Community Brag Posts

X Console Table

Submitted by raybotelho on Sat, 09/07/2013 - 07:14

I have built this console quite a few times. Always trying different finishes. Love all of them. Have to say I always skip the X on the sides, I just get lazy towards the end :) Im in the process of building a couple more, will try to add the X to it this time...we will see :)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Just layering lots of different colors.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Great Little Desk :)

Submitted by DWL on Sun, 11/08/2015 - 17:46

We love this little desk for my 3-year-old's room.  She chose the light blue color and helped me paint it.  We used Valspar chalk paint and wax and love the look.  We didn't have room for the double-sided storage so we used pre-made table legs for the other side.  Thanks again, Ana!

p.s. Sorry about the photos rotation.  I have no idea why they are all sideways.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar Chalk Paint, Trousseau Blue

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Industrial Style Wood Slat Closet System with Type M Copper Pipes

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/31/2018 - 09:31

Substituted the galvanized pipes for heavy grade (Type M) copper pipes for a prettier, warmer look (I'm obessed with copper accents!) 

So happy to have found these plans, and proud of how it turned out! It was even better than what I was hoping/looking to build. (I can't stop staring at it! :) It looks like I paid over $1000 at some high end furniture store like West Elm, but managed to make it for under $200!!!

Thanks Ana White for these plans and all of the others on your site. You have shown both me and my 65 year old mother the confidence and joy of woodworking! (And saved us a lot of money, too!)

Estimated Cost
$150-$200
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane 1 qt. Briarsmoke Premium Fast Dry Interior Wood Stain, used wool applicator and quickly wiped down with a rag and paper towels. Leaves the wood grain visible, gives it a reclaimed wood look.

Stay small in length on the copper pipes and use heavier grade (Type M) to prevent sagging
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Adirondak Chair and Stools

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 09/14/2022 - 21:00

Plans were super easy to follow. I finished the chairs by using the Shou Sugi Ban technique. I burned the chairs and stools completely, than wire brushed them. I repeated the process a second time. I finished by adding a coat of poly which I believe gave the chairs a little more depth. They are so comfortable and plans were perfect. Thank you Ana!

Michael's Bug Bakery

Submitted by lorishad on Tue, 08/16/2011 - 18:12

We let my son choose whether he wanted a modern store bought play market or whether he wanted help Mommy and Padre (my dad) build one for his 3rd birthday present. We used magnetic primer so he can change the name whenever he wants and added some trim and some tea towel curtains! He loves it!

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Rustic Table

Submitted by mr.robert on Mon, 09/09/2013 - 18:20

My spin on the rustic table. Used staircase spindles for legs, cut the side boards to accommodate. Rest of plan was pretty much the same. Wife wanted a big table, thats what she got.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Awesome triple pedestal table

Submitted by kazelncat on Sat, 11/14/2015 - 15:39

This was such a fun project!! Kudos to Ana White for a great design!! We made several changes, including the dimensions; 10ft X 42-43 in (left the outside edge raw.  Table top is 1.5" thick American Walnut with a semi gloss clear poly, and the base is milled 1.5" thick poplar, stained dark walnut.  The pedestals also have threaded rods vertically drilled through the center beams (one top and one bottom) and used 3/4" dowels sunk into the base and riser for added structural stability.  Finally, the mortise and tenon runner on bottom used dowels to hold it in place and the top is removable using my own fabricated wooden cleats to attach the top in an old style removable way.  All in all; although this was certainly not the cheapest (about $1,500 all things considered) or simple (although comparable materials and craftsmanship would cost about 3x what I spent); this table is bullet proof and beautiful!! Thanks for the inspiration Ana!!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$1,500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Clear Semi Gloss on top and Dark Walnut on Bottom.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

6ft Farm House Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/02/2019 - 08:54

This was my first shot a farmhouse table. It was pretty easy to make overall. Frame and tabletop were put together mostly with dowels and wood glue but I put a few pocket screws and corner braces in for extra support. I also added a decorative trim board to the sides, which I put on the face of 2x3s. The tabletop is four 2x10s and two 2x6s for the ends. The stain is a dark Expresso color and I coated with polyurethane. The legs were bought from Lowes at a reasonable price since I lack the tooling and know-how for a lathe. 

 

The benches were exactly the same except I used two 2x6s for the tops. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Wood Finish - Expresso
Minwax Polycrylic - Simi Gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

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

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