Community Brag Posts

Farmhouse Dog Bed

Submitted by StacieM on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 10:26

So I finally finished the dog bed I've been working on for over a month now (I've been trying to avoid the 100+ Texas heat but it just wouldn't go away!) It was based on dmanar33's farmhouse dog bed (linked below) and I just made it larger for our greyhound, Daisy. It's far from perfect but it's been another good learning project for me while practicing before I start our desperately needed King bed.

The bed was made using 2x8 for the internal structure (with one 2x4 center "slat"), 1x6 and 1x8 boards for the surround, with 1x2 as trim and 3/4" plywood for the cushion base. It is rather heavy but can easily be moved with two people. This was my first project using my finish nailer ($16 at Harbor Freight) and it was worth every penny! I can't believe I never picked one up before.

For the cushion I tried to find a cheap, thin 3" futon mattress on Craigslist to cut up (as I've done before), but after 2 days of looking online I ended up settling for a $12 full size foam mattress topper from wally world. I folded it in half and wrapped with some thick batting I had laying around so the cushion ended up ~2" thick. And for the cover I used Ana's doll mattress tutorial with some wally world Chino Cotton curtains for $16 as fabric (thick, durable, cotton and cheaper than anything I could find at the fabric store) and it worked out great! I left one end open to put a zipper into once I pick one up, so right now it is like a large pillow case, but it works just fine.

I'm very happy with the total project and I love that Daisy (~75lbs) won't be breaking it anytime soon. She has plenty of room to stretch out and it looks much nicer than the old lumpy "giant pillow" style dog bed on the floor we had before.

Estimated Cost
~$30 for the wood and ~$30 for the cushion
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
One coat Sherwin Williams bright white flat (leftover ceiling paint) and one coat Rustoleum gloss white spray paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

kelli224

Mon, 08/15/2011 - 10:47

This is so fantastic!! But what I love even more...is that sweet greyhound! We are a greyhound family as well and I think our Breezy girl needs one of these.

juliead18733

Sat, 11/12/2011 - 08:35

You did an amazing job on this and thanks so much for giving detailed info about what you used! I've been toying with the idea of making a bed like this for my Pit Bull but I've been hesitant without knowing what materials would make it structurally sound for a large dog to lay on. Thanks for showing me how to give my big dog some of the pampering that the little dogs get all the time!

tnlscott

Wed, 01/11/2012 - 07:55

I saw the original blog about this bed, but it was quite smaller. I have a great dane that I want to make this bed for, so it's good to see how it looks bigger! I have a baby mattress that I'm going to use, so it'll be pretty big!! Awesome job!!

Step Stool for Niece

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/15/2023 - 11:58

My niece is turning 6 soon and I built this step stool for her birthday. I used the design for the Simple Step Stool but angled the legs in more because I thought it looked better. To help personalize it, I carved my niece’s name into the front using a v-groove carving tool. I hope this will be a gift she holds onto for many years to come.

Comments

Desk with Drawer

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/24/2023 - 12:45

Hi Ana
My granddaughter is starting first grade in the Fall. She needs a desk so I checked out your site and found this simple yet functional project. It worked up in no time. Now Gianna just needs to pick a paint color.

I also found a slight boo boo in the plans. See the marked up cut list.
Thanks for all you do.

David Grilli

 

Built from Plan(s)

Storage Bed with Drawers and Rustic Planked Headboard with Lights

Submitted by jjmaldon on Sat, 02/08/2020 - 10:22

Base is classic storage king and the headboard was custom made to fit the size of the room. Enjoyed this project and the extra storage the drawers are providing. Thanks for the sharing the design plan; worked perfectly. 

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Storage Bench

Loved using the plans, had to modify them to work around my baskets and a pipe sticking out of my wall. I'd say this is somewhere between beginner and intermediate, as I had to use the pocket screw for some added support when attaching the sides. I primed then used two coats of white "door and trim" paint. So far it has held up to the baskets being slid back and forth, if I had to do it again, I would add a poly coat for durability, at least on the bottom of the cubbies. Cushions and pillow from HomeGoods. Would have been nice to design the bench to fit more standard cushion sizes, but oh well!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
white primer, two coats of white "door and trim" paint, applied with small foam roller and angled brush
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Storage sofa on steroids!

Submitted by Imadeit on Wed, 07/20/2016 - 12:59

First furniture project, first Kreg jig use.

Heavily adapted storage sofa plans.  Used existing day bed mattresses.  Made all wood surfaces finished with nice cladding, and all fabric portions removable and washable.

Added arms, and a back ledge.  Ledge is hinged to allow access to wall behind so I can get to the outlets.

Lots of work, but it is AWESOME.  Thanks for the inspiration Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$700 including the fabric
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dark gray latex paint, and gel stain for the shelf.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

WackyPup

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 13:37

This is almost exactly what I want to do! I have a dog who loves to rub on furniture and I don't want upholstery. Why did you make the back thicker? Is it just for added shelf space along the back? Thanks for posting the pictures. Very inspiring!

Imadeit

Mon, 02/20/2017 - 07:18

Sorry for the delay in seeing your question.  I haven't signed on to this site for a while.  You are correct thinking that I wanted to have shelf space along the back.  The sectional is the entire width of the wall and I knew that I would not be able to have end tables.  I wanted a way to have a lamp and a place to put drinks, etc.  As it turns out the arms of the sectional are great for holding my beverage.  The shelf holds my lamp and some baskets with general stuff like the remotes inside.  Thank you for the compliment.

sahorn01

Wed, 01/18/2023 - 09:28

Hi! I know this is a very old post but I would love try to make something similar to what you did in your storage sofa modifications - especially the wider frame and armrests. Any chance you wrote down your plans or have more pictures of your build? I also would love to understand how you made your upholstery/fabric removable. Did you follow any plan for making the cushions? Thanks in advance!

Octagon Table

Really enjoyed making this one. The plan was great but i ran into a few difficulties. The 2x2 trim was the hardest. I settled on 22.5* miter because my saw has a positive stop there and i thought it might be the angle that i needed. Careful as the plan doesn't have much room to experiment unless you want to buy an extra 2x2. If your selection of 2x2 is anything like mine, that could be a huge endeavor. Hard to find a straight board in texas.

Estimated Cost
120
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax PreStain Conditioner
Rustoleum Kona
Rustoleum Ultimate Polyurethane in Semi-Gloss x 3 coats. Sanded by hand with 320 in between coats and wetsanded with 600 grit after the final coat and it really came out smooth.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

cmjohnson

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:05

hey! im currently working on this table & am running into the same trouble with the 2x2 trim. did the 22.5 miter cut work out for you for the trim pieces or was there a different angle that you ended up needing to use? thank you!

Fancy X Farmhouse Table and Benches

Submitted by JustJ on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 07:44

Modified the size of the Fancy X Farmhouse table, down to 34-1/2" x 60", and the benches to fit fully under the table.

The only thing I wish I could change with these plans is how you attach the tabletop. Because you are stacking wood for the base, and there are no aprons, you have to attach the top by going through the table top. But wood filler and stain hides them well enough, but I'm never the biggest fan of going from the top. I prefer to hide the screws on the underside.

Other than that, I love building this table.

Finish Used
Varathane Carbon Gray Stain for the tops
Glidden Ultra Bright White for the bases
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Hamilton Park Home DIY Adirondack Chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 07/15/2020 - 08:23

I am long overdue to share these Adirondack chairs that I made last fall. I followed the exact plans for Ana’s Adirondack Chair to make my own. These chairs have such a simple, clean, modern style that I love. Adirondack chairs, no matter what style, are just an all-around classic!

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Beds for my girls

Rather than buying beds for two of our daughters, I wanted to take the opportunity to build them. I really had a great time doing. I used the plans from the Captains Storage beds, but modified it a little.

We ripped two 3/4 inch finished ply into 12in pieces.
That gave us all the sides, ends, and dividers.
The platforms are 12x12 3/4x
The ends are the same only sorter.

Rather than using slats for the middle support I just used the remain ply.
We finished the front with 6ft sections of 1x2 inch furring strips. A good sanding and clean up, and we are good to go!

Thanks for posting the plans! We really enjoyed building the beds and our girls love them!

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

Comments

sulu293

Fri, 09/20/2013 - 13:14

LOVE this! was looking for something other than the slats that would TRULY hold my polynesian kids, thank you for sharing! :-)

Outdoor Toys Contained

Submitted by lmflerlage on Mon, 02/22/2021 - 12:32

I love this dual outdoor seating plus toy storage bench. I lengthened the plans so I needed to add some additional support for the lid. I also decided to go with a rope pull which is easier for the kiddos to utilize.

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Cedar finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Four station desk (PB inspired)

Submitted by monty742 on Sun, 03/15/2015 - 08:58

I really liked the PB mega desk, but I didn't want to spend $1600 on it.  After seeing someone's post here (a couple years ago...) asking for plans on that desk, I decided to do it myself.  I took these two plans and made 4 base units.  They are 18" square at the top and 34" tall.  I used 2 IKEA table tops connected underneath for the top, to make a total height of 36" - counter stool height.  I constructed them a little differently than the plans, but no matter how you make them, the idea is the same.  The plan is to take them apart and make 2 desks once everyone is too old and cool to do homework/artwork together.

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Kitchen and Bath finish paint (2 coats) - it's a little shinier than eggshell (I only used it because I had 2 or 3 gallons extra at home :) then 2 coats acrylic top coat matte finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

monty742

Sat, 08/15/2015 - 04:33

Just seeing your comment...sorry for the delay!  I got the stools and the light fixture at a Ballard Backroom (outlet) store near me.  3 of the stools ended up being about $40 each with the sale they had at the time, and the 4th was $60? - bought at a later time than the first 3.

AlisaH

Wed, 11/04/2015 - 07:40

How did you connect the table tops from the bottom so that the tables were secure together? I'm curious what's the best way to do this. Since two of the four seats will be where the seam is, I want to make sure I secure it properly so it's not wobbly. Thanks so much.

 

monty742

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 05:06

I'm just seeing these latest comments for the first time, so you may have long finished this project already!  The tops were surprisingly sturdy but I did reinforce them.  I placed the tops on the floor upside down and screwed some metal brackets (about 12" long each) across the joint in four places.  I just screwed them in through holes already in the brackets.  This wasn't the most stable because those tops are particle board and don't hold screws very well...  But since it was already pretty sturdy, I figured it would do.  It has been fine, even with standing on the top (kids who get up there and me hanging the light fixture above).

Once the tops were joined, I placed the bases so there was about a 1" overhang on the top.  To hold the top in place, I used small pieces of wood screwed to the underside of the top at the inside corner to act as a placement stop.  The top is pretty big and heavy even though they are IKEA tops, so they don't have a tendency to move or slide at all anyway.  I'm going to try to figure out how to post another picture of the braces and corner stops...we'll see if I can do it!  Let me know if you have any more questions...again, sorry I didn't see this in a more timely manner!

Pmprdwife

Sat, 01/02/2016 - 05:55

Is the photo above the Pottery Barn version or your product result?  I'm trying to figure out the dimensions for the drawer and shelf configurations.  Thanks!  BTW, I'm totally addicted to your style and personality...my husband loves the productivity inspiration I've received. :-)

 

monty742

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 10:17

Hi!

I'm glad you like the desk!  The one in the picture is the one I built, not the pottery barn one!  My dimensions were a good bit different than the PB desk - square bases instead of rectangular and counter stool height instead of desk/table height.  So, I have no idea if I have my plans for this anymore, so I went and measured it again for you!  

So each base is 18" x 18" square and 34" high so that with the 2" top the total height is 36".

 

Each base was made of oak plywood that made with 3 sides, a top and a bottom.  All edges were rabbit joints (3/8" deep in thickness of boards and probably 3/8" wide - not 100% on width of rabbits).  It's kind of a pain to do rabbit joints if you don't have a dado blade for your table saw, so you could use pocket hole screws instead.  I glued and nailed these joints with a finish nailer, I believe.  

I figured a diagram with measurements would be easier than trying to write descriptions...so I'm adding another pic with the dimensions outlined.  Drawing is NOT to scale, so sorry about that!  I really need to learn to use SketchUp.  Let me know if you have any questions!  

Monty742

monty742

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 07:57

Hi!

I'm glad you like the desk!  The one in the picture is the one I built, not the pottery barn one!  My dimensions were a good bit different than the PB desk - square bases instead of rectangular and counter stool height instead of desk/table height.  So, I have no idea if I have my plans for this anymore, so I went and measured it again for you!  

So each base is 18" x 18" square and 34" high so that with the 2" top the total height is 36".

 

Each base was made of oak plywood that made with 3 sides, a top and a bottom.  All edges were rabbit joints (3/8" deep in thickness of boards and probably 3/8" wide - not 100% on width of rabbits).  It's kind of a pain to do rabbit joints if you don't have a dado blade for your table saw, so you could use pocket hole screws instead.  I glued and nailed these joints with a finish nailer, I believe.  

I figured a diagram with measurements would be easier than trying to write descriptions...so I'm adding another pic with the dimensions outlined.  Drawing is NOT to scale, so sorry about that!  I really need to learn to use SketchUp.  Let me know if you have any questions!  

monty742

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 14:13

No you can't buy them from Ikea.  I bought the table tops from Ikea, but I built the bases.  The dimensions for the bases are in one of the additional pictures with the post if you want to see them!

treverandamber

Mon, 10/10/2016 - 07:41

What are the total dimensions of the table top? Thinking of building something like this, but want to make sure it will fit in my space.

Simgre81

Thu, 12/28/2017 - 07:00

Are these just slide in drawers, or did you use some sort of hardware to have them slide in and out?

I painted mine!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 13:57

I modified the back with a larger piece of wood because my cushions kept falling through. Then I painted it white to go better with my cushions. Only took about 4 hours to make and then a couple to paint. Good luck!

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

A-Frame Chicken Tractor

Submitted by Tonya P on Tue, 07/09/2013 - 19:46

New to raising chickens, but eager to jump right in to it.
We bought a pre-made coop for the main home for our new chicks and it's very nice, not something I could do myself since I'm not yet at that level, but I saw this chicken tractor and thought it would come in handy for what I have in mind so I made up my mind to build it.
The lumber, chicken wire, staples, and wheels are all store bought new and came to about $75. The materials we had on hand were the screws, hinges, plastic coated metal shelving (used in the nesting area, I thought that would make it easy to clean), paint, and the corner piece of vinyl siding for the roof cap (hubby's brilliant idea, and I painted it green with spray paint for vinyl).
I did not try to build it quickly, I don't really know how much time it took me, but if I had to guess I'd guess total time would amount to about 3 afternoons, by myself.
I wanted to leave the top on the one side open with the option to slap on the other boards if/when the need arises. I have the other t1-11 panels that can sit right in those areas because I stapled the chicken wire in a way that would allow it.
I also added a flip up panel as seen in the pictures for access. I didn't want a small door that I would have a hard time getting to things in there. I'm so glad I added this feature, it sure gives plenty of room for me to maintain the food and water dispensers as well as get in there and catch the little chickies :)
I wanted it green to blend into the wooded background in our backyard. I didn't want to take any beauty away from the cedar greenhouse and fencing we added last year, and this tractor would be moved from time to time and I felt this green that we had on hand was perfect to help it blend in rather than stand out.
This thing is heavy! I have a hard time moving it around and usually need my husband to move it so I won't hurt myself. I am considering some options... I don't like the rope I have on it to pull it, any suggestions would be appreciated.
As with the other items I've made with Ana's plans, this was fun and pretty easy to make. I love this site! Soon I will take on my next project, I've bought and gathered the materials, I'm anxious to get started :)
Thank you for looking :)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75 - $85 for the new materials listed
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Green exterior paint we had on hand.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Shoe Dresser with Extras!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/24/2022 - 11:30

We added a bit to your shoe dresser plan. We ended up building into the wall since it had the perfect little indent and put a baby cabinet in the middle so we had access to the outlet. 

by Angela

Built from Plan(s)

Barbecue/BBQ Quick Built-in

This was just a standard BBQ with an attached folding table. I used a combo of Ana's plans to add a little character and style to the BBQ and it made a huge difference in not only the BBQ, but also the backyard. 

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

Comments

mdwstgrl

Mon, 05/23/2016 - 12:29

Hello:  Very interested in which plans you used to build the BBQ Built In. Thank you.

Kitchen Cabinet

Submitted by rjustice21 on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 09:18

My wife and I needed space in our kitchen to store various items. This cabinet works perfectly for that purpose.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Red paint. I am not sure of the name.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

mybartmart

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 21:17

That paint colour is beautiful. As is the pantry, very well done. I wish you could find out the name and brand of the colour. It is stunning.

mybartmart

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 21:17

That paint colour is beautiful. As is the pantry, very well done. I wish you could find out the name and brand of the colour. It is stunning.

Big Boy Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 08/01/2023 - 14:56

New bed for my boy. Great plan and not expensive.

Sean Hight on Facebook

Comments

Sewing & Craft Table

Using Ana's plan for a simple sewing table, I modified it to meet the needs of my daughter.

I only used 1 wing instead of two and made a brace that folds away under the leaf. On second thought I added a safety leg and foot to keep the table from tipping when the sewing machine is on top of the leaf.

I trimmed out everything but the leaf with 1 x 2 pine.

The top (with leaf raised) is 31 x 46 inches of work space. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$130
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White satin paint ( 1 1/2 quarts) applied with a roller and a sprayer
Water based polyurethane on the top only, applied with a brush.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

DIY bench for beginners - Happier homemaker bench

Submitted by birgitta on Thu, 06/20/2019 - 14:33

This was a really good starter project! I loved building this and have gotten tons of compliments on it! I spent about 5 hours on it, from when I came home with the wood, until the paint was drying. Including a coffee break! Estimated cost for wood + paint was 300 SEK which is about 47 dollars with todays currency. I have written down more info on how I did it and more images on my blog post. Thanks Ana for this great design!

Estimated Cost
47
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Semi matte white
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

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