Community Brag Posts

Farmhouse Table/Bench and Floating Shelves

Submitted by Al_on_Rose on Mon, 12/14/2020 - 14:09

My daughter wanted to create the Farmhouse look for her New England home. Had so much fun building the Table, Bench and Floating shelves. The Plans were perfect, and of course customizable (she wanted it a little shorter). My next project is a real workbench for my garage. I think the only issue is the New Jersey winters.

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Early American Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Corner Dining Storage Bench

Submitted by Reader Submission (not verified) on Wed, 01/22/2025 - 08:46

We recently moved into our new home and I didn’t realize it didn’t have much storage space and the dining area was smaller than I thought. This idea solved all my problems! I am so happy and proud of how this turned out! Thank you so much for this idea!! I have been inspired by several of your plans! - Terri K.

ladder shelf

Submitted by DanGraves on Wed, 11/26/2014 - 09:17

I have made several of these now and love them.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used paint on one and stain on the others.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Barn Door Bookcase/Pantry

Submitted by Reader Submission (not verified) on Sun, 12/20/2020 - 15:31

Despite relatively high ceilings, we have a small, pantryless kitchen and needed more shelf space. Couldn't be happier with how this turned out. Besides taking off 2 inches in width to make sure it would fit in the space, I followed the measurements exactly.

Made just one modification with the instructions involving the face frame. I first assembled it together per the instructions, but it was just not lining up with the carcass well at all when I went to attach it. Before the glue got too dry, I made the quick decision to take the face frame apart and just apply the individual pieces of it one at a time to the carcass. I figured this could maybe leave some very small gaps where the face frame pieces joined each other, but that seemed better than what it would look like leaving it as is, with almost no section flush with the carcass. This ended up being the absolutely right choice. Everything was very very close to flush and there ended up being virtually no gaps. If I ever built again, I would do the same and attach each piece like that.

My only other struggle was at the very end attaching the barn door hardware. Nothing wrong with the hardware or the instructions, I just ended up installing the rail too high up on my first attempt. Because this piece has a top that slightly overhangs and gives that nice little lip, it means there is a maximum height which you can't go above when installing the rail hardware. If you go too high, like I did, the rollers that are attached to the door will physically not fit on the rail, b/c that lip will be in the way. This might be very obvious to most people but I thought I'd mention it. Once things clicked, I just had to get some new measurements and redrill the holes a bit lower(but not too low b/c then you will have a gap!).

I decided to leave the door natural wood after seeing someone else's finished piece posted here and given how dark my stain was, I also left the plywood back panel natural. It's still a bit light now and it may even take 2 or 3 years, but I know pine can do a decent job darkening up.

Lastly, I did put a whole quart of satin polyurethane on this over 5 coats. Each coat but the last was cut with %50-%25 paint thinner applied with a foam brush. Yes it did take a long time but seeing it up close, it was absolutely worth it. I would recommend it for anyone making this project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane wood stain mix. Half "weathered gray" half "Carbon Gray." Five coats Minwax satin polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Bunk beds that transport when needed

This bunk bed project was absolutely perfect for a small cottage bedroom for our son. We selected this plan when noticing that this could essentially be built as 4 flat sections and easily transported.

We were able to construct the bunk beds prior to owning the cottage and were then able to move in and bolt together.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Interior latex paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Sirocco

Fri, 03/19/2021 - 01:12

The best way to shop on the internet and get one dealership to beat another’ price.main thing is only pay the cash no extra. I just only share the website which you find the best and also lowest price on a new car review toyota tundra

From a pile of wood to an beautifull extendable x leg dining table and benches

Submitted by mobe00 on Sat, 11/29/2014 - 05:18

My girl wanted a long sturdy extendable x-legged dining table and benches for our big family and guest for our new house. Extendable from 2,5 meter to about 5,2 meter. Sorry for the picture qualities. Can post pictures later when the table is placed in the new house. Right now its in the basement waiting to be moved ;)

 

 

Estimated Cost
Norwegian prices are not the cheapest ones. but from NOK to US dollars its about $300 for the materials. made out of 2x6 and 1.5x4
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

FARMHOUSE TABLE AND MATCHING BENCHES

Submitted by dking1157 on Sat, 03/04/2017 - 08:14

Using the plans for the farmhouse table, I took them and modified a bit and this is what I have come up with...so far... many more projects to come!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

fancy x desk

Submitted by jamesryan9 on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 01:31

I chose to make this great looking desk out of Walnut wood. So, obviously its not the $55 dollar fancy X desk that Ana White has posted, but it does share the same design. We were looking for a heavy, sturdy, and large desk for our office and I simply added linseed oil to bring out the natural beauty of the Walnut wood. Thank you so much Ana for giving me the tools I needed to complete this project. Feel free to email me or message me if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. [email protected]. Thanks

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I applied Linseed Oil and followed the directions on the back. I let it soak into the wood for 5-10 min and wiped off the excess with a cloth. I sanded some areas very fine and reapplied the linseed oil in certain places until I found the look I was searching for.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Combination of the Emme Twin Bed and Farmhouse Storage Bed

Submitted by Reader Submission (not verified) on Tue, 03/07/2017 - 20:25

I used elements of both the Emme Twin Bed and Farmhouse Storage Bed to create this perfect bed for my daughter. Thank you so much for your fantastic plans Ana!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
We used a soft pink paint/primer in an Eggshell finish. I applied two coats of paint and sanded between coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Christmas Stocking Stand

Submitted by Anna-M on Mon, 12/28/2020 - 09:27

I wanted to show you the stand we made this year, using your plans. It was a big hit! I made the base pieces 15” long for added stability since we put 7 hooks on it and plan to add more to the “backside” as our family is growing.
Thank You for sharing !

Built from Plan(s)

Shoe Crates

I saw someone's brag where she used this plan for shoe storage. I thought it was a great idea. It sure lets me clean the floor better, just roll it out of the way, clean, roll back. It is so much better than the shoe rack that occupied the space before with such piles of shoes that it was arduous to clean the floor at all. Next month I will take care of the second shoe rack for my own shoes.

It was so simple, I loved making them. Grandpa and I had fun. The best part, you can make them quick because the don't have to be perfect. And Grandpa's nail gun made quick work of all the attached boards. All boards were also glued and sanded.

Ana your site gave me the confidence to solve my own furniture problems with custom solutions. Thanks, I can't wait for my next project.

Estimated Cost
$100 for 2.5 carts
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Polyurethane, 2 coats
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

New Kitchen Table

We recently moved from a 530 sq ft rental house to a 1700 sq ft rental house. The one kitchen table that we had in the little place was needed in our library/craft/homeschool room so I needed something knew for the kitchen. My 8 year old daughter helped a lot (she loves using the Kreig Jig). 

I love how this (my second wood working project ever!) came out. 

Thanks for making it so easy to create beautiful and custom furniture for me and my family! 

Estimated Cost
$100- $150 and that includes all the tools/supplies I needed to purchase (pocket-hole jig, pocket-hole screws, etc.)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

KaoticKrafter

Fri, 12/05/2014 - 17:31

This is my first brag post. Any tips on why the photo is sideways and there are weird links in odd spots?

Thanks!

Tina

earthbybike

Fri, 12/05/2014 - 19:59

When my photos posted sideways, I used microsoft paint to rotate and saved as a new photo.  This seemed to solve the issue.

Mostly Made With Reclaimed Materials

Submitted by Reader Submission (not verified) on Thu, 03/09/2017 - 19:05

I made these nightstands with reclaimed siding and fir flooring, and scrap wood from a remodel they will ultimately furnish. I found the matching knobs for $1 each at a building materials salvage yard.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Not sure
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used Fast Dry Semi Gloss Interior Varathane. It's water clean-up and has a blue label. I wish I'd used some light stain to warm the color of the wood a little. I like to use the semi gloss and remove the last imperfections in the finish with 0000 steel wool. In the end the finish is closer to satin.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Triple Pedestal Farmhouse Table

Putting this table together was a lot of fun! We knocked off about two feet from the plan so that it fit in our modest dining area. Many of my saw blades were replaced at some point during this project in favor of sharper and cleaner-cutting replacements, so we spent quite a lot making sure we didn't end up with a giant splinter of a table. You can see from one of the photos how poorly I chose some of the wood (the 2x2 is like a cork screw), so I had to replace a few pieces. Still, I think I could have replaced all of those tools altogether and still spent less than this table would have cost at the store.

Something I learned during finishing: I knew beforehand that wood glue didn't stain, but I didn't realize that even the residue of wiped-up glue will keep the wood from taking stain. When the matching bench is made later on I'll be sure to sand all of the places where glue might be hiding, invisible. The stain color generally wasn't quite what we imagined and the legs seem to have taken it differently than the top, but when the word "Farmhouse" appears in the table style, you can chalk all of those imperfections up to its "rustic" style. For that I am grateful.

The poly dried a bit rough, but a fine sanding sponge smoothed it out and also gave it a little bit of that greywashed RH look. Win-win. We wound up putting "Flor" tiles underneath the table to give it some contrast since it ended up resembling our floor color a bit too closely. Now we actually have a dining area, instead of just a table.

It took about a week and a day (I started Saturday morning and we finished it the following Saturday night). Fortunately our ten-month-old can sleep through just about anything. I'm glad it's done now and we can enjoy it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Rust-Oleum Early American, Minwax Clear Matte Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Simple Modern Outdoor Sectional

Submitted by jdwarns on Mon, 12/08/2014 - 13:03

So glad these plans were posted so that I could build my own outdoor sectional.  I built two armless and two corner/end pieces.  I used cedar with American Walnut stain and clear/satin spar urethane.  I purchased the cushions online.  They only had 24x24"; so for the back cushions, I used a seam ripper to open the cushion, cut the foam and extra fabric, and re-sew.

Estimated Cost
500 including cushions
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
American Walnut water-based stain
Clear/Satin spar urethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Entryway coat hanger

Submitted by Reader Submission (not verified) on Sun, 03/12/2017 - 06:53

Easy build and flexible to modify size 

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments