Community Brag Posts

Bedside End Table

Submitted by Ohboi22 on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 07:26

I actually used the “Bedside End Table” brag plans. This is my first project using plans from this site, I’m pretty happy with it:)

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane stain, wipe on poly, rustoleum paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Apothecary Cabinet

Submitted by evilanne on Sat, 10/29/2011 - 16:12

I painted the entire cabinet a dark blue, then painted over it again with an antique white. After it was completely dried I sanded it all down to give it a distressed look. I used antique label holders for the drawer pulls.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$350.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I use this cabinet in my piano room to store all my music.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Guest (not verified)

Sat, 11/12/2011 - 02:55

It's funny cause I have been thinking about doing the same set up with the apothecary console under a wall painted tree. I have to ask how you made the tree - is it stickons or stencil (if so please tell me where you got them) or is it hand painted. It's absolutely beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Photo Gallery Made Easy!

Submitted by mdean on Mon, 10/21/2013 - 12:50

I love my new photo ledges. I had a huge space on my wall and these ledges are perfect. The ledges were so easy to make. I got a kreg jig for my birthday (I never thought I would ask for a tool for a birthday present) and I have gotten so much use out of it. I saw similar ledges at pottery barn for 10 times the cost of this DIY project. I saved so much with these ledges. The kreg jig has already paid for itself. The ledges make it super easy to switch out photos and I love being able to display so many fun photos. Everyone who sees these ledges loves them!! This was my first project. Thanks Ana for the great plans!

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
White gloss spray praint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

mdean

Mon, 10/21/2013 - 12:51

I might spray paint all the picture frames white or an oil rubbed bronze in the future...I'm not sure yet. Opinions?

JoanneS

Mon, 10/21/2013 - 18:27

Your gallery looks beautiful! Great job on your first project, congratulations!

(ps- I think the oil rubbed bronze would look super on the picture frames.)

clara table

Submitted by jim7sf on Sun, 04/21/2019 - 03:31

Not bad for my first project!!  I decided to upholster the chairs so i used a solid piece of wood for the foundation of my seat and also decided I was going to use chalkboard paint I had left over

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Headboard

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/24/2023 - 09:17

I followed your basic farmhouse bed plans and modified them. I have made three headboards now. Each time someone sees them, they want me to build one for them!

Built from Plan(s)

Farmhouse Bench

Submitted by pwky on Thu, 10/24/2013 - 15:03

First time building furniture. This turned out much better than I thought. After this I probably could've build the farmhouse table myself instead of paying way too much for my wood dining table. Only if I have found Ana's site sooner. :)

Having a Kreg jig also made the whole process much easier.

Estimated Cost
$40 without the stain
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Kona and Minwax pre-stain conditioner and semi-gloss poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Farm Table with a Twist

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/07/2016 - 18:04

We wanted to build a farm table with benches to accommodate a few more people in the same space. This plan was easy to use. We modified a couple of the supports to metal piping to change the look up. We also painted the table and used a stencil to create a old world feel to it. It was a very fun project!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
1 Qt Carribean Sea from Glidden
1 Qt Galapagos from Behr
Minwax Polycrylic Semi-Gloss Finish
Tile stencil for table top
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Adirondack chairs

Submitted by elfi on Sun, 05/05/2019 - 08:04

Adirondack chairs from your plans. My husband added some rounding on the arms and back. We wanted them to look like well weathered beach chairs. To get that effect we used milk paint which lets the grain show through.

The best addition are the two wooden wheels on the back leg of the chairs, I can now easily move them around my patio.

Estimated Cost
$ 30 per chair
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Milk paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Patio tables

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 05:06

Fun and easy project. If I did it again I would definitely follow the directions to stain the wood first. My first Ana-White project. I’m hooked!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Dress Up Tower for my four year old Granddaughter

I'm a furniture builder now! This is actually the fourth project built from Ana's plans, but the first one complete and gifted. I bought my materials in the morning, and had it together by late afternoon. Now choosing colors, trim and do-dads to embellish was a whole nuther thing. I opted for chalk paint with a wax finish, and distressed her. She has mirrors on both sides as well as two, double hooks for hats, belts and jewelry.

My grand daughter is one pleased princess. Me too! I'm proud of myself.

Thanks Ana for the terrific instructions, encouragement and education you provide.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
After a wood putty and a light sanding, I mixed Annie Sloan Chalk Paints to get the beautiful blue. It's one part Duck Egg Blue to one part Old White. No primer is needed with this brand, but I did apply two coats of paint. When dry, I used one coat of Old White to the outward facing walls, leaving the inside and top blue. A light sanding at corners and where natural wear might occur took off enough white so blue could show thru. I applied 2 coats of Annie's Soft Clear Wax to seal and waterproof the finish. I'm pleased with the finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

cathryn j (not verified)

Fri, 11/11/2011 - 09:19

Great Project! I really loved the heart embellishment on the inside of the top...it makes it even more interesting to look at from many angles.

Question: does the waxed chalk paint finish feel that it may wear away with use? I am considering this finish but have never felt it in person.

In reply to by cathryn j (not verified)

beckiedecker

Sat, 11/12/2011 - 19:20

I love the hearts too! Found them in a clearance bin at a local hobby supply store for .29 cents each. The price thrilled miserly me.

Regarding the wax, it feels very smooth and satiny. I'm new to the chalk paint and wax technique, myself, but I did research before using it. From what I gather, wax, in general, will eventually wear away and have to be redone. When the piece looses it's luster a soft rag should buff the sheen back. When you can't buff up a sheen, then it's time to rewax. It should last years. Ask me again in 5 years. :-)

Oh, I should add, the close up of the curly embellishment was taken before I waxed.

I came across a lot of conflicting info regarding the soft wax. Nothing bad, just different techniques, and it seemed the more I read, the more questions I had. Finally just dove in and found my way. I like, like the method!

Did I answer your question? And then some!

In reply to by margjack

beckiedecker

Sat, 11/12/2011 - 19:49

She's a foo-foo girl, so yes, she was excited. Even more so when she was able to stand in front of her own full length mirror and see how stunning she was in the princess outfit her Aunt gave her. So cute!

kareylynn

Sun, 11/13/2011 - 19:48

You did a beautiful job, and I love the finish! I built the same piece, but only gave it an antique white painted finish. I may have to try some of your techniques on my next build.

Where did you find mirrors to fit? I can't find them short enough...

beckiedecker

Tue, 11/15/2011 - 16:20

I'd planned to use mirror tiles, but while at the Lowe's buying trim and mastif, I came across 2 to a pack beveled mirrors for $19. They were the perfect size! Now that's luck.

Dog Kennel End Table for Donation

Submitted by ksmith311 on Sat, 10/26/2013 - 17:05

We built this dog kennel as a donation to a fundraiser for our favorite dog rescue. It was auctioned off at the silent auction and all the money went to the dogs! :)

We used cheap furring strips for the majority of the project. We also had some leftover beadboard so we used that for the sides & back panel. We painted the base antique white and made a nice top out of some scrap lumber & old hardwood plywood. It took about an afternoon to assemble but another few days to sand and paint. We finished it while all 4 sides were separate to make it easier and it was still a pain to paint. This would be a great project to have a paint sprayer because it is sooo hard to avoid drips with this design.

The whole piece cost us almost nothing to make and we love how it turned out. We need to make ourselves one for our dogs!

The best part of this project was seeing it go home to someone who loves it and all the profits go to the Basset Hound Rescue!

Thanks Ana for the plans we couldn't have done it without you!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Antique white for body and custom mix of stains for the top (basically the last of a couple different cans of stain) followed by a glossy poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Planked top Coffee Table with recycled legs

Submitted by AndyH on Sun, 01/10/2016 - 15:00

I found an old coffee table with stained legs for $10 on one of those app "for sale" sites. Sanded them down and with two pieces of 1 by 4 for the apron and 2 pieces of 1 by 6 for the top made this table. Apron is No2 whitewood and Top is select pine. Top was stained in a dark color (Varathane Kona) and then painted gray and sanded back to show some of grain and stain through. Total cost of new table about $60 (most expensive part was the select pine for the top at around $35)

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Extra bright white and then gray for the top.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Newbie at work

My first piece of furniture 

Estimated Cost
Scrap wood and 1 8ft 1x4
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Hammered dark bronze paint and polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse storage bed w/drawers (king)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/10/2023 - 11:51

Seen this awesome plan on Anas site and had to build it in KING SIZE. The drawers are enormous, the bed is rock solid. I love it

Comments

Pallet Shelf

Submitted by beingbrook on Fri, 11/25/2011 - 09:39

We are going for a rustic look in our teen sons bedroom. He has some large books that will not fit onto his bookshelf so a pallet wall shelf seemed like a perfect solution.

This project literally took five minutes. If you don't have a sawsall it would probably take around 30 but still pretty quick.

Estimated Cost
Less than $5
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Our pallet didn't come with tons of character so I did a vinegar and steel wood treatment to it to help age the wood.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

October Scrap Projects

Submitted by SaraLodise on Mon, 10/28/2013 - 14:21

Starting to get colder here in SC. I know the northerners will scoff at me but I'm a wuss when it comes to the cold... and I want my warm garage spot back. That means cleaning up my scrap wood and finishing the big projects that won't fit in my little project/craft room. So the past few weekends I have done a few scrap projects that had been on my mind for a while.

First was shelves for our oddly shaped walk-in-closet. Most of the wood was salvaged from my old dresser/armoir with a splash of scrap whitewood boards to finish it up. I love being able to see everything right when I walk in now.

Second is a simple tie rack for Mr. Lodise so he doesn't have to put them on a coat hanger any more. One more step to getting everything in the closet more visible.

Third is a holder for my hair dryer and straightening iron so they don't have to take up counter space anymore.

Best of all my car now fits in the garage again :)

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Big Ol' TV Stand

Submitted by BERobinson on Thu, 01/14/2016 - 11:14

Instructions for the Ridge Media Console Table were easy enough to understand after one read-through.

I changed up the front-drawer face to go along with other decor in room fun, satisfying project.

NOTE -- Measure your electronics. The drawer is supposed to hide all wires and electronics for a clean look, however, the plans give a 13" drawer space. The dvd/tuner I own is approx 14.5", therefore I have to store it on the bottom shelf. I guess it's time to upgrade to blu-ray.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
100.00

wood, kreg screws, nails
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
minwax stain redwood on the table tops, and then a turquoise chalk paint, 40/60 with water, on the body. After sadning the finishes down to reveal more grain, minwax wax finish was used to protect. I use a rag with black paint on it to apply the wax. It tends to darken the grains and pull out the awesome imperfections of the wood that I love staring at.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Chicken Coop

I Modified the plans to make the coop 4Ft wide to accommodate 4 nesting boxes. I Used roll away egg nesting trays in my coop. I keep the base pretty much the same dimension but made the planter smaller. I also replaced the 2"x 4" that framed out the house with 2" X 3".  My chicken ladder is made from three 1" x 2".   Because my chickens are so young I have the nest box blocked off until they are bigger. I will then use a hole saw to cut holes to each individual nesting box. I also added a Chicken Swing!

 

Estimated Cost
300-500
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate