Community Brag Posts

New Kitchen, New Table!

We just finished our complete kitchen remodel, from tearing down walls to new cabinets, appliances, hardwood floors, and countertops. I assembled the cabinets and installed them myself, along with tiling the backsplash and nailing down the floors. So I though I'd try my hand at furniture building. It was my first time building anything like this and I thought it turned out pretty nice!

I used left over boards from the removation for the bases of the table and benches and 2x6 poplar boards for the tops. I made some adjustments in the size since we're only a family on 3. Since I made the table shorter, I changed the 45 degree cuts on the cross braces to 30 degrees so they would fit. 

Estimated Cost
$300 just because I bought high quality poplar with the edges planed so they would fit together with no gaps
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
minwax sedona red
zar merlot
minwax red mahogany
in that order, but I found that the stain effects poplar differently than it does pine
3 coats of brush on polyurethane sanded with 220 in between coats
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Plant, shoe and bag stand

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/05/2021 - 02:39

This is a stand I made for my sister who wanted something at the front door to put her shoes and shopping bags

Adirondack Chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/05/2021 - 08:19

This was a fun and simple project. One of my first attempts at making outside furniture and it was nearly perfect the first time....why?... the plans were so easy to follow, the techniques used were not demanding, and the tool selection was ideal for my workshop. I put them outside and I have had good reviews, and requests, for these chairs.

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Modified Ann White Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/05/2021 - 17:07

This is a modified version of your Farmhouse Coffee Table.

Comments

outdoor sofa from reclaimed wood

Using Ana's plan as a guide, I built two of these sofas to fit an outdoor cushion I already had. I used wood from our old deck -- a great way to re-use and save money, too!

Estimated Cost
$110/sofa (lumber was free)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
None, although eventually I will probably seal it with outdoor PolyWhey by Vermont Natural Coatings.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Toddler bed

Submitted by Bradnag on Wed, 09/13/2017 - 05:13

I made a loft bed for my 4-year-old son using Ana's Chelsea Loft plans. When I finished, I was able to build this toddler bed for my 1-year-old using almost entirely scraps left over from the loft (save for the 1x6 runners). I skipped the curved headboard design and went with a solid piece of 1x12. I was going to round the top edges or cut a more rounded design, but my wife said she liked the squared off look better (she has lots of ideas for painting various designs on it, apparently). Since we were going to use paint and not stain, I ripped some leftover MDF board for the 1x6 footers. The whole project took a single afternoon, including cutting, assembly, woodfill and sanding. The end result is pretty sturdy. My wife laid on it with both our small children and the slats hardly bowed at all.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$5
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cedar Boxes made with Pallet Wood

Submitted by flashfire on Fri, 09/15/2017 - 22:19

Thanks for the plans, I was able to make this for a friend's birthday. I made it from pallet wood and it was so easy, I did a mitred top though because I wanted it to look neat and trim. .

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Nil
I used pallet wood
Wood glue & screws I already had
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Linseed oil
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Seasonal And Holiday

Toddler Picnic Table

I was dying to try this little picnic table out for my boys.  It was such a quick and easy build, though without clamps, I had to enlist my husband's help to hold things for me while I drilled!

I had envisioned the table in blue, but the 3 year old was very insistent on green.  So Gamma Sector Green it was...and I LOVE how it turned out.  Turns out my 3 year old is better at picking colors than I am!  :)
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25 but wood is more expensive in HI!
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr - Disney's Gamma Sector Green. It took about 3 coats. I applied it with a foam brush, which gave me a nice smooth finish. We sealed it with a spray poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Farm House Bench

Submitted by toes on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 14:25

First bench to match the Farm House table I have built.  Istill need to finish my table now to match the bench.  

Estimated Cost
$35
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I first started my staining this bench with ZAR Moorish Teak (looked like I had painted it brown) sanded it down a little added Minwax dark walnut LOVED it! Added 3 coats of Deft stain lacquer.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

For a big crowd

Submitted by Diesel911 on Wed, 05/13/2015 - 11:32

My first project built on the garage floor. Before I had work benches :)
I used a borrowed mitre saw, borrowed jig saw and a $20 drill.

Finish Used
Stained with early American and red elm. Clear coat afterwards
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

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

AllGardenBenches.com Farmhouse Table

Made this for my wife for our anniversary!
Check out a video of the project here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eyroIH517A
Check out more great furniture through All Garden Benches: http://www.AllGardenBenches.com

Thanks for the plans!!!

Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used a basic oil based wood stain - dark - it was called Moorish Teak. One coat was sufficient. Lastly, I added a clear gloss finish - two coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Inspired Table

My husband and I used Ana's plans to create this BEAUTIFUL farmhouse inspired table for our dining room. The project was straightforward and we are EXTREMELY happy with the results. We added a touch of modern to the table by purchasing metal chairs from overstock.com. The table is perfect for family get togethers and even more important...family game nights!!

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Polyshades in Dark Walniut-we also applied a few coats of wipe on poly to the finished project. We wanted our table to look rustic so we did "bang it up" a bit before staining and finishing.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

wjc129

Fri, 06/28/2013 - 08:26

Looks great! Did you just use the cheap pine at Lowes/HD? Any tricks to getting the table top flat and level?

In reply to by wjc129

amandaherlache

Mon, 07/01/2013 - 06:15

We used the "select" pine boards from Home Depot..which are a bit nicer than just the ordinary ones. To make the table top level we used a level to be sure that there weren't any major bumps...then once we had the top secured we sanded it to make the boards flush to each other. Hope that helps! Thanks for you comments!

Joss & Emit's Train Table :)

This was my very first "Ana project"! It was a special Christmas treat for my boys and their expanding train collection. This table has had many, many hours of entertainment and enjoyment. It is a great beginner project and has very easy plans to follow! I didn't do the storage carts at the time. I may go back and do them later though...for now they like playing under the table as well. My obsession began :)

Estimated Cost
$50 (island living cost more)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Flat interior paint (2 coats) with two coats of poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Loft bed for son

I've built a few bookshelves and cubbies before, but nothing on this scale.  I built this in my basement this past December as a Christmas present for my three-year-old son.  The plans were easy to follow.  I believe I spent about $150 on lumber.  The bed is very sturdy.  My kids love it!  Now the the other kids want their own special daddy-made bed :)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150 on lumber. $50 on wood putty, stain, sand paper, etc. Way better than the $1100+ similar model at the local furniture store!
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
min-wax water based stain protected with water-based polycrilic. It all dried way too fast and didn't give me time to correct errors. Next time I will use oil based.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Farmhouse Media Center

Submitted by Rkh81989 on Tue, 04/03/2018 - 16:45

Farmhouse Media Center

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Our Flare!

Submitted by bfinnemore on Mon, 09/28/2015 - 11:56

Hi Anna, I really had fun making our version of your sliding mirror project! Thought you might enjoy the photos!  I made it into a jewelry cabinet.

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments