Community Brag Posts

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

Reclaimed from 100 year old farmhouse

Submitted by Richard714 on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 07:27

I was so excited to see this plan and knew what to do with the wood I had recently acquired when an old home was being destroyed near my house.
Love the site and the projects are too much fun!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Lacquer over danish oil
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Cabinet

Submitted by AndyH on Wed, 12/23/2015 - 16:33

Cabinet with adjustable shelf. Finished in an antique white effect. Gave it a coat of Grey stain first then painted with two coats of white sanding back after each coat. Top was stained Walnut and then painted grey and sanded back to show some of the walnut stain and the grain through. I left the inside natural color for contrast rather than having it all white .

Estimated Cost
$170
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Gave it a coat of Rustoleum Weathered Grey and painted with two coats of white sanding back after each coat.

Top was stained Minwax Walnut and then painted grey and sanded back to show some of the walnut stain and the grain through.

I left the inside natural color for contrast rather than having it all white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Coffee Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 15:06

For my daughter's birthday, I used the plan from your site, but I substituted 1x6 poplar for the top, rather than the 2x6's. Turned out so well that my other daughter wants one as well.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$145
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Enamel white for the base and stain/polyurethane for the top.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

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 coffee table and end tables

WOW this was our first build. We had some money to get started so went and bought new miter saw and sander, kreg jig, basically everything we needed to build it. Tools aside we spend only about $100 on the lumber to build the coffee table and 2 side tables.

Eric cut notches in the X instead of using 2 separate pieces for the other side, so they fit together like a puzzle piece. it was a learning experience of trial and error, but he got better and better each time.

For the finish i used the tutorial of dissolving steel wool in vinegar and then added a coat of strong coffee which made an ugly green-gray color. I happened to have picked up a can of "autumn" wood stain that when applied made the color pop and look amazing. (thank goodness because i was so frustrated and wanted to give up) when we do this again (cuz i just sold the set we made) i will be better at sanding everything nice and smooth, and do staining/painting of the Xs and the top separately before putting everything together.

I dont recommend the steel wool and vinegar stain, it smelled terrible and was hard to apply because it was watery and ran a lot plus you cant see the color develop for a long time so its hard to see what was wet and what wasn't. yuk. The Minwax "gray" stain they just released would most likely work a lot better. those small can of stains for $6 are big enough for all 3 pieces we built so really i don't think i saved money buying the steel wool and vinegar.

Anyway this was way fun! Cant wait to build again :)

Estimated Cost
$100 of lumber, $500 of power tools and supplies
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
steel wool and vingear, plus a coat of coffee, then a coat of Rustoleum Autumn stain, coat of spray-can poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Standing Parson Tower Desk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 12/27/2015 - 11:08

I loved the simplicity and shelving of the Parson Tower desk plans but I really wanted a standing work station. I made it taller (approx. 40 in tall) and I made the desktop longer and wider (approx. 72 x 24in) and I LOVE it! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Sofa Console Table Bar Height for Dining

Submitted by ezematis1 on Mon, 01/23/2023 - 06:55

I took the basic idea of the Rustic X Console. Raised it to countertop height so I could use it for three stools. I also added a shelf so people sitting on the sectional could put drinks right behind them. Added a charging station to that shelf as well. Topped it with a live edge black walnut slab. Finally, I didn't use the X because the table was too high and the base was too narrow to make the X work. I used a tablesaw to cut a grove in the legs and then put a 1/4 plywood panel.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

dresser turned bathroom vanity

Submitted by leahrush4 on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 08:23

We looked high and low for a sturdy dresser we could convert to a vanity for our kid's bathroom. We could find nothing for under $500 so we decided to make it. We used solid hickory for the top and bottom and hickory vaneer for the rest. Only the middle drawers are useable, the side ones have a faux front to leave room for the sink plumbing behind. My husband also reinforced the bottom compartments by making them three separate compartments instead of one solid one. We ordered the sinks from overstock.com and the faucets are from Lowes.

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

Comments

catee (not verified)

Fri, 10/07/2011 - 16:39

My kids have been bugging for years for double sinks. I LOVE this. I was thinking along the same line but never got past the thinking part. This is GORGEOUS!

cathrobi (not verified)

Mon, 11/21/2011 - 10:52

Wow, this is stunning! You did an awesome job! The only thing I can't figure out is how you were able to attach the plumbing? Did your husband have to crawl underneath to reach the pipes?

Handmade by horseminded

Only change to original plan was width of top.  Used 2  2x6 boards with 2x8 for middle board instead of 3 2x6 boards. One note: deck or porch spindles are less than 2 inches and will not fit tightly against the shelf boards. .Cut the lengths form 8ft 2x2 and sand smooth.

 

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Weathered Oak stain with 3 top coats of waterbased Polycrylic, semigloss
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Ana White Farmhouse Bed - King Size

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/07/2019 - 09:37

This King Size Farmhouse Bed turned out better than I could've imagined! It did take a lot of patience, time, and even left a few bruises but, a few months out, I think I would do it all over again!

We chose the Farmhouse King Bed Plans by Ana White and I read everything I could about it. This would be the biggest project I'd ever done. Through reading comments, I found the DIY Farmhouse Bed - King Version by Ed Hart. He had a few modifications I liked so I bought his plan.

Then, I set to work!

We have a Naturepedic mattress and built this bed to its specifications, including bed slats no more than two inches apart.

Check out this post to see the modifications we made to the Ana White Farmhouse Bed: https://sunshineandrainydays.com/king-size-farmhouse-bed/

Thank you, Ana, for the inspiration to build!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Homemade wood stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Twin Farmhouse Bed

This was made with the Farmhouse Bed Plan.
Woodworking runs in my family, but this is my first item built from scratch.

We decided to leave it bare for a while. It looks beautiful as is.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Right around $100 for all wood and screws needed. Mattress was $200 and bedding was $60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

jbayer80

Mon, 01/07/2013 - 07:24

I will be building this with modifications to the headboard. I'm going to put baseball bats in-between the 4x4's as the header.

Kentwood Nightstand

Submitted by Hippychic on Wed, 10/09/2013 - 19:01

Kentwood night stand and matching headboard!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
custom
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Laundry Pedestal

This was a pretty simple project that saved me hundreds and is more functional.  I built it to fit our laundry baskets, unfortunately I didn't take a photo of the washer/dryer in place.  I've used it for several years now without any issues.  This was one of my first builds and it was a good one.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Aunt's Kitchen

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 04:47

My husband and I redid my Aunt's kitchen.  She has no storage, hardly any counter space and her kitchen was cluttered.  So we painted, put up beadboard and trim, plus added storage.  We took the console table plan and modified it to fit what she needed.  We raised the height to 39" tall and made two tables for the "L" shape storage.  She absolutely loves her kitchen!  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$125
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Shiplap Fireplace Wall

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 10:21

Built-ins coming next! Such a great build!

Comments

Narrow Farmhouse Sewing Table

Submitted by melodylisa on Mon, 10/17/2011 - 07:49

modifications to plans: legs not tapered; shortened table by two feet.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$70
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Olde Century Colors in ‘Candlelight’
General Finishes Wood Stain in ‘Georgian Cherry’
General Finishes Gel Topcoat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Braden Shoe Shelf Entry Way Locker

I modified the Braden Shoe Shelf plans to fit our entry space. I also wanted 4 cubbies, one for each family member. This was a Huge learning experience for me but I loved every minute.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Sanded and then 3 coats of CIL furniture and cabinetry smart paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Corner media cabinet

Submitted by Jodie on Sat, 01/02/2016 - 09:45

I used the Rustic x console table plans and modified them to make this corner media console. I closed the sides with plywood instead of leaving them open with the X detail. Then I closed it in further with doors to keep all our video game systems hidden and dust free. It's a good addition to the Man Cave.

Estimated Cost
50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments