Community Brag Posts

Second Squared2 Chair

I purchased and used a circular saw to cut the back legs, which was so much easier than just using a jigsaw like I did the first time. Having experience building one before made assembling the second one simpler.

(Note: The measurements in the photos are different than those in the plans because I cut the back legs to be 37", adding about 1" to the height of the patterned back support to accommodate a 1" seat cushion for future.)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar sample of Birchwood White ($3) with Valspar shimmer powder (remaining powder of previous $7 purchase), teal color ($3 oops paint my brother gave to me).
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Medickep

Mon, 09/02/2013 - 06:59

Are the back legs of your chairs two different pieces?? I noticed they have a curve to them and was curious how you got that look!!

Thanks,

In reply to by Medickep

yurra-bazain

Wed, 09/04/2013 - 00:54

The chair is essentially made in two pieces: the back support and back legs being one assembled piece and the seat and front legs being the other. Each back leg is cut from a 2x4 to make the angled back, which was the trickiest part of the whole build for me. There are diagrams in Ana's plans to explain it visually. =D I hope this helps a little!

Nightstands

Submitted by kaileelev on Sun, 09/13/2015 - 19:21

I based these off of the mini farmhouse bedside table plans, but changed a lot of the dimensions, added sides/back and chose to use plywood for the top, sides and shelf. The plywood did not stain very nicely for me- I learned my lesson! The drawers were definitely the hardest part!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax provincial stain (two coats) with 2-3 coats of polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Doll Bed for 18” doll

Submitted by ehrobson13 on Sun, 08/12/2018 - 10:54

Wow!  I’m so pleased with how this turned out!!  Super easy and mostly done with scraps left over from other projects. Was able to get the bed and bedding completed for under $30.  Smaller (and cheaply made) beds on the AG website cost well over $100.  Thanks to this plan, I’m able to give my niece a birthday gift that will last her for years...maybe even generations.

Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Primer/Finish Gloss Spray paint - light purple
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

ehrobson13

Sun, 08/12/2018 - 10:57

The only reason I listed this as an “intermediate” skill level is because of the sewing portion of the project.  Covering the mattress and sewing the bedding (since there’s no plan for that part of the project) isn’t really a no-brainer sewing project.

16" Garage shelves

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/28/2022 - 21:37

I followed your plan for my 16 inches garage shelves and I absolutely love it. Tons of storage and easy to customize. Each 8 foot shelves is now costing $120 in material - which is still a great deal! Thank you @Anawhite 🙏

Comments

Third Project - Factory Cart Coffee Table

Submitted by scot price on Fri, 07/15/2011 - 12:37

This Factory Cart Coffee Table is my third project. I used pretty much the same design as the Factory Cart Coffee Table plans on the site, with some minor modification. We attached a few pieces of hardware to the sides, and corners of the table to add a little bit more of the industrial look.

Great plans, keep up the good work. I am beginning to build a lot of stuff now. The furniture all looks great, it has the look of homemade, and saves a lot of money over buying in a store.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$215
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
The finish I used on this project was Bullseye Amber Shellac, and Deft Brushing Lacquer. I put down three coats of the Amber Shellac to give the wood a great amber color. I let the shellac dry for a couple days, then added six coats of the Deft Brushing Lacquer. I also spray painted all the hardware with Rustoleum Hammered Black Spray Paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Pam the Goatherd

Sat, 07/16/2011 - 08:20

Been looking at these plans for a while trying to figure out where I could fit a table like this in my teensy-tiny house. Love your interpretation of it. The black hardware is a nice touch!

vaki (not verified)

Fri, 07/22/2011 - 12:41

Congratulations on your beautiful piece of furniture!

Where did you buy the casters and what size did you go for?

scot price

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 07:20

Hello,

Thanks...we really like the look of this piece in the house, and by building it ourselves it saved a ton of money.

I got the casters at Tractor Supply. They are 5 inch casters. The front two are able to swing 360 degree, and the back two are just straight casters. These were by far the most expensive portion of the project. I bought and tried 3 inch casters first, but these made for a really, really low table.

Guest (not verified)

Wed, 08/03/2011 - 19:23

I love the work you did on the table. Did you also stencil something? Did you get the hardware at the tractor supply store? Just beautiful.

scot price

Mon, 08/29/2011 - 08:54

Thank you so much. We did stencil something on the side (S & K MFG Co.). A mix of mine and my girlfriends name.

We got the hardware at Lowes, and the casters at Tractor Supply. The casters were the hardest part since I was looking for the old type casters used on the turn of the century carts, but those were way too hard to source.

My first big boy bed!

Submitted by ldulitz on Mon, 08/19/2013 - 13:17

So we couldnt find any bed we really wanted for my son, and this one was perfect.
I used the wood one step up from the whitewood at HD, which had too many knots for this, and was .75 more. Still had to pick thru the 2x4 and 2x6s but the quality of the wood was much better.

After seeing what another bragger posted, i raised the posts to 72" instead of 66", which allowed for an additional 2x6 at the top. The mattress stayed at the same height, but know i sleep better thinking he wont roll off.

Lesson learned from this: Sand the primer!!! i never knew to do that before in my life and wow, what a difference.

Painting Steps were:
Sand wood,
prime, ( Used Zissner BIN)
Sand primer with 220
Wipe with Tack cloth
Paint ( Used Behr Ultra White Semi Gloss and Behr Par Four Green Semi Gloss)
Sand lightly with 320 grit
wipe with Tack
Paint again.

The two end pieces and the deck were assembled in the garage, but the cross pieces and steps were built in the bedroom.

Im thinking of creating a mini gate where he climbs up just for sleeping that i could put in once he is in his bed to really prevent rolling... trust me.. he rolls everywhere. May be to the height of the top 2x4, halway the length of the opening, and use dowels or something.

Note the second picture didnt have the 2x6 ladder step installed yet.

Thanks Ana for the plans! My son never wants to leave the bed!

Estimated Cost
150
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr Ultra white Semi Gloss
Behr Par Four Green Semi gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Vintage Step Stool

Submitted by dkelly75 on Sat, 09/19/2015 - 11:51

This is the 2nd step stool I built, the first was for my daughter and I just followed the plans. Built this for my friends son Hayden, decided to add the H for his name. It was a tag team build, I built it and painted it and my wife did the sanding, distressing and wax sealer. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
latex paint and wax sealer
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Big Red Buffet

I was on a mission to find just the right buffet to house Grandma's china and infrequently used serving dishes.  Countless searches in second hand stores, hours scouring Offer-up and Craigslist, and even some regretable purchases all led to the building of this magnificent buffet. I found a build plan for the planked wood sidboard, printed it and started in. I had always planned on painting it and wanted a rustic look so decided on budget friendly lumber. The frame and top of the unit is made from fir and the drawers and doors from pine. The door insets and the back of the unit is pine beadboard. The top and interior of the buffet is finished in GF Antique Walnut Gel Stain. I used a wipe-on polyurathane on the interior of the buffet and the inside of the drawers.  I choose an amazing shade of red for the exterior of the buffet:  GF Milk Paint in Holiday Red. It was my first experience with milk paint and it was a pleasure. It went on so smooth and brush-stroke free. After two coats of Holiday Red milk paint I applied a single coat of GF High Performance Top Coat in satin finish. This really enhanced the color of the Holiday Red and served as a base for a glaze application.  I mixed the GF Antique Walnut Gel Stain with ten percent mineral spirits and glazed the entire buffet. I got into all the nooks, crannies and knots and left a thin coating on the face of the unit. I loved the buffet before the glaze, but now I was head over heals. The buffet was finally finished off with two coats of High Performance Top coat. Mission accomplished!

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
I used all General Finishes products. Holiday Red Milk Paint - 2 coats, High Performance top coat - 1 coat, Antique Walnut gel stain mixed with ten percent mineral spirits for glaze, and finally two more coarts of high performance top coat, the top is Antique Walnut gel stain with 3 coats of high perforamance top coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Backyard seating

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/06/2022 - 13:17

We needed some additional seating in the backyard so I built 6 Adirondack chairs for the fire pit and the bench using the plans that you have shared on Facebook. They turned out really nice and so far they have been a big hit!!

Thanks!!

Comments

Copy Cat Nesting Table - Larger Table

After seeing the $400 PB Tables on their website, I decided I wanted the look without paying such a high price.

I recreated a table using their table as an inspiration piece. I plan on building the little table next week.

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint, but I will be distressing it and glazing it too.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

spiceylg

Mon, 07/18/2011 - 06:59

I requested plans for nesting tables because I don't have the confidence to try and do it myself. Beautiful job and yours look much better than PB's and their ridiculous price! Once you get the smaller table done, will you please post your plans? I would really appreciate it. We have an ottoman so there isn't room for a coffee table and we badly need tables for when our weekly guests arrive. I don't like the snack tables as they are too wobbly. Again, beautiful work!

The Quaint Cottage

Wed, 07/20/2011 - 12:50

And yes, I'll be posting the finished plans and table pictures this weekend. I even tried my first attempt at the plans on the sketch up program. The big table is already up on my little blog site.

http://www.thequaintcottage.net/2011/07/copy-cat-nesting-end-table-part…

My table is a bit larger than the PB table, but I wanted the little table to be able to be used as a secondary table when guests come visit (move to side tables).

Once I get them perfect, I'll post here.

THANKS for your positive feedback. :)

Karen

Leaner mirror

Submitted by krochelle on Tue, 08/20/2013 - 08:18

This was made as a present my mom's birthday. I found a good sized mirror at the thrift shop which was perfect for the project. I adhered it to some plywood, added trim around it, bulked up the top and bottom with multiple layers and types of trim and added some crown molding to the top. The finish is "A Day at the Jewellers" by Valspar with a Red Mahogany stain/glaze over top.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
A Day at the Jeweller by Valspar with stain overtop
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Ridge Media Console

Project was a bit difficult but extremely rewarding when completed!! I followed Ana White's advice......"take a break and always finish your project!!!"

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

Comments

Farmhouse style queen headboard

Here's a queen headboard we just completed for our guest bedroom.  

It only took an afternoon to build this simple yet stunning headboard, and then a little more time to paint, distress, and wax it.  

More information is available on our site at FamousArtisan.com

Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Chalk paint and wax
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Whoop! I did it!!!!!!!

Submitted by amanda4024 on Sun, 07/24/2011 - 11:10

I am very suprised, but I made my very first ANYTHING with the help of this website and my very dear step-dad! We used two plans from this website and did some modifications by adding some back supports at the tops. We also made two foot stools to act as chaises on the two ends. I thought that I would go ahead and post the results now before I painted the sectional so more of the detail. What cost so much was the cushions. The cushions were from Target and they were $650.00. I was concerned that when people sat on the sectional they would be able to feel the wood underneath, so I purchased the 5" deep seat cushions and over sized pillows, which I am soooo glad that I did, it makes this sectional look so much more professional looking and gives it even more of a crisp look! I also didn't skimp on the paint which was $65.00 on the paint! The rest was wood, materials and tools that were needed. But if you priced purchasing something like this from PB or WestElm, it would easily be 3-4K at the least! Unto the next project!!!

Estimated Cost
$1000.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
My plan is to use wood filler where needed, sand 120 grit, prime and apply an outdoor black satin finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Library Coffee Table with Reclaimed Barn Wood Top

Submitted by wendywmp on Wed, 08/21/2013 - 19:42

Modified the plans to be only 3 drawers which saved on weight and hardware. Used reclaimed 100+ year old barn wood for the top, adding lots of character.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Cabinet: Minwax gel stain in Red Elm, and Winwax wipe-on satin poly. Top: West System epoxy to stabilize and fill 'defects', sanding sealer and wipe-on satin poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Rustic X

Submitted by Burrel on Sat, 10/03/2015 - 08:22

I built this for my daughters house warming gift.

Estimated Cost
125.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

DIY farm house table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/15/2018 - 21:41

Followed the farmhouse the design but with my ite dimensions and 4x4 legs. Also painted base and blue/gray to pop through when sanding eyese.

Estimated Cost
175
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic x console table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 06/26/2022 - 18:38

Built this for a friend of mine, but didn’t need it quite as long…I absolutely love this table!!!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

The Easiest Shelf!

Submitted by osopurdy on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 21:19

This really is a easy beginner project and adds instant decor for your wall.

This project is also pretty versatile because it lends itself to ANY decor. You could go totally country like I did or pick a nicer, newer pallet and paint or stain it for a more modern or traditional take. Whatever you choose, it's something you can do in no time at all!

Another great thing about this is you don't need any fancy tools, although it does make it easier! You can choose from a circular saw, a sawsall, a jig saw or even a hand saw to cut your section out.

Estimated Cost
Free
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Lightly sanded then sprayed with a light coat of polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Daun Family Coffee Table

Submitted by stevendaun on Sun, 08/25/2013 - 08:10

This was an excellent set of plans and the finished product looks great in our home.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate