Community Brag Posts

Farmhouse Table

We recently moved from our small Minneapolis Bungalow to an apartment in Maryland. It was the prefect opportunity to build the Farmhouse Table plans I had been admiring. When we went to my parents farm in North Dakota for Thanksgiving we spent a couple hours digging through the barn to find old barn wood for the project. The wood then made the 1,400 mile trek to our new apartment in Rockville. Yes, you read that correctly…the table was built in our carpeted apartment! No excuses people…you can make this table in your apartment! If you do not have access to a saw your local big box home improvement store can make the cuts for you. If you go that route the cut list Ana has will come in very handy!

I do a fair amount of woodworking, so I was able to complete the project in one day. If this is your first project I would allow a weekend to finish it.

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Danish Oil Natural
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

rhettar

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 04:41

It's also nice to see the table up against the wall, because I have been thinking of doing the same thing, I live in a small mobile home, just a small kitchen.

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by jjack7 on Sun, 11/09/2014 - 05:52

Farmhouse Table with some slight modifications for sturdiness.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Pre-conditioner
Minwax Jacobean
Minwas Semi-gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Barn with lean to

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/14/2017 - 19:20

When we wanted a barn for our children to play in and use for their farm we discovered that nothing could be found to fit our fancy online. So with the use of some pictures of old barns and basic ideas we started on our very first wood project. Our tools consisted of a sawzal a table saw and cordless set of tools. Many hours later we have this to show for it. We used lots of scrap wood and bought only the hinges, latches and one sheet of plywood so our costs are skewed from someone trying to do it with new material.

Estimated Cost
$50 and possible as high as 120 for new material
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint and clear coat. Some of the trim is painted which requires taping to get the crisp edge.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Easy Kitchen Island

Submitted by tietjen7 on Tue, 01/15/2013 - 15:05

This is my first build ever! Since we recently moved into a place with little kitchen space, I thought this island would be perfect for extra storage we needed. I modified it from 5 2x6 on top, to 4 2x6 so it would fit in the corner we wanted it in. So the overall dimensions were 54" wide x 22" deep x 36" tall. I also changed the 1x2s that make the shelves to 3x5/8 boards, 15 per shelf, with approxinnately 1 inch between each. I predrilled countersink holes and screwed them on using 3/4" wood screws. The stain is a walnut colored water based stain, and I coated the top surfaces with a matte finish poly.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used a water based "Plantation Walnut" colored stain with a Matte finish poly coating on top. I used two thin coatings of stain and didn't wipe off after each coating.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Leaning Ladder Desk - Made By Tara Holmes 2017

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/16/2017 - 20:24

Leaning Ladder Desk - Made By Tara Holmes - Australia - 2017

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

Comments

Pet feeding and storage station

Modified plans for the modern patchwork dresser so part of the top opens for access to pet food storage bins.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

TRYDE COFFEE TABLE

Submitted by makadams on Sun, 01/20/2013 - 18:38

This was my First project i still need to sand and stain.

Estimated Cost
35 or 40 bucks i had stain already
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Tryde Coffee Table

We took the origional plans and used that as the basis for ours. We re-designed it for our size needs on Vectorworks, a design program that we usually use for working in theatre. We bought all of our supplies at Lowes for around $80. Fortunately for us we have a fully stocked scene shop avaliable for our projects. We built it one day then the next we sanded it and stained and sealed it. Its a nice heavy table that we LOVE. we wanted a project to make something nice that will last forver, but still be cheap because we are on a college budget. We used an engraver to put our initials on the table so one day we can show our kids what we can do. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

K&S Barn Door Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/19/2017 - 16:20

Barn door console built by Kathryn and Scott Winkler of K&S Coastal Furnishings in Pooler, GA. The hardware is a custom design by Scott and Kathryn sets it off with her one of a kind chippy finish. Fb.me/kscoastal

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Custom chippy finish
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

American Girl doll house

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 11/27/2020 - 19:20

Such a fun surprise for my 8-year-old daughter for Christmas! It took my 10-year-old and I several days to finish it, but we are so proud of the final product!

Estimated Cost
$60 (but we used some materials we already had)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Reclaim wood look bed side table

Submitted by asmith7103 on Tue, 01/22/2013 - 14:46

Took a while biting think it came together well. Removed the top drawer so I could use it for the iPad. Then added the bottom shelf to hold the lap top.

Estimated Cost
175.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Pecan
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

First Country Try

Submitted by Fetridge on Mon, 11/17/2014 - 17:55

First ever shot at this. Loved the turn out. 

Finish Used
Special Walnut mixed Grey
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

pallet wood covered sand box

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 12:29

I used the same plans as posted but I tweaked them to work for the pallet wood that I ripped and sanded and stained with outdoor polyurethane. I also moved the short boards in so the box is smaller and added beams to support the bench separate. Because of Florida bugs and ants I also screwed a painting tarp to the bottom and punctured it several times for drainage to try and prevent bugs and weeds. The plans were so simple and I had so much fun making this.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
50$
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Just sanded and clear satin polyurethane outdoors coating. The product will look different depending on the pallet wood used.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Stocking Stand

I paid $5.99 for this entire build... that was the lighted garland! All other materials I had leftover from previous projects. We have extended family for Christmas so 13 people/dogs are here each year. I made 14 'hooks' just in case any family are added, and these were old brushed nickel drawer pulls that I replaced on my kitchen cabinets. I couldn't be happier with the outcome and now I can simply store in the attic each year and not have to use command hangers all of over my walls and mantle. This turned out beautifully!

Quick note: I had to drill into the back for the drawer pulls (hooks) screws because the long screws I had in previous installs wouldn't go all the way through. I predrilled the smaller hole for the screws all the way through then countersank the hole with a bit the size of the screwhead so it would disappear into the 2x4 and come out far enough for the knob to attach.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$6 (used leftover materials)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Mission Oak Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Master Bathroom

This was a bathroom remodel. We installed new windows new tub new sicks. Made a tub suround and tiled the whole bathroom with marble tile. Lots to watch for on projects like this. Yu need to watch for tile spacing and gettin everything square. Also watch your cuts. Get fast setting mud for yur walls the slower it sets harder it is to go up the wall. Crown molding watch your angles we used cheater blocks in tge corner one thts what the guy wanted and liked. The pillar is fasted into a rough joice and the bottom is also fastend same with to each ends of rhe wall. Then wrap with trim. Its a long process thtll test your patients but yull get it start small and then go big

Estimated Cost
500+
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Stain and high gloss finish
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Snowflake

Submitted by ctay on Wed, 11/19/2014 - 19:36

Made this snowflake for my front porch for the holidays. Easy build and inexpensive. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
10.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Stained dark walnut with white dry brushed over
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Stacy daybed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/24/2017 - 21:28

Followed the plans exactly. Seems sturdy and looks great. Our exchange student will love her new bed! Thank you!

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

Stocking Stand

Submitted by mpjacob08 on Thu, 12/10/2020 - 06:34

So fun! Directions were easy! Can also be used as Backpack hanger if you put a little bit longer feet on them. I bought the metal hooks from Walmart.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$18
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Jacobean Minwax stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by shackrock on Sat, 01/26/2013 - 08:12

Based off of the Ana White design w/ pocket holes. This was really our first big project, so we made plenty of mistakes. Some lessons learned:

1. Pick non-warped wood to start with!
2. Clamps are pretty important to use when screwing into your kreg jig holes. It is REALLY hard to keep things flush without some strong clamps. Biggest lesson learned!
3. Always do your polyurethane coats in 60+ F temperatures. I did one coat when it was pretty cold, around 40 degrees. The liquid ended up beading and it was extremely hard to get out, eventually I just put many more coats on and called it a day.
4. Sand, sand, and sand some more!

This build is very rustic, but next time I think I could build a pretty perfect one. We're going to use this one, I like how rustic it is.

Estimated Cost
135
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
1 coat of water-based wood conditioner, Some dark MiniWax stain (2 coats), 3-4 coats of water-based polyeurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Guest Bedroom Closet

Submitted by muses44 on Sun, 11/23/2014 - 08:07

Modified width to fit the closet.  Prep work of sanding and painting took longer than we thought it would; assembly inside the closet was simple but definitely a challenge in the small space.  At 81", the top shelf was higher than intended so had to remove front slat in order to be able to use it - will make the next one slightly shorter.  But love the final product and am now on a mission to get all the cheap wire shelving out of the house!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
white paint; filled in the screw heads with wood filler.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Loft bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/27/2017 - 08:44

What a fun project.  Took me a week and about 40 hours to complete. Made some modifications, used 4 x 4 posts and made the bed area a little bigger.  

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