Community Brag Posts

my IKEA knock-off Expedit 4-cube bookcase

Submitted by cbrowan on Sun, 08/21/2011 - 11:40

I had been eying the IKEA Expedit 4-cube bookcase and figured I could build it for cheaper and have lots of leftover plywood for some other projects. I was right!

Estimated Cost
$40 (but left enough wood to build a console table and flat bookcases)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
2 coats of Valspar chocolate brown, eggshell
1 coat of Minwax Polyurethane, satin
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Storage Shelf with hooks

Submitted by REASMOM on Thu, 09/12/2013 - 12:16

I built this shelf for my mudroom. I modified this plan to fit my space, it is 36 inches wide. I also used 3 - 1x3" pine boards for the top. Love this plan so much that I've made two more to give away as gifts!

Estimated Cost
$50 (not including stain and polyurethane)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax stain in Early American and 3 coats of Minwax Water Based, Oil-Modified Polyurethane (Satin).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

4 ft table from plans

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/05/2019 - 22:09

Great project and fun to do. I've actually made 6 tables off this same plan, all different sizes,from 4ft. To 8ft.. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
80.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Walnut stain, 3 coats of poly, and distressed paint on bottom.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Live Edge Coffee Table

This live edge coffee table is a perfect addition to my porch that has hand crafted furniture made by yours truly.

Comments

Farmhouse Bench - fox.and.hammer

Submitted by tfox on Tue, 08/23/2011 - 11:27

I made a few changes to the Farmhouse Bench plans as I wanted to match the design of the table. Most notably, I lengthened the seat boards to replace the breadboard end caps. This made my total length 67″, the perfect size to fit under the table if needed. The width was changed to 15″ and the height remained 18″.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Special Walnut stain with Minwax Wipe-On Poly finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

suze (not verified)

Sun, 08/28/2011 - 11:05

loving your finish! Did you not use a pre-stain conditioner?

Bed Frame

We haven't had bed frame since we moved from Florida and as we now have our own home, it was time to get one. My friend gave me headboard they had no use, so I just had to build rest of a frame.
Notice that we are middle of the hole house renovation so we have no trims, walls are lacking paint etc :) I still need to make night stands and closet for us :) Let see how they come out.

Follow our projects and life middle of the mountains in my blog :)

http://ourleaningtree.wordpress.com/diy/bed-frame/

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
40$
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used dark walnut stain, but only one layer.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Very Large Buffet

This project took me a little longer to finish but I'm happy with the results.  I used the plans to establish the size and carcass, but changed up the style on the inside by putting a shelf on one side and drawers and glass/wine holders on the other.  For wood I used 3/4" Maple plywood and common board pine.  The color is minwax Jacobean and for protection I applied wipe on poly satin finish.  This gave it a nice hand rub look.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Jacobean stain and Satin wipe on poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse bed king

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/09/2019 - 18:02

Such a fun project. This is the 5th piece my husband and I have completed by Ana White. This bed is by far my favorite piece of furniture in our home. So sturdy and only took a few hours (not including stain and poly). We have a love for knots, so we chose pieces of wood that had a lot of beautiful imperfections. We went very light on the stain, and it looks weathered with still some of the natural wood color shining through. We got our wood from our local Home Improvement store, and had minimal cutting to do. Neither of us are pro woodworkers by any means, and we completed this with ease.

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
One thin coat of Rust-Oleum Weathered Gray then two coats of Minwax clear Polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Large Wood Pet Kennel End Table

Thanks for the plans!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Step Stool

Submitted by stcarroll on Fri, 08/26/2011 - 10:25

I fell in love with Ana's plan for this vintage step stool. I made three, but one has already gone to a new home (my sister's house). I used all scraps, I didn't have 1x8 for the treads, so I slatted two 1x4s. Then behind my husbands pile of scrap wood in the shop I found two planks of 1x8 oak!!!! I made the second two stools with the oak for the tread, but didn't want to cover it with paint, so I stained the top treads. This also was my first build using a kreg jig, I borrowed my sister's 'kreg jig jr.' It made the assembly so simple and quick! These have been so nice to have around the house for the kids washing and brushing and helping in the kitchen!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Free!!!!
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax polyshades 'antique chestnut' on the all doug-fir-slatted stool. And minwax 'ebony' on the oak-tread with a mix of left over paint on the bottom. Then I sanded the paint to distress and used the ebony stain over the paint. I put several coats of poly on both of them because they will be used in the bathrooms during potty training and I wanted them to be sealed well so they don't soak-in any spills or mishaps!
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

child's bench with arbor

Submitted by Juriathe on Tue, 09/17/2013 - 22:50

I loved the original one posted and it inspired me to create our own version. It's getting great reviews !

Estimated Cost
less than $50.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
exterior latex
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Platform Bed with Headboard

Submitted by vkaylee on Mon, 11/23/2015 - 17:29

So appreciative for the plans. This was one of the bigger projects I've taken on but I had so much fun with it. A client of mine actually sent these plans to me because she wanted this exact bed with headboard. I was a little apprehensive at first because I haven't normally done a lot of custom work but it was a lot of fun. 

Estimated Cost
$70 for everything
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Unfinished. This project was to be completed by the client.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic X Kitchen Island - Double

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/14/2019 - 01:54

I followed the plans except for the top, I used a 2x12, 2x4 and 2x12 pocket holes together.

 

Burnt the wood with a torch and stained over.

Thanks for the plans!

 

Questions? [email protected]

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
200$
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax provincial and topcoat polyurethane and mineral spirits 75/25 mix
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Hall tree

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/31/2022 - 14:53

Had fun making this one! Kept it rustic and added something other than white. Thanks for the great plan!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

hanging bed

I saw this bed and just had to have it for my daughter. She loves it so much and it looks great in her room. It was easy to make, but very heavy. We were very meticulous to hang, we might have spent more time hanging it than building it :) There is more info on my blog.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
35, but we had some extra lumber and screws we used
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
primed then painted
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Closet shelves

Submitted by mom of 4 on Thu, 09/19/2013 - 22:12

I needed to use my small coat closet more efficiently (observe the disaster in the before picture!), so I installed built-in shelves along a side wall for all our board games. Not a plan really, but just a simple solution. Measure the height you want your shelves to be, install a 1X3 at that height on either side wall, making sure they are level and secured to studs or anchored (Mine are 1 foot apart up to 5 feet). Then install plywood or solid wood shelves across the supports. Screw in to secure and you've got functional, inexpensive shelving, built to fit your unique space.

Estimated Cost
Scraps or the cost of 1 sheet plywood and 1 1X3 or 1X4.
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
It's all just bare wood.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Our scrap wood storage bed

Submitted by c_paigew on Thu, 11/26/2015 - 09:00

Our version of the Brandy Storage Bed in king size.  Added a headboard made from from weathered wood leftover from building our house.  The "scrap wood" pieces used to cover the bottom are a mixture of rough cedar, old wood from a grain bin and general 1X scraps.

 

Thanks so much for the plans Ana, we love our new bed!! 

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Love this table!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/17/2019 - 14:37

Fell in love with this table! Couldn't wait to build it. Found a great mill that had raw stock of a variety of woods. I chose White Ash  because if the hardness and beautiful grain. They planed it to 1-3/4" thickness. Modifed the width to 50" and turned the truss supports underneath to add extra support for the table top due to the weight of the White Ash. Finished with provincial stain and 6 coats of hand rubbed poly. Used wood bleach on the 4x4's to take the red tint out before staining. Worked great!

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

Picture Ledge for Cutting Board Display

Submitted by vendo on Fri, 11/18/2022 - 10:19

My sophomore daughter built a cutting board in woodworking class. She did a beautiful job, so I wanted to display it. Took me about 10 minutes to build this little shelf. Can be used on the counter, or attached to a wall or pantry shelf. I decided to attach to the side of my DIY freestanding pantry that I built using Ana's Shelf Help service. I'm happy the whole family is able to enjoy her beautiful cutting board and this makes it easy to use and put up when not in use. 

Built from Plan(s)