Community Brag Posts

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

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? At88photography@gmail.com

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

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

Cabin Bed

Submitted by coskam14 on Fri, 11/18/2022 - 17:29

Cabin Bed for toddler. Alternate take on the Jen Woodhouse bed. Built to fit the space

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Extra Tall Upholstered Bar Stool

Submitted by LinzFritz on Thu, 09/01/2011 - 21:26

My sister needed an extra tall stool for the bar her husband built, so I adjusted the Parson Chair plans to make them fit. I included the Sketchup model that I used in my blog post.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

moosmani

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 14:15

I love this! I want to make 3 just like this, after I get a little better at the wood-working stuff!

The perfect sewing table!

I have been looking at sewing furniture for years, but the prices always made my jaw drop. I have a small craft room, so I needed a table that could also triple as a cutting table and fabric storage. Thank you so much to Ana White for this plan! I built exactly to the plan in The Handbuilt Home, and it's the PERFECT size.

So the sewing machine can sit flush with the top, making working on big sewing projects way easier, I traced the outline of my machine on the MDF and cut it out with a jig saw. Then I built a small shelf using a 1x12 scrap and 2 1x3 scraps. Putting the 1x3s on top of the 1x12 made the shelf 3.75 inches deep, which is exactly the depth I needed. I attached it to the underside of the tabetop using a pockethole jig and screws.

I built 2 boxes using 1/4 inch plywood, and installed drawer pulls on them, giving the illusion that the table has 2 drawers built in. This is where I keep my ugly stuff--interfacing and fabric scraps.

I got the color scheme for the table from the entryway console plan in The Handbuilt Home. In order to make the MDF top look like it had a wood grain, I applied mahogany gel stain with an old washcloth in very thick strokes that spanned the length of the tabletop. It soaked in and lost the "grain" look in some places, but the majority still looks like wood. I did have to apply several coats of polyurathane over the stain; the MDF has a prickly texture that grabs fabric and makes it hard to feed through the sewing machine.

My only complaint is that I didn't quite think through the fact that seating is bar height and I'm 5'7". It's a little difficult to reach my sewing machine pedal. I may build a small stool for the pedal to sit on so I don't have to half sit/stand to sew.

This is the first woodworking project I've done alone from start to finish: from going to Lowe's and picking out the wood, to cutting the wood with a circular saw, assembly, and finishing. (My fiance did carry it up the stairs for me. :) )

I'm so in love with this table! And now to finish the quilt I started 6 months ago....

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used 2 coats of Valspar Signature paint in Laguna Beach, and Minwax mahogany gel stain on the MDF tabletop.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

MissMehndi

Mon, 09/23/2013 - 15:22

I love this idea!! I too have wanted a sewing table for a long time but the prices of them take my breath away. I may have to make myself one! Thanks for the inspiration!!

Christmas Tree Shelf with Lights

I made this Christmas tree shelf using the plans here.

 

I modified it by adding on two shelves so that it could accommodate the 6 hooks I needed for my family's stockings.  I also hot glued a string of lights to the perimeter.  This is serving as our Christmas tree due to space constraints, so I wanted it to be "fancier" and more like an actual tree.

I think I did ok for my first real build and my family seems to really like it.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Sage Green spray paint in Satin
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Table for Generations to come

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/22/2019 - 09:37

I used the basic plan as described on the website. I did differ on the tabletop and the legs. I used 3 slabs of 300+ year old cypress grown and milled locally here in Mississippi. I also kept the live edge on the outside boards. I bought my legs from 59Design. They were identical in everyway but about $15 cheaper per leg. :) 

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

A Pair of Twin Headboards

Submitted by ChrisHobbs on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 12:00

I built two of these headboards over Labor Day weekend for my girls.

Estimated Cost
$100 for 2 Headboards
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
One coat of semi-gloss white paint. Was going to put a second coat on, but wife loked seeing the wood peeking through, so we left it with only one coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

denny Shortt (not verified)

Mon, 11/26/2012 - 21:46

Your mattress look a little low be careful that your girls do not get their heads stuck between the top of mattress and bottom of headboard

My first project - headboard

After looking through the Handbuilt Home longingly many times, I took the plunge with this simple headboard. I've never built anything from wood, but my main hobby is sewing so I'm good at following directions. I followed the plans exactly and I love how this came out! I used a nailer and glue for all the construction. I recommend this project for beginners! I chose to paint my headboard black to blend with my other furniture.
Now I'm already onto my next project, with a Kreg Jig in hand, the modern craft table from Ana's book. Thank you, Ana for sharing your plans and inspiring people to try building! I feel my skills and confidence increasing with each project!

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Black paint with a coat of polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

mom of 4

Wed, 09/25/2013 - 11:06

I've got the wood in my garage, marked for cutting this project out! Yours looks fantastic. You will love your Kreg Jig! It's one of my all-time favorite tools.

Channing Bookcase

Submitted by plumbguy on Mon, 12/07/2015 - 14:40

I'm a better plumber than a carpenter.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint & Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

X Console Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 08:10

Easy to follow instructions.  Thanks!!

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Oh Christmas Tree

Submitted by Rentzm on Sat, 12/17/2022 - 04:13

What a merry addition to my Christmas decor. I was drawn to this project because I wanted to use my new miter saw and to practice cutting angles & piecing together with great precision. It’s a bonus that I needed a place to hang stockings.

The directions were clear and helpful. It is forgiving if you don’t get boards aligned perfectly. That provided a great confidence boost for this newbie.

The stain is Minwax Austin Field solid. It was my first stain experience and it took me a while to get a smooth and consistent finish. But I love the tone.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

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