Community Brag Posts

Adirondack Furniture, First Build!!

I just started my furniture business and Ana's page has been indispensable in my journey!  I finished the project using Minwax Special Walnut stain and spar urethane.  

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Special Walnut with Satin Finish Spar Urethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Countertop Produce Storage Bin

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/25/2023 - 09:20

My 16-year-old son is home every other day for school with an on-line course he is taking. We started working on projects we both wanted to learn from cooking to woodworking projects. This is the very first project we made. We are both very proud and pleased with the simple directions, minimal tools required, and beautiful results. We used an early American stain and lacquer finish. We have received many compliments on it. Thank you for giving us something to build our relationship and home with.

Elizabeth

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

easiest daybed turned floating twin beds

we love ana's plans, and we love the way this one was executed by the bumper crop. check out more pics of our girl version and how we did it at http://www.iwantbdphotography.com/archives/2661

Estimated Cost
$90 each
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
none :) gutsy for a kid's room. not sure how they will hold up, but we just love the raw unfinished look
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

End table made from pallets (plans included)

Submitted by mtairymd on Sat, 02/08/2014 - 14:58

Building an outside side table out of scrap pallets.

Video of the build:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVAYXVGiL_8

Drawing File
https://googledrive.com/host/0B21TbB8gGNQbX2dlNGdxR0NuOE0/end_table.pdf

Estimated Cost
$5 for stain and nails - free pallets
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Red Oak
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Purple chicken ark w/ retractable wheels

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/07/2016 - 16:59

We worked on this project on and off for a couple weeks.  60 degree angles were the hardest part.  Decided against adding upper coop floor to minimize cleaning.  Coop will only be used seasonally.  End coop is very heavy, so wheels were a must.  Scoured internet and found simple retractable lever design with bolts to adjust wheel height.  Very happy with project, thank you Ana!

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

The Gíaffe TV Stand

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/06/2020 - 09:55

The Gíaffe Free Standing TV Mount. Handcrafted and engineered to use its center mass to deliver strength and balance for tv sizes 30-60". Display your television without detracting from your home's decor. The Gíaffe Free Standing TV Mount is the perfect solution and its rich finish will be perfect for any house/office room.

Estimated Cost
$109
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain - Dark Walnut - Varathane - 2 Coats
Finish - Water Based Polyurethane - Varathane - 3 Coats
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

abeljz

Fri, 09/13/2024 - 23:18

I’m late to the party but I need these plans.. would anybody happen to have them?

Outdoor Table with Concrete Top

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/02/2023 - 10:25

Fancy X Farmhouse Table in stained cedar with concrete table top. Concrete top made using 4’x8’ melamine coated MDF boards for form, reinforced with welded wire fabric, standard Quikrete concrete mix.

MDeMotte

Built from Plan(s)

Kentwood Bookcases

Submitted by tglife on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 09:30

When I started my blog This Girls Life ( t-g-life.blogspot.com ) I knew I wanted to makeover my office to give me more room and storage. These bookcases were perfect for that.

Estimated Cost
$120ish for both, $60ish per bookcase
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax English Chestnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modified Husky Farmhouse Table

Submitted by Doro.marie on Tue, 02/11/2014 - 04:28

My husband Chris and I have been planning for a few years now to build a farmhouse table for our home. Every year for christmas my mother-in-love (mother in law) gifts us a "must have" tool. We like to think of it as her investing in our home and quality time together. Last year she gave us the Kreg gig, holy cow, that sure is a must have!!! :) This year we received a hand sander. Needless to say we were motivated to start our farmhouse table journey.
We loved the table Ana built for her sister, so we followed the plans almost to a tee. We ordered the turned legs from Georgia. Let me also add that we try to buy everything we possibly can that is made in america, from paintbrushes on. I encourage everyone to take the a few seconds to look and spend an extra dollar or two to support america's economy.

The only modification we did to the plan was add a small strip of wood to the base layer for just a little extra touch of character. :)

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Table top- miniwax wood conditioner, Early American stain, and helmsman spar urethane.

Base- early american stain for base layer, Old Fashion Milk Paint in Buttermilk, and spray on polycrylic.
We live in a small town and were not able to find gel stain anywhere. We could have ordered it online, however we adamant about using our snow days to work on this project. This made a difference as far as how the milk paint chipped on the legs. I had to hand sand to get the rustic look, however it still looks fabulous. :)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Outdoor Sectional

Submitted by Angel2b on Tue, 05/10/2016 - 16:22

I enjoyed this project. Easy instructions. Great results.

Estimated Cost
$180 I brought the cushions %75 off at Walmart last year.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr premium plus (Ultra) - stain-blocking paint & primer in one
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Repurposed Lathe Storage Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/03/2023 - 08:12

While using lathe it is helpful to have tools at hand. In general my lathe tools have custom racks/holders on wall but it is a nice adjunct to have the little table on wheels that stores underneath the lathe —at my side! 

All parts are recycled wood from scrap box or dumpster!

 

Paint stir stick Letter Bin

Submitted by ltl_lisa on Sat, 04/28/2012 - 18:16

I used paint stir sticks as the front of my bins!
I wanted the "bead board" look but to still have a natural wood grain that I could stain for the rustic look. I also really like being "frugal"

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Pretty, massive coffee table

Submitted by sgilly on Sat, 02/15/2014 - 08:48

I'm still helping my kids furnish their new home. They "hired" me to build them a massive coffee table for their family room. They fell in love with the legs featured in a plan built by Shanty 2 Chic (http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2013/11/diy-square-coffee-table.html). The legs definitely were the most expensive part of this table!
I made a couple of adjustments: because these kids of mine hope to have kids of their own soon, and the table measures 48x48, I reinforced the lower shelf of the table and the table top with support pieces. I picture babies crawling all over this and wanted to ensure that it would hold up!

I finished with the same steps used by Jen of House of Wood's rustic yet refined finish, but used a dark walnut stain as the base.

Another fun project for me, and they are very happy with it!

And, I just have to say that Osborne Wood products delivers a wonderful product with great follow up and customer service! http://www.osbornewood.com/

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$250 for table - the Legs accounted for $160 of that.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Wood conditioner (2 coats), sand, Minwax Dark walnut, Minwax weathered Oak, sand, rubbed on whitewash (old, diluted white paint), sand, mixture of weathered oak and a little dark walnut, sand, 3 coats of polyurethane, satin finish, sanding between coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Bedside Stand

Submitted by Dlwj27 on Thu, 05/12/2016 - 17:04

This project was easy & fun to make.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Waverly White Chalk Paint and distressed using Americana Decor Timeless Chalk Paint. Finished with Dark Brown wax and Miniwax Dark Walnut Stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Fancy X Corner Desk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/17/2020 - 13:54

I used the Fancy X Desk plans then made half a desk as a side wing in order to make it fit a corner. I made this for a niece who goes off to college next year, so I made the extra side to be detachable in case she wants to take the table or desk with her but has limited room.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Less than $100
Finish Used
Dark Walnut stain on the top and semi gloss black spray paint on the bottom.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Tilt Out Trash Cabinet with Shutter Door

My trash situation was pretty dire once my dogs figured out how to pop off the lid and dig into everything. Trash was everywhere! So to keep out prying paws, I built Ana's tilt-out trash cabinet to keep the can safe. But I didn't read the plan through before going shopping, and didn't get any plywood to make the door! So I used part of an old bifold door that looks like a shutter and cut it to fit. I also added a cabinet clasp inside the top so it can securely shut. Now we don't have any trouble with my dogs dragging trash through the house!

Estimated Cost
15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Three coats of semi-gloss white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Alex's Book Shelf

This design came from Ana's website. My daughter Alex asked me for a shelf to hold all her "stuff". She's a typical girl... lots of "stuff". I was able to snap a picture before she started to fill it all up!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Fancy Hall Tree

Submitted by jkassel78 on Sat, 05/14/2016 - 18:03

I needed a place for everyone to throw their bags instead of the kitchen table! I used the box plans from the fancy hall tree and modified the top, adding a shelf, and changed the design to accommodate the piece of plywood I already had and wanted to use for the back. I made it in two pieces for easier transport and assembled it inside the house. I used off the shelf pine and plain plywood for this. I found the cute numbered hooks on etsy :) I took my time building it and worked on it about an hour a day while my husband watched the kids. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
150-200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used a quart of calypso blue from Benjamin Moore and Old American stain by Minwax. And I used a couple of coats of polycrylic to finish it.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate