Mail Bag

Hubby says, "I'll do the dishes, you go make more furniture!"

Dear Ana,

Thank you for giving me back my independance! When I was growing up with a DIY family, I believed that any furniture or repair that we needed was a simple matter of going out to the garage and getting it done. Imagine my shock when I grew up and had my own garage and realized that a table saw, belt sander, and other tools were not going to magically appear overnight. I would have to either invest in an expensive woodshop, or learn to make do with pre-fab furniture.

It was a grey world of disappointing furniture until I found your site and realized I don't have to have thousands of dollars worth of power tools just to build a simple $10 project! Thanks to your free plans, designed to be used with standard lumber and hand-held power tools, I am once again in control of my home!

I have built a new headboard (and plan a king-sized platform with storage soon) and took your $10 ledges, made them wider, and store ALL my DVDs on them. My husband keeps egging me on and says as long as my hobby is making furniture and storage solutions for the house, he will take care of all those other time-consuming chores like laundry and dishes!!

I was ESPECIALLY excited recently to find your plans for upper kitchen cabinets. I am happy with the base cabinets that came with my house but I can't wait to replace those irritating upper cabinets that have the wrong-height shelves.

I would love it if you could add to the kitchen cabinets series, instructions on building a plate rack / dish drainer like the one in this photo: http://bramblyhomeandgarden.blogspot.com/2011/02/practical-plate-rack.html These things seem to be all over Europe but they are rare in the US and have to be custom built. Now that I know you're on our side, I will do my own custom building from now on!

Thanks again Ana, keep those plans coming. If I get the storage bed finished, maybe hubby will buy me that sliding compound miter saw I've always wanted!

Tool Organization

Hi Ana,
I would love to see how you organize your work area, your equipment and your tools. My next project is to organize my garage so I can find things quicker and use them more easily.

My dad helped me build a custom desk this week and I got to introduce him to the Kreg Jig. I wouldn't have known about that if you didn't use it! I just need to finish painting it and then I can set it up!

Thanks for all of the inspiration you provide daily. I'm looking at your counter-height table now for our breakfast area to work on after I organize my garage!!!

Thanks for the new tools!

Well, sort of... Your site has inspired my wife to start building furniture for our home. The fun part for me is that you recommend a sliding miter saw. Yep, you guessed it, Christmas in January for me! We went to the hardware store today and I got all kinds of expensive new toys, er tools thanks to you!

Nice job on the site and the DIY plans. We look forward to building with them.

Steve

Daybed

Ana, please please please create a plan like the Ikea Hemnes Daybed. It has storage underneath but can also pull out to make a full size bed (or two twins side by side). The slats overlap to allow the trundle and the daybed to be at the same height. PLEASE help me make this!!! (Plus you can't buy it online, and I don't think it's available in any US Ikeas...sad...)
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30080316/

Thank You!!!!

I have probably spent 20 hours on your sit the last three days. I can't wait to get back to my house (I'm currently on vacation) and start some projects. You are so generous and kind to share your knowledge and expertise with us. I don't know if you take requests, but I have been searching high and low for a computer office cabinet. World Market used to have one. It was called the Verona cabinet. They have discontinued it, so I would love to try to make my own. Not sure if I would be brave enough to do it without a plan though. Whether you opt to try this one or not, I will definitely be using your site for years to come. Thank you, and keep up the good work!

garage/basement shelving

Just found your site, and like it a lot. Well done.

At a relatively quick glance, I did not see plans for garage/basement type shelving. Preferably with some that are suspended from the ceiling, for the large x-mas boxes, and plastic tubs we use tor long term storage. Suspended from the ceiling so as to not hinder easy movement below the highest shelves. Thanks!

Advice for Mantle Re-build

Hi Ana! I recently found your blog and I am in love with it! I have always been a little bit of a fixer-upper/DIY-er so your site is PERFECT!

I would like to get your input on a project that requires careful consideration. We recently bought new furniture and so are completely re-arranging our entire living room. Prior the TV(42" Plasma=VERY heavy!!) was on a far wall which made for a very awkward room arrangement and we would like for it to be above our mantle now. The problem arises in that our walls are plaster (house was built in 1940's) and the mantle is only 9.5" deep wheras the TV base is 12" at deepest mark.

My solution is to build somewhat of a hutch to go around/above the mantle so as to ensure more integrity and the appropriate dimensions to allow for the TV to rest safely above the mantle. This would also allow for us to incorporate additional shelves and space for the cable receiver and DVD player. Can you offer advice or possibly point out some plans that I can easily adapt to avoid trial and error? We are on a tight time window to get this complete as our furniture is being delivered Friday and I would prefer to have all of the changes and painting completed prior to it's delivery.

Thanks!

Thank you!

Ana -- when I first found your site two years ago, I was immediately inspired...but completely afraid that there was no one I could succeed and do what you were doing. I had NEVER used a saw before, much less build furniture. For two years I have continued to come back to your site and find/pin things I LOVE and started gaining the courage to ask for tools so that I could build my own furniture. Last week, I built my first piece, and now I am HOOKED. People didn't think I would do this -- and I didn't think I could do it well -- but we were ALL wrong and YOU were right! I, too, am a stay-at-home mom and I can't wait to get started on my next project. Thanks for your inspiration, encouragement and all of your hard work. I tell everyone that if I can do it -- a person who had never used a saw before -- then ANYONE can do it!

Thanks so much!

Base cabinets

Ana, I am in the middle of a whole-house renovation, and i recently came across your base cabinet plans. Using your plan, i made a new sink base tonight, in about 5 hours. Took a while, but you would be hard pressed to find a difference between this and a professional made cabinet! I love it, and i cant wait to finish it and install it! Thank you so much for your wonderful blog and for giving me what i needed to make my kitchen beautiful without spending thousands on brand new cabinets! I spent $50 on a cabinet i would have spent $400 on at the store!

Sewing Box

Hello Ana!

Long time stalker of your blog & recently received your book as a gift and am feeling so fulfilled. Not sure if this is the place to make requests, but I came across this amazing piece of furniture for a sewing table. I have limited space so it is perfect. Unfortunately, I don't have $1500 lying around. Is there any way you could make plans from this?

http://www.theoriginalscrapbox.com/products/the-sewingbox.html

Thanks!

health

Dear Ana,
I just recently started to look at your website and it is very inspiring for me. I am a stay at home mom for two years now and I need an outlet. Your projects seem to be the key for me. I just read your story about your health and eating habits. I agree with you a hundred percent. I have battled weight all my life from teen years to now. A couple of months ago I ended up in the emergency room for what we thought was a reaction to some thing. I have been to allergists and doctors and they found nothing. I am now seeing a thearipst because I have developed anxiety so bad that waking up and doing day to day things were difficult. Now I am slowly doing better with the anxiety and I have cut back on food. I am not allergic to food so they say, but what you said about living in a fog made sense. I have lost twenty pounds and I am feeling better than I have in a long time. I take it a day at a time and know that no matter what happens you get through it. So instead of depending on food I look to other things. I hope this gets to you and makes sense to you. Thank you for being open and honest .

Re: Pottery Barn Look-Alike Stratton Bed

Hey Ana, from Florida,

I love your bed design for the Pottery Barn Stratton Bed! Can you tell me if the dimensions are such that I can use the bed design without the drawers and add the Pottery barn baskets instead?

Thanks!

Bunk bed loft with flare

I am in desperate need of a plan that I cannot find. It is in my head, but I cannot find it online. I hope you can help me!

I live in a condo (we have been trying to sell for 4 years now) with limited space. My child is 5 and we are trying for a second one. I need to be able to put them in the same room when the time comes. But the layout of the room is odd. I need a bunk bed loft that I can have removable built in crib underneath with storage on the side(s). Crib at first, then can be removed to throw in a normal mattress for the transition for the "big kid" bed. Is there any plan available? I am at your mercy of your wonderful furniture plans! Thank you.

Vanity stool/chair

I love your website, I was so glad I had come across it during my endless search of ideas on pinterest. You have put new ideas into my head...and I don't think my project list will ever see an end haha.

I see that you have a plan on here for a vanity stool, but I was wondering if knew of a way to make a vanity stool type with a short back. Kind of like this: http://www.hsn.com/home-decor/safavieh-georgia-vanity-stool-sage_pf-1109... ----- I have a pretty good idea but doing the back part has me a little stumped.

Your Bunk Beds

Hello Anna --
For the past 7 years I have been on Social Security Disability due to kidney failure and the 27 years before that I worked in the construction trade. I did framing and finishing construction. My area of expertise was finish work.

When I went on disability I lost three quarters of my monthly salary due to the fact that the government does not want you to live like humans.

I came upon your website and really got a little excited. I thought to myself that I could build bunk beds for resale to the public. My biggest draw back is not having the money to build beds to put on display and was wondering if I could use some of your pictures as a sort of gallery for people to look at and order a bed from?

I realize what I am asking but it sure would be of great use for me to get this business off to a great start. I can give credit to you however you would like. Please, just let me know by emailing me at wayneboyd76@hotmail.com

retro-look casters

My husband has built a really cool coffee table out of reclaimed wood and old wooden crates and we want to mount it on casters. I can source only brand new casters which are modern and ugly or antique casters that are prohibitively expensive. Where can I get retro-look casters that won't break the bank? I'd prefer to buy them somewhere in the GTA if possible rather than order them on-line.

Desk stool

Hi Ana,
I am looking around for an alternative for a desk that I thrifted. I found a beautiful stool.....it costs about $450. I have built several items from your site before and know that this is probably something that would be a fairly easy and inexpensive build with the right plans (that's where your skill and expertise is needed!). Here is the link:http://www.clevertomato.com/ducduc-campaign-desk, you have to scroll down the options to look at the stool. If you ever get the chance, I thought this would be a fantastic addition to your site! Thank you for all that you do! My house is beautiful because of you!

hanging cube shelving

Dear Ana, I live in Penang Malaysia running my own little home school for local children. I would like to build a cube shelving unit to hang on a concrete wall where I can store all the education materials. It can be a very simple design and I have my own tools. I would start with a 12" deep and 8 cube wide X 4 cube high. Later I may add on to this. Thanks, Nick

Sling Bookshelves

Hi Ana,

I have looked everywhere for plans to build a stand alone sling bookshelf found on Amazon and one step ahead catalogs.

It looks like a very easy project and I was wondering if you had any direction for me on how to get started.

Logan Modular Wall System from PB

I love LOVE your website. I've finally collected all my tools and have started on the Grant Secretary Hutch for my office. So far no brag pictures have been posted, so I guess mine might be the first!!

What I really need to build next is the Logan Modular Wall System from PB. Do you have any plans for it? I have scoured your website and cannot find them. I want to build two "base with doors" and two "hutch with open shelves" to go on top. Please let me know if I have just missed them, or if they are possibly in the works. Thank you for all your wonderful work!!

help with combining plans

Hi Ana, I stumbled across your blog a few years ago, and have been drooling over many projects, since that time. This past year, we've been dreaming of building a loft-bed system for our daughter, and we're hoping to start on that in the New Year--my hubby and his father, mainly. We love elements from a couple of different systems, and plan to mix and match...the help we need is that we want to take the Secretary portion from the Grant Secretary unit, and make it fit into the desk/shelf unit of the Chelsea bunk system. (We're also taking the dresser-shelf unit from the Cabin Bunk System for the other end, and leaving out the drawers...using the cubbies for baskets instead)...What I'm wondering, is, would you have the time or willingness to alter the Secretary unit to fit into the shelf units of the bed systems? as the plans appear, the shelf is 6" too wide. My father-in-law could probably adapt it, but he is not computer literate, and it would be so nice to hand him a set of plans with the measurements already figured out.
Thanks so much for all your help!
By the way, I love watching the Momplex. You and your family are so inspiring.
Blessings,
Robin

suggestions please...

Hi ana, I live in California in the city of orange. I recently found your website by accident. I was desperately searching for a picnic table for my back yard and I came across your beautiful providence table. Boy was i glad to find your website.i was actually looking to buying a table not making one. I have no experience what so ever, but my husband talk me into attempting to built it.wow was I surprised. I fell in love with wood work. Only problem is that i get lost if my husband is not helping me. Do you have any suggestions in how to start? Did you take some classes? Is there books out there that would help me? I see so many beautiful things in your website that i would love to make for my home but I don't know where to start. I know it would take time and practice but that's ok. Thank you so much for your hard work.

Headboard/Console table with storage

Ana,

I just found your site last night and I couldn't sleep because I was so excited by all your projects! So much possibility! I appreciate that you've taken so much care to include directions for newbies like me. I took wood shop in middle school, but that was a LONG time ago. I'm staying with my in-laws for now, and my father in law has a great shop. I'm hoping to try out a few projects while we're here, so when we move and have a place that needs furnishing I can do it myself! I found this great piece at apartmenttherapy.com and was hoping you could make up a set of plans for it (you know... when you have time!) http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/at/111612headboard5.jpg
Also, I added your book to my Christmas Wish List (on Amazon.com). Happy Thanksgiving, Best of Luck and Thanks for the boost in confidence, creativity, and enthusiasm :)

Marisa