Community Brag Posts

Double Shed Coop

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 08/05/2023 - 09:31

Our family decided to raise chickens but needed a place to keep them safe at night. We used your shed plan and adapted it to create necessary venting for the chicks.

Since we had 16 chickens we knew one coop would not be enough space so we built two. We created a vented tunnel between the two coops so the hens could go back and forth between them as they wished while still being protected. The girls are very happy in their new space!

Thank you for your great plans.

Holly

Built from Plan(s)

Rustic X Bench

Took a day to build a bench to match my table! I am in love with this bench.

Take a little extra time on your angles to make sure you get them right or you will end up with a gap!

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar Satin Black Paint, Minwax English Chestnut, Poly Semi-Gloss on seat top only
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic half X Hall Tree

Submitted by danj4fsu on Wed, 01/15/2020 - 18:59

Just finished this tonight. Decided to make it a little wider than the plans. Added bead board on the back. I also made the top shelf a little larger so I can come back later and add some LED lights on it. Because I made the top shelf bigger I wanted to add the angled supports. That’s why I didn’t do an “x” on the bottom so the shelf support would mimick the slanted piece in the bottom.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr Marquee semi-gloss white
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Shanty Sideboard

My wife and I are very happy with this piece. It was challenging but not too difficult. The plans were very easy to follow.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Glass Top Display Side Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/19/2023 - 10:58

I made two of these side tables for my niece and her new husband as a house warming gift. I dropped the top down 1.25 inch and added a glass top so she could display items. They are going to be a surprise, so I left them bare. She can stain or paint them whatever color she wishes.

Donna Cox

Comments

Changing table/dresser

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 16:51

The changing table/dresser came out so much better than I ever thought I was capable of! Thank you for the plans and courage to try!

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Primed with Valspar primer and finished with Valspar semi gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Cement top modification

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/07/2016 - 00:31

Instead of a wood top I used 2x 3/4" sheets of plywood plus 1/2" backer board to create a thicker top and used Ardex feather finish cement in 4 coats sanded and finished with Mexeseal sealant, recommended 4 coats of semi-gloss plus 2 coats of satin to get a matte finish (recommended by manufacturer) I followed the concrete countertop blog from "Young House Love" but used a different sealant when I contacted the safe coat manufacturer and they recommended their Mexeseal product. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Ardex Feather Finish Cement
Safe coat Mexeseal Sealant (4 coats semi-gloss plus 2 coats satin for a matte finish)
Stain on base: Minwax weathered oak and dark walnut
Poly on base: 2 coats of Minwax satin poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Playhouse

We built this playhouse for our daughter's 6th birthday. She absolutely loves it! We were looking at purchasing one, but they were way out of our budget. Ana saved the day with these plans :).

Estimated Cost
$320.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
We painted the house with white Pittsburg Ultra Exterior Latex paint. The mailbox, door and shutters were all painted with Pink Viburnum Sherwin Williams Satin Exterior paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

Herb Garden Planter { $2 }

This is the fourth time I have made these to give as gifts. They are just so cute, easy, inexpensive, and versatile. Now that the growing season is among us, Im sure Ill be making even more.

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
sanded, white latex paint, then applied minwax polycrilic
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

DIY Farmhouse Dollhouse

This is for my daughter’s 3rd birthday. I decopaged the walls and floor with patterned paper before assembling. I thought it would be easier.

I also didn’t bother with the middle ‘front’ door. The dollhouse in the example photos look beautiful from the outside, but kids don’t really play with the outside of the houses. So I made the windows a little bit bigger.

The windows and doors both looked terrible. My first time using a jigsaw was not a success. So I used tiny dowels for the trim around the door and craft sticks on the inside.

The last thing I need to do is put some lights in it. I ordered some fairy lights on amazon. I plan to use another dowel that I’m hoping I can wrap with the fairy lights and then wedge in the back on the ‘ceiling’ on the first floor and then Velcro the switch to the side of the house. It won’t look professional or anything, but being able to turn the lights on and off will be very fun.

Casey

Built from Plan(s)

i did it!!

Submitted by sueslager on Tue, 07/03/2012 - 12:22

Amazing what some basic lumber can make! Read the comments included with the instructions ... the 1 x 4 cut list was especially helpful. All told it was under $30 for a very comfortable sturdy Adi !! Some modifications I did for mine ... I used pocket screws to attach the seat slats and arm rests ... no splinters :) I found it easier to attache the middle back support loosely to the arm supports, then attach to the back slats in the correct position Paint was Clark & Kensington All-In-One from Ace in Fairfield Manor -- it's a beautiful watery green ... perfect!! Thanks Again Ana!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
exterior satin paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

Modern Geo Twin Platform Bed and Headboard

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/16/2020 - 17:44

This was a fun build. I let my daughter design the slats on the headboard, and as long as all slats are either 90 or 45 degrees, the cuts and application are simple. Thanks, Ana!

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Miniwax Pecan
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Loft Over Single Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/15/2024 - 18:24

I decided to build a bunk bed for my grandson and his half sister when she came to visit. I enlisted the help of my 7 year old grandson to help with sanding and he was so excited! I was very pleased how it turned out and watching my grandson's excitement was an absolute joy! I can't wait to build more things together!

Norma Jasman

Farmhouse Small End Table

Submitted by mpjacob08 on Mon, 05/25/2020 - 09:33

My 2nd ever build! Made to match farmhouse beginner coffee table. This is the smaller size posted. So Easy! Thank you for the plan and for the videos. I love them and am learning so much!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane golden oak stain, spray shellac, Varathane water based polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farm Table Sewing Base

Submitted by fallon on Wed, 07/25/2012 - 18:52

We just slightly modified the plan to accommodate our really great industrial sewing table base.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
First coat - Glidden Natural Linen
Stain - MinWax Classic Gray 270 (one person brushes while the other wipes it right off)
A little sanding for some aging
Several Coats of MinWax - Polycrylic, satin finish (sand between each coat)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Modern Adirondack Chair

Submitted by dijonaise on Fri, 06/19/2020 - 05:49

My little quarantine project all started with a three foot circle in the back corner of my yard and turned into this. After finishing the structure, we were looking at different furniture and considered either going on the cheap ($20 plastic chairs) or the expensive route ($1200) for this same setup. That was when I came across your site Ana. Your amazing plans and community's brag posts gave me the confidence to give it a go and we could not be happier with the result.

The chairs and tables went together super easy as everyone had mentioned. I sanded everything before cutting and then just sanded the cut ends. I did not have the stain on hand (not did we know the color) so we waited until after assembly to stain, which ended up not being too bad, just a lot of little nooks and crannies to get into. I used a small foam pad to get in between the boards.

Overall, I would say that the build, from start (rough lumber) to finish (sanded and assembled) took me about 2-3 hours per chair, and about the same to do two coats of stain on top and one on the underside, bringing the total time per chair to about 5 hours.

Now on to the landscaping... ;) I am also planning to build some planters to hold posts to hold some string lights around the perimeter. Boy how these little projects have a domino effect...but in the end, there is nothing better than sitting back and enjoying the fruits of your labor.

Estimated Cost
$40/ chair and $10/table. Total Project (including fasteners and stain): ~$300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
SW6965 - Hyper Blue Solid Deck Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Octagon Table Finished!

Submitted by kkwong5 on Mon, 06/09/2014 - 08:47

Finished building this table with the plan provided by Ana White! Worked out great. I stained it in a with a transparent deck stain in natural sequoia. Happy to help if anyone has any questions!

Tips: Definitely cut as you go. If you get the angles are off in the center when all the long pieces connect is it makes each top piece larger or smaller.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

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