Community Brag Posts

Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/01/2017 - 15:03

Recently built this table my first build actually. I told my wife we needed a new table because we didn't have enough room for our youngest to move up to the table she said let's build one. Well I did the "building" and she did the staining painting and sanding. She is currently putting new fabric on our old chairs. And now she has me building a bed. Her words when I finished "I didn't know you could build stuff". My reply "that was part of the plan lol". Thanks for all the designs.

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

Planters

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 13:22

Cedar planter boxes made largely from fence pickets.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Outdoor Canopy Daybed

This is made from cedar, but I painted it anyway. Used a standard single mattress. I highly recommend painting everything first before you put the project together. Full plans are here.

Estimated Cost
$225 for lumber
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Primed the entire piece with Kilz and then used Rustoleum Spray Paint (Espresso).

The canopy is made from Ikea curtains (19.95/2). I purchased 2 packages, each containing 2 panels. I then sewed the 2 panels together from each package, now having 2 extra long panels. To secure to the bed, I hand-stitched velcro fasteners to the curtains and wrapped around the top part of the canopy.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

Farm House Dining Room Table (Modified with Breadboard Extensions)

Submitted by jvanhorn on Fri, 05/10/2013 - 07:56

This is a modified plan for Ana White's Farm House Table.

I shortened the table to about 72 inches with breadboards on the ends and added removable breadboard extensions for a total of about 100 inches of table for a 12x11 room. I also built the Farm House bench but shortened it to 48 inches.

The wood is white pine and Douglas Fir 4x4 legs. The total cost was $198 for the wood/screws and about $30 for the stain and sand paper. I bought an additional set of countersink bits for holes.

I used the following tools:

  • Hand Saw
  • Table Saw
  • Compound Miter Saw
  • Hand Drill with various bits and countersinks
  • Square, pencil and straight edges
  • Tape measure
  • Clamps
  • Wood Chisel Set
  • Sharpening Stone
  • Level
  • It took about 35 hours of work.

    The stain is English Chestnut and we pretreated the wood to accept the stain by using wood conditioner. This made a dramatic difference in leveling out the stain between the white pine and Douglas Fir. I used 3 coats of clear polyurethane and 2 coats of satin on the top with gentle sanding in between coats.

Estimated Cost
$230
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Prepped the wood with wood conditioner before applying stain. English Chestnut stain with 3-clear polyurethane coats followed by 2-satin coats. Light sanding in between coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Pottery Barn Logan Knock Off Media Build

Submitted by anb80 on Tue, 03/31/2015 - 12:37

This was one of our early builds.  I"ve learned a new way to do doors since then so hope to replace these before we move.  I love all the storage on this unit!  The finish on the tops is a metallic glaze I made.

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

Veggie Bin

Submitted by Dlwj27 on Tue, 07/04/2017 - 10:45

I followed the plans as written and my veggie bin came out looking awesome.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Pre-treated with Rust-oleum Weathered Wood Accelerator then gave distressed look by dry brushing Waverly Chalk Paint in Crystal. Finished using Mini Was Polyurethane Clear Satin.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Full size bed size

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 13:47

Loved your plans for building a bed frame- easy to follow.

Comments

Magnetic White Board Organizer Wall

Submitted by Christian on Mon, 05/13/2013 - 10:24

Easy project that has helped us stay more organized. We use Cozi to maintain the calendar, but this allows us to highlight things that the kiddos need to know during the week. We keep the chore schedule, laundry schedule, meal plan, and out of routine activities on the week calendar so the kids can tell what is going on at a glance. The allowance is also hanging up at the top as an incentive to get their respective jobs done for the week. I used galvanized sheet metal glued onto a 1/4 inch plywood base and coated it with whiteboard paint. This allows it to be magnetic and easily written on. Love the letter holder for homework and important paperwork.

Things we have used it for so far:
Activity schedule (swimming lessons, soccer practice, etc.)
Meal plan
Unusual activities (parties, movie night, etc.)
School stuff (project due, spirit week, etc.)
Chore schedule
Laundry Schedule
Room of the week: what part of the house gets a deep clean this week.
Servant of the week: which kid is the designated helper for non-chore activities when an extra hand is needed.

We are still figuring out all the ways to use this to good effect, but the kids really like being able to see what is coming up in the schedule for the week.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Whiteboard paint
Minwax Walnut Stain
Spray Acrylic to whiteboard marker proof the wooden parts.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

nightstand

Submitted by cnlynch on Thu, 04/02/2015 - 19:32

I needed a small nightstand and was able to build this with wood left over from the Farmhouse table project, it's not perfect but I love it.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Box chairs with an added back

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/14/2017 - 00:28

Thanks for the plans Ana. I substituted 5/4 x 6 for the 2x6 and it is plenty strong and sturdy. Also added an angled back to support 24x24" cushion. Very pleased with the finished chairs.

BTW: I have now used 4 of your plans. The X harvest table, an outside dining table and patio loungers (4 of them) and the box chairs. Cheers!

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

No Train Needed

We needed a table to compliment our Apothecary cabinet we built prior to this project. We needed a big table b/c our furniture is so bulky. We have a 6 month old, and an 8 year old, so toy storage is a must. We built the table in one evening. We swapped the top trim 1x3s w/ 1×2. The bottom shelf only sits 1 inch from the floor, so I can fill it with itso bins for additional baby storage! The top board is not cut in half, rather we drilled 1 inch holes on both ends. You can’t see them in the pics, b/c I hid them, with the cutest thing ever, bear coasters. The coasters are too protect the table b/c we cant use poly here in the winter.
I wanted a David Bromstad cow rug & hubs said no. Bear Skin Rug style coasters for $20 from Urban Outfitters are our compromise. I love this table. It’s super heavy & I hope it lasts forever.

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Miniwax Autumn Harvest from Lowe's
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Corner Shelf for Nursery

Submitted by wojo1 on Thu, 05/16/2013 - 07:21

Super Easy.. I like it better without the doors. Recommend getting a KREG Jig. I have the Jr and it was perfect for this project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$130
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Rustic X coffee table with industrial trim

Submitted by AndWhatnot on Sun, 04/05/2015 - 18:34

I added metal corners made by bending 1 1/4 x 1/8 inch flat bar and attached with 1/4 x 1 inch lag bolts 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Asiago paint and Kona stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Green House

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/13/2017 - 08:31

I built this amazing green house following your plans!  My wife and I moved our family from the city to an amazing 5 acre homestead out in the country here in Wisconsin. We are super happy that we will be able to keep our new garden going longer!  Thanks so much for the plans!

Estimated Cost
We spent about $800 for the frame and plastic panels. Then we spent another $250 for the reclaimed barnwood siding. We found the door at a reclamation site for $25.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I followed Ana's plan pretty closely. This was the first building I ever built from scratch. It was a little difficult to get the foundation level. But I figured it out. I used pressure treated 6x6s on top of gravel. I was able to screw the actual walls down to the 6x6s.

I'm actually building a second building from these plans to use as a chicken coop. Once it's done I will post photos.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Danielle's Wall Unit Shelves

Submitted by zigmommy on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 14:19

I designed these to specifically work for my homeschool storage needs. My husband built two of them for me and they are exactly what I hoped they would be! They're strong and heavy and sturdy and still manage to be stylish, I'm proud to look at them and have them in my home!!

Estimated Cost
About $100 (for one)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr - Antique White High Gloss and Rustoleum latex clear top coat. We bought a paint spray gun and this was the first project we used it on. DEFINITELY saved us a ton of time, this time we sprayed it after it was built, next time the individual pieces will get at least a coat or two before it's built!
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

2 dish pet feeder

Submitted by kwayman on Sun, 05/19/2013 - 09:02

This feeder worked out great for Sammy, who is about 95#. He seems a lot more comfortable now (and has started using his water dish instead of the toilet! ;) I wanted a more rustic look but wanted the easy clean up of tile on top.

Estimated Cost
$15- mostly due to the tile/ grout
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint and tile
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Triple Printer Console (Dresser)

Submitted by jbolson21 on Tue, 04/07/2015 - 16:03

My wife and I need a big dresser for the new addition to our home.  So instead of a media console we turned this into a dresser.

Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Danish Oil
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

handmadewithash

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 20:37

Beautiful job!!! I am currently in the process of building the triple printers console as well. I love you choice of drawer pulls. I may have to reconsider my selection ;)

Simple Outhouse

I built this outhouse to go with a dry cabin I'm working on, and also as an emergency backup for my house. I used treated lumber on the base/deck and splurged on T-111 for the siding. I wanted to use greenhouse polycarbonate for the roof, but found a piece of metal roofing in my shed that was exactly the right size so I used that instead. I thought about doing a fancy cutout on the door but ended up going with a half moon because it was easy. I'm thinking about cutting out stars of different sizes all over the rest of the door to let in more light. I'll trim and stain it next summer.

Estimated Cost
$450 - I used T-111 which is $40/sheet here in Alaska. I also used treated lumber where recommended and stainless steel screws.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

CH

Mon, 01/13/2020 - 15:25

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE 'STUFF' THAT YOU DEPOSIT IN THE TOILET?  I DIDN'T READ ANYTHING ABOUT DIGGING A PIT/TREATMENTS, ETC.  PLEASE LET ME KNOW.  THANK YOU!  CH.