Community Brag Posts

Farmhouse Style Vanity Base with Slatted Shelf

Submitted by ellemm on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 21:06

Our first build! After finding a vanity top we loved for our DIY bathroom renovation, my husband and I went in search of a chunky, open base with simple lines and a shelf on the bottom. Nothing at the store appealed to us, and I had been talking about all the projects I wanted to build from Ana's site for weeks, so we decided to try the Simple Open Farmhouse Style Vanity. We would just add a shelf to the bottom and omit the top!

This was a really easy plan to scale for our sink, and because we were not doing the top we could make all the necessary cuts with a chop saw.

The only purchases we had to make for the base were screws, slats and a 12-foot-long 4×4 that the guy at the store cut into four 36″ pieces for me. It’s pressure-treated lumber meant for outdoor use, but it was on sale and they didn’t have any other 4x4s. The rest of the materials were 1x4s and 2″ screws that we already had on hand.

For the bottom shelf, we just duplicated the spacers, aprons and skirts from the top, and placed wide slats over that. They look crooked in the photo because they haven't been glued on yet, and using the baskets makes them shift around!

With the vanity top in place the counter height is a little over 37 inches. We are tall people, so this is a tall sink! Perfect for our first build. Thanks Ana!

Estimated Cost
Under $20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I finished this with a very dark stain followed by two coats of white latex semi-gloss, then sanded back the edges to give it a distressed look. I covered it with three coats of polyurethane, which gave it a slightly off-white cast, which I wanted. Polycrilic would have been a better choice if I wanted it to remain bright white.

In figuring out how to finish the vanity, I looked at several of Ana's finish options, wanting a distressed white finish. The closest process to what I did is in the "Authentic Vintage Distressed Finish with Minwax Stain" post!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

PVR cabinet

Submitted by Doug B on Tue, 08/09/2016 - 19:16

I built this PVR/DVD cabinet by combining my stained glass hobby with my woodworking.

The stained glass door works well as the remotes operate through the glass, I left the rear of the cabinet open for wiring but also to allow any heat to escape.

I used some brushed finish cedar that a neighbor gave to me but used dressed ply on the interior, any wood of choice would work.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Washed white paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Hall Entry Bench

Submitted by atlayank on Mon, 05/25/2020 - 17:33

My first piece of furniture using the plans as guidance. Needed something to organize the shoes that accumulated at the front door.

Estimated Cost
40
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane that was a stain and poly in one. Mahogany was the color with a gloss finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic Sideboard

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/13/2024 - 12:29

This was one of your online plans, with a slight change to the front of the doors. Great project, made from pine, stained, and varathane applied.

Wade MacMillan

Built from Plan(s)

King Sized Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by stephsj on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 06:29

We have been sleeping on a inexpensive platform bed for the last 7 years and after falling in love with this website (thank you Ana, I am constantly bragging and showing your website to others) I decided to build us a farmhouse bed as my first project. I started this project back in October 2011....yes it took much longer than expected, but I have 2 kids a husband (so make that 3), a full time career in the military and a house to maintain. That and we got the news I am pregnant back in Nov!!! The head board and foot board did not take long and luckily we had a very mild winter here in NC (boo to no snow though). I decided to save some work and money by reusing the slats and hardware from my old bed to avoid buying more wood or having to get a box spring for our mattress. Unfortunately, that was my huge delay, I cut and stained my sideboards, bought what I thought would be great bed brackets and found myself with a space that was to wide for the slats and on top of that my husband managed to loose one of my brackets. Needless to say, months of sleeping on a mattress on the floor with my head board and foot board on either wall mocking us every night due to my overwhelming frustration and fear of having a colossal headboard fall on me while trying to work. I called upon the assistance of a good friend of mine (Christie you are amazing!!) to come over while my husband was out of town in May (I figured this would be a good time to surprise him, plus keep his opinions from making things take longer). So lots of how the heck are we going to do this and finding out the bed frame brackets I purchased were not as strong as they appeared (they broke!!). We got some new wood for the sides and some long bolts to get everything together and worked a whole Saturday to get it complete. Added a few L brackets to get rid of the wobble and its sturdy as a rock! It may have its flaws, but I love it and don't regret any of the time and stress it took to build it. I now have a beautiful comfortable bed to sleep in every night to patiently wait for my third little girl to arrive. It should last us for a very long time especially since I made sure that it could come apart and go back together for any future moves the military may take us.

I cannot wait to start my next project.....and hopefully it wont take as long this time ;).

Estimated Cost
$250 (using my local builder's supply saved a fortune compared to the local home improvement store....even though I did have to go to them for a few things)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used 2 coats of Bombay Mahogany stain with the polyurethane already included in.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Lady-built Workbench

After a winter of working on my concrete basement floor (and up in Canada, that's not any type of awesome), I decided it was high time to build a workbench.

I found a great plan on here (see plan link below) and then made one quick adjustment.

Adding a side table gave me somewhere to put my saw, as I don't have anywhere else for it to go, and buying a stand for it would only take up that much more room in my basement.

It was a relatively easy build, and is a great huge space to refinish wood windows on, build cabinets on, etc.

Leave me a comment, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
minwax stain, and my local hardware store brand of poly finish (4 coats) - only on the worktops, as after all... it is a workbench :)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kitchen island; Ana-white design

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 08/13/2016 - 11:42

I am so happy to be able to submit a brag post. Besides shelves and flower beds this is The first piece of furniture I make besides  some mistakes and frustrations in the learning process it went relatively smooth! I am super happy to have made my first piece of furniture on my own :). Thanks for the great plans and for everyone who made helpful suggestions in the comment section. I also recommend  using another 2x2 piece above the drawer railing to

hold it in place so it doesn't tip out. Thanks again! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Chaise success!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/27/2020 - 07:19

This is my first project, I’m soooo happy with how it turned out!

Estimated Cost
$90
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Walnut stain + acrylic top coat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Balustrade Coffee Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/15/2024 - 10:27

I just completed this table. It is 5’ square and very heavy. The table is a combination of paint/stain and poly. It took me almost a month to complete and the help of friends and family to flip it back in forth front and back so I could work on it. I am very happy with the finished project ♥️

Cindy Lunn

Built from Plan(s)

West Elm Knockoff Rolling Cubby

This was my very first build! I didn't even have a saw, so I had the lumber guys at Lowes cut my boards for me. Also, I altered the dimensions to fit my space.

Check out my blog link for more info!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$64.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Primed and painted with white glossy paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Kendra Storage Console (aka Bookshelf Toybox)

Submitted by bdel on Wed, 05/14/2014 - 11:34

We built this bookshelf/toybox for our cousin's daughter - as a 1st birthday present. Overall, the project only took a weekend (including staining and waxing), and the cuts and assembly are pretty straight forward.

We wanted it to be larger than the one in the plans, so it took some time to figure out the dimensions before we started cutting. There was a bit of, "What do you think of this height?" and, "Is this too wide?"

My husband and I have built quite a few projects together so this one was fairly low on the difficulty scale. As long as you are comfortable with a mitre saw, you can do it. The kreg jig made it easier to drill pocket holes, but even with only different-sized drill bits and a steady hand you can make them.

This is one of my favourite builds - maybe because it was a gift for the sweetest little girl. Plus others have shown interest in it, so I might just have to start a side business!

More details on what we did can be found at:
http://turtlesandtails.blogspot.ca/2014/05/child-sized-bookshelf-toybox…

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100 (CDN)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut Stain,
Minwax Red Mahogany Stain,
Minwax Furniture Wax,
Steel wool after waxing and buffing gives an even smoother finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Jon Barnes

Wed, 09/10/2014 - 08:13

I was thinking the same thing when I saw the original design.  I like it but the dementions are quite a bit smaller than I want to make for the toy box gift that I want.  I am doing the same thing.  It will be a 1st birthday present for a little girl  I am thinking of making it 36 wide and at least 36 high and 24 deep.  What would the dementions be and how much would that change the side angle cuts? 

Leaning bathroom Shelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 08/16/2016 - 14:32

I had fun building this Leaning Bathroom shelf you posted from RyobiNation! I had been looking for the right bathroom storage for awhile. I have a small bathroom and not much really did it for me until I found the link to the plans on your Facebook feed. The moment I saw it I knew I had to build it for my bathroom so thank you so much for posting it! 

Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-Oleum Traditional Cherry: I just made sure my wood was sanded and smooth and just applied the stain. Not much to my finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kids Tree Fort

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/31/2020 - 09:27

Built a fort for the boys with two climbing walls, a spot for their toys, and added some hammock swings

Estimated Cost
~$600
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
No stain, left natural
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Combined the Kentwood and Farmhouse Beds!!!

We loved the storage of the Farmhouse bed, but loved the headboard and foot board of the Kentwood. We also wanted a twin size bed. Instead of trying to figure out the measurements to make the farmhouse to a twin size (which is shorter in length), we made it at the full size length and just bought XL twin size mattresses, which were not hard to find and now we can keep the beds even after our boys become teenagers :-)

We basically built the headboards and foot boards from the kentwood exactly as Ana's plans state. Then we built the Farmhouse storage drawers. We love them!!! Thank you so much Ana for MORE great bed plans (this is our second set of bed plans we have made!

Estimated Cost
$350 per bed
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Primed and painted
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

sgilly

Tue, 07/24/2012 - 20:48

These look great. I'm sure your kids are thrilled with their beds, and how amazing that you made these for them. They'll probably take them with them when they move out - years from now!

Thanks for the plans, this is exactly what I was looking for.. So I made two.

Submitted by dshudson on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 03:38

I did this project over the weekend. I love it. Makes the family room pop. I needed something to hide my cable box and this worked perfectly. I made two, one in each corner. I too purchased the creg jig and now that I know how to use it, I will be doing more diy projects. Thanks.

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

Comments

MSGRet

Mon, 05/19/2014 - 06:05

Excellent job, looks great. Where did you get the plans from? My wife bought one from a unfitted furniture store last year and stained it but it looks nothing like what you build. I would like to build one myself if I can get the plans.

MSGRet

Mon, 05/19/2014 - 07:56

Thanks guys, just what I was looking for but couldn't find it earlier. Thanks for your help.

2x10 Step Stool

Submitted by msyoung22 on Fri, 08/19/2016 - 14:14

With some left over scrap 2x10 wood I made this stool for my children.

The total heigh of the stool is 9" (7 1\2" for the feet, 1 1\2" for the top, and 1\2" for the design on top made from scrap pallat wood)

The top is 1 1\2" x 9 1\4" x 16" (because of the thickness of the wood I would recommend cutting the top to 18" instead of 16")

The legs are cut with a 5 degree angle

I made the design on the top by ripping some reclaimed pallet wood into 1" strips and then cutting each into 2" pieces

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax: gray
Minwax: pickled oak
Minwax: weathered oak
Minwax: polycrylic protective finish
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Refinished kitchen table and chairs

Submitted by tthackston on Tue, 06/02/2020 - 06:45

My kitchen table needed something, so instead of buying new, I sanded and used a dark stain on the table top and chair seats. It looks like whole new table! This wasn’t from a plan, but used skills I learned building from Ana’s plans! Off to build the Little Helper tower now!

Estimated Cost
Less than $50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark walnut stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic Table

I made this table before the PB plans came out on the this site. I used gate hinges on the corners and 3/4" piece of all thread on the bottom. The top was poured with the High Gloss glaze from Lowes. It fits 8 all around and you could squeeze in 12 if you really needed to. All together this only cost $350.

Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

20 Second Tidy Up

This was a fun simple project. I added some fabric to the bottom of the trundle. If you have questions when building please let me know. Thank you for viewing.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ipswich Pine - Minwax
Dark Walnut - Minwax
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Back