Community Brag Posts

Modified modular bookcase

Submitted by tiffcampo on Mon, 07/04/2011 - 18:19

I started this build after coming across the plans on this site. My son has a small bedroom and had received a tv for his birthday. It has a small screen and so it needed to be pretty close. So, I adjusted the measurements to be compatible the width of the end of his bed. The only other change to the plans was the addition of the 1x2 trim on the center shelves. I didn't use the greatest quality plywood and it just looked a little unfinished without it.
He wanted black and I wanted white. I primed, then painted flat white. I then sanded out some places and on the 1x10 and trim to stain for an antique look. However, when I rubbed on the ebony stain, I really liked how it looked over the white paint. So, I rubbed the whole thing. Then sealed it. The result is sort of an antiqued gunmetal gray that we both love. Thanks again for the plans!! Next?!

Estimated Cost
$45
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Olympic Interior Primer, Olympic Interior Flat in Snow Ballet, Minwax Ebony, Spray sealant in semigloss
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

songbirdfeeder

Sun, 09/04/2011 - 18:28

You did a terrific job building this! My son is in an apartment while going to college and asked for a bookcase for Christmas. Problem is, he lives 8 hours away and I need to make something that will fit in his car!Haha! This looks like a lot of storage so I'm going to give it a try.

Farmhouse bed

Thanks for the plans Ana! We love our new bed.

Built from Plan(s)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

wjc129

Mon, 09/09/2013 - 11:16

Your bed looks like I am imagining mine will, minus possibly distressing it. I do have a question for you ... how did you attach the side rail to the footboard? I have gone through every brag post and only one of the posts had a photo of the connection to the footboard (they used brackets).

Tall Corner Media Console-Barn Door Twist

Submitted by dcraible on Wed, 09/02/2015 - 09:46

This project was modified from the original plan in that it is not as tall, the shelving was configured differently as well as the doors. I wanted a sophisticated yet rustic appeal to it. Thus, I made vertical long doors with a barn door design. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Driftwood Stain with a water based satin polyurethane. This project has 2 coats of stain and 3 coats of poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

House Number Planter

Submitted by Bradnag on Fri, 06/22/2018 - 09:46

Easy beginner project. I had a spare pressure-treated picket on hand, so I used it instead of cedar. We're repainting our house this summer, so I stained the wood to match our eventual new house color.

Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Water-based stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Behind Closed Doors (Media Center)

Submitted by cbeach1717 on Thu, 07/07/2011 - 20:38

We used Ana's plans for simple bookcases and a larger but equally simple armoire to build a HUGE media center that could somehow manage to take some of the focus off of the television. We added doors everywhere that we could and lots of glass display shelving. The hubby is thrilled because his beloved flat-screen and infinite related electronic gadgets are within easy reach. And I smile every time I walk into our family room and don't have to see everything that is hiding behind closed doors!

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Simple Prime, Painting, Crown Moulding, Pewter Knobs, Glass Shelving, Lights.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Cobe

Fri, 07/08/2011 - 22:57

Cbeach1717,

This is exactly what I want!

Can you provide the dimensions for the armoire and the shelves, please? Can you tell me also the paint color and how many coats?

cbeach1717

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 08:52

Ana's "Nursery Armoire" is the best starting point, and here are our dimensions:

Armoire basic box structure:
2- 1x16"@ 8': (Sides)
2- 1x16"@ 42" (Top and bottom)
2- 1x16"@ 40.5" (Two shelves for television and electronics)
1- HUGE 1/4" plywood as the back and for support

*bun feet and crown moulding also add some height

We used a "Country White paint from--GASP- Wal-Mart! And it is the best off-white color I have ever used! We used one coat of primer and two coats of paint.

I hope this helps, but feel free to ask for any further clarifications! Best of luck :o)

Guest (not verified)

Thu, 07/14/2011 - 20:54

I am in love with this! How tall are your ceilings? My only concern is that this might be too big for my teeny condo with 8 foot ceilings!

In reply to by Guest (not verified)

cbeach1717

Sun, 07/17/2011 - 15:48

Thanks! Our ceilings are ten feet high--why not just shorten all height measurements by 2 feet? Good luck!

Sarah Kirchner (not verified)

Sun, 01/15/2012 - 18:17

I am dying to get this built for our house! I see the cost estimate is listed at $150, is that for everything needed for all 3 units? I know it depends on what store is used and the location, just trying to get a better idea of what I need to save up. I was trying to find something similar on Craigslist that I could just refinish, but being able to make a piece that is exactly what I want for around the same price (or less) would be incredible!

I'd love to know where you got the glass shelves from if you don't mind sharing.

cbeach1717

Mon, 01/16/2012 - 13:06

Hi Sarah,

I hope you'll give this plan a try! The $150 estimate definitely includes the wood and supplies for all three pieces and most likely includes the bun feet and knobs as well (I can't be absolutely certain since we built this nearly a year ago). The glass shelves were bought from a local glass cutter who also cut the glass panels for our kitchen cabinets. It really shouldn't be too expensive though!

Oh and the absolute best advice I could give you is to invest in or borrow a Kreg Jig. We did not have one ourselves until well after this project, but it would have been an immense help! I wish you all the best of luck--let us all know how YOUR masterpiece turns out :o)

Guest (not verified)

Tue, 02/28/2012 - 21:39

I absolutely love this, my husband had been designing a unit very similar to this but this just made the job twice as easy not having to do all the hard thinking ourselves haha! Thanks so much for sharing, it looks fabulous!

In reply to by Guest (not verified)

cbeach1717

Mon, 03/05/2012 - 06:23

Thanks so much! I wish you lots of luck with your project, which you'll barely need because it is really simple to make and provides for a stunning result :o)

Simple Cheap and Easy

Submitted by henryholub on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 23:29

I chose to laminate 1x2's together for legs, and then simply used a 1x2 as the brace between the legs. I also ran the top across my router to give it nice rounded edges around the top. Really was super easy and super cheap. I painted it to match my dog-kennel coffee table.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Olympic One Paint, Gloss Rustoleum Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Bedside Tables

Submitted by cjlaw on Sun, 09/06/2015 - 12:29

These tables were easy to build.  We ended up using paint and stain to give the tables a distressed look.  They will make a great addition to our guest bedroom.  

Estimated Cost
About $30 each.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
We used both paint and stain for a distressed finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Desk and TV stand

Submitted by Neeley1925 on Sun, 05/08/2022 - 05:38

Modified the Rustic X Desk plan to include an additional shelf. Eventually the whole wall where this is now will have a matching tv stand, and dog kennel with barn doors will go in between them

Comments

Cubby Storage for the Playroom!

I used Ana's plans for the open cubby base and hutch with doors to create my storage system for the playroom. I had Lowe's rip my 2 sheets of 3/4" MDF and I made the smaller cuts with my miter saw. I used 1/4" white bead board panel for the doors and cubby backs. I built the pieces in 1 day and painted the next. It was simple and fun! You can see more details at http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2011/07/storage-for-the-playroom.html!

Estimated Cost
$130
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I coat of primer and 2 coats of Valspar Antique Homestead Lace in Satin
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Seasonal And Holiday

Free laundry dresser :-)

This is the second one of these I have made. I love the 1st one and I wanted to make one for my sisters birthday. Being on a pretty tight budget, the extra $40-$50 I needed for the materials was pretty illusive. While closing up our shop one day I noticed that our buildings dumpster was overflowing w/ perfectly good cabinet doors. I jumped rt in there and grabbed a few of them. I had them for a few days before I realized what I could use them for. I had to change the measurements a little but it worked out well. I used my kreg jig jr. To fasten them all together 1st (the plan says to attach the cleats 1st but because I was changing the measurements , I did it last). Instead of putting a back on it, I used scrap 1x 2 furring strips across the back of the cleats and it feels just as sturdy as the 1st one I built. To dress it up a bit, I painted the molding on the cabinet doors and the cleats a blueish grey and aged it for some character. Finishing w/ Johnson's paste wax.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$2 for kreg screws and paint
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Oops paint from Home Depot and Johnson's paste wax
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

spiceylg

Wed, 08/14/2013 - 04:48

Love that you repurposed something you found! Great recycling and free materials for you. A win-win! I'm sure your sister will love it!

Rustic X CoffeecTable

Submitted by kelty on Wed, 09/09/2015 - 08:51

My first build from your site. The plans are great!  I changed it and used half lap joints for the Xs to keep them as solid pieces. Only cheap lumber is available at the big box stores, so LOTS of sanding. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Weathered gray by rustoleom
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Castle Loft Bed for Two

Submitted by Elliotte on Tue, 07/31/2018 - 10:30

This project started with our older girl wanting sleep in the same room as her younger sister once she was out of a crib. Since it meant no more sneaking into Mom & Dad's bed I was happy to comply. The only problem was all the plans I found were for one bed not two. Both girls love storytime in bed, so I had to make it strong enough for the whole family to be up in bed. To not turn her room into a construction zone, it was made in sections that could fit up the stairs & through the bedroom door. 

 

All together we have a twin bed, a crib-size bed, three removable railings (to let me put them in bed when they fall asleep elsewhere), a slide anyone can use, a secret tunnel to crawl through underneath (and strong enough for adults to use as a step-ladder), a spiral stair for the kids to climb, and enough room for adults to sit up underneath. There is a flag pole next to the slide, but neither my wife nor I have gotten around to making them a flag yet. 

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

Kitchen Island

The plans were easy to follow. I modified my island to fit my space and cut it down to 44 inches in length.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
The entire project cost $47.00.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I stained the top and shelves with Watco Danish Oil in dark walnut and then used a satin finish varathane for only the top to protect it from spills, etc. The sides and legs were painted with an interior latex paint called "Sandbar" from Home Hardware.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Emily Jo (not verified)

Mon, 10/31/2011 - 15:33

Your island is gorgeous, and I love the modification you made to the original plans on the shelving support! I would like to know what size the boards are that you used so that I can duplicate. Thank you!

Lisa Tamaye (not verified)

Sun, 02/05/2012 - 18:10

This is great! ANyone know how I could extend one side in order to put stools for an eating area?
Would love to do that!

Alice (not verified)

Tue, 02/07/2012 - 19:43

I would think it would be basically the same build, just add brackets to support the extra wood.

Guest (not verified)

Mon, 03/05/2012 - 15:20

I want to make this Kitchen Island but if can't find the Supply List. Would you mind posting it or emailing me please! This will work perfect in my Kitchen

Katia57

Mon, 03/05/2012 - 17:46

Wow! Just a wonderfully simple project! I can figure it out by looking at it. I have a piece of Rock Maple Counter Top 24"x6'that needs legs. I'll probably use 4x4' for legs, six of them. But the shelves will be just like this. Thank you!

Katia57

Mon, 03/05/2012 - 17:50

Wow! Just a wonderfully simple project! I can figure it out by looking at it. I have a piece of Rock Maple Counter Top, 24in.x6ft., that needs legs. I'll probably use 4x4s for legs, six of them. But the shelves will be just like this. Thank you!

Guest (not verified)

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 11:58

Just click on the link for the instructions. It's under the heading 'About This Project' titled as 'From Plan: Easy Kitchen Island Plans'.

Click where it says 'Easy Kitchen Island Plans'. When you hover your cursor over the words, you will see that is a hyperlink.

Lindsey Adams (not verified)

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 06:48

I love your island and I also have a small kitchen...would you happen to know the sizes of the boards you used? Thanks

??? (not verified)

Wed, 07/25/2012 - 14:31

Yours looks so different and so much better then the one that show how to make it, how did you do it? I really would love to build it but have no idea how...
Thanks so much!

CBsMama (not verified)

Wed, 08/15/2012 - 13:08

This island is perfect. I love the shelves and the size. Any chance you could send me the dimensions of this island and details on how you did the shelves? Great job!

lizzy1299

Mon, 02/04/2013 - 15:03

I'm SO glad I stumbled acrossed your website! I LOVE that island and getting ready to get all the stuff to make it. Did you use the Kreg Jig thing the original person used...? If not, how did you cover the screw heads?

Thanks!

ameliam

Wed, 12/31/2014 - 07:37

Hi, this is my first time building anything. I really like the modification made to the original plans. I like the legs facing the other way. I can't figure out how to modify the cuts on the sides and front and back supports for the top to adjust for turning the legs the other way. Are there modified plans. LOL I need instructions, I’m not quite there yet on doing it myself. Thank you

djbeenie

Wed, 02/04/2015 - 15:03

How did you mount the 1 x2s since its on the side of the 1 x 4s. Did you tac them in. I really like the way that looks. Thanks!

MBuckson

Mon, 03/16/2015 - 08:00

Amazing island! I am in the middle of building this and looking ahead to the finishing aspect of it and I have a question: What tool did you use to apply the oil on the counter top? A cloth or a certain type of brush?

wiri0302

Sat, 06/06/2015 - 18:33

Hello, i love this island but maybe i missed it. What kind of wood is everyone using? Frosting said $47 but that could only be for pine right? Are people using pine to build this? I would like it to look just like the picture. Any help would be appreciated! thanks!

Rustic Farmhouse Table

Using Ana White's Rustic Table plans, I recreated her design by modifying the measurements to fit my dining space. I did not use wood glue, as the plans call for, and simply left the wood screws visible which I felt added a rustic touch. The top is stained with Minwax Special Walnut #224, and the bottom is painted Simply White by Benjamin Moore. The table measures 72"x42" and is 30" high. It can comfortably seat six chairs.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Special Walnut #224
Polycrylic
Benjamin Moore Simply White
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

snomii

Sat, 09/07/2013 - 12:22

I love your choice of colour! It's the perfect backdrop to a nice dinner full of colour! I'm getting inspired to try this now!

King Headboard

Submitted by kaileelev on Sun, 09/13/2015 - 19:26

Super easy and quick project! If you buy the select pine from home depot- it is a piece of cake to build. No sanding!

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax provincial stain. Polyurethane coating.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Farmhouse bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/30/2022 - 05:43

We wanted a new bed - but couldn’t find exactly what we wanted. Then I came across your plans & my husband just ran with it. I’ve gotten tons of compliments too.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

School Table

Submitted by jazberg on Fri, 07/15/2011 - 12:46

My husband and I took the Narrow Farmhouse Table and modified it for a school table for our children. We used two old doors we had left over from remodeling our 1925 craftsman home. One door is the top, and the rest is lumber culled from the other door. A fun, free, one-day project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Free (glass top - $75)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint. We sanded the paint already on the door and stained the bare wood to add contrast.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Fancy Farmhouse Table

Submitted by Hodgecrew on Mon, 08/19/2013 - 14:27

My husband tackled the Fancy Farmhouse Table and finished it in 1 weekend and it looks amazing! I could not be more thrilled with the outcome.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Top of table we stained, bottom was painted.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate