Community Brag Posts
Farmhouse Bench
A 1m version of the farmhouse bench. We needed a shorter one for the hallway and realized that the only way would be if we built it ourselves. My bf and I built this together and it's really sturdy. Some adaption to the plan was made since it's shorter. It's very useful and we all love it. It's used each and every day.
Outdoor Table and Benches - First Project
First project of my husband. He had no experience at all in making furniture but when he stumbled on this website he was inspired.
I wanted to contribute so I volunteered to stain both the table and benches.
Modification: used 2x4 for the legs of the table
Cabot - Australian Timber Oil: Honey Teak.
I used a total of 1 & half cans (946 ml per can). I did it by sections - used paint brush to apply stain, gave it enough time to absorb (a few minutes) and then used a cloth to even out blotches. I also used a very small foam paint brush to stain the areas that are hard to reach - the gaps in between boards. Waited a couple of days to apply coat number 2.
For the benches:
Benjamin Moore Arborcoat - Solid: Spellbound
I used 1 can for both benches (414 ml). Again did it by sections, used paintbrush to apply 1 coat only and used a small foam brush for hard to reach areas. It dried very fast.
Comments
Bar Height Farmhouse Table / Benches
I wanted to say thank you for the inspiration.
I took the general idea, made it bar height and my own preferred size and beefed it up by doweling together the top pieces.
Given the size, I made the top removable with threaded inserts as well as the removable support beams below.
For the benches, I wanted something sturdy and a look that was similar to the table. I added in a nickel support rod for the foot rest for both strength and a nice look.
All in all this project took a lot of time, probably more so with my perfectionist ways and wanting to make the finish perfectly smooth. It's like glass, which I just love against the dents and dings of the wood.
Some of the challenges were wood that warped. After putting together the bench tops, the wood warped quite a bit, nothing that a few clamps couldn't undo but a pain nonetheless.
Using black stain really brought out a nice look and I'm taking that same look to the new trim and door that are going into the dining area as well.
I've not seen a bar height (not counter height) table in a full dining table size before, it's what I wanted and I couldn't be happier with the results. Was it worth all of the time? That's hard to say, I really love it, but it took a long time to get it to be exactly what I wanted it to be.
Thanks!
Pre-stain, one coat of stain, wipe after 5 min, three coats of poly using steel wool (00) between each coat.
Big Kids Picnic Table
Loved your plans for this and built a table for my 4 year old grandson who could destroy a box of rocks if given the opportunity! I was able to get by with (5) 2X4's instead of the (6) called for in the plans which was even better since I've now got an extra one for the next project. I used pocket hole screws, #8 x 2-1/2" exterior grade screws, and some Thompson's Water Seal and everything turned out even better than expected! Virtually no "scrap" to absorb either. Thank you for sharing your plans - I'm looking at those for the full-size version for someone that has asked if I could build one for him!
Backyard DIY Sectional
We love our sectional...
The Harts
Mirror Project from the book!
This project is the mirror from page 37 of The Handbuilt Home. I received my copy on Thursday night, built this and painted on Friday, then (impatiently) waited 24 hours for the paint to dry before distressing and hanging it up yesterday afternoon. The mirror was a plain one I found at Lowes for about $20 and attached with mirror clips. I attached to the wall with 2 1/2" screws through the frame into the wall studs. I was going to leave the screw heads exposed for decoration, but now I think I'll add a dab of gray on them to blend them in. This was a super fun project, easy to do. Love the book, and can't wait to build more projects from it! Ana, fab job on the book!!
Comments
Sun, 10/14/2012 - 14:25
Thank you!
Thanks Ann! This was a fun project. I've been wanting a mirror to match that table since last year, and this one fits just right. My family said they liked the visible screws too, so I'm going to leave them as they are.
:)
Joanne
Sun, 10/14/2012 - 15:26
Joanne, this is beautiful!!!!
Joanne, this is beautiful!!!! I am so glad you like the mirror. We adore ours! Thanks for getting the book! Ana
Sun, 10/14/2012 - 16:03
Hooray!! What fun to see brag posts from book projects!!
Great job on the mirror!! I hate waiting for paint to dry also....that's why Ive taken to painting everything with homemade chalk paint...dries in minutes and I can get right to sanding and glazing. Love the gray you used!!
Thu, 08/29/2013 - 13:57
Ana, Thank you
Ana, Thank you so much! I can't wait to get building on more projects from the book and from here too! You are awesome! :)
YankeeBelle, thank you! How do you make chalk paint? That sounds like a great time saver!
:)
Joanne
Garage Storage Cabinet
First part of garage storage system complete. 7.5 foot cabinets with whiteboard marker board doors inserts.
Next step to build new bench with storage cupboards to keep dust out and a central dust extraction/containment area.
Then put some tool board and a charging station above the two outlets.
Comments
Wed, 08/06/2014 - 05:51
Looks Great
What plans did you use to build the cabinets? I'm currently re-doing my garage and I was looking for something like this.
In reply to Looks Great by TaylorMade1205
Wed, 10/08/2014 - 19:20
Hi. I drew the plans myself
Hi. I drew the plans myself to make it fit the space I needed. Happy to share the google sketchup file with you if you want to send me your contact (if that is allowed on here!). Sorry for the delay in replying but not logged on here for a while.
Tue, 04/02/2019 - 19:13
Garage Storage Cabinets
These cabinets would be perfect for my craft room. Can I please get the plans?
Christi
thank you ana you inspired me to begin with this!
Thank you Ana because you were my inspiration. I would've never dreamed of building my own furniture before I saw you doing it. I loved doing it I loved outside the US and the machines and jigs are difficukt and expensive here but I've managed to get the basics. this is my 5th project and was a lot of work because the woods here are exotic but not dried in kim and come with lots of imperfections but are beautiful..anyways thanks again!
Outdoor Comfy Collection Furniture
Farmhouse bed with drawer storage
I had to come on here to thank you all for inspiring me to build this bed! The thought of building such a big piece of furniture never really occurred to me until I saw the Farmhouse queen plans, which really got the gears turning.
I wanted to add some storage to the bed, though, and so I kept looking at other projects on this site. I don't know which plans are all combined into this one, but you can see the one side table in some of the pictures which is based on a hutch plan here, and the concepts there are used in the drawer fronts on the bed. I still plan to build a matching side table for this side of the bed and also a dresser unit to complete the bedroom set.
This entire project was built on my deck as I don't have a garage. Started at the end of September and working by flood light on nights where I could find the time. It was finally moved inside to paint. The bed is built into four sections for disassembly - headboard, footboard, and a base section that is split in half with knockdown fasteners. The headboard and footboard are also attached with knockdowns, so the entire bed comes apart with an allen key.
The cost was incredibly low. My biggest cringe costs were for the 4x4 posts, which I had to buy in cedar, and the birch 3/4" plywood for the drawers. All in costs are still under $200, though I did own a Kreg system which got used a fair amount.
I did modify the footboard / headboard construction since I had the Kreg system. Rather than using a 1x4 backing board with 1x verticals and a 1x4 front board, I used a Kreg'ed 2x4 as the backing board, flush to the 4x4 post... no 4 1/2" screws required! The 1x verticals were then glued and nailed onto the 2x4s, and the 1x4 front board was glued and nailed to it.
The drawers are huge! 29" wide x 26" deep x 14" tall (more or less). Also, they are positioned so that when a side table is placed beside the bed the drawers can still open. The panel at the head of the bed is a door with a magnetic catch. I think of that area as 'deep storage' as you would have to move a side table to get in there. The door is there to get there if you want to though.
One cost not accounted for... my 'work bench' patio table sustained an injury. I still maintain I did not drop anything onto it. In fact, I was using a tape measure to measure a drawer length when the glass shattered out from under the piece I was measuring. It was cold in the morning, so maybe that had something to do with it. But now I just have to add 'fix patio table' to the project list.
Thanks again!
Mark
Comments
Tue, 10/23/2012 - 19:04
Love this!
I can't wait until we have time to build a farmhouse storage bed. Yours looks great!.
Sun, 01/06/2013 - 19:35
Very smart placement of the
Very smart placement of the drawers - I too am aspiring to build this some day and wondered about a fix on that - do I just store things in that drawer I rarely want to get at? No, I like your idea better. Beautiful job on the bed - it looks nice.
Sun, 11/10/2013 - 17:49
LOVE this.
This is exactly what I'm looking for. I love the drawers. Would you be willing to share more on how you did those, vs the plywood boxes in the plans?
Thu, 03/20/2014 - 11:40
Sorry for taking so long to
Sorry for taking so long to reply to your question! I missed it.
I don't have any pictures / details on how it was done, but I can explain it. The front face is built as a 2x4 surround with 1x6 inset boards. I then put a dado in the bottom side 1/4" up from the bottom.
I then made a drawer box from 5/8" plywood, kreg jigged to the front face. A 1/4" piece of plywood was used as the drawer bottom, and inset into the front face of the drawer.
This all sounds a bit difficult and confusing, but it isn't. Maybe I should take some pictures. Let me know if you'd like to see them.
Wed, 07/30/2014 - 10:55
More photos
Great build! I'd love to see some more photos of the drawer surround/frame with the drawers out. Is it all 2x3 stud construction? Any problems with warping or the drawer slides not square/plum?
Thu, 10/16/2014 - 10:22
Racking my brains out trying
Racking my brains out trying to figure out how you laid those slats across the top of the drawers... If you wouldn't mind posting a few more pics, I would really appreciate it. My daughter wants this for her birthday.
Thanks!
Haven Turned leg Coffe table
My wife does puzzles and most of her school work on a coffee table. We had bought one from that large blue and yellow warehouse furniture store. I liked its size but never the materials. When I saw the Haven Turned Coffee table, I knew I could make that. Using the pocket screws made this an easy build. I made the top out of 1 x 8's and used biscuits to hold them together. I attached the top using a series of cleats around the inside edge. I stained it with an cherry Minwax stain and polyurethaned the top. Project took about four days on and off not including the staining and urethane.
My version of a farmhouse table
I found this plan through a YouTube video unrelated to DIY. It has been to long since I had done any woodworking and I knew we needed a table. I modified the plans some and made the table wider and the benches to fit under when not in use. I bought the wood and ended up with yellow pine top and Douglas fir bases. It was what that had at my Home Depot. But the contrasting woods gave me the idea for the finish I ended up with. Love the outcome. Hope you all like it too. Now on to the next project.
Just one application
Minwax fast drying polyurethane
Chicken Coop
This was my biggest build yet and these plans along with being able to see a few brag posts with modicifactions made this project less intimidating. I extended the coop in order to add a walk in door. The drop down doors on both sides will give plenty of access and help with cleaning. I've added door latches to all the doors since putting it in place. My dad provided the cedar so that greatly reduced my costs. This project took about six days to complete. The fun part was getting it out of my carport : ) This was built for my daughter's chickens and she is thrilled with it. So am I! Thanks for the plans Ana!
Balcony Chairs
First time build. Easy because the instructions are well defined and clear. I was inspired by the Shroeder House by Gerrit Reitveld and the color scheme follows its Mondrian Movement simplicity.
Your website also has the clear simplicity that facilitates the work. Thank you for your website and the effort that you put into it.
Rosarito BC AnaWhite fan
Mom's Jelly Cabinet
Our first DIY furniture project. We told friends it was an assignment from couples therapy. lol Don't look too close or you will see the many flaws, but I can say it has character and will serve its purpose.
We had problems with the doors. I think they are true and plum, but the cabinet, not so much. They hang a little cockeyed, but they do swing. The plans for the doors didn't quite match the cabinet, but we are newbies so we could have misread the plans.
The hinges and latch are from the blue store - painted matte black from a can from the original nasty brass. The red is Balero and the shelves are a coordinating tan from Sherwin Williams. A coat of Minwax Polycrylic for protection. We used square wire from the blue store for the doors. We didn't router the doors to inset the wire, a stapler worked fine.
It was an absolute great first project that Husband & I enjoyed tremendously. Mom has been looking for a jelly cabinet for 6 months without success. Old functional furniture pieces just aren't manufactured anymore. This cupboard fit the bill perfectly.
Comments
Tue, 10/23/2012 - 08:01
This is awesome. Seriously.
This is awesome. Seriously. You two did such a great job and your mom will enjoy it for many years. That red with the black hardware looks so great.
In reply to This is awesome. Seriously. by Maira (not verified)
Tue, 10/23/2012 - 18:14
Thanks Maira :) That was
Thanks Maira :) That was sweet of you to say. Can't wait to start another project.
Adjustable sawhorse craft table
Built from MODERN INDSUTRIAL ADJUSTABLE SAWHORSE DESK TO COFFEE TABLE. I used a solid table top reinforced underneath so my wife can can use the table as a craft table. I also used 3/4 in allthread
End table (pre sanding)
This was the first project my husband requested to help with! It was a great for teaching easy cuts with a miter saw and pocket holes with a kreg jig. Thanks to this end table we now build things together!
Shiplap Fireplace Accent Wall
This was exactly what I wanted for an accent wall in my family room. It was an easy build!
The mantel in cedar that my son in law had laying n his yard. I hollowed out the back the size of a 2x4x 30” long. I mounted it to the fireplace with liquid nails and wood 5” wood screws. Then I predrilled 3 holes in the top that went through the cedar and 2x4 and into the 2x4 backing under the shiplap. The mantel cavity was covered with liquid nails and then placed over the mounted 2x4. I use the 5” screws to help secure the mantel. It’s perfect. I love it!
Candie Reed (Michigan)
Outdoor Farmhouse Table
I've been wanting to build an outdoor farmhouse table for quite some time. Getting it to look old with new materials was the idea.Using notches to hold part of the base and experimenting with finishes got the 'rustic' look. I took a few ideas from the Gaby Kitchen Island and implemented my own; it turned out to be a great weekend project!
Comments
Fri, 10/26/2012 - 23:43
a question about if it is waterproof
Love the table, especially the finish you used, it looks amazing. just have a question about if it is waterproof...i know it is an outdoor table, but is it protected by a veranda or is it completely exposed to the elements. i want to make one but am hesitant as it will be completely outside! Thanku!