Community Brag Posts

Fancy X farmhouse table and bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/30/2019 - 21:34

These plans were a lot of fun, easy to follow and I love all the layers!! I changed the direction of the bracing under the table and used a thicker beam along the floor. For the bench I decided to use only two legs so I did them in a thicker look to match the table.

Estimated Cost
$170 lumber/stain/clear
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
2:1 ratio minwax dark walnut and weathered oak. I let it dry then sanded in areas and added a coat of weathered oak.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

DIY Farmhouse Bed wth Boxspring

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/16/2023 - 10:49

Wood = Pine
Finish = Minwax Special Walnut (after Pre-Stain)

This was a pretty straight forward build, but nice to have an extra set of hands. On the top board of the head/footboard, a countersink bit was used to recess the screw heads (otherwise, all fasteners in the plan are concealed). Then a mixture of glue/sawdust was used to smooth over the countersink hole. The whole project was sanded starting with 60 working up to 220.

We followed the plan, and in the photo this is the height of the bed with box springs and mattress. The bed feels sturdy and comfortable. It was a fun project and my first shot at interior furniture.

 

Raised Bed Garden

This is a very simple project. It measures 8' x 8' and is 11" high. I simply used eight 2" x 6" treated pine boards and one 8' 4" x 4" treated pine post. I used an 11" 4 x 4 cross member in each corner and an 11" 4 x 4 in the center to connect the 2 x 6's. I used 2 coats of a water based natural cedar deck stain as a finish. I connected everything using 3 inch deck screws.

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Water based deck and fence stain (natural cedar). I used 2 coats applied with a brush.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Cindy from Indiana (not verified)

Sat, 03/10/2012 - 07:58

Wow! That turned out beautifully! We are looking at starting a raised bed garden as well. Yours turned out great.

Quick question/concern, though. Are you growing edibles in yours? If so, what did you do to block the treated lumber so it doesn't leach chemicals into the soil?

You did a fantastic job!

windjamer812

Sun, 03/11/2012 - 01:37

The chemicals used to treat lumber today are safe. Even with growing food. I can attest that the plants will not be dwarfed by it either. My tomatoes reached heights of 6 feet. I have included a link to a PDF file from Purdue University explaining that. The stain is simply an exterior water based deck stain called natural cedar. The chemicals in stain that are used today no longer contain arsenic. This was eliminated in 2003. This includes oil based stains. I hope that answers your question.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hort.purdue.edu%2Fe…

Cindy from Indiana (not verified)

Mon, 03/12/2012 - 08:28

Hey windjamer812,

Thanks for the response and the link! That's good to know as it really opens up the materials available to me. I'll go check out that PDF as well.

Your project turned out beautifully. I'm excited to start something similar.

Thanks, again!
Cindy

P.S. Go Boilermakers! ;-)

First Project and PUMPED!!

Submitted by FongerB on Fri, 01/03/2014 - 07:57

This was my first project ever and I'm so excited how well it turned out!! However, I did modify the length and height for my space. The table is 40" long and 33" tall. The finish is Benjamin Moore Tawny Day Lily (awful name) with their high gloss wood finish. Thank you Ana!! You made this project seem easy and now I'm excited to build more!

Estimated Cost
40$
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Benjamin Moore Tawny Day Lily (3 coats) + Benjamin Moore High Gloss wood finish (2 coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Washer/Dryer Pedestals with slight modifications

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/22/2016 - 09:35

I similarly was looking for something to store laundry baskets underneath and didn't want to shell out $500+ for pedestals that were less functional. Without being particularly handy, this was a relatively easy DIY project that turned out great. Adding the baseboard trim made a big different in the overall look and the dark paint to match our cabinets helped in pulling it all together. We made the height 12" (instead of 11") for the storage component and cut the width by 2 inches to allow room for the baseboard trim to wrap around the side. Otherwise it was built the same as the original design without the extra trim.

Estimated Cost
~$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Simple Panel King Bed

Submitted by Bradnag on Sun, 11/03/2019 - 09:43

Needed a quick and simple plan for a new king frame, so I went with the simple panel bed. Stuck mostly to Ana's directions, but used pocket holes on the back of the headboard to get the 1x8's really tightly flush against each other. Since I was assembling it myself I definitely followed Ana's tip about cutting some spacers to prop up the sideboard while securing them to the headboard. Even with as minimal as these plans are, the bed is pretty heavy and very sturdy.

Estimated Cost
75.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Polyshades
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Picnic Table

Submitted by tara2 on Tue, 03/13/2012 - 07:35

Our first project of many to come!!! Thanks Ana for your website!

Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Queen Size Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by Koji on Sun, 01/05/2014 - 12:09

Started off as the rustic farmhouse bed, but I couldn't help adding bits to it - dentil moulding, panels on the headboard and footboard.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Special Walnut over minwax stain base. Helps to keep the staining to a minimum with less soaking in and dark spots.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Good ol kitchen island

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 03/26/2016 - 17:22

I saw the plans for this project and decided I wanted to do something of the sort. I tweaked the plans a bit and made it longer and took out the drawer. My favorite part about it is Annie sloans chalk paint. Look into it, it's great stuff. 

Estimated Cost
200$
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Polyurethane, Annie Sloan waxing paint, cherry stain. To get the rustic color Google Annie Sloan, she has a ton of YouTube videos.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Beautiful DIY Computer Desk Under 50 Dollars

We were looking for a table with custom dimensions for our little office nook, but it was really hard to find. Most of them were very expensive, too. We decided to make our own table and share it with all of you as well. It's an easy project to do and minimum tools are required. You can also always use substitute tools as opposed to using the exact one we did in the project. 

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step one: Cut the Wood

You need to cut 4 (2 x 4's) pieces for the legs using a miter saw, or you can have The Home Depot or Lowes cut it for you. You can adjust your own measurements according to the plan above. The plan is according to our space. We drew it in Google Drawings, and you can get that idea and draw your own.  

Step Two: Pocket Holes

Drill pocket holes in the legs using a Kreg Jig but if you don't have that tool it's okay too. Tou can use regular nails as well. I am in love with the Kreg Jig though, and I highly recommend the product to everyone as it makes your joints stronger. 

Step 3: Put The Leg Together

Once you are done with making the joints, it's time to screw the legs together to make it like a frame. See the picture. It should look like a rectangular box. We also placed scrap wood in the middle just to give extra support to the table, so it will not go wobbly. 

Step 4: Attach The Top 

Now, since your legs are ready, it's time to attach the top onto the legs, which is also an easy process. You can attach them using a brad nailer or regular nails. We just happened to have those tools but you don't have to buy everything. 

Step 5: Cut the lips 

In the end, we placed lips or edges around the table to make it both more sturdy and prettier. 

Step 6: Sand It 

Now, since your table is ready, you need to sand it to paint or stain it. Sanding is a very important part. Otherwise, your paint won't adhere to the wood unless you are chalk painting. We used an electric sander but you can use any 120 grit sanding block from your local store. Just use your elbow grease to sand it nicely. 

Step 7: Paint or Stain It

Paint it with whatever paint you would like We wanted to stain it so we used color stain to match with other furniture in the room. We are pretty happy with the project turned out. It saved us tons of money and looks nice in the room as well. 

Hope you liked it and I would love to see your project using my plan. You can read the whole blog post in-depth on my blog. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

Happy DIY'ing! Love,

Bushra

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Blue Stain a bit shiny look.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Box Frame Console with Bottom Shelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/24/2023 - 13:46

Entry Way Table with Slatted Bottom!

by Missy J Zee on Facebook

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Single Lounger for the Simple Modern Outdoor Collection

Submitted by Shai on Fri, 03/16/2012 - 20:07

I used Ana's pattern, but modified it a bit to suit my needs and my materials. I used a large pallet I got for free from a local building supply company. My total cost was $8.00, which was for the hinges and the screws. I am so happy with it, and very grateful to Ana White for providing the plans!

Estimated Cost
$8.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Unfinished, but I plan to stain it dark brown to match our other patio furniture.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

komalb

Tue, 08/20/2019 - 14:54

Can you post some pics of the back/underside so I can see modifications better? I was hoping to do something just like this and wanted to get some inspiration for the backrest portion. 

Customized Hailey storage bed

I got tired of the aluminum framed bunk beds in my kids room, and wanted to build something they can enjoy for years to come.

My 7 year old didn't have the luxury of one of our dogs jumping up on his bed, as he was on the top bunk, and my wife and I didn't interact with him as much as we would have liked during his reading time prior to bed.

Only one thing to do....build the boys some beds. Although they have a little less room in their bedroom, they have their own individual beds and storage nooks.

In an effort to reduce wasted space, I took a similar page out of birdsandsoap's book by hinging the footboard to create easy access to the void under the slats.

The head and footboards were 'tiled' by simply cutting 1x2 and 1x3 pieces and attaching them with wood glue.

Between the sanding, staining, and poly coats, it took about a week (on and off) to complete the set, but overall am very happy with the finished project.

Only 1 bed is included in the pics, as the other one is identical.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Knot Good with Wood

Thu, 01/09/2014 - 04:05

I was unsure exactly how I wanted to design and finish, so I just looked through tons of brags on here. I think they are very cool now that they are done, and my kids end up using the hinged footboard to gain access to build small forts.....

Thanks for the great feedback!

handcrafted amish style side table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/29/2016 - 10:46

Handcrafted amish side table. Easy to do

Estimated Cost
$25.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Provincall stain and black satin paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

rburmania

Tue, 03/29/2016 - 11:29

i also do these table completely stained, i would love to do some beautiful stuff for anyone. We do shipping if you would like, please check out our facebook page R&L Custom Creations of West Michigan

Rustic X coffee table

Submitted by LampAtFeet on Fri, 11/22/2019 - 13:57

I built this coffee table for my son's first apartment, along with the rustic X end table. It's a very sturdy table and the plans were easy to follow! It's so much fun being able to build my kids furniture!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut stain, then a coat of satin wipe on polyurethane to seal it.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Round Accent Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/30/2023 - 14:29

This is my very first build ever! I learned so much from this project. I also bought my first power drill and brad nailer for this project. My husband helped me cut the wood pieces to my measurements and I did everything else. I never knew how fun woodworking can be!

Emily Mangiaracina

Pedestals

My husband built this for me because it cost as much for one pedestal as it did to build this. I got storage and height for both my washer and dryer for the price of one pedestal. My husband built it, We painted it and I stenciled it.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Doll bunkbeds

Submitted by Benjies on Thu, 01/09/2014 - 11:44

This was really a quick project. It's sized to fit a standard American girl doll. I tag-teamed with my mother to make a Christmas gift for my 4-year old daughter. I built the bed and she sewed the mattresses, reversible blankets, and pillows. My daughter loved them. My only regret was using plywood instead of backboard for the box springs. The plywood was too thick making it a tight squeeze to get the dolls in the bed with the pillows and mattresses.

Estimated Cost
>$15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used krylon white spray paint with a gloss finish. I then did a couple of clear coats of a gloss enamel for protection.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Grandy Sliding Door Console

Submitted by lseib262 on Thu, 03/31/2016 - 15:49

I used the plans here and the hardware plans that are linked in the comments (with the 1-1/2 inch pulleys). In retrospect, it wasn't that hard, although I built it up to be so since I was doing so many things for the first time, including cutting and drilling metal. With the right blades and drill bits, it was a breeze. This took me a few months to actually finish, but if I were to do it again start to finish, I'd say one person could do it in 3-4 days. I got the reclaimed barnwood from a local salvage place. I used the tea/steel wool/vinegar stain for the top and regular paint for the body. Total cost was somewhere in the low $200's. I absolutely love it and am so grateful that a site like this exists! Thank you!!

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

Comments

tgrott

Sat, 04/02/2016 - 16:02

You did an amazing job! It looks beautiful! Also love the dog wall!!! :))) Can you email me the instructions on how to make the hardware at [email protected] or post them? 

Super easy farmhouse dining table !

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 11/27/2019 - 07:15

This was our first project like this .. was last minute cost about $64 with lumber and screws , we already had the stain and paint .. only took 2 days ! I’m so happy !!! The only thing different I would do is put pocket holes in which we might add . Perfect project for a beginner !

Estimated Cost
$64
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
We didn’t use any finish yet as we are still deciding lol
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
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