Community Brag Posts

Planked Wood Sideboard

Submitted by eutah10 on Sun, 01/24/2016 - 07:59

Seeing your planked wood sideboard clicked for us and the cabinet we'd been looking for. We wanted rustic and I chose to make it around a plywood casing instead of using the plans due to the poor strength of the pallet wood. Most of the time was used in deconstructing and cleaning the 40+ year old pallets. Also our space called for a smaller unit. It's used as our coffee cabinet. Since I had a basic structure already in the plywood I was able to be creative in how I used the scraps of pallet wood.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Only the 3/4 plywood case, the hardware, and the paint were costs so it totalled maybe $60. De-constructing old pallets and cleaning the wood was time-consuming.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Acrillic paint. Several layers were painted on. I used different colors and painted over them partially to mimic old re-used wood. Many obvious re-used boards were prominent.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Blue egg holder

Hi all,

I made the wooden egg holder for our brand new kitchen. I altered the size because there's just the two of us here since our son moved out. It was a very easy beginner project and lots of fun to build by myself. If you're a beginner like me it can be overwhelming to start, but if I can do it you can do it too! Just go for it. I'm looking forward to build a next project with one of Ana's plans.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Easiest shelf ever

If you need a shelf/ledge, this is the plan for you - regardless of your building ability. Easiest. plan. ever.

And if you are like me - you won't even have to make any cuts! We have this ledge in our dining room along the long wall. it gets decorated for each season and it's GREAT! We love showcasing family photos as well as our holiday decor.

Wood, glue, nails or screws. Paint. Done! It's that easy!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$10
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Sherwin Williams Dove White paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Rustic Stepstool

I'm loving the finish on this, and it's a useful little project.

Estimated Cost
15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I painted it green, and then sanded the edges. I covered the whole thing in the walnut gel stain. This darkened the green and stained the newly exposed wood.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mission Style Table - Loved by All - Porcelain (wood look) top versus wood. Benchese also built from this site.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/26/2016 - 20:56

Table was fun to build and put our own spin on it. Great project for my wife and I. Took a few days to complete and begin using. Table dimensions we builst are 7' by 3.5' exactly as we needed for or dining room.

Estimated Cost
$350.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Pine
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

(Mini) Modern Park Bench

Submitted by philuk on Mon, 07/15/2019 - 15:16

I needed a replacement outdoor bench to fit a small space between two door openings. Reduced the length of the Modern Park Bench to about 44". Also reduced the depth by removing one of the seat planks to retain a sense of proportion.

Had some issues with some of my 2x4s being a bit twisted which impacted the overall build quality but I'm happy with the end result considering the price/time invested.

Tip: spend some time in the lumber yard picking out your own wood - I wish I had.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
£35 in timber.
Less than £5 for the finish.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Two coats Cuprinol Garden Shades in 'Urban Slate'
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Easy Build DIY Planter Box

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/18/2023 - 07:46

I was looking for planter boxes for my front door and these were easy and super sturdy. I absolutely love them and how they enhanced this area! Thank you Ana for this simple yet impactful plan!

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Dream Doll House

Dream Doll House

Estimated Cost
$150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Linseed oil and latex paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

just.plain.chair.

Submitted by biz_kid1 on Wed, 11/13/2013 - 09:22

I guess I never got around to sharing my finished chair! I'm almost ashamed to...1) because it was so long ago when I made it and 2) because everyone else's looks so great!

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

Comments

Kentwood bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/30/2016 - 20:11

I made this bed for my 4 year old. It was my first project. Took a lot longer than I thought it would, but I'm really pleased with how it turned out!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$125 for wood and stain
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax dark walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Minnie Mouse Kids Chair

Submitted by Sketch1999 on Sat, 07/20/2019 - 18:56

I took a shot at the Minnie Mouse Adirondack chair for a birthday present.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum enamel paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Poolside Dinner Table using the Beginner Farm Table plans

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/23/2023 - 17:05

I modified the original plans to make the table narrower and lighter weight for my narrower patio. To do this, I used 1x8 (qty 4) pine boards on the top. The legs were cut at 29.25" to achieve the 30" height. The cross pieces were cut at 25.5". This gave me a 29" wide table. I went with a wood prep application, stainable wood filler, stain (Minwax Special Walnut), and 3 coats of spar urethane (for UV protection). The wood filler reacted with the wood prep and turned orange. I had to sand it out and redo it. Lessons we learn along the way! The brown table with the black chairs coordinates with all of my patio furniture. I am ready to host a dinner party around the pool! Thank you Ana White!

Comments

DIY Shelves

Love how these turned out and LOVE that I had almost everything in my garage already! Here's a tutorial for those of you who would like to make it!

http://sawgrasshome.com/?p=731

Estimated Cost
Less than $30
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
White Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

HAPPIER HOMEMAKER FARMHOUSE TABLE

Submitted by colleend74 on Sat, 11/16/2013 - 14:26

This was our first Ana White project. We knew we wanted to do a table, and decided this was the easiest one for first-timers without a kreg jig (YET!). We made things even SIMPLER by having Lowe's do ALL the cutting for us! I didn't even know they would do that, but they will.... and happily so!

The project went VERY well and we are delighted with our new table. We used Rustoleum "Kona" stain and we used Rustoleum spray gloss poly because Lowes had a bunch of cans of it on clearance. We were happy with the results, though it may not be the best indoor product in the future ;-)

The project took us about 4-6 hours to build, and then we just sanded a little each evening, and the next weekend we stained and poly.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Kona Stain
Rustoleum gloss spray poly
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Breeding house

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/02/2016 - 23:28

My daughter and I dedicate this doll house to my great uncle George Breeding who made a beautiful doll house for my sister when we were kids. I hope my kids will carry the maker bug into the next generation! Great plans!

Estimated Cost
I know I spent more than $350 on material.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
urethane and paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

shannonervin

Thu, 12/15/2016 - 08:21

I'm wondering the same.  The dimensions looks bigger here.  Would you mind sharing?  I like the size of the rooms here.  Thank you. 

Rustic Table with Beam Legs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/28/2023 - 14:52

Just a super heavy rustic table I built for my neighbor. Thank you Ana for help in giving me the confidence to start my wood working journey.

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Storage Coffee table

Submitted by jlbarahona on Sun, 01/01/2012 - 19:56

After a not so subtle hint, my husband embarked on his first furniture build to give me my dream coffee table! (He is in construction by trade- this is not a beginner project!). It came out beautifully and we LOVE all the drawers and storage! He found a few errors on the plan, first of all in the price- ours cost us a bit over $200 with some of the wood given to us by my dad- slides alone cost about $40. He also had to add shims so that the drawers fit with the slides. You may be able to change the dimensions of the drawers slightly so they fit without the shims. We are happy with it, and excited to move on to the next project in our home!

Estimated Cost
$20-300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Walnut stain with poly topcoats; my husband used a conditioner first and then did 2 coats of walnut stain, leaving the second sit for at least 10 minutes before wiping off to get the dark stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

chelseylcary (not verified)

Tue, 02/28/2012 - 17:48

i love this, i intend this to be my next project after i am done with this job... i think i will only do the 2 bottom drawers tho.

jkf1983

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 08:59

Nice job! It looks great! I'm actually going to be build this for my wife and was wondering what kind of plywood you used for the top to go along with the poplar? Did you use 3/4 Birch plywood? I think I'm going to use the General finishes Java Gel stain for the finish too. Thanks!

monkeyshiners (not verified)

Fri, 10/05/2012 - 17:59

ACK! sorry, thought I would get notified if someone posted... IDK if you already finished yours or not, but my husband thinks it is maple plywood, but we aren't sure. after seeing some other projects with the gel stain you mentioned I will definitely have to get some of it for future projects, cause i love the look of it! Good luck, i hope you post photos of yours! If you have any other questions, post them on my blog post here http://monkeyshiners.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-christmas-gift-storage-cof… and i will get an email about it to respond asap. :)

Farm house bench

Submitted by Builder J on Tue, 11/19/2013 - 08:40

Made from scrap wood left in the empty lots besides me, from framing crews.

Cost me just the time, screws, sand paper and stain.

Made all the cuts with a skillsaw, by saving the $$$ I have now went and bought a mitre and table saw. YAY!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$5
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
2 in 1 Miniwax PolyShades, Bombay Mahogany. 2 coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic lap desk

This was a fun afternoon project built almost entirely from materials I already had on hand. I finished it off with a coat of Gunstock stain by Minwax, followed by a coat of Cherry stain. I sanded a little between each coat. Next I applied a thin coat of black paint and sanded gently until the stain started to show through (and bare wood in places). Finally I applied a coat of polyurethane gloss. It took about four days to complete the finish and I made it up as I went along. Super happy with the end result. I opted not to add the side bins, but I did add an extra 2x2 on each side, mostly because the 2x2 I used for the legs was a little bowed and the exta piece ensured that they'd stay where they're supposed to.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About $12. I had to buy a 1x4 and some hinges.
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax stain in Gunstock and Cherry
Rustoleum Gloss Black
Minwax Polyurethane Gloss
(I already had these colors on hand)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner