Community Brag Posts

Farm House Table

I took the original plans from the Farmhouse Table - Updated Pocket Hole Plans - and I modified it so that my table could be countertop height and join up to my counter -  like a modified breakfast bar, so this table it countertop high, and is also more narrow and alittle longer.  I can easily pull it away from the wall and sit 6 people around it.  It is now my favorite place in the house!  

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Oxidizer (steel wool and vinegar) and then sealed with Water Polyseal and then Miniwax Paste Furniture Wax

I added extra metal supports underneath to help avoid wood movement over time and added metal corner guards.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Bookshelf with bench for kid's room

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/27/2017 - 15:12

I was looking for something for my son's room that would last him until college, so I adapted your plans and added hooks and a bench and stained it.  Bookends are all we are missing to make it perfect. He loves it, and I don't think he will be able to break it.  I could use a suggestion for anchoring it to the wall, though. Thank you for the great, easy-to-follow plan!

Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Natural stain and polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

DIYMomof4

Tue, 06/27/2017 - 18:30

Your bookshelf and bench look really nice and sturdy!  I'm sure it will hold up for many years.  As far as anchoring it to a wall, I have had luck with anti-tip furniture straps.  I would use several and anchor them right to the studs.  I also use long, self tapping construction screws instead of the screws that come in the package.  

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by jennazer on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 15:22

I am completely redecorating my home, Out is the furniture that no one was allowed to sit on or go near. I wanted furniture that we could use. I have 2 boys so I wanted it casual, fun and durable. Loved the farmhouse style and loved this table. It is made from pine, sanded and stained on top. I used Minwax provincial stain. Bottom is painted with black furniture paint then distressed. We purchased the legs from Osborne Wood Products.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Dining, playing board games on, talking
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Shabby Chic Bunny Box

Submitted by EAnderson on Sun, 03/29/2015 - 19:01

I had a lot of fun with this project! It was quick, and I already had everything I needed on hand. I have been wanting to get more practice with my jigsaw and this project was perfect for that. I used one cedar picket for the whole box and still had some left over. I added a burlap bow and made the tail with some extra pieces of rope and my glue gun. It was a breeze!

Estimated Cost
FREE! I made this with a leftover piece of cedar fence picket and paint/stain that I already had. If you wanted to purchase a picket they are around $2.75 each.
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
I first sanded and whitewashed the picket and then cut the pieces. After I had assembled everything and let the glue dry for a little bit, I roughed up the paint with my sander and applied stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Harold Webb

Tue, 03/31/2015 - 06:47

Excellent! I doubt that I will make it in 2 hours, but I'll try. I really like this kind of product, especially given the fact that my wife loves in flowering :). By the way, if someone need help in writing of any type of works, you can visit my website http://www.trusteddissertations.com/ and get a decent discount.
Have a nice day!

Hockey 'lockers'

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/29/2017 - 19:56

I needed something to organize our hockey gear so I customized this mudroom idea. It turned out great and makes me feel better when I walk in the garage. Everything must have a place!

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Jacobean Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Garden sectional and table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 13:00

Easy to do though some thought required for conversion into centimetres .

Comments

Simple Outdoor Collection

Submitted by handymommy on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 05:32

The outdoor bench was my first Ana project. It was so easy and rewarding that I immediately set out to build the rest of the set!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
dark deck stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

So fun. So easy. So beautiful.

This table was so easy and so much fun, even for a beginner. In fact, it's so easy I've built it three times. The latest one is my favorite. I think it's the beautiful blue color...

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
First I stained it in a dark color. Next, I painted it with a watered dawn blue. Then, I sanded for a distressed looked. Lastly, I coated it with a finishing wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Outdoor Sectional

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/02/2017 - 18:53

We are obsessed with our new outdoor sectional.

Estimated Cost
300 for the chairs, 600 including cushions
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Expanded Planter Box

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 13:30

I wanted to put a planter around our new mailbox. So, I took your single planter design and build it as if it were three separate boxes only leaving out the interior pieces. It required making a T section for the middle pieces, And I made sure I used plenty of glue to firm up the structure and provide stiffness.

Comments

built by Grandpa

Submitted by jsanders on Sun, 05/12/2013 - 10:25

Grandpa modified the simple changing table to match the rest of our nursery furniture.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Bunny box

Submitted by Josh_B on Wed, 04/01/2015 - 17:54

1/2" oak ply, cedar fence post, 1/4 inch oak ply

 

 

First brag! I had a little time to play in the garage and decided to join the scrap wood bandwagon. The wife loves the bunny box and now the mother-in-law NEEDS one. Back to the garage I go...

 

 

 

Estimated Cost
$0
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Classic gray
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Modern Adirondack chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 13:57

I’ve been enjoying making the modern Adirondack chairs, only with reclaimed wood seats and backs. Finally made a love seat version.

Comments

Murphy Bed

Submitted by arkep on Tue, 05/14/2013 - 19:19

I'm turning my messy sewing room into an organized craft/guest room, so I made a murphy bed to conserve space. I used corrugated tin on the the face of the bed so that I can use it as a magnet board while not in use as a bed.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Polyshades Antique Walnut--two coats with light sanding in between
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Julie44256

Fri, 05/17/2013 - 09:54

The estimated cost is $100, but the hardware linked from the original plan was over $300. Do you have an alternate method of mounting this?

arkep

Fri, 05/17/2013 - 11:23

I think that link was a suggestion if you want an assisted lift/lowering system, and that hardware is part of what makes regular Murphy beds so expensive. I just used door hinges--3 for $8. It's not that heavy to lift and lower the bed, in my opinion.

Julie44256

Fri, 05/17/2013 - 11:40

Thank you for your reply! If I make this project, I think I'll try the door hinges. It won't be frequently used (a few times a year) and I'm pretty sure we can handle the minimal weight for those few occasions.

P.S. I really like the styling with the wood and corrugated metal, it looks sharp!

iMark

Fri, 06/28/2013 - 20:02

thanks for sharing the murphy bed. have been looking for a space solution for my daughter's bedroom. the corrugated tin look sharp in this project--my daughter would like the corrugatged tin as well--except for hot pink stain on the cabinet.

anyone know where to get hot pink stain?

DorieM

Wed, 02/10/2016 - 04:22

I would love this for my room let me save space versus sideways bed. Maybe spray chalkboard or dry erase on one side magnets to one side and daily to do notes on the other?

Fireplace makeover

Submitted by Stewsterl on Sun, 04/05/2015 - 00:30

This is my first DIY project ever. No plans. 

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Airstone
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Outdoor Sofa and Sectional

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/14/2017 - 00:22

I haven't really done anything like this, came out quite well. I modified the back for what I think is better comfort, added side supports to hold throw pillows in place and added 2 extra 2x4's to seating surfaces. The sofa I built in an afternoon with an extra pair of hands to line things up and hold them in place. The sectional took a little longer to complete as my helper was off building his own couch (after he saw how simple it was to do). I also didn't use a pocket jig (couldn't find one in rural hardware store) but a countersink drill bit for all screw holes. 

Estimated Cost
in Canadian, for the sofa and sectional about 220 with stain.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
latex semi transparent stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Headboard and barstools

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 14:49

I adapted the plans somewhat. The headboard is made from Pucte, a trpical hardwood with frame of Cedro, a Mahogany. The seats of the stools are also Cedro and legs of Caoba, another Mahogany. I live in Yucatan so these woods are available. The Pucte was repurposed old salvage free

Comments

Danielle's Painter's Ladder Shelf

Submitted by zigmommy on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 13:50

This was the first good-sized project I built by myself. I finished it more than 4 months ago and it still makes me smile every time I look at it. :-) A simple, functional and BEAUTIFUL shelf that will work anywhere and for anyone! I was so impatient for it to be finished I didn't put poly or any clear coat on it and I'm still in love!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About $30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Sherwin Williams 'Sierra Redwood'

(The grain in the wood shows through just BEAUTIFULLY!)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Adirondack Chair

Submitted by maparuna on Sat, 05/18/2013 - 19:07

Built three Adirondack Chair, got the dimensions from Ana's Adirondack Chair and modify dimensions for the smaller chair for my daughter. Used ceder and pine. Cost about CDN 40 per chair. Specially I would like to thanks Ana giving information about simple but beautiful furniture designs.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Used for my backyard
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Kitchen Cabinets

Submitted by bsbdays on Tue, 04/07/2015 - 06:18

Here is a pic of kitchen cabinets I built using Ana's plans.

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Calmly

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 11:40

If you lived near me, I would hire you. If you can do this, your funk tire buying days are over ! Awesome job!

bsbdays

Mon, 05/04/2015 - 12:00

Thank you, this was my first Kitchen remodel. I am not sure if I want to do this for hire. I may just build the cabinets but not sure if I want to install anymore.

bsbdays

Mon, 05/04/2015 - 12:03

I still have to install the back splash and flooring. Going with a knotty pine flooring. I will distress it and I am going to install vintage Common Rose Head nails at the butt joints of the flooring.