Community Brag Posts

20 Second Tidy Up Table

Submitted by adamderkey on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 07:03

We needed a way to store our 6 month old's toys in our main living area. We were previously keeping them in a pack and play and that wasn't going to cut it. We decided this plan would do the trick. It works even better than we anticipated. Built exactly the same as the plans with the same finish as well.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Same finish that Ana used.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Wood Pumpkin Treat Holder

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/21/2020 - 09:29

This was my first woodworking project and it was fun and easy. A few words of advice though...painting the wood first is a good idea. I did not so it took a bit more time. Using glue instead of staples would make the finish much nicer as you can see my staples, but it is rustic so that's okay. Thank you Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$0. I had the materials on hand from scraps of previous fencing projects
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Water-based craft paint I had on hand. I added water to thin it so that the wood grain would show through.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

4-Foot Beadboard Wall Shelf

The 4-foot "classic beadboard" wall shelf is simple and cheap to make and it looks great for hanging pictures or decorations on the wall. The project requires only about $10 in materials, but it does required more advanced tools such as a chop saw, table saw, jig saw and router. Comparable shelves sell at between $60-$80.

I can build the project is about 1-2 hours, but it may take longer if you don't have all your tools set up. The plans are free on my woodworking blog at: http://www.jrlwoodworking.com/

You can also make the shelf in 2-foot and 3-foot lengths, simply shrink all the horizontal dimensions by one or two feet.

Estimated Cost
$10 + paint
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
We used Rustoleum furniture spray paint ( flat black) and distressed it with sandpaper. You can use a Q-tip and a cherry gel stain to make the exposed wood pop. I don't like to put a primer on it because when you are distressing the wood, the primer shows through and looks funny if it is not the same color as the finished color.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

kristenlotz

Fri, 01/04/2013 - 12:37

We actually built three of these for my husband's siblings for Christmas. The best part of it was the low cost. These only cost about $10 a piece and we left them unpainted so they could paint them to match their home decor. And whenever they look at their shelf, they will remember the hand-made Christmas present!

60 year old Barnwood Table

The wood came from a 60-70 year old barn that was torn down out on a friends property. The wood was fee and materials cost around $175. Took a couple weekends to build. 

Estimated Cost
$175
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Gmiller1966

Fri, 10/24/2014 - 19:56

My wife wanted a large table to entertain. She mostly wanted to be able to decorate the center and not have to move it during dinner. The table measures 10' x 4'8" and is 29" high.

My version of Crate and Barrel Atwood queen bed

Submitted by Chriss45 on Thu, 02/02/2017 - 00:51

My daughter loved Crate and Barrel Atwood bed so I built her this bed that is very similar. 

Estimated Cost
300 dollars
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Walnut stain and watered down chalk paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Farmhouse console table - Shortened

My wife wanted a console table for our dining room but the original plans were too big for the spot next to the grandfather clock, so I shortened them a bit and this is the result.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Farmhouse table tweaked

Submitted by Ddandrick on Sun, 10/26/2014 - 19:08

This was built using Ana's plans plus an inspiration photo my daughter took at an antique store in Chicago.  Notice the lower shelf stabilizing the bottom of the table. It also had to break down into sections to be moved three hours north to her apartment in Chicago.  Used lots of glue, and my trusty Kreg jig.  In the background is a tufted ottoman I also built at the same time.

 

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Poly stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Fancy + Mimi's Hall Trees

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/05/2017 - 13:28

Took the fancy hall tree bottom and added Mimi's hutch to the top. Added a little bead board to the bench and top edges to cover up the plywood, and voila! My wife's Christmas gift. 

Estimated Cost
$250-300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White paint and polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Brookstone Desk

This was a fun project. My first using drawer slides. Best advise would be to recheck squareness before attaching top.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$65
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut stain
Poly top coat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Simple bunk bed

Submitted by Rebma11 on Mon, 01/07/2013 - 09:01

I'm really happy with how this project turned out.
To attach the beds together I deviated from the original instructions and instead attached the headboard header to the headboard itself instead of to the feet of the upper bunk as directed. I used 3/4" dowels to attach the two beds, drilling 3" into the bottom bunk (through the header and into the posts), and 2" into the legs of the top bunk. This way the beds will easily come apart. They are incredibly secure, and incredibly heavy!

Estimated Cost
$200-250
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

R.H. Stype Testle Dining Table

Submitted by Rich2727 on Fri, 10/31/2014 - 09:30

Was inspired to build this table after a visit to R.H. with my wife and realized a table this size and style would cost us about $3000.

So I decided to build myselft.  With a little help from Ana's plans and my own modifications, I think I got pretty close to the Restoration Hardware Trestle Table.

I bought the pedestals at Osbornewood.com and asked them not to drill the leg holes and ordered it in pine.  That was the most expensive part of the table, about $380 a piece.  The rest of it is Douglas Fir.

I created a template and shaped the feet myself out of 4X8 beams.  I was able to use my jig saw and a Bosch 10" blade.  I made the rough cut with it and then sanded the rest of the shape using my belt sander.

The pedestals have a hollow center and were too tall so I cut them down and created plugs and glued them into the pedestal.  The bottom plug has a large threaded rod and is glued and bolted to the feet, and the top plug was used to create the horizontal supports for the table top.  I too created a template for this and used a jigsaw to cut the shape.

I then used Minwax American English, then weathered oak, (Like in one of Ana's stain posts).  I then wanted to give it that weathered/reclaimed wood look so I add a fair amount of the White Pickling stain.  I wanted a little less of the red tones and more brown...I may sand and refinish it someday, but it is in the house for now and can't wait for our first dinner party.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$1000
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
American English, Weathered Oak, White Pickling
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

Braden Entryway Collection

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/08/2017 - 07:02

Absolutely loved this build!  And it has become so handy to have for all the storage it provides.

 

I adjusted the original plans.  

  • Combined the hutch and mail sorter into one unit.
  • Stretched it 1 foot taller, spaced that out between several shelves.
  • Combined 2 drawer units into one.
Estimated Cost
?? not sure $800 maybe?
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Vintage gray stain
Bright white paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

8' Farmhouse Desk

I created this farmhouse style desk. Quite the challenge dealing with such long boards!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Top: Varathane Dark Walnut x1, Minwax One Coat Satin finish x2, Minwax paste wax
Bottom: Rustoleum Espresso brown spray paint, thick coat of Behr smokey white matte finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Fireplace Facelift Built-In Bookcases

One of the projects that I've wanted to tackle for a long time has been adding built-in bookshelves to the sides of my existing fireplace. This fireplace (and I'm assuming the mantel) was original to the house and I wanted to create an addition that would look seamless and tie into the existing woodwork. I began designing a piece above the mantel to give the fireplace some height and then I designed the flanking bookcases to match. All of the project details and free step-by-step instructions can be found on my website at: www.momthebuilder.net

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White interior semi-gloss paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Great Weekend Project!

Submitted by basehordad on Mon, 11/03/2014 - 08:56

I used 1x6’s as opposed to 2x6’s for the base as well as the 19” pieces thus I cut the length of the legs to 27 3/8 the difference of 1 ½ inch from the plan.  In addition, the plans did not specify as to the placement of the legs on to the 19” pieces and thus I attached the 17 ½ bottom shelf braces and then attached the legs to the top.  I finished the project with MinWax Classic Gray stain which gave it an antique finish followed by a finishing wax.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Treehouse bed with slide

Submitted by ritchsam on Fri, 02/10/2017 - 19:56

I built this for my daughter Keila.  She loves it and her friends do too!  Took me one day.  I painted the entire bed in deck paint.  It completely eliminated all
Splinters!!! I added the slide, a USB plug, cup holder, and fan.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
350.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Deck paint to cover all splinters. Slide was 75.00 extra found at a discount overstock supply house. I had to cut off two feet for it to fit in a 11x11 room
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Barn Wood Vintage Pendant Lights

We had a dark corner in the living room that was needing some light. I had two vintage pendant lamps (amazing thrift store find) and leftover barn wood from my farm table build. I decided to build a frame to hang the lights in the corner. For less than $10 I have a completely unique lighting solution.

Estimated Cost
$10
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
I left the wood unfinished to keep the rustic charm of the barn wood.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

novice

Submitted by ramorit on Wed, 11/05/2014 - 17:35

Handmade by novice

Estimated Cost
$100.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
stained the base then painted with off-white semi-gloss... sanded corners and spots for a worn look... then a coat of poly to seal. The top has three stain colors... special walnut... Sedona red... and Jacobean and 4 coats of poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Console X Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/12/2017 - 14:44

My husband bought me a Kreg jig for Christmas since I've been wanted to make some Ana White projects. Love how the first one turned out. Team project with hubby for our entry way. 

Estimated Cost
$300. We spent extra for high quality oak with saw marks and that had been skip planed.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Jacobean stain with briwax dark brown wax
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate