Community Brag Posts

Bookcase wall unit

Submitted by kwhitt on Tue, 05/12/2015 - 08:38

This is the project that inspired me to start woodworking. I'm a bookaholic and have always used cheap, particle board bookcases from Walmart for storage. They're fine for the price, but over time the shelves bow and they NEVER survive a move. When I outgrew the three units I had, I balked at buying a fourth, which I didn't really have room for anyway. Enter Ana White! This is actually based off a brag project under the IKEA Lack Inspired Bookcase. What I love best about building my own is that I can customize to suit my needs. I was able to put almost twice as much shelving into about the same area. And if I outgrow these, I can just build another!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
about $175
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Miniwax Espresso Stain, Varathane Satin Triple Thick Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

3 hook coat rack

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 11/03/2021 - 12:40

Thank you for this - I just made it slightly longer.

Comments

Modified Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by Liz H. on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 13:04

This was our first project.  My husband and I took the Farmhouse bed plans and modified them to look more like the Hudson Bed from Pottery Barn.  This is a King size bed with removable side rails and under bed supports so that it can easily be collapsed for moving.

Estimated Cost
$600
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I had to dye the wood using a mahogany dye to unify the woods and then applied three coats of mahogany and english chestnut stains mixed together and then mixed with lacquer and lacquer thinner. The drying in between was long. Next time I would paint poplar or use a different wood.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Printer's Console

There were a few misprints in the supply/cut list but if you read through the comments section it helps. I ended up making a list of the supplies and adding a column next to it with the cuts, that helped. Oh, and the store I bought the knobs from didn't have enough but the last one is coming! Pretty happy with the end result. Thanks Ana!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
The estimated time was a bit longer than actual build time due to stain & poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

tara2

Wed, 06/12/2013 - 16:17

looks really nice! could you tell me the type and color of stain that you used? thanks!

Focal point of the room

Submitted by Diesel911 on Wed, 05/13/2015 - 11:19

Beautiful and functional. Nobody believes I built this :)

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
Paint with stain applied over it. This was a very bright red with kona stain wiped over and then immediately wiped off. I did apply a clear coat to protect it. The kona stain really subdues the color of the paint.. This was a VERY bright red.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

JoanneS

Wed, 05/13/2015 - 14:19

What a gorgeous build! Absolutely love the color too! I was just trying to picture a red like that today, and now I know it looks wonderful!

Wood Toy Fishing Game

This was a very easy project from scrap wood I had leftover from previous projects. I modified the box a little. I cut slits in the box so the top slides on nicely. I also stained the box and sealed because I love the look of stained wood. I used early American wood stain.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
early american
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Mod wine cabinet

This was a really fun project. Thank you to Ana White for the awesome plans to make this wine cabinet possible. It's much loved, and is a beautiful new additions to a new home. I enjoyed making it, the plans were very easy to follow.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Full Storage Bed

I built the Full Storage Bed using Ana's plans!  It was very easy and I love the storage space!  You can see it and my modifications at our blog http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2011/03/crates-for-storage-bed.html

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$120
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut stain and Minwax Polycrylic Gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Wedding Bench

Submitted by MrsTalbott on Wed, 06/12/2013 - 08:58

I stole this idea from another brag and had to have it at my wedding. The Bench was fairly cheap to make and took about 4 hours total. I hand made the stencils using cardstock, shipping tape, Xacto knife, and alot of tedious cutout work! I used a sharpie silver paint marker to fill in the stencil. Turned out great and now its at the foot of our bed and we get to look at all of our guest comments everyday!

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut Satin
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Mini Farmhouse Bedside Table

Submitted by Rustybuns on Sat, 05/16/2015 - 00:34

This was the first furniture DIY project for my wife and I. We loved the look of the original farmhouse bedside table plans but they were bigger than what we needed at the moment and didn't want to try to cram them into our room. The mini plans were exactly what we needed. For a first time build, I am pleased with the results and we ended up spending about $75 plus the cost of stain for the two tables. Similar, all-wood night stands run around $200 per table so it doesn't get much better than that. We opted for the Minwax Dark Walnut stain.

Estimated Cost
$75 plus stain
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

RenoRustic

Sun, 05/17/2015 - 19:43

I built my mini farmhouse beside table last year as my second build. Did you use a brush or rag while staining? Every time I use dark walnut I get a much darker color, and yours came out perfect for a project I'm going to start soon.

Wood Truck Bookshelf

Submitted by sraper2 on Sat, 12/02/2017 - 12:12

I built this truck to give to my son for a Christmas gift.  It came together really fast.  It took about 2 hours including sanding, painting, staining, waxing, and assembly.  I really love the finished product!  I have a lot of pictures of the process on my blog.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Amy Howard Chalk Paint and Wax, Minwax Special Walnut stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

My headboard!

Submitted by Squiddles on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 14:10

My hubby is a pro carpenter and was annoyed that i printed out instructions for him... but I wanted it to look exactly like the ones on the blog! I LOVE my new bed so much

Estimated Cost
$45 (wood and stain)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Walnut poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Patio Furniture

We built this set as a variation of the Platform Outdoor Sectional plan. I read that several individuals had a hard time finding the right size cushions, or inexpensive cushions, so I found some on clearance and built the seating customized to their size. The built-in cooler was a neat little addition we had an easy time with, and we used mainly scrap wood for the coffee table and corner piece. We decided to stain it a translucent grey, as I really loved the natural wood look, but needed to match the cushions a bit more. Still adding a few finishing touches, but already enjoying relaxing on it. It was a fun project, and I love how it came out. Bring on the sun!!

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

Comments

Christmas Tree Collar

Submitted by amyrunser on Wed, 12/13/2017 - 10:13

Thank you for these plans Ana! Had to make mine 36" wide to accomodate the tree stand tripod. Added bonus: kitty cannot drink the tree water! YES! Still have to stain and going to add hinges to one side to access water bucket easily. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain to be applied; unfinished at present
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

My version of the Simple Outdoor Dining Table

Submitted by cchalifour on Wed, 11/24/2021 - 19:48

My version of the Simple Outdoor Dining Table
- All Cedar

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

My Version of the Nursery Armoire

Submitted by tracysmith on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 22:35

We built this armoire cabinet for a client of ours (this was a paying gig) who needed extra storage in her bathroom.  I think it turned out beautifully if I do say so myself.  So much so that I decided the build two of these to put in my laundry room for extra storage.

This project took us a month and a week to do in overall time, but in that month, we didn't work on it everyday.  Actual build time was probably more like three weeks - 6 hours a day.  We tweaked a lot on this since it was going to a customer we didn't want anything wrong with it so if it was mine it probably wouldn't have consumed so much time.  We also had a couple of problems that arose and it took a bit of figuring to get past those.  All in all it was a great experience.  :-)
Modifications:
Height and width were altered to fit the available space.
Drawers were put on the outside of the upper doors instead of inside
Shelves on the bottom section were made into sliding shelves (see additional pics) so that the contents in the back were more easily accessible.
Thanks for posting these plans, it was a joy to build and help someone else with a project that they didn't have time to do themselves.  We appreciate the inspiration!
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$425
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Waterbased stain in Rosewood - 2 coats
Minwax Polyurethane - 3 coats
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse King/Vintage Door Headboard with tin panels

We used the modified king-size plans from the farmhouse bed to make this headboard. Instead of the planks, we used a vintage door that we cut to size, but the rest is according to the plans.

In each panel, we put a piece of painted, distressed ceiling tin, since this was our "tin" anniversary.

We used pocket holes to attach the door to the posts. My first time to use the jig!

Read more about the process in the blog post!
http://lassothemoon.typepad.com/lasso_the_moon/2013/06/diy-headboard-fr…

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
paint, see blog for details on colors etc
http://lassothemoon.typepad.com/lasso_the_moon/2013/06/diy-headboard-from-a-vintage-door.html
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

SoCaliforniaMel

Fri, 07/05/2013 - 23:10

This is so cute. I love the Tin ceiling tiles. I've always walked past them at HD and wanted to use them for something but never knew what to use them for. I love the idea of u using them because of your Tin anniversary. Turned out beautiful
~Melody

SoCaliforniaMel

Fri, 07/05/2013 - 23:10

This is so cute. I love the Tin ceiling tiles. I've always walked past them at HD and wanted to use them for something but never knew what to use them for. I love the idea of u using them because of your Tin anniversary. Turned out beautiful
~Melody

Lasso the Moon

Sat, 07/06/2013 - 06:27

Thank you! It was my husband's idea. He's a really great gift giver. For our cotton anniversary he rented me a cotton candy machine!
Anna

SoCaliforniaMel

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 00:55

He thinks out side of the box. What a great cotton gift. I got my husband DKNY towels. haha. (he always complained that ours werent soft enough. I think we stopped at wood because it got too hard. I cant even think of a wool gift since we live in Southern CA. You sound like you have a good man.
~Melody

Tryde coffee table

Submitted by isti799 on Sun, 05/24/2015 - 13:10

My second project from hungary!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
~40$
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
4 coat for top and 3 coat legs.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner