Community Brag Posts

Toy storage

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/24/2016 - 14:09

Doubled the size of Ana's toy storage to accommodate my niece and nephew.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
135
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Fancy X Farmhouse Table

Submitted by melbuckner on Mon, 07/08/2019 - 15:30

Table top is tight knot cedar, sealed with ship n shore, 7 coats spar urethane.

Base is fir, sealed and painted in latex outdoor paint:

Estimated Cost
225 (cedar was 150).
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Spar Urethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

melbuckner

Fri, 10/09/2020 - 16:19

aww this is so sweet~ for some reason I didn't see this comment till now! Thanks! I'm all star struck now :)

Also, my wife subsequently gave the table to her best friend - so now I need to make another one lolol.

Planters!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/14/2023 - 03:50

These planters are exactly what we needed to warm up this blank siding! The smaller planters are made from pine, the larger from cedar.

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Coffee Table

I tweaked the console plans to work best for my space, and to work with the reclaimed barn threshing floor boards that I used for the top.

I love how it turned out and it works wonderfully in my space.

Estimated Cost
60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I painted the bottom with a melamine paint.
The top was stained with a walnut gel stain, and finished with a wipe on poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

The BEST 3rd Birthday Present Ever!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/27/2016 - 09:37

Hi Ana! Thank-you for the detailed instructions on how to build the indoor playground! We had our contractor build this for our twins' 3rd birthday present. The kids absolutely LOVE the playground and use it every day. I'm planning to paint it, reinforce and install a rock climbing wall up to the bridge, and install some easels in the bottoms of the playhouses. You can see more pictures of the kids playing and the construction here: http://feedingtwins.com/body/the-best-3rd-birthday-present/ Thanks again! Julie

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

Little Cottage Loft Bed

Submitted by BGBuild on Tue, 07/16/2019 - 07:14

My daughter absolutely loves this bed, and everyone who comes over can't help but to compliment it. I was able to build it in 4 pieces in the basement then carry them up to our apartment and put them all together. It was not an easy build especially since I kept making little mistakes and had to go back and fix them. For example I did not use wood glue at first for the bars so after I screwed them all into place i relaxed they wobbled and twisted so I had to unscrew all of them, add glue and screw them all back in. But overall the instructions were pretty simple to follow and I am very happy with the way it came out.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Chalkboard paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Simple and fast

Submitted by Bread0186 on Tue, 04/18/2023 - 11:42

Took me maybe 30 minutes to put this together. Used 1-5/8 spacing, every other row is a little tight, but they work.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Play Kitchen - my first build :)

Submitted by laurakc181 on Mon, 12/26/2011 - 06:10

Well, this was my first ever wood build. I have made plenty of sewing projects and many other things, but haven't ever done a wood build.....and I have to say - I'm ADDICTED! I can not wait to do my next wood build. Actually, already making plans to take the beach hut bed and modify it to be a bunk bed for my two girls!
Modifications I made to the kitchen center are as follows:
Fridge: I installed magnetic clips inside the door area so it would stay closed and not go in to far when she closed it. I used basic exterior hinges due to the ackwardness of the size of the boards and placement, but it actually looked better. I installed hooks on the left side for her apron and hot pads and hooks on the right side for her cooking utensils to hang up.
Stove: I made the knobs to the stove able to turn and pull out a little to imitate an actual knob on a stove so she feels as though she is able to turn on the stove and cook. I made the top have four electric burners on the sides and a gas grill plate in the middle....she loves this for her "burgers" lol. I found some cookie cooling racks at dollar tree and they sit perfectly on the shelves inside the stove. I also mounted a tap light on the inside of the stove so it has an "oven light" in it.
Sink: I painted a ceiling medallion to match the set colors and have that as her decorative sink border...the actual sink is a purple tupperware bowl. The faucet is actually a sink mounted soap dispenser I purchased. It has a bottle that attaches under the sink that I can fill with water so that when she is playing she can pump the faucet and actually get water! I made sure to use kitchen and bath grade silicone sealant on the sink and used paint that is ok in a kitchen/bath area.

I painted her set Disney Tink Pink lol.....her favorite color! She is loving this set and I am so thankful I found this site so I could make it!

Estimated Cost
Out of Pocket: $25; Gift Cards: $200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I primed it and then used a high gloss finish (so it was easily cleaned when it gets dirty) in Disney Tink Pink.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JoanneS

Sun, 01/01/2012 - 09:47

Congrats on your first build! You did a super job! So cute. Love the creative elements like the turning knobs, grill and the 'running' water. Your sink bowl and trim colors are a great touch too. :)

Storage Bench

I followed the plans and everything went really well. Th bench was built to match a Farmhouse Bed and nightstand that I built. I added fake drawers and knobs to make it match the nightstand. The top of the bench is made from boards screwed together rather than plywood, to add a little character.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
White paint with a clear acrylic on top.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

DIY Closet Conversion

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/30/2016 - 20:23

We built and designed this as we went while working within the existing closet.

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Salad bar with handles

Submitted by Sara on Sun, 07/21/2019 - 11:18

My husband made this with a few tweaks: taller dividers to be even with the sides, smoothing of edges, and handles! It was perfect for our salad bar and pizza party!

Estimated Cost
$0 (used scrap plywood)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
none, but we plan to use butcher block oil/sealer
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Distressed Mail Organizer

Submitted by trev88 on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 07:15

I found a picture of a mail organizer (URL below) on Ana's website and my wife really wanted one similar to it. So we took that idea, added some antique accessories to the side and name plate on the front.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Black matte spray paint then latex paint over. Sanded paint back for the black spray paint to show through. This gives the rustic look.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Pottery Barn Inspired Dresser

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/03/2016 - 07:21

My husband built the dresser for our three-year-old son. He built and stained the dresser over the course of a week.

Estimated Cost
$300 including slides and pulls. We used select pine which increased the cost.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut Stain. The drawers took more coats to match the frame and still ended up slightly lighter than the rest of the dresser.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Corona Coffee Table - Square

Submitted by oneillrp on Sat, 07/27/2019 - 11:44

Built this table out of solid Maple, which made it much more expensive to build, but such a beautiful piece of furniture. I bought the legs from Osborne Wood. One thing I did to cut down on cost was to use 1" X 6" wood for the 5 center table-top boards instead of the 2" X 6" called for in the plans. Underneath those, I put a piece of 3/4" plywood to increase the thickness to match the (4) 2" X 6" outer edges. This is not visible unless you climb under the table to look at it from underneath but I think it actually helped to create a flat (almost seamless) table top. Thank you for the plans! I put a lot of work into this piece and I think it will remain in my family for generations!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$700.00 (
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
-3 coats of Varathane Stain (the color is Briarsmoke)
-2 coats of Varathane Polyurethane (Matte Finish)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Simple Work Bench

Submitted by 1zach4 on Sun, 01/01/2012 - 20:09

Simple workbench using 2x4's and a 3/4" 24"x48" top and 2.5" screws.

Added an extra board to the bottom for more storage space. Actually built 2 of these to have a longer work station for the miter saw and to assist in ripping larger boards with my circular saw since I do not have space in my garage for a table saw.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40 per bench
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cayden Stool

Submitted by hechoenwi on Tue, 11/19/2013 - 15:06

This was my very first project. I wanted to jump right in and start with a Storage Farm House bed but my husband was convinced that I would start a project and just leave it hanging and insisted that I start with something smaller. He was sooo impressed with these stools! I originally had planned to upholster the top as in the plan but we preferred the look with out it! The plans were very easy to follow.

Estimated Cost
$80 for two chairs
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Ipswich Pine - Minwax
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Coffee table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/05/2016 - 05:52

Pretty easy just followed the plans 

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Chandelier

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 08/12/2019 - 10:50

Farmhouse chandelier that I'm building for a customer. I used a vanity bar light for the lighting for the chandelier. I just have to add the Edison bulbs and chains and it will be done!

Boy Kitchen

Submitted by brit1002 on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 03:10

My almost 3 year old son was getting really into playing pretend and would always bring me and my husband little toys and he would say "here's your pancakes I made you". So when I seen Grace's kitchen I knew I needed to make my boys one. I had limited time to work on it as I work full-time and it's winter here so the garage isnt the funnest place for them to hang out. It was so fun and easy (Thanks to your plans) to build and they love it! I made the burners out of wood with my jig saw as I couldn't find anything else I liked. The sink is just an old mixing bowl that fit perfectly. The faucet is from the Orange store and was only $10. I had the hardest time with hinges I initially went with the ones that Anna had done. I found that my littlest guy (1.5 years old) was having a hard time pulling the doors open though so I switched to regular hinges and a cheap magnetic closer. I saved the other hinges though so when he gets a bit older I can switch back. One of the best parts of my build is my husband bought me a ROUTER!

Estimated Cost
$100... It was about $70 for wood and then paint, handles, and hinges
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Just several coats of paint and magnetic paint for the fridge.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Dewey Setlak (not verified)

Wed, 01/04/2012 - 05:49

That's cute! Not to mention, cool too! So your son can actually cook there? If you all play it right, he may just develop the aptitude and love for cooking, and grow up to be a chef someday!

terrillr (not verified)

Wed, 01/04/2012 - 08:48

I got my youngest son a kitchen set (purchased, never even thought about making one my self!) long ago because he played "cooking" too. He and his brother loved it, and the the youngest did become a chef!