Community Brag Posts

Chair

I built this chair for about $12. I used 6 four foot landscaping timbers. The legs are 12''
and i used 1/4'' cedar or you could use pallets. The ends are Dog Cut . The chair is sealed and finished with Helsmans Clear. E mail me if you have any questions

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Semi clear Spar.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Craft Table

Submitted by Jenga on Sun, 12/06/2015 - 13:08

Project was rather simple. Just wanted to create a space that my wife could work her projects rather than always working on our dinning room table. Took the concept of the plans and made the table work for the space we had available.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White Paint and Dark Maple Finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Coffee table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/26/2019 - 15:39

Sister asked me to make her a table. Since I am out or work right now I said yes and got this thing done in about 3 days! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
130.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White chalk paint for the bottom and a combo high gloss poly/stain for the top
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Time Out Bench

Submitted by VelvetSky on Fri, 09/09/2011 - 07:19

I built this from wood scraps. I saw one at Walmart online but thought it was too small. I built this to suit my tall toddler.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
General Finish Gel Stain Java

Decopauged 'Time Out'
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Tree Shelf

Submitted by Stasia on Fri, 12/11/2015 - 17:56

We loved making this project, I even learned how to work with angles.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Outdoor 2x Chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/01/2019 - 20:48

What a fast, fun, and FUNCTIONAL project!  I did lower the seat height, as I think it allows you to sink into them a bit more -- especially with the cushions I had for them (which BTW, were on sale at Lowe's for $14.99/each.. normally like $60, I think).  Thanks ANA, for making yet another project such a breeze!

Estimated Cost
IDK.. I had all the wood laying around already.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
semi transparent deck stain in chocolate
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Benchwright Dining Table

I built this table using a hybrid approach; I used Ana's plans as a loose guideline (leg angles) and drafted the rest using the dimensions supplied at Pottery Barn's website (for the fixed table, not the extendable version).

Estimated Cost
150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
The table is finished in an Espresso stain with a clearcoat of Minwax oil-modified water-based clear satin polyeurethane. I beefed up the table legs by using "4x"6 lumber and also included a wood stretcher instead of a metal one. I originally installed a "3/4 metal stretcher made of spray-painted conduit, but it looked too flimsy and dinky when juxtaposed with the thick legs of the table. I added two countersunk lag screws to each endcap and also attached the stretcher with two lag screws and joist supports (all spray painted with Rustoleum textured black enamel). My favorite part of the table is the faux slotted cross-brace ends that protrude from each leg. I simply cut four "1 pieces of "1x"4 scrap and attached one to each leg using glue, two nails, and a nail set. Pottery Barn charges $999.00 for this table; I built it for $150.00.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Keri Beth (not verified)

Wed, 09/14/2011 - 23:04

This is awesome. I'm finishing up my first project (floor to ceiling bookcases) and looking for a dining room table to make next. This just might be the one. Thanks for sharing!

Harvest Table Love

Submitted by ksmith311 on Sun, 09/29/2013 - 12:50

This Harvest table is the heart of our home. It was one of the first furniture projects we ever completed and my favorite finish to date. The night we spontaneously decided to buy lumber and build this table we had a lot of unexected visitors. We were out in the driveway working and a bunch of friends dropped by randomly so we all took a hand in building this table. It was so much fun. Spontaneous building party.

When I finished it it was my first time using a belt sander which wound up gouging some of the wood. The table top is super smooth but very rustic and I LOVE IT. I started with pre-stain conditioner, then cherry stain which I hated, then early american mixed with dark walnut. At this point it looked pretty lovely but I wanted it to look aged and gray so I lime waxed, dark waxed and buffed the whole surface of this piece. It turned out so special and you can see some red notes from the cherry stain and those are my favorite moments on this table.
Thanks again Ana.

** updated with a few better photos on 11/21

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
See summary.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Toddler SIzed Easel

We opted to make this a regular easel (no chalkboard) and just used a sheet of paneling as the background. It's perfect, our toddler loves it. Thanks Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$10
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
unfinished
tray painted with milk paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Maple Bookcase with Fluted Trim

Submitted by NeoMoses on Wed, 02/06/2019 - 20:57

Just finished this maple bookcase with fluted trim for my daughter's room.  I chose all maple trim even though it's painted because I wanted a good hardwood with low grain that would look good for decades to come.  Full build details are on my website.  Router bits used were a roman ogee and a core box bit.

Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White Paint - Behr Premium Plus Semi-gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Trimmed and ready for Christmas - Dollhouse

Built this from Ana's plan. Made a few small floor changes and added casing, baseboard, trim and cedar shake shingles.

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Ana White Admin

Tue, 12/22/2015 - 11:11

You knocked this out of the park, so excited for the recipient! Thanks for sharing:)

shanebernskoetter

Wed, 12/23/2015 - 15:07

Thank you for the kind comments. I really appreciate your work putting the plans out there for others to follow, Ana! My father is a high end custom homebuilder and made a house for my 3 sisters 20 years ago for Christmas.  I thought if I'm going to do this, I might as well go all in and try to make something grandpa would be proud of. It is for my 2 girls, ages 8 and 11. The 11 year old still plays with dolls. I'm trying to hold onto her youth as long as I can! Again, many thanks.  -Shane

shanebernskoetter

Wed, 12/23/2015 - 15:12

Thank you for the kind comments. My father is a high end custom home builder and made a house for my 3 sisters 20 years ago for Christmas. I thought that if I was going to make a house I should go all in on something to make grandpa proud. I am very grateful, Ana, for your posting of the plans on the web for others to imitate! The house is for my 8 and 11 year old daughters. The 11 year old still plays with dolls and we are trying to hold on to her youth as long as we can. With thanks and gratitude, Shane

Bookshelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/12/2019 - 11:54

Bookcase followed plans exactly, finished in rustoleum white, varathane carbon gray stain for back paneling. 

Finished with satin oil based poly to add some protection.

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Clara table and $4 chair

Submitted by newtowood on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 15:44

This was a gift to my good friends son. She said he needed a desk for his homework, but I hear he's using it as a dinner table. :) It was a fun project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15-$20
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Sanded, primer, paint, stenciled
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Lego Table

Submitted by aclayton on Wed, 12/23/2015 - 10:35

I decided to build the art table and use it as a lego table instead. I had a piece of 3/4" maple plywood left over from a previous project, so the only thing that I had to buy were the 1x4's and lego plates.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
I spent about $30 at Lowe's for the 1x4's and $24 on ebay for some generic lego plates. I already had the plywood, screws, and stain on hand.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax "Red Mahogany" stain and a coat of polycrylic.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Modified to fit Wine fridge

Submitted by slbgunner1 on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 07:15

Used Maple on top with pine for the frame. Thanks Ana-White!

Built from Plan(s)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Barn Beam Shelf

Submitted by amym on Sun, 10/02/2011 - 12:01

These shelves were easy to make and are sturdy also. I haven't gotten frames for my pictures yet - I was so excited to hang up my shelf.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic x console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 12/26/2015 - 20:48

One of my first projects and I really felt like I had good cuts, however it was still a real challenge for me. I ended up doing the bottom in white to hide some of the errors. In the end I am happy with the resultes. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White paint, honey mini wax poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate