Community Brag Posts

First ever woodworking project!

I wanted to add a sectional in my veranda, but all the models at stores around my place were at least a 1000$ and didn't had the proper dimension. The plan given on this website was ideal for my space, since my veranda is limited in space (was converted from a balcony, 7'x14').

The whole project went slowly since I did it part time, but overall it went well. However, the entire project from A to Z was time-consuming since I decided at the beginning to do the wood working AND the sewing part, and I'm a beginner that doesn't have any experience in any of these fields. I did literally everything by myself, from cutting 148 pieces of wood with a rented mitre saw, sanding each single one of them, staining the assembled chairs and table after assembly, cutting various pieces of foam for my cushion with 72"x30" sheets of foam, and lastly do the sewing of all the green cushion AND the smaller squared cushions. That was a lot of things to learn for a first timer and fortunetely I was enough motivated to do them, and most importantly patient. I had the moral support of my girlfriend during the whole project and showing the progress of the project to my friends, family and coworkers did help a lot to keep me motivated to finish the project.

I learned a lot from this project, whether it's wood cutting, sanding, assembly, staining or machine sewing. These skills will help for future projects for sure!

Thank you very much Ana for helping me, with these simple plans, learn new skills that enabled me to create something amazing!!!

Second project we under took after stumbling over this blog. The armorie fit well in our bed room and has enough space for all my Indian sarees. Added a jewelery drawer in the middle. Love your blog Ana, thanks for the great work you do. Next project is to build a bed to match the armorie.

It's summertime and I wanted to be able to sit on my screened in porch with my husband with a cold drink and enjoy the nice weather. But...we had a less than cheery porch and not to mention no porch furniture. So, I started a mission to bring a little excitement to our porch and give us an outdoor area to entertain and enjoy! With some bright-colored paint, my carpenter's square, and a little patience okay..a lot of patience, I think I nailed it! I made 2 accent/ottoman tables, 2 outdoor lounge chairs, an outdoor lounge love seat, and the Hudson Outdoor table. I also bought 4 cushions on sale at Walmart in colors that match my bright patio set perfectly!

I modified the outdoor lounge chair in to a love seat by doubling the dimensions of the: back tie-in, seat frame supports, front and back aprons, seat back supports and seat back bottom support, using a 1x4 back tie-in instead of the 1x2, adding an extra seat frame support in between the front outside and inner support, and used 10 back boards and seat boards instead of 5.

I think now I'll go back to the porch and enjoy the afternoon with a nice cool iced green tea and finally get to relax on a porch with furniture on it!

Inspired by the Tall Secretary with mail slots but with my own twist/needs incorporated in it. Finished with pure white satin paint.

A nice and easy project for little people to enjoy getting in and out of chairs without worrying parents!

Used a router first time to soften the edges of the chairs and table. Also used a plug maker to fill up the counter sink holes. Love that stuff.

Didn't want to make all the chairs at once to figure out how I can improve on my process, and now I know that I should
1. Paint the slats prior to installing
2. Use router on the slats prior to installing
3. Use kreg jig to install the slats

Planning on making more chairs, or one more chair and 2 stools. Not sure yet.

As always, painting took the longest and I am not done yet. Will give a Minvax polycrylic gloss finish before putting into use.

Ana White inspired Rustic X Coffee Table finished with dark walnut stain and Annie Sloan graphite chalk paint.

My husband's and my first Ana White build. Made it for my mom for Mother's Day 2015. She loved it and I absolutely loved how it turned out!

When my two teenage boys were out of school in 2020 due to Covid19, I had them choose a project to work on and they chose theses chairs. I made cushions to go with the chairs. I think it turned out fantastic! They were proud of their work and so was I.

Farmhouse style table using Ana-white plans and HoneyBear finish.