Community Brag Posts

Wood Crate Coffee Table

Submitted by TMW on Thu, 10/08/2015 - 06:44

A buddy of mine showed me a picture of a coffee table his wife wanted that he found online. It appeared to be several crates attached together. I came up with this design. I added a base to raise it off the floor a few inches to make cleaning around it easier. Was made using all scrap. It was a very easy project and took about 2hrs. This picture was taken before any finish was applied.

Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Audrey Wright

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 05:06

I glanced at the picture for two minutes straight, wondering how the heck you designed this layout, before I realised it was premade crates.. Silly me.. Great job !

Lovely entertainment center

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/24/2018 - 15:22

I went with inset doors with chicken wire instead of the sliding barn doors, and I added an additional shelf.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Whitewash pickling stain, an antiquing glaze, sanding sealer, and polycrilic.

For the top, I stained the bare wood with the antiquing glaze, then I added the whitewash pickling stain over that once dry. Then a sanding sealer, and finally the antiquing glaze again, concentrating on the outer edges and knots. It gave it an old, barn wood look.

For the rest, I used the whitewash pickling stain (Minwax), sanding sealer, and then the antiquing glaze (Valspar). I did 3 coats of polycrylic on everything after.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Doll farmhouse bed for Avery

Submitted by brguad on Mon, 08/01/2011 - 13:58

Once I saw the plans posted I knew my daughter would love it and she does!! Every time she goes to bed she has to put her babies in bed too. This was a simple build but very rewarding. THanks Ana!!

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
sanded 120, white flat paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Twin Farmhouse Bed

Built 2 of these for a customer. Stained with Rust-Oleum Dark Walnut and finished with Rust-Oleum Satin Ployuerethane.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-Oleum Dark Walnut and Satin Polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Corner TV Stand

Submitted by Jeffmp29 on Mon, 10/12/2015 - 07:27

We've searched for a corner TV stand but couldnt find anything we liked. I finally decided to build one. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
General finishes java, 2 coats. several coats of satin for top coat (GF as well)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Patrick's Beach Cottage Media Center

Submitted by bcarter_1 on Tue, 10/30/2018 - 04:36

Modified the plans to have sides like the wide cabin dresser, and took out top two drawers for media center

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Finally Built a Platform Bed!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/25/2022 - 10:39

I've been wanting to build this bed for awhile and finally got around to it. I made a few small changes to the plans:

-I used 2x8's instead of 2x6s, so it wouldn't be so low to the ground.
-I ripped 3/8" off of the 2x8 supports in the middle so the mattress would nest inside the frame and not slide around
-I didn't add the headboard because it seemed a bit chunky/rustic for my taste. I will come back and do something else for the headboard. Maybe a cool paneled wall with built in sconces? We'll see!

Love these plans though, appreciate it!

Comments

Farmhouse Table

I asked my husband to build me Ana White's farmhouse table a few months ago...but he never found the time. Finally I announced I was doing it myself, expecting to get halfway through and then need my husband to finish it. I found out later he expected the same thing.

We were both surprised that I did manage to finish it myself, in about a week from the first trip to the store until it was finished and waiting to set before it came in the house.

I found notching the boards to be difficult at first, but my second try went great and everything fit as it was supposed to. We love our new table, and using the tools made me feel so empowered. I think I've found a new hobby!

Estimated Cost
$120 (after a second trip to the store when I messed up the first set of cuts)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Gel stain in honey oak, water based varathane coating on top.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Modified Loft bunk

My boys have to share a room so I needed to have some storage and increased usability. I added a 10" deep headboard to the top bunk and extended the desk to 10" deeper. I couldn't put the ladder in the middle of the room so i had to put it beside the bookcase and in turn had to turn the drawers to the inside so they wouldn't be under the ladder. I then needed a gap between the bookcase and the bottom bunk to access the shelves the the drawers on the side of the bottom bunk, so now there is a large shelf above the desk which is also the underside of the headboard. I also modified the desk to accommodate a computer tower when they get a bit older. There will also be a slide out keyboard tray and a small drawer. (haven't built them yet.) I managed to build this without adding much materials at all. the headboard was all scraps from the rest of it. The desk and bookcase are also 3" taller than the plans(seemed too short, in hindsight, now its too close to the ceiling... oops. )

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic barn style door

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/05/2022 - 03:59

Using cedar fence slats, my son and I built this barn style hanging door for a space between two rooms in his partially finished basement. We planed each fence slat to achieve a smoother surface and to join the boards together. We finished it with a liberal amount of butcher block oil and beeswax to keep the wood from drying too quickly. We think it turned out beautifully!!

Comments

Farmhouse Bedside table

My husband and I decided to tackle the farmhouse bedside table as our first project. It was a test to see if we could build together without fighting and bickering. We succeeded! It is a little "rustic" but we are pretty proud of our first build. It was definitely a learning experience. The top is a little uneven due to one of the boards having a slight bend to it. I also should have put epoxy on the knots of the pine before painting it. We are going to make one more to match for the other side of the bed. Thanks for the plans Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
We used a mahogany stain for the top. I did 3 coats of it, rubbing it off after 10 minutes and letting it dry for at least 4 hours between stains. I then did a polyurethane coat, glossy, on top. I sanded after the first coat and then did two more after. For the bottom part, I did a coat of oil-based Killz to seal it and prevent leak through. I then sanded as the killz tends to raise up the grain. I did two coats of a semi-gloss Behr latex paint. The name is seaside sand.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X End Table

Submitted by Lis West on Sun, 09/01/2013 - 10:42

I modified the original plans to fit the height and length of my sofa as well as to show off the chevron planks. I was offered some pallets...so, I greedily accepted them, to which my husband rolled his eyes and sarcastically said, "Great, more wood!" I tried to make all of the table from the pallets but I ended up using pine for the table edging and the "X."
I laid out the table top in a chevron style on 1/2in plywood, glued and screwed them in from the bottom with wood screws. I attached edging with pocket holes. For the bottom part of the table, I attached larger pallet boards using glue and pocket holes instead of attaching to plywood. I actually attached the edging first to the bottom boards and then attached to the table rather than attach the bottom edging and then try to make the boards fit. I sanded the top and bottom tables with 40, then 80, then 120, and then 240 grit sand paper until smooth. I also sanded the legs the same way. To say that total time sanding for the entire project was 20 hours maybe an understatement. If you look at the underside picture, you can see the roughness of the wood...and I had already lightly sanded them! I ripped my own 1x2's for the edging and "X" from 2x4's with my table saw because I could not find anyone who sold unwarped wood...so frustrating!! The wood was so much straighter when I ripped them. I will rip my own wood as much as possible for now on!!
The "X's" were a challenge and I ended up cutting the ends at a 47.5 degree angles. I do not know why I had such a problem. I had right angles, but the wood is imperfect in many ways and not perfectly straight. I attached the "X's" together and to the table with glue and pocket holes. The legs had ink stamping, so I tried to keep that and not sand the ink completely off.
I added the metal "bling." I dulled the metal, primed and painted with metal paint. The paint chips off easily. So I think will end up replacing these pieces later on. The bolts were originally black, so they will stay.
Total time...several weeks because of all the sanding. I cannot devote whole days to woodworking because of family and work and I can only sand one hour at a time before my hands start to go numb. Also, the Waterlox requires at least 24 hours between each application. Cost: approximately $15...for the pocket holes screws (fine Kreg screws), hardware, other wood screws and 1 8ft 2x4. Everything else I already had (I already had the Waterlox, bolts, screws) or was given to me (pallets).

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15 +
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Waterlox. I have a friend who does beautiful woodworking and he considers staining (and polyurethane) a sin. Because pallet wood has unique coloring, grains and textures, I nervously leaned towards his "no stain" stance and did not stain. I used Waterlox sealer, 3 coats original and 1 coat gloss, for protection. The Waterlox brought out a lot of color in the pallet wood, but since the pine has less color to bring out, the pine looks a little lighter than the pallet wood, which may look odd in the pictures but is really cool looking.
Waterlox is expensive, but I like it much better than polyurethane. Waterlox is easier to work with in that I do not get ANY bubbles or brush marks. Polyurethane seems to dry before I am finished, making it so difficult to work with and to get nice look. The Waterlox may take 24 hours to dry between applications, but I can apply it and keep "working" it until I like the way it looks and then it dries evenly without drips and without dull or uneven looking patches. Also, in the future, if I want to add more coats, I can without stripping. When the Waterlox is dry, it does not have a plastic look to it and it does not yellow, so my pine will keeps it color.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Tryde End Table with a Colorado Logo

Submitted by ajbehrens on Thu, 10/22/2015 - 21:45

Skipped the 2x4 top and shelf and replaced with a 1x4 board. Got lucky with some scraps. The Colorado logo was distressed with a rotary sander. 

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark stain and spray shellac
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kitchen Cabinets with Countertops

Submitted by cmanmgm007 on Sun, 11/25/2018 - 08:17

I would like to thank www.stonecoatcountertops.com for the ideas on the countertops, 

first off I used 3/4 MDF for this project, Ana White's momplex cabinet plans and just extended the plans to the size i needed, i created the doors out of MDF cut to size and used a router to create the design on the edge and the countertops are made with MDF, expoxy,spray paint, and metallic powder in 91% alcohol. this plan was so eazy, and my kids had a blast doing it, Thanks Ana for the cabinet plans

Estimated Cost
MDF $26 per Sheet- 2 sheets
Epoxy $95gal
spray paint
metallic powder $30

Finish Used
Leftover paints i mixed together together the color.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Little Crates

Submitted by lizseburn on Wed, 08/10/2011 - 10:48

My first project where I made the whole thing by myself! My friend and I each loved this idea and so together we each made our own version! It was just what I needed for some bathroom beautifying in a small space!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$8 to $12
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

dress up bin

Submitted by clantate on Tue, 09/03/2013 - 06:23

My husband made this for my daughter's 4th birthday. she loves it! We did decided not to add the wheels and it seems to be fine without them. We chose to do her name in letters as well. I did the lines and dots with a sharpe marker.

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

The Media Hutch Entertainment Center

Submitted by MikeP112 on Mon, 10/26/2015 - 09:28

I built this for my oldest brother.  I only used 2x2's for the legs.  I built the carcuses out of plywood and used 1x2 select pine for the face frames.  I built the top shelfs to be 5 feet tall.  So the whole thing is 7 feet high by 8 feet wide.  

Estimated Cost
$600-$700
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Primed with Killz, and painted with Sherwin Williams Analytical Grey. After it was painted I used a finishing wax for a topcoat
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

Fire Place and TV Surround

We needed a surround for the TV and really wanted to have a fireplace underneath. I took the Shanty Hutch/Sideboard plans and made some modifications. Took about 2 weeks to complete.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
We bought the fireplace for the project, so with all included about $600
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used Varathane American Walnut on the interior surfaces. I used a paint/stain blend for the exterior. It is a color match tint for my house.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

My bag dispenser, made from scrap pieces of maple and pine

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/26/2022 - 13:13

I went looking at plans for a bag dispenser, and I found Ana White's. Nice, simple design! The top, front, and bottom are made from a recycled maple table top. The sides are made from 1 x 3 boards that I glued up. Works exactly as I hoped!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Indoor Dog Kennel

I love my dogs, but their wire kennels were an eyesore. Removing them completely was not an option, but I was tired of looking at them. I went back to my first-ever rehab project, and took it one step further to create a one-of-a-kind castle for my pups.
The original piece of furniture was an old console-style TV cabinet. Sliding doors on the front revealed the TV, and two lids on top contained the tuner and a turn-table.

Armed with screwdrivers, hammers and a dremmel, all components were removed form the cabinet, leaving just the shell. (PLEASE be sure you remove all sharp, potentially dangerous, screws, staples and what-not’s from the inside of the cabinets, to avoid injuring your pet! The dremmel allowed me to cut off and grind down stubborn screws.)

To cover the holes in the top cabinets, I used old checker boards. The cubbies are now a great place to store dog treats and leashes.

OPTIONAL: The back panel of the cabinet I used had holes from the TV components. I elected to replace the back board with a new sheet of peg board. (The peg board allows for much-needed ventilation.) In order to get the size perfect, I traced the old back onto the new and marked the original screw holes.

I vacuumed the inside to remove all construction debris and polished the exterior with Pledge. Then, I inserted an old comforter into the kennel, and stood back as my two pups launched themselves into their new abode.

The doors can stay open during the day for them to enter at their own will, and close for bedtime. And my eyes no longer hurt.

Estimated Cost
Cost of Cabinet (will vary)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I did not elect to change the finish, but it could be painted to match any decor if you want.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Barbara Cash

Thu, 08/11/2011 - 18:41

This was such a great idea. I love the old console. I love to build but I love it so much more when I can use old wood or repurpose parts of old furniture and industrial pieces. I feel creative. The checker boards are great. Do you have a blog?

Beffus (not verified)

Wed, 08/24/2011 - 09:33

I wish I thought of this or saw it long ago! I have 2 huge ugly crates in my living room...I am now on the hunt for 2 much better looking living spaces for my "other babies"! Love love this idea so much looks beautiful!