Community Brag Posts

A nice place for the living room "stuff"

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/24/2017 - 19:14

I followed the plans exactly except I made the legs 5 inches taller to allow more room on the bottom shelf. this was my first project with doors and drawers and my third big project after building a chicken coop and the Ana White triple pedestal table. I couldn't find 2x2s so I stripped 2x4s (the dimensions aren't exactly the same but close enough). Took me longer to build than it would most people because I'm not that experienced.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About $130 for everything.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Thalo green satin latex by Valspar. Then I watered down some black latex and wiped it on with a crumpled paper towel and wiped it off with another crumpled paper towel. I had some tintable glaze but I didn't like it as much as my watered-down paint method.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Farmhouse Console Table - Modified

Submitted by mpjacob08 on Thu, 12/10/2020 - 05:35

I Modified the plan to eliminate the middle shelf and shortened the length to fit as an entryway table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$68
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White alkyd for bottom then conditioned the top before staining with special walnut then once dry used weathered oak. Sealed with oil based polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Our Big Boy Fort Bed!

Submitted by Kabarie on Fri, 01/25/2013 - 18:03

This was sooo easy for a first timer like myself. Followed Anna's plan. Learned as I went. Customized a little...started with the end panel..could only fit it cut in sections in car from store, so decided to separate the sections and open it up a little with a peek a boo window. Used a little unsanded grout in my paint choice so that my son can doodle some art on the panels with his chalk. Added some support boards on lower corners for extra support...also used the Long L brackets as bed rails to support the slats. Make sure you get enough wood to cut the vertical side of ladder as the plans didn't include it. Cost about $100 without the mattress. Very happy with it. Thanks Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Sanded, wiped down with wet rag and applied one coat of Minwax Ipswich Pine 221 to wood.

For painting the panels I mixed 2tbs of unsanded grout with 1 cup of my choice of paint so that chalk could be used on it.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

5 years in the making

first project ever, made a few alterations to both plans and came up with this.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

The Full Farmhouse with a 15.5" clearance for under-the-bed storage

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/27/2017 - 08:42

For our small 1960's Master bedroom, I needed more storage for under-the-bed totes. When we were all done, I made a bedskirt with the needed drop-length to hide all of the totes.

Estimated Cost
$140
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Sherwin Williams Ovation extra-white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic Bench

This is the Rustic X Bench featured in Ana's Book, The Handbuilt Home.

Estimated Cost
$30-$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut & Early American stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

coffee table

Submitted by DanGraves on Wed, 11/26/2014 - 09:12

This was the first table we built.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$35.00 for wood and stain.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Outdoor coffee table and side tables

Submitted by Eddie K on Wed, 03/01/2017 - 06:44

I build these basically with leftovers from our new fence.  The coffee table is 4x4 post legs with a 2x4 frame attached underneath.  For stability, I used a 12" wide scrap of 3/4" plywood on the top before attaching fence pickets.  Old tags were used on both sides and ends.  The (two) end tables were 2x4 legs with 1x4 side trim pieces, but without the plywood stabilizer, and a single cut down picket for the top.

Estimated Cost
A guess here, since it was all leftover lumber, but I'd say about $20-25 for the table and $6 for each table.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Computer Desk with hutch

Submitted by SusanStory on Sat, 12/19/2020 - 07:19

My cousin needed a computer desk but wanted it to look like a piece of furniture when not in use since they have limited space. The left side stores her tower, the right side has a pullout shelf for her printer and storage for printer paper & supplies. She works with 2 monitors so the center on the hutch will accommodate both but be hidden when she isn't working. This was a fun project and using Shelfhelp made it a joy to build. They will be my "go-to" place when building large pieces of furniture.

Estimated Cost
$400.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Unfinished as they will stain to match their furniture

Comments

Child Adirondack Chairs

Submitted by KyleMelson on Mon, 01/28/2013 - 22:35

I'm not a writer, and English was my worst subject. So don't hold any grammatical errors against me.

This was a project that I built this past weekend. It's a set of child size adirondack chairs. The toughest part was the weather. It was too cold outside to paint, so I had to paint and assemble these in my living room. My two year old daughter kept trying to sit in them before the paint had an opportunity to dry.

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

Comments

Pam the Goatherd

Tue, 01/29/2013 - 11:59

They turned out very nicely!
I'm currently building a desk for my son in the living room of my home, so I know how that goes...
Congatulations on getting it done!

Hailey platform bed

Submitted by RuthE on Fri, 11/28/2014 - 17:30

I completed this project almost entirely by myself. I had a malfunction with the saw & needed assistance from my husband in the beginning, but borrowed a saw from a friend & completed the rest by myself. I made the platform bed one weekend & made the headboard another weekend. Fun project! And it turned out beautiful!! Thank you, Ana White for your awesome plans on your website!!! 

Estimated Cost
Unsure, I had most of the wood already.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I preconditioned my wood with Minwax pre-stain conditioner & followed with Minwax Stain in Jacobean on the bed. For the headboard my son wanted a chalkboard in his room so I painted the center planks before I added the casing & trim with chalkboard paint. After I added the rest of the wood, I carefully preconditioned my wood with Minwax pre-stain conditioner & followed with Minwax Stain in Jacobean on the rest of the wood. Super easy!!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Tilt Out Trash Bins

Submitted by rhsmit2 on Thu, 01/31/2013 - 21:01

I loved this project. Great way to clean up the kitchen and creates a nice usable shelf.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Kilz primer/paint in 1.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Tryde end table

29.5" square, 25" high

Estimated Cost
$60 (Alaska)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

First DIY Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/07/2017 - 15:59

Absolutely love this Console!  Going for a coastal theme and could not find exactly what I was looking for so decided to make it!  Love to use my hands and now I will be off to my next project!  Used Cedar board for the top, pine for the remainder.  Love the thick, rustic top.  This console is two inches less in depth than the original plans due to the shape of my living room.  Thank you for the plans and everyone's DIY projects!  They were all a big influence on the final design.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
300.00 due to the thick cedar planks I used. approximately 250.00 before that.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White Wood Paint and American Walnut stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Christmas tree shelves

I built 7 of these for christmas gifts this year. 4 of them from cheap pine, and 3 from reclaimed barn wood. Everyone was very pleased with their presents.

Estimated Cost
15 dollars a piece
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
I used a white acrylic paint for the pine, and nothing but a good brushing and cleaning for the barnwood.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Barnwood furniture

Submitted by BAAA1981 on Sat, 02/02/2013 - 17:41

I know that these aren't the best pictures. I'll load individual ones later. I built the coffee table, end table and toy chest out off all my grandparents barn. It collapsed a few years ago in be harsh Iowa winters. Everything on these is from the barn from the wood, hinges, and nails. It even makes the old barn door noises when opening them! Curious of what people think and ideas.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Oil based poly finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Bathroom Vanity

Submitted by brittanyj on Thu, 03/09/2017 - 11:45

Built this vanity to fit our space in our tiny bathroom.  I love the storage increase from having a pedestal sink.  All hardware and sink was from Habitat Restore, and the faucet was off amazon for $25, making total cost for this project around $75. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
grey paint, poly finish
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Double X barn door

This is a sliding barn door I built for some friends. It's constructed from standard pine boards and premade tongue and groove beadboard planks.

Estimated Cost
$180
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Sherwin Williams kem aqua, sprayed on
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Naked wall no more!!

Submitted by jmefish on Mon, 02/04/2013 - 07:48

I had a wall in our living room that was bare for almost 4 years. SO happy with the results of my "Ten Dollar Ledges"!!

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
RUST-OLEUM, AMERICAN ACCENTS; Colonial Red Smooth Satin Finish.
I'm a lazy painter, I didn't sand or prime my ledges and only applied one coat as I loved that I could still see the wood grain through the paint. (8oz can covered both ledges with one coat, still have half the can left!)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

rhettar

Mon, 02/04/2013 - 10:59

I was wanting to make a small one under my bathroom mirror, but wondered if it would be too bulky. Seeing yours, I can see they look pretty sleek and I am probably going to go for it. (if I don't like it, I am sure it will get use somewhere)

I love how you admit you are a lazy painter, I am getting more patient the more I am building...hehe

mybartmart

Mon, 02/04/2013 - 13:22

The colour you chose is really nice. They shelves look great on that wall, I am making some for a hallway with 1 x 3 instead to make them stick out less.