Community Brag Posts

Pottery Barn Style Night Stand (thank you Ana)

Yesterday I built two of these for my wife and I's room, we just moved from Hawaii to Arizona. The plans were clear and simple, and the end product turned out awesome. Next I will tack the dresser/tv stand. Thank you Ana

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$65 for two tables
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
MiniWax Espresso applied with a paint brush. I used an extremely thin coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Half-size Rustic X Console

Submitted by Handyman11 on Mon, 03/09/2015 - 10:52

Essentially cut the original plans in half and modified a few things. The major change aside from the size is that is I used cedar plank for the top. I did this because I wanted a more professional look and I simply could resist the beautiful grain of the cedar. Pocket holed and glue cedar prices together after running them through the jointer. Also I connected the top to the frame via L brackets. Sealed the top with 3 layers of satin polyurethane. Apples poly with a 6 in microfiber brush dampened in mineral spirits. Also I painted the majority of the base with a foam roller. Put on slide plates on the bottom to adjust for slight unlevelness. Enjoy!

Estimated Cost
65
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modified version of Rekourt table and bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/08/2017 - 03:59

I'd built a table for my daughter and her roommates at college last year.  One of them is getting married this year and asked If I would mind building one for them.  They found a picture of this table someone had built and I tracked down your plans.  They needed it smaller so this one is 72" by 39" and I built the bench in a similar style.  

 

They wanted a smooth top (no grooves between boards) and no breaboard ends.  The table top wanted to warp a bit at the corners without the breadboards, so I imbedded some angle iron to keep it flat.

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Weathered grey stain from Varathane.. Minwax polycrylic water based
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Outdoor Modern Sofa

Submitted by kazy on Sat, 07/31/2021 - 11:11

This was my first woodworking project. Ana made it look doable and I didn’t like any of the outdoor furniture offerings I could afford so I thought “why not”? I couldn’t find wood at any of the big box stores due to a severe wood shortage. Good timing on my part. As a result of the shortage the cost of the wood was higher (around $550 Canadian) but I did save around $200 by ordering from a local producer. And the wood I got was spectacular! I don’t think I’ll ever go big box again as there is no comparison. I ordered freshly milled pine which was air dried, from local Scierie Carson (Carson sawmill). I further air dried the planks in our barn, oiled them with boiled linseed oil and cut. I modified the plan slightly to add some posts in the arms and to lower the seat backs as the cushions I found were not as tall as Ana’s. I managed to find them on sale at Christmas time at a local Reno Depot (Quebec’s version of Rona, Lowe’s or Home Depot). The cushions cost $500 Canadian for 10 sets and believe me that was a deal. Over all it was not hard to do and I’m thrilled with the results. I have a gorgeous patio set that will adorn our farm deck for many years to come.

Estimated Cost
$1,000
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Boiled linseed oil - easy to apply with rags. Repels water beautifully. Natural so not incredibly harmful to the environment. Brings out yellow tones in wood. Brings out fresh wood smell.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Ana White Admin

Sun, 08/01/2021 - 11:20

Impressive to say the least, well done! Love your can do attitude and I know you are enjoying the fruits of your labor with this amazing set up!

Reclaimed 1x4 Coffee Table

I purchased reclaimed 1x4s from a deconstruction warehouse called Re-Use Hawai'i for 20 cents a foot! I cut the lumber to make an un-ordered stagger pattern, experimented with dowel joints to join the cut pieces into 4 ft. planks and used pocket hole screws (hidden by the table legs and supports) to join the planks. I used old salvaged 1x2 window framing for the legs using pocket hole joinery.

Estimated Cost
$5 using reclaimed lumber, perhaps $35 from home improvement stores.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I left most of the wood natural, except for one 4 ft. 1x4 that I stained with one coat of Minwax Red Oak (on hand). The legs I painted with Behr Ultra Pure White (on hand). I sealed the top with 3 coats of Watco Wipe-On Poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

X-Frame Farm Table

Submitted by whittlevin on Fri, 03/13/2015 - 12:48

This was my first attempt at a farm table. I found the fancy x plan for inspiration. The length is 6ft. I had to modify all of the measurements. All of the boards came off my grandad's old barn. The posts are laminated together from guide posts from his corral. There is a lot of history and character to the table. I did have to make the bench to match it. I'll post pictures of that soon. Most importatnly, my wife loves it!!!! Happy wife, happy life!!!

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

Comments

DBoggs56

Mon, 05/18/2015 - 12:00

Hello, awesome job on the table. Was wondering if you would mind sharing the table top dimensions. I have a smaller space and was thinking of modifying to make something in the 6ft range as well. Thanks

Brian and Stef

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 06/11/2017 - 16:22

We used 2x4 to make the chair more sturdy. We also kept with the original plans and did not alter them to fit the cushions. We felt changing the dimensions altered the look of the chairs. And the cushions look perfect in the chairs.  We were also building the chairs to sit around our fire pit, so we added 6" 4x4 legs to keep the bulky look. We used Ebony stain. We also made an 8'x3' planter box (see pic). We are beginners with no wood working experience at all and we nailed it! So, don't be intimidated by the plans. After the first chair, they all went together smoothly.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50 per chair plus cushion cost. We got ours at Lowes for $65 each.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Seasonal And Holiday

Lego/Storage Coffee Table

Submitted by Nami on Thu, 04/25/2013 - 07:02

I built this lovely lego/coffee table for my son, 7 and my sanity at night! This is my 3rd plan I tried from Ana's wonderful plans. (I made airplane shelf and $10 wall ledge before).

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

mrs.mama

Sat, 04/26/2014 - 11:57

Your table is just beautiful!! Question-- do you remember about how much it cost for the wood materials? I am dying to make one soon!
(Also, I would be curious to know which stain you used, it's gorgeous.)
Thanks!

Perfect Garden Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/13/2017 - 14:45

Love these plans. Perfect weekend project. This bench is a nice size. 

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

Modified Doll Bed w/"Trundle"

Submitted by keupa on Sun, 08/22/2021 - 17:45

My son wanted a bed for his doll, Bobby John. We chose some plans for a bed to make and he helped me through the process. Instead of making this a trundle bed, we made the trundle more of a drawer. He can store clothing and some of the doll toys underneath instead of on the floor. ;) I modified the original plans by using drawer slides instead of the ball bearing casters, keeping is a single unit so that when it is moved around, it's only one piece. This also keeps it from banging around against the frame when pulling out or pushing in. Also added a few decorative elements like the ball post-tops and also used the Kreg Jig to hide the main fastening screws.

My wife made the mattress, bedding, and pillow and one of my daughters made a small, stuffed panda for Bobby to "snuggle". Turned out fairly well.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane No Odor Polyurethane - Satin
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Bunk Beds for a Small Room

Our bedrooms are 9' x 9' so when our girls needed to move in together, we needed a bunk bed that would be short enough to fit under the fan, have a place for drinks, books, an alarm, and tissues, and also have a place where our youngest could have a dark sleeping space while older sister stays up later.

We're not going to be in this setup for long, so I used common board to keep the cost down as much as possible. The whole bed cost about $200, but I would suggest staying away from common board. It was really warped and couldn't be sanded smooth. We ended up going with a dark, thick paint to cover the wood imperfections. To deal with the warped wood, I made an outline of each end of the bed with painter's tape on the garage floor and used weights to hold the wood where it was suppose to be. I also modified the plans to make the bottom bunk a bit shorter and made the whole thing only 3 inches off the ground. All put together the bed is very sturdy and everything lined up well.

I used some scrap wood to make the holders for drinks and tissues and a holder for the iPod and speakers. These just rest over the railing, so we can move them around if need be. The book racks are Ikea hacks....they're just spice racks painted to match the bed. The curtains are just hung on a 1" dowel set into the same cups that closet rods are put up with. I also added some flower knobs from Target so that the girls can hang a robe when it's cooler outside.

Thanks for the plans Ana! My girls LOVE this bed!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint and polyurethane coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

DIY Rustic Cooler

Submitted by raybotelho on Wed, 03/18/2015 - 16:06

A client/friend asked for a rustic cooler she could use for her 30th birthday party. Thats what we came up with.

We have full plans on the blog: http://firefinishblog.com/2015/03/18/diy-rustic-cooler-with-plans/

 

 

 

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Grandy sliding door console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/16/2017 - 18:22

This is my first piece of furniture to build. I love love love it!!! Now I can't wait to build something else! You may have created a monster in me. Thank you for the great plans!! 

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

Beginner farm table

Absolutely love how this table turned out! I slightly modified the length to accommodate our space. Definitely a beginner friendly project. I used farrow and ball studio green for the base and just poly on the top.

Comments

1st project

Submitted by Nick K on Mon, 04/29/2013 - 18:28

I found the table here, but ended up using the modified plans for the 72" table from this site - http://tommyandellie.com/index.php/2012/01/13/new-and-improved-farmhous…

I haven't built anything out of wood for 20 years and I had no problems building this table. I also built the bench and two 15" extensions.

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Pre Stain, Minwax Special Walnut (1 coat), Minwax fast dry Satin Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Dog Kennel for Animal Rescue auction

Submitted by jasondk on Fri, 03/20/2015 - 09:10

Made this for a animal rescue charity dinner auction. The bottom is made out of all scrap pine i had laying around. The top is made from 1x4 oak.

Painted the base with an off-white and the top was finished with Early American Minwax and topped with a water based poly.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$45
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
minwax early american and poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

jardinière

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 18:07

jardiniere  16x36x32h 

built whit cedar 

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kitchen Bar with Drawers

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 09/12/2021 - 16:30

I decided to demo our old pantry and build a counter height bar in its place. I used Ana’s mudroom bench plans and added an additional drawer to the length and 2 more drawers to the height, making a total of 12 drawers. I also used Ana’s video on sizing drawer faces https://youtu.be/AlvlrPxXGUw
—at least for the bottom 4 drawers. I didn’t find that video until I’d completed the first 2 rows of drawers and they definitely require some tweaking still.
I added some moulding to the back and sides with 1/2” plywood ripped into 2.5” strips to complete the shaker look. Then I had a quartz top fabricated and installed.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Outdoor Console Table

Submitted by scokenour on Wed, 05/01/2013 - 16:32

I have a small booth at a local Outdoor Market & a client asked if I had any outdoor tables - she needed some for an upcoming party. I tried convincing her that a potting bench would be perfect (since Ana already had plans for that), but she wanted something a little different. She shared a picture of a "Faraday" console table by Pottery Barn, so I used that as my inspiration. I opted for a counter-height table vs. a table height, but both can be easily achieved using the same size balusters, just cut accordingly. I did have a hard time finding "chunky" balusters with a "flat" section on both the top and bottom. I didn't want to use pre-made legs because they are too pricey. At both Orange and Blue they had "skinny" balusters, but at the Orange near my home I found 1 thicker baluster. I had to go to another store to find more in stock, so supplies may vary in your area. The balusters were less than $3 each. Ana was so kind to create plans and I hope you enjoy your table as much as my client enjoyed hers!

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
exterior grade semi-gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

spiceylg

Thu, 05/02/2013 - 07:31

Really like this and love how you used balusters for legs for added detail.

Storage Sofa / Convertible to Bed

Submitted by SRA16 on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 09:06

I used the plan for the base idea for my sofa. I decided I'd prefer arms to curl up in and also to add a convertible feature turning an ottoman using the same base plans into an extension option for using the set as a bed or lounge area. Twice the storage, twice the function!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400-$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used natural duck cloth for the fabric. Easy to clean and water resistant.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

sam5657

Fri, 07/23/2021 - 19:33

I was planning on building your storage sofa, but when I saw the one with the arms; I thought that I would rather build that one. In the spot where the plans should have been; it refers you to the storage sofa. The problem is; it doesn't tell you what you need for or how to build the arms. If they are somewhere else; could you tell me what heading that they are under.

Sandra Cahoon

[email protected]

Kitchen Island Trolley

Submitted by naomi on Fri, 06/23/2017 - 08:26

Kitchen Island Trolley.

Base was made from recycled timber and the top was made with new pine.

The rails were made from curtain rails. 

One end has wheels for easy moving.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Chalk Paint and Wipe on Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments