Community Brag Posts

The Best Floating Shelves

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/21/2021 - 09:15

These floating shelves were so simple and are so strong! I decided to not attach the tops because you can’t see up there anyways. So will make a good hidden storage spot for small items.

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
Pine was stained with minwax Early American and layered with Mineax weathered oak.

Modified Wide Cabin Dresser

Submitted by dbwalk on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 20:02

This build was for my daughters.  They needed a new dresser and I figured I could pull this one off.  

 

I used regular boards from the Big Blue Box store.  I went a step up for the birch playwood because it would take paint better.  The drawer pulls are stainless steel.  

 

I modified the given plans so that I could add two more large drawers.  I made a few modifications to pull it off and give the dresser more support.  For example I added some supports under the top plywood board and in between each row of the drawers.  You can see that I added a middle support under the bottom set of drawers as well to keep the weight of the drawers from saggin in the middle.  I also had never installed drawer slides before.  This was way harder (and frustrating) than I was expecting.  My drawers don't have slides but they still work well.

 

All in all this was a moderately challenging build for me.  However, the paint and finish ended up being super nice.  My girls love it and I think it is going to last for a long time.  I am now working on modifying these plans to build a matching side table with drawers.  I hope to have pics of that soon as well!  

Estimated Cost
$275. The wood cost around $200. The handles and paint cost about $75.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Teal colored paint and primer in one. Before and after each painting I sanded the wood.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

DIY Folding Workbench

Submitted by suzeet305 on Mon, 10/18/2021 - 18:32

I'm a beginner DIYer and I knew one day I was going to have to make a workbench. I made mine 24x48 so I wanted a little more support to hold up the drop down leaf. I searched your site and found another plan with these gatelegs and knew this is what I wanted. I love the way it came out. What do you think?

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Fancy Jewelry Box

Submitted by JoanneS on Thu, 06/04/2015 - 14:35

One of my friends at work is going to a new job, and this build is her going away gift. It is a variation of the Fancy Jewelry Box, with the following modifications:

Made from select pine, no plywood is visible on the outside on this build.
Slightly smaller, the box is made from 1x6, the back is a ½” x 5 ½” craft board, and the door outsides are 3/8” x 5 ½” craft boards.
The drawer boxes are ¼” thick craft board and the doors and overlay drawer faces are 3/8” thick craft board.
Overall dimensions are 13” wide, 5 ½” deep, and 14 ¼” tall.
The select pine worked very well for the luxe stained finish I was trying to achieve.
Used fancy knobs instead of wood knobs (also swapped out the included screws for shorter ones).

I really took my time on this to get everything just so. The project took about 15 hours in total, including the build, finishing, and decorations - - a bit at a time, spread out over the last couple of weeks.

I'm very happy to say the gift was a big hit!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$90
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Finish: 2 coats of Varathane Stain + Poly in Early American, with a top coat of Minwax Polycrylic in Gloss. The drawers and doors are lined with embossed felt, and the box bottom and drawer bottoms are covered with sticky-back felt. The ring holder is a scrap of high density foam covered with sticky-back felt. The knobs are acrylic crystal and the back has flat hinges in antique brass (swapped out the included screws for shorter ones on the hinges and knobs). The hooks are ¾” brass shoulder hooks.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Paper towel rack

Yea, I know these were posted way back in 2013, but I only recently found them. Was looking at some kitchen organization ideas and I knew I wanted to make a paper towel rack. I liked this idea and went with it. My variance from original was to use a dowel rod for the paper towel holder and I cut 45 degree angles in place of the radius.

Comments

Farmhouse Queen Bed & Kentwood Night Stand

I built this Farmhouse Queen Bed & Kentwood Night Stand for my Granddaughter. She loves it !

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax water based stain in "Coffee", and then used Minwax white washed pickling to finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Floating Bunk Beds and Desk

This little girls room needed a little happy birthday!  I planked the wall with birch veneer, made simple box frames for the beds and desk, and attached them to walls with heavy duty cable.  Then my friend added her designer touch, and made it cozy and  girl CHIC!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
white paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Built in dresser

Submitted by dmather82 on Sat, 09/21/2013 - 09:04

This is my favorite build so far! My two younger daughters share a room with an inevitable shortage of floor space. What they do have is a fairly large closet for 1 and 3 year old. I removed the crumby sliding doors and filled the bottom third of the space with the dresser, leaving plenty of room for kids clothes to hang above. I combined two separate plans and adjusted the measurements to fit the space. What I ended up with is a monstrous 6 drawer dresser that I would never have room for in the bedroom otherwise. The drawers are enormous (a must for a house with three little girls. They have more clothes than their mother and father combined).

I took the frame concept from the Shanty2Chic rustic rolling dresser and the drawer concept from the Madison dresser from Old Paint Design. (Thanks Ladies!) It took me some significant math adjustments (I'm not a math guy) in order to alter the drawers for wood slides, alter the frame to fit that, and alter both to fit the 70 3/4" x 24" space.

The finish took the most time with a bizarre mixing of Rustoleum Dark Walnut and Rustoleum Classic Cherry. I love the color now. Clearly I have not fixed the wall paint yet :)

The wood is big box pine as I am still working up the confidence to work with more expensive wood. The top is 1x12's and 1x2's. The sides (hidden) are 3/4" plywood. The hardware is from Lowes.

My daughters were nice enough to decorate the dresser during the build with crayon requiring a 40 grit sanding Grrrr.

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Dark Walnut
Rustoleum Classic Cherry
Rustoleum Ultimate Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

JW

Sun, 09/22/2013 - 12:40

Built-in closet dresser - genius! I am already thinking about how I can make this work for my daughter's room. Looks great, too. Good job!

Family Art Center

So, so happy with this table! I've always been a fan of the Pottery Barn Bedford Project table, but even if I had the $1,200 to spend on a craft table I doubt I could ever justify it. When I saw these plans I knew my dream table was within reach!
This is my second build using Ana's plans. I worked carefully and used the Kreg Jig, and it came together easily. I added an extra trim piece here and there. I painted the whole thing with Valspar color "Storm At Sea", which is a gray. It took forever for me to choose the color, too many choices! Then I used some wipe-on Poly to protect it.
Now my kids and I have a dedicated art station stocked with all the supplies, I can see us spending many hours creating at this table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Valspar paint and Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Pull-out step stool

I needed a step-stool in my kitchen to reach in my top cabinets. I'm rather short so I was constantly dragging a chair from my dining table over to find things. I did a google search for a step stool and looked at images. As soon as I saw the picture I knew I had to build it, the retailer selling the original one I saw has a starting price of $270 and goes all the way up to $680! It took me 2 weeks off and on and several times of putting together and taking apart to get Ito the size specifications on the retail website.

Estimated Cost
Around $50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain and satin finish poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Bunnie1978

Wed, 10/09/2013 - 04:13

That's a cool idea... mix between nesting tables and stools! Great job!

Mrswhetstone

Sun, 05/31/2015 - 18:27

I just used the picture i found online as reference and built it through trial and error. Unfortunately I don't know how to create plans either.I can tell you the legs are 2x3's cut at a 5° angle and the tops are 2x6's. I ordered the drawer slides from amazon for approximately $12 a piece.

robear529

Fri, 08/21/2015 - 06:34

Hi, I've been looking for the original image that you used as your model in an attempt to find dimensions to start with, but haven't been able to find it. Could you perhaps remember what brand it was or what site you found it on? If you still have the stool, could you maybe tell me the width of your top step and I could maybe go from there? 

Thanks for the picture. This is a brillant idea and exactly what I'd like to create for my kitchen. I'm hoping to be able to use it as a counter height seat as well when I'm working in the kitchen.

Football Lockers DIY

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/11/2023 - 11:27

Here are a few pictures of the football lockers I built for our school. I used your mudroom locker plans and changed the dimensions to accommodate the boys' football gear. It worked great! I built 6 sets of 4 lockers, for a total of 24 lockers. I also used one of your plans to build 6 benches for the fieldhouse. Three for the home locker room and three for the visitor locker room. Each locker is 30 inches wide and 6 feet tall. 

Melinda Glenn

GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS

These Chairs  where fun and  easy to build. I used 1x8 for the back. I used counter sunk 1  1/4 in screws and  pocket holes and  kreig screws. I thought A hinge would not be safe so I screws the tray down with a 2in overhang. Can not wait until Christmas.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
123 primer and Pratt and Lambert semi- gloss interior paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Farmhouse Coffee Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/01/2020 - 16:57

Rustic X Farmhouse coffee table, built for a true rustic farmhouse!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Light coat of Varathane Dark Walnut woodstain on each X, heavy coat everywhere else.
Minwax Polyurethane (5 coats, lightly sanded between each)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Christmas Stocking Stand

Submitted by Eddie A on Fri, 12/11/2020 - 16:28

My wife was upset that we didn’t have a mantle in the living room of our new home a d I said, “no problem!”

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut and Dark Walnut Danish Oil

DIY Entertainment Center

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/21/2021 - 09:58

Largest Build I have done up to date. It took a bit longer but it was so worth it. Wanted something different than all the entertainment centers I saw so I created a herringbone back. I love how it turned out.

-@theorthhome/instagram

Estimated Cost
$800
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Pure White from Sherwin Williams
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

The Desk with hutch for my Granddaughter.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/28/2021 - 00:33

Had to add leg supports for the none drawer side and added a back for the entire unit. Fun Project. 15th birthday present.

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Student desk to my Granddaughter.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Built-In Hall Tree Heated

Submitted by adamhatton on Sun, 03/10/2013 - 18:26

I made this hall tree as a gift for my wife. It's a classy way to store coats out in plain sight. it is larger than the design specs from Mimi (7'H by 4'1" W) and built-in instead of free standing. Our house has a boiler with floorboard radiators. There is a radiator inside the hutch, and heat comes out of the holes just behind the lid to the bench this heats up the coats as they hang on the rack. The radiator also heats the compartment under the bench which aids in drying damp boots and other items. Fun project, also an easy project thanks to the Kreg Jig!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Bear semi-gloss interior latex.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic Adirondack Bench (love seat)

I loved the Rustic Adirondack Chair so much I felt I needed to make a bench in the same style. I had to be a little creative with the chair plans and modify them to make my bench work. I am absolutely thrilled with how it came out! I already have a friend who has requested a chair and bench (love seat) for his son's wedding gift!

Estimated Cost
Material costs for the wood was $85-ish. Wood prices are nuts right now!
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

mjackson41995@…

Fri, 08/20/2021 - 16:37

You can make the 1x10 in any length you want. I’m planning on making a loveseat too and The measurements I chose for the seating area will be 48” long (which is the size for 2 seat cushions).

The Step 1 in Ana’s plan, all measurements will be the same.

Step 2: The two 2x4 horizontal supports will be cut at 48”.

Step 3: the two 1x10 seat panels will be 3 inches longer than the horizontal supports. So you will cut the 1x10 seat panels at 51”.

Step 4: Instead of two, you will need THREE seat supports. So cut three 2x4’s @ 32 3/4”. The third seat support will go in the middle of the other seat supports, drilled to the horizontal back support.

Step 5: Attach your back bottom horizontal support which will be a 2x4 at 48”.

Step 6: Attach the 1x10 seat back panels. You will cut (3) 1x10 @ 48”.

Here is the cut list for the loveseat version of Ana’s Adirondack plan. These are the lengths I chose. So with this cut list your loveseat should be big enough for two 24x24” seat cushions. I plan to add cushions for extra comfort.

My cut list:
(2) 2x4 @ 31 3/4”
(2) 2x4 @ 19 1/2”
(2) 2x4 @ 33 1/4” Cut at 20 degrees as per Ana’s plan.
(3) 2x4 @ 48” Horizontal supports. One goes behind your calves.
The other connects the end frames/arm rests at the back.
(2) 1x10 @ 51” Seat panels.
(3) 2x4 @ 32 3/4” Vertical supports for the back panels.
(3) 1x10 @ 48” The back panels.

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