Community Brag Posts

Hailey Planked Headboard and Platform Bed

This is my first large wood project. I used pine and fastened the pieces with pocket holes and countersinking screws. I also used Elmer's stainable wood glue. I chose a dark cherry stain. I haven't coated it with polycrylic yet, but I plan to soon. Thank you Ana White for this amazing website. I'm going to buy your book for my siblings!

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

Comments

Mantel Moulding Headboard with Teal Accent

Submitted by jmiracle on Sat, 11/08/2014 - 10:49

Used the smaller Dentil crown, and the blue accent that will match the accents on the end table that i will also put up when finished

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200?
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

cabin bunk system

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/14/2017 - 07:59

this project was pretty easy over all, I had a little trouble getting the drawers level, but that was about it. I did have to change the measurements to make it a full size bed but it came out fitting perfectly!!

Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modern Platform Bed with 4x4 legs

Needed a sturdy bed for our Autistic adult son. Added an extra bracket at the head and base to support the corners. Then used 4x4 for the legs. Painted it a fun color and he loves his new bed! Need to find some ideas for a headboard but this is such a sturdy bed. We love it! Thank you so much for these great plans.

Estimated Cost
65
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Krilon Chalk paint. Blue gray off the self color. (Primed first)
Minwax stain for legs.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Simple Small Trestle Desk

Submitted by Jeff on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 12:52

First project using a kreg jig. It went well. Sanding was the worse part. If you are going to brace the legs you will need more wood than listed in the plans.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50 for both desks.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Water based primer, gloss and clear coat. Should have used a better primer.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Fancy X Desk

This is the second X desk I have built. For this one I used a pre-done aspen piece for the top that I got from Lowes for $40.00. That was the only modification.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-oleum "Traditional Cherry" 1 coat and wiped off immediately, then 2 coats of poly on the base and 4 on the top.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Sliding Door Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/16/2017 - 08:53

overall pretty easy porject took me about 8 hours to build/paint I sized it down a little made it only 32" tall and about 64" wide but keeping the depth to the plans. The barn door hardware I ended up building myself. I took 4 1" pulleys bolted those to the doors and the track I built using some angle iron and 3/8" metal dowel. The stain is 'golden oak' from min wax and I just used a simple white paint two coats.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
roughly $175.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Golden Oak (one coat)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Pottery Barn Rustic Bench Hack

I have always been a fan of the Pottery Barn Rustic Bench. I have not always been a fan of the price tag. $149 for the small bench and $249 for the large bench was a bit more than I was comfortable spending on a piece of accent furniture. Luckily, Ana had building plans for the Pottery Barn bench. I built all three benches for around $60! You cannot beat that!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20 per bench
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Gloss - Almond for the legs, I aged the wood with vinegar steel wool solution and tea, stained with Varathane Kona stain, and then sealed with polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Built in Shelving

Submitted by JoeP on Thu, 11/13/2014 - 16:34

A company wanted to charge us $5800 for this!  All told I think I spent about $500.

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

Comments

X Console Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/19/2017 - 05:48

Ana, 

My wife saw this and wanted one to match her benchwright coffee table. I decided to make her one and used rough cut pine to get that look. Just used 80 grit to knock off the roughness but not enough to sand into the saw marks and was pleased with how good the results came out. I don't like exposed fasteners so all the joints are pocket hole screwed and glued and the table top is biscuit jointed and the end piece is doweled into the long runners. Love your website and the other projects that you have shown here. Keep up the great work!

Josie

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Mahogany stain and spar urethane topcoat (4 coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

In love with my new miter saw stand and work benches

Submitted by seahawklvr on Fri, 11/27/2020 - 05:58

We purchased a fixer up house that requires a complete gut but the property came with a detached shop! I quickly realized I needed to get the shop cleaned up and organized so it would be easier and more efficient to work on projects for the house. I am a beginner as far as I am concerned and even though this was rated as an intermediate level build, as long as you take your time, it’s definitely doable for a beginner. The plans called for staples but since I just had a Brad nailer, I just used that and it worked fine. I did have one fail, and that was that I had a 1x2 to hang my clamps on but I placed it too far near the outside of the mobile work bench and when I went to store the work bench under the miter stand, the clamps prevented it from sliding in so I had to reposition it. Other than that, it was perfect and as soon as I save up for my Ryobi table saw then I will position it on one of the work benches. Because of the raise in the cost of lumber dut to COVID, the cost was probably twice as much as it should’ve been but I still feel I couldn’t have purchased a huge miter saw station and two mobile work stations for less than I spent on building this. Besides, I can be proud that I built this myself!

Estimated Cost
$325
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr Marquee #MQ6-22 Gateway gray in satin enamel
I found it more cost effective to purchase a 6 pack of handles vs purchasing 4 individual handles. Now I have two spares for a project down the road.
The Caster Wheels were Moogiitools 3” locking from Amazon and were @$50 for 8 wheels. Very smooth and heavy duty
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Farmhouse Table - No stretcher

Submitted by kevo on Tue, 01/22/2013 - 10:46

Loved the farmhouse table plan, but didn't love the stretcher and stretcher supports. If you remove those, you have to find other ways to provide support, which I did by way of a stronger apron and the use of pockethole screws.

Also, I shortened the table. It's about 69 inches long, plenty of room for 6 people, and just right for our apartment dining room!

Estimated Cost
<$100 if you have the tools already
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax American Walnut (water-based)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Shower Gift

I made these for my new niece-  Here's my story with recipe for a homemade sealer as the dye runs on drooly faces.

http://onblissstreet.blogspot.com/2014/10/sweet-baby-p.html

Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
food coloring and homemade sealer. Recipe on my blog.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Patio Table

Submitted by marcosdos on Mon, 02/20/2017 - 14:33

I loved Ana's 4x4 Truss Beam Table which was my inspiration for building this outdoor patio table Yesterday, I had a lot of fun. I used brown pressure treate wood because I wanted a table for my patio which would be weather resitant, a strong, great looking table that goes well with the rest of my patio anf I bet it wil last for a long time... Ready to entertain family and friends as soos as Spring comes!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
CAD $250 = US $190
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Dining Table and Bench

Submitted by wthalin on Wed, 11/19/2014 - 08:17

Built this table for our dining room and made it larger than the plans to fit 10 people around it.

Estimated Cost
$100-$150
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut Stain with Polycrilic Gloss clear coat, Maguires Polishing Compound and Carnuba Wax used for shiny finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

In reply to by stephaniadawnia

wthalin

Thu, 01/19/2017 - 10:34

Dimmensions of the table are 96 x 42 for the top. For the bench I measured the inside of the legs and made it 4 inches shorter than that dimmension to make sure I have a couple of inches on each side to slide the bench in and out easily.

Dylan's Cabin

I found this on the Pottery Barn site for $ 3,000.  We wanted to make it for my grandson who had a lot of health issues.  We thought he would really enjoy it.  We made it around a full size bed & I really think it looks just like P.B's. !!!

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

Round Farmhouse Coffee Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/07/2020 - 17:22

Here is Ana White’s round farmhouse table miniaturized into a coffee table measuring 18” in height and 36” in diameter using hardwood Ash.

The table top construction was slightly simplified by screwing six (1.5” x 6” x 36”) panels together. The circular saw jig setup worked out well.

A Kreg jig and a variety of clamps were instrumental in securing clean, tight joints for the base.

Thanks for the inspiration and useful tips on your site!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Top: Varathane Premium Wood Stain - Kona / Rust-oleum Polyurethane Satin Interior

Base/Legs: Behr Ultra Pure White (7750) Interior Satin Enamel
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Farmhouse Side Tables

Submitted by mashhawkes on Fri, 01/25/2013 - 15:36

I was in desperate need of nightstands that would match my AMAZING farmhouse bed and shoe dresser and I found these! I had to make a few modidications to fit the space on our walls. I also put a few braces inside so the drawer wouldn't tip out when it opened. Overall they turned out pretty awesome if I do say so myself...

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I stained with a Chestnut color and used a color by Sherwin Williams named Greek Villa. I distressed it with a sanding block and finished with 2 coats of a poly satin finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner