Community Brag Posts

Providence Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/06/2016 - 13:07

I LOVE this bench. It's simple and rustic, yet absolutely beautiful. I modified the plans slightly to exclude the long support board along the bottom of the bench and found that the bench is still very sturdy and stable. I love that this bench is a relatively easy and quick to complete project, with such a gorgeous end product!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Minwax brand stain in Provincial for the color and finished it with Varathane brand varnish in a matte finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Baby Valet for a baby on the go

Submitted by blasiansky on Sat, 04/20/2019 - 09:34

Made it for a friend who will be on the go with her new baby.  I included screw hooks to either hang bags or separate. Tray & box are removable also. Bottoms are chalkboard paint. She wanted to paint it so i will stop here.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Lemonade Stand

Submitted by ckwarr on Thu, 10/24/2013 - 11:45

A 1x16 was used for the top and sides to give it a little more depth.
We cut the sides at 29" tall so that it is just under 30" high and can be used with a regular chair.
The shelves are 1x6's since we made it a little deeper.
The banner posts are 1x2's that are 6' tall.
Beadboard and some extra trim were also used.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White semi-glass paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Chartreuse Moving Double Pull Out Trash Can

Submitted by pjfessier on Thu, 05/02/2019 - 17:25

I replaced all of the drawers in our 1960's kitchen with custom built new drawers that have full extension slides.  I can't afford a complete remodel, but the new drawers allow the kitchen to function much better. The old drawers had wood slides that would allow you to pull them out about 2/3 of the way. Any more than that and the whole drawer would slide out and go crashing to the floor. 

I had wanted to build a cabinet like this, but I couldn't figure out how to pull it off. I'm an amateur with basic tools working out of my garage. I found Ana's plan and combined it with my experience making drawers to make this cabinet. I use Blum soft close slides and the cabinet is working great so far. 

The butcher block top is left over from countertops I put in the kitchen. The project basically started with me wanting to put that last bit to good use. It's 1 1/2 in thick acacia. I wish I'd have gone for maple but the acacia is okay. 

I don't know if you can see it in the photo, but it has locking casters on the feet so that we can move it around when we need to clean the kitchen floor, but it doesn't move when you pull on the drawer. I guess it can also double as a little island when we have dinner parties. 

Estimated Cost
$100.00 I'm really not sure. The slides and paint were pretty expensive. Of course I didn't use all the paint so if something else needs to be chartreuse I have more. The wood was poplar and some high quality plywood. It's 3/4 ply on the slides but only 1/4 on the back. The drawer is made with left over baltic birch 1/2 in ply that I had left over from my other drawer projects. I guess you could consider the varnish and nail free too as I already had those. Building the drawer is really a whole separate project that takes as long as the cabinet. And the Shaker door is also its own little project.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Rustic open bathroom vanity

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/01/2023 - 13:22

The plumbing underneath was a bit wonky, so we needed something that was open on the side against the wall and could be built in place around the plumbing. Added a few shelves to hide said plumbing.

Comments

Hall tree

Submitted by Brad Wills on Sat, 10/26/2013 - 14:13

We had a table in the entryway that seemed to catch everything, bags, mail, etc. so when I found the Mimi hall tree I had to build it. This was my second build, so I was a little nervous. I wanted to paint it white , but my wife talked me out of it. I am so glad she did. Fun build, and now we have a place for all the stuff when we get home every evening.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
75.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar Kona stain, Martha Stewart Baha bliss (2.49 sent small sample can) valspar polycrylic 3 coats on tops and 2 on the rest.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Simple Modern Bed

Submitted by sarah0406 on Mon, 05/13/2019 - 11:04

We used repurposed wood from a previous home reno project along with new lumber to build a king-sized bed frame and wall-length headboard - based off of the "2x4 Simple Modern Bed" plans from More Like Home. We are VERY much beginners so this was an incredible learning experience, but the end result looks pretty good, in my opinion!

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

Rustic Farm Potting Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/10/2023 - 06:24

I built this 10’ long potting bench to fit into a 12’ barn stall. It fills the need to have a work surface plus room for storage on top and underneath. The hooks provide a place to hang my many hand tools and my Bluetooth speaker.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Flip Top Coffee Table

Submitted by angiemicn on Wed, 11/23/2011 - 01:11

Needed a sturdy coffee table and this plan was perfect. Doubles as a bench, extra storage in the hidden cubby underneath the flip top, holds football fiesta platters, beers, and when the parties not in full swing, I'm using as a sewing table as well. Love it. Used my Kreg jig for entire assembly so super sturdy and easy too. Modifications: 1x6 Pine boards, jigged together. love the look of pine and after assembly, meticulously sanded so feels like one piece of wood. Used the hidden hinges. Bottom shelf I made out of leftover 1x4's, to match the top. width is 36 inches. Had to fit in a tiny living room. Did add support to the bottom shelf, 2 1x2's under the 1x4's....my dog has already crawled onto the shelf.

Estimated Cost
free used leftover scraps
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane Natural finish for top and shelf.
Kilz white primer 2 coats, and Behr Ultra White for legs and apron.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

angiemicn

Sun, 02/05/2012 - 02:36

thank you so much! Glad you liked it, I love the contrast too!
Since it's essentially a holder for hubby's beer and snacks this kind of top can take a lot of abuse and still look great

Victoria Marie (not verified)

Tue, 02/21/2012 - 18:57

I love the look of this augmented plan. The 1x6 boards looks super sleek.

Can I ask you a question? I'm building this bench as my very first building project, and so far it is quite wobbly. I attached the shelves with one pocket hole in each corner through the shelf piece. You mentioned that yours is super sturdy. How did you attach the shelves?

Thanks! - Victoria

angiemicn

Wed, 02/22/2012 - 22:57

Victoria,
I made each side as a frame, looked like 2 rectangles and 2 squares. Those were both kregged together...then I put those frames, front, back and 2 sides together kregging those together. The shelves are all kregged in too. I don't know if that helps or not. I've used mine for extra seating.
good luck, angie

Rustic X end table

I love this site. We needed new furniture in are house and didn't want to spend a bunch of money. Finding the Rustic x plans was a life saver.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White paint and kona stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Tweeked

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/13/2016 - 17:51

Few tweeks such as router work, finish, and forged corner braces.  

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Adirondack chair

Submitted by Davis_Reed on Fri, 05/24/2019 - 07:10

These are the adirondack chairs and I took the basic model and added a wine glass holder and also a bottle/snack bag holder.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Benjamin Moore wood primer and then Benjamin Moore oil based paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Mantle

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/17/2023 - 14:14

The second one was before. It was the very first project I ever did all by myself. It only took me a couple of months to get the nerve to go to the store and buy everything. Then I cut and did everything on my own. 😬 I am so stinkin proud of myself.

Comments

Perfect!

Submitted by lbadger on Thu, 12/01/2011 - 06:59

I went round and round trying to figure out what type of shelving to install in our kitchen to go above a cabinet below that will be topped with a rough live edge pine slab (not yet completed). I stumbled across your industrial chic shelves post, found an old board laying around the yard and whalla! As always, thanks for this amazing site!!

Estimated Cost
n/a
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Cleaned up a bit, sanded down a bit and top coated with poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Young Mrs. (not verified)

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 12:44

Hi! Love how your shelves turned out. I was just wondering how much weight these shelves would hold. Looking at yours with plates on them, it seems like they hold quite a lot!

Did you use larger L-brackets or the same size that Ana used?

Thanks for posting your shelves!

Industrial Bookshelves

Submitted by Jodiah on Thu, 10/31/2013 - 14:20

It took a long time to compile all if the parts for these shelves. I searched the Internet for affordable cast iron castors. I ordered all of the black plumbing fixtures from a local hardware store. I bought 2, 16 foot 2x12's and cut them up, sanded them and stained them.

Estimated Cost
$250./ shelf
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Min wax Early American stain, min wax Polycrylic protective finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Bunkbed

Submitted by Miles35 on Sun, 01/17/2016 - 12:17

I built this for my grandkids. It took me several weekends to complete to this point. I made a few changes from the original and still have the drawers to complete but overall its about finished.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Water based paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

CarrieLJP

Mon, 01/22/2018 - 10:41

I love how bright and vibrant you made this! It looks absolutely beautiful! I'm working on a bunk bed for my two young daughters now and I liked seeing how you tweaked the plans a bit- I'm doing something similar. Thanks for sharing!

3 Seat And Loveseat 2X4 Outdoor Couches

Submitted by jerryo on Mon, 06/03/2019 - 19:39

Used Redwood and Kona colored stain. This is my first wood project and Ana really inspired me in being able to complete this. Thank You Ana all the way from California! The Love Seat was easy to modify from the original 3 seat plan.

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

Comments

jerryo

Thu, 06/06/2019 - 11:40

hard to believe, we found them on the Big Lots website...$40 a set back and cushion. We looked everywhere for an affordable option. These look great and are really comfortable..!thanks for the compliment : )

Jerry

Farmhouse Coffee Table

This was my first project and while I prepared to build it I had to endure some real negative forces coming from people who knew my building skills. But I was heart set on doing this and proving people wrong.

As you can see from the pictures I made some adjustments to the table as I did not want a square table rather a rectangle to fit perfectly in front of my sectional, LOL.

I could not believe how well it came out and how easy it was to build. Thank you Ana for this site as I know I would never have taken on this project without finding this site. Furniture building is something I always wanted to do and have as a hobby. I will NEVER purchase another piece of furniture from a store again!

I have included a few pics to show the progress.

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Initially stained using Ebony minwax then painted over with Pottery Barn Blue (Van Courtland Blue). Then scuffed with sandpaper to give some distressing.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

King Size Headboard

I am so happy about how this headboard turned out. It is exactly what I have always wanted. I am so excited that it is sooooo much cheaper than buying the one from Pottery Barn. I would never have been able to afford that one. This one only cost me about $50 for the wood, and then I was able to make an end table and a picture frame from the leftover scraps!

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax prestain, minwax red mahogany stain (2 coats), minwax polyeurethane (2 coats).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner