day on that lounge, so pretty & inviting. where did you get the base and back cushions, they are a great colour?

jwhipp

Fri, 04/12/2013 - 05:46

Thanks! We built the frame according to Ana's design (customized dimensions for our cushions) and then covered the base in bead board and used pine trim around the edges. The cushions are from the Frontgate Outlet in Cincinnati.

Sideboard with a Slab top

Submitted by matthew854 on Sat, 02/28/2015 - 10:39

Shortened the design to fit the spot and used a slab of white oak I had laying around.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Base: Dark Stain, Shellac, General Milk Paint, General Glaze, General High Performance Flat.
Top: Boiled linseed oil, Shellac
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Cedar Vertical Tiered Garden

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/28/2017 - 03:49

Starting a new garden in a new yard but with limited space this vertical planter was a must.

5 boxes Tiered up 2x6 legs. Changes to the plans Ana White provided include :I added mitered edges to the fronts and backs of each individual box to match the over angle of the legs, slimmed down the box sides to tidy up the look, routed the edges of the legs to sharpen it up and painted and stained/finished to bring the whole project together. 

Estimated Cost
$75.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White Paint, honey stain, semi gloss polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Finally Organizing My Garage - Shelving First

Submitted by bsohl214 on Thu, 06/17/2021 - 17:41

Took every pre-existing bit of rough, thrown up shelving the previous wonder tossed up and the garage walls. Moved the prior owner’s workbench build out of the corner, reinforced it, and relocated it to the center of the back wall. Spent the day building this unit in this corner of the space. Used modified version of plans below. Center gap is for a future build…rolling miter saw cart.

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

Comments

Media Cabinet

Submitted by scidster on Sun, 04/14/2013 - 10:35

Modified the size to be 42" (w) x 16" (d) x 19" (h). Used radiator covering grate for door inserts and left shelves open for horizontal component storage.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
130
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr Swiss Coffee and minwax polycrylic top coat. Applied using Wagner HVLP sprayer (#518080). Pulls from Hobby Lobby.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Dog toy box step stool

Submitted by Quinnfire on Mon, 03/02/2015 - 14:31

This was a quick, easy project. I needed a way for the dogs to easily get on the bed and I also needed a place to store their toys. This was a great solution to both problems. I made it a few inches loger and added carpet to make it easier for them to use. I also cut arches out of the bottom back to give them easy access to their toys.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Simple Bunk Bed

Submitted by jmartell10 on Sun, 06/27/2021 - 09:34

I searched high and low for the perfect bunk beds to buy for my four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter when our third child was on the way. We wanted something that had enough clearance between the top and bottom bunks so my husband and I could comfortably sit on the bottom bunk with our kids to read books before bed and it was nearly impossible to find a pre-made bed that fit that requirement in our price range. I was excited to find this plan because it looked like the perfect fit and we could modify it to meet our needs.

I built and stained most of the parts of the bed (while six months pregnant :P) and my husband did the final assembly. It took us about two weeks from start to finish since we could really only work during naptime and bedtime. We stained them with Behr water-based stain in Classic Gray. I love the way they turned out and they are super solid and heavy. My kids love them too.

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr water-based stain in Classic Gray
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Firewood Shed using Round Posts and 2x4s

Submitted by tommybo76 on Mon, 04/15/2013 - 15:50

I used the basic design principles from Ana's site but decided to use 3.5x6.5 round fence posts (purchased at my local Tractor Supply Company) for a different look plus they are a little cheaper than 4x4 posts. I also used pressure treated 2x4s for some added strength and perhaps longer durability. I used Ana's cedar fence pickets idea for my roof (these pickets are used as walls on one of the other shed plans on this site). I didn't need a very robust roof as my firewood shed sits underneath the deck which provides a lot of protection from the rain. I attached the structure using 3 inch deck screws and the roof with 1.5 inch deck screws (nails would have been more than adequate for the roof but I had the screws on hand).

I did run into some problems due to my design changes. Most of my issues involved attempting to square up the round posts which are much closer in shape to a jagged stick than dimension lumber such as a 4x4 post. If I had to do it over again I would not have used the round posts. Constant tweaks and adjustments to the posts significantly delayed my build time and frustrated me at times. I was just barely able to wedge my woodshed in between the 2 deck posts which actually came in handy as I was able to secure the shed to the deck posts with 3 inch screws...making the shed very solid! The final issue I discovered after loading up my wood shed. The 2x4s at the bottom of the structure began to sag. I fixed this by using my floor jack to raise them up and placed 8 inch tall 4x4s underneath (2 in the front and 2 in the back).

Overall I'm happy with the way it turned out and I really love all the plans on this site...GREAT ideas!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$90
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Fancy X Farmhouse table with 4x4 base

I used 4x4 post for the base.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I sanded the heck out of the table. I then applied a coat of wood conditioner with a rag. I let it dry for about 30 minutes. I then brushed on a coat of minwax Special walnut. I only let it sit for about 10 to 15 seconds, then wiped off the access with a towel and blended it in with the same towel. I let that dry 25 hours and then brushed on a coat of minwax weathered oak. I let this sit for about 14 to 15 minutes then wiped off and blended in with a towel. I let it dry for 24 hours then applied 3 coats of the urethane. Letting it dry at least 12 hours between coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

aggielandma12

Sat, 03/07/2015 - 10:01

We are waiting on our slip cover chairs (on back order). I have built a matching bench that needs to be finished.

dadmandude

Tue, 05/10/2016 - 10:20

I'd also like to build this table using 4x4's.  Can you tell me how you came up with the lengths for the diagonal pieces?  Also, how did you attach the perpendicular end pieces to the top?  I've been looking to do that as well and on all the plans I've seen they used pocket holes and I know that will not last before the end pieces begin to sag.

Thank you!

White Oak Farmhouse Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 06/04/2017 - 15:27

I built this using the Farmhouse Table plans, and we're thrilled with the results. My modifications included making the table longer and narrower to fit our dining room, and building it from some fantastic white oak from a local lumberyard called Boards & Beams in Fairfield, NJ. I used 5/4" thick boards of varying widths for the top, and created deeper overhangs at the ends by making the breadboard ends 10" deep. Unlike a more rustic version using pine, the lumber was extremely expensive, and the oak makes an already heavy table even heavier. Still, it is orders of magnitude less expensive than purchasing a custom table like this, and I only needed to "ship it" from my garage. 

My idea was to match, as closely as my skills would allow, the antique buffet in the photo next to the table. Or at least to build something that would look good next to the buffet. My prior woodworking experience is limited to DIY carpentry and building plywood shelves and radiator covers. I am not a "mortise and tenon" woodworker (although I'd like to learn). The plans are excellent because this was the first "real" furniture I've ever attempted, and it is literally as solid as if it were carved from a single piece of wood. I rented a 12" compound miter saw from Home Depot to make most of the cuts in one day, which worked out extremely well. The visible screw holes I plugged with oak dowls. 

If you decide to build this (or anything) from a hardwood, here are a couple mistakes I made early on that you don't want to repeat. First, EVERY screw into every piece needs a pilot hole. If you have even the slightest thought that your screw is about to strip or break, it is. Second, higher-quality wood is often cut larger than what you find in a big box store. A 2 x 4, which might be 1.5 x 3.5 from Home Depot, can be 1.75 x 3.75. This really matters a lot, and so you have to measure your actual wood and re-calculate every measurement accordingly. The upsides, for me, included fewer warped pieces, less splintering, and greater ease of sanding and finishing.

Thank you very much for posting these plans and for your excellent "how-to" on cutting out the notches. 

 

 

Estimated Cost
$900 worth of wood and screws, $50 for saw rental, $15 worth of stain and poly.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Varithane "Provincial" stain, applied with a rag, followed by three coats of Minwax Wipe-on Polyurethane applied with a rag. I used less than 1 pint of stain for the whole table. The Wipe-on is less glossy than a brush-on. It really wants to go on in VERY thin coats. I may have done 4 coats on the top. In between coats, I sanded with wet-dry grits of 800-1000. The result is a very even finish (but not as even as a professionally applied finish) that you can still feel the grain through, and there are no brush strokes to deal with.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Shanty Sideboard

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/17/2021 - 04:47

Wife fell in love with these plans from Ana White. Took longer than I want to admit to finish, but looks amazing! Thank you for the plans Ana!

This was my first major project for my wife with a set of new tools to start into woodworking.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Around $200 in lumbar and hardware
$500 or so in tools and mistakes learned along the way!
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Valspar ultra white
Minwax Jacobean (three coats)
Minwax clear semi gloss polyurethane (three coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Reclaimed Wood Farm Table

I built this table for a friend a few weekends ago. The reclaimed top turned out amazing!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Polyurethane Satin
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Kid's kitchen

Submitted by Tim Pardy on Sun, 03/08/2015 - 19:01

My wife had decided we need to do something special for our great niece's. .Oh that I should. Lol..It was a great experience, and I would do it again. .

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Nightstand

Submitted by AndyH on Wed, 06/07/2017 - 11:58

Angled leg nightstand.  Legs made from 4 by 4's and angled at 5 degrees.

Finished in  Varathane Worn Navy and two coats of Satin Protector

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane Worn Navy and two coats of satin protector
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Trash / Recycling Cabinet

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/27/2021 - 11:21

This was a build I was able to check off my Honey-do List. We use it as a Trash / Recycling Cabinet. Basic cabinet build with tray drawers for the trash cans.

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

Comments