Community Brag Posts

Farm House Bed w/Drawers

Used the farm house bed plans from here with a few modifications.  Instead of plywood for the headboard and footboard, I used tongue and grove 1x6 planks.  I used edge glued spruce planks from Lowes for the drawer fronts and I invested a bit more on the drawer slides and opted for the full opening type.  Also, rather than 3 large drawers on either side, I opted to put 2 smaller drawers in the center.  I felt the shallower drawers would be more useful for smaller items (socks and underwear).  I also used a 3/4" molding to hid the ends of the plywood drawer boxes.  The weathered finish was created using a video I found on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Via9Lz4Pw).  My upgrades increased the overall price, but it was still under $600 and should last a lifetime.

Estimated Cost
$600
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Multiple products - follow YouTube tutorial. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Via9Lz4Pw
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Christmas tree box

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 11/26/2022 - 15:29

I made this plan at my wifes’s request. I added a platform on the inside for our artificial tree and stencils on the outside of each side. Plan was relatively easy. We love the look. Bonus, made the tree taller. George from Arizona.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Outdoor Sectional- The Great Outdoors

I can't thank Ana enough for her plans on this project. We recently purchased a big project house that was going to need a lot of work (and a lot of money.) That's why I was thrilled to find Ana's plans for the exact West Elm Wood Slat Sectional I was eying for my screened in porch. The exact configuration at West Elm would have cost $2130, but I built it and sewed all the cushions for just $288! Ana's sewing plan was really helpful too, but I altered mine to include zippers in the back to remove the fabric for washing, and ties to hold the cushions securely to the sectional. We finished the sectional with super easy india ink and poly for a deep black finish that still shows the wood grain. The screened in porch is now our favorite room in the house! Thanks Ana!

Estimated Cost
$288 with all cushions and pillows
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
India Ink- Found in art supplies stores this thin, watery ink goes on with a sponge brush and soaks completely into the wood leaving a deep, dark wood finish that still shows the wood grain. No need to worry about drips or evenness, this finish goes on in one coat and is super easy, especially on a tricky, large piece like this. Topped with 3 coats of water based poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

JES

Mon, 09/05/2011 - 11:05

This looks really super! I clicked on your blog link and read a few entries (funny!) You did a great job! Love the fabric for the cushions too. How much India ink did it take to stain a piece this big? Did it take a long time to dry? cheers!
J

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

Christmas Stocking stand

Submitted by Egle01 on Fri, 12/09/2022 - 15:30

I enjoyed making this. The kids love it and it goes great in front of the fireplace.
#Todays_Spare_Time

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

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

Cornhole Boards with Custom Initials

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/05/2023 - 06:25

Thank you for helping me make my first set of cornhole boards! Super easy steps to follow and I love how they turned out!!!

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Pantry Storage Spice Rack

Submitted by redhead_61 on Mon, 09/19/2011 - 21:49

I am kind of a visual organizational neat freak and I have been annoyed by all the little things taking up good shelf space in my pantry for a long time now. This just kept getting pushed down the list ya know, not a major project. Anyway, grabbed an extra board at the store the other day and knocked this one out. I LOVE it. I made it short because I want to build a trash bag holder for the bottom half of the door. We'll see how long it takes me. I did use a 1x4 instead of Ana's plan which uses a 1x6. I only needed small things to put in here.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$5
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
White Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

SingleMomThriving

Tue, 09/20/2011 - 10:04

Looks like the 1x4 was a perfect fit for all those little items, especially the wraps which get pushed to the back all the time and the pasta boxes. I feel some inspiration coming on.....

lianatempera

Tue, 09/20/2011 - 14:16

This is awesome. I should probably do this for my pantry, as well. Thanks for the inspiration!

Cindy from Indiana (not verified)

Wed, 09/21/2011 - 09:31

I love it! Great price,too!

I especially love how the design corals all those pesky little things that always seem to get pushed all the way to the back of my cabinets and drawers.

I'm definitely putting this on my list of things to build!

Cindy from Indiana

Jen Pedro

Wed, 09/21/2011 - 13:34

I assume your door is the usual hollow pantry door. What type of anchors did you use to hold the shelves in place? Did you use standard wall anchors with your screws?

Looks great!

redhead_61

Thu, 09/22/2011 - 08:19

I just got an anchor that looked like it had a little more 'umph' to it. It is called a Cobra Tripple Grip. It looked like it had a section that popped open a little more once the screw went in. I thought that might hold it a little more securely. I feel no movement when I jiggle it at all.

Chris A (not verified)

Sun, 01/15/2012 - 08:29

Very nice project.
Just came along looking for a storage shelf and I saw your door shelf. Going to build one of these for sure, sick of the little wire ones we have falling down every other day.

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

Floating bed

I built a floating bed using Ana's plans. In my case, I built a twin size bed which now my daughter enjoys every night. The bed turned out beautiful and very sturdy.

Comments