Community Brag Posts

2 x 4 Garage Shelves Built into Basement Storage!

Hello Everyone! This is my FIRST brag post here on Ana-White.com - but not the first project that we've built from her awesome plans. :) 

We have an unfinished basement that desperately needed some shelving because 1. It's our workshop in the Winter and 2. We don't have an official 'storage' room in the basement of our split level home. When I saw these plans I immediately thought they could be modified to fit our space and get my stuff off the floor! 

I modified the plans just enough to fit our space. After reading through them completely, I realized for an 8 ft wide space (beside the stairs) I only needed three supports for the shelves. Easy! The only trick was fitting the shelf into the space AFTER installing the shelves. Because I had walls on two sides (unlike the tutorial) I couldn't do the shelves as the last step. 

I LOVE how these turned out! They are a strong as a ladder (we tested them... :)) and they hold everything I need them to, and a little bit more. It's a definite improvement on my previously messy, cluttered, saw-dust covered space ... :) 

Estimated Cost
Our space was 8ft tall by 8ft wide, so we ended up purchasing about $60 worth of 2x4s to complete the project. We also used 2.5" screws, which are around $4 per box of 75.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None - we left the wood bare and natural because it's just for storage - not for looks. :)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Grillin' and Chillin' - Outdoor Grill Food Prep Station

Needed a table for food prep with my grill and found your plans! I used treated lumber for the base and nice cedar planks for the top. The treated lumber had a whiter than usual color which made the base really pop out. I put a nice pecan stain on top and a few coats of poly so the BBQ sauce wouldn't stain it! This was so easy, literally took 2-3 hours to build, stain and poly was done over the next few days. Ready for my next ana-white project. Thanks for posting these plans.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Simple pecan stain and minwax poly. Brushed on the stain and kept brushing until I got the darkness I wanted
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

tr7dul

Wed, 07/09/2014 - 16:24

I was looking on Pinterest and found this table. It was exactly what I was looking for. You inspired me to go out and buy a miter saw and some wood and make the table. It turned out wonderful. It now has a permanent place on my patio and gets used when I grill mostly. I was hoping to be able to upload a photo but don't see the option to do so. Anyway, I want to say thanks for the great plans/instructions.

1st time project!

Submitted by The_big_al on Wed, 06/24/2015 - 19:10

This was a pretty easy build. This was my first project and this looked like a pretty straightforward plan. I read over it several times before deciding what to do. I didn't like that it was held together using only screws. I anticipated that these beds will be moved several times over their lifetime and I did want to hassle with the screws stripping out the wood. Instead I used a 3/8 bolt and washer/nut set up so I could take the bed apart without worrying about stripping out the wood with screws. This necessitated drilling several large unsightly holes at the connection points. To help disguise this I trimmed it out using door casing and finished it out by staining the whole bed. The result was a classic look that will last my daughter's lifetime.

I will note that I changed a few parameters. I routed and the edges including the slats with a rounded corner edge. I used a 2x6 for the top cap of the head/footboards. With the addition of the trim work and bolt hardware, this did change the overall cost of the project. Total cost was probably close to $200. Had I stuck strictly to the plans I would have been closer to $100.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Because I changed a few parameters total cost was a bit higher. I think it was about $200 including hardware and stain.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
The Simple Bed plans work great. They were easy to follow. They were also simple enough I could make modifications without too much issue.

To make the bed I made, I made two headboards (in anticipation of making a bunk bed). Instead of using screws to hold the bed together I used a 3/8 4" bolt and nut combo. 4 bolts to hold the 4x4 posts to the head/footboard and 8 (2 on each end) to hold the side rails. I countersunk the bolts into the posts to hide the bolt head. I drilled 1 1/2 inch holes on the inside of the side rails and headboards to access the bolts and attache a washer and nut. Once tightened,the bolts holding the posts to the headboard will never have to come apart. Only the bolts for the rails have to be left accessible to take the bed apart for moving. However I was then left with huge unsightly holes in the outsides of the side rails and the insides of the head/footboards. I was going to leave it thinking it wouldn't look that bad but after assembling the bed I realized how unfinished it would look. That is when I decided to add the trim work which not only really made the bed look finished it hid all holes I had to drill. I did leave the holes in the backs of the posts uncovered since access to them is needed for assembly and dis-assembly.

Dimensions for the holes were calculated based on using the 1x6's in the headboard and the 2x6's in the side rails. If you want exact dimensions I can give you those. Just email me, however it was simple enough to figure out where to place them. The trickiest part is getting the holes drilled in the posts to line up with the headboards and rails.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Cubby Bookcase for a big girl!

Submitted by ferbit on Mon, 04/09/2012 - 18:36

My youngest needed a new bookcase so bad! All she had was an old baby bookcase that hardly fit her books anymore. I was so excited to see Ana's plans for the simple cubby bookcase. Yay! I made it a smidge narrower to fit the space and taller so she could have more adjustable cubbies. :)

I used pine 1x12 boards for the box and pine 1x2's for the trim. I used my Jig-It Adjustable Shelving Jig and drilled every other hole. Didn't feel like I needed quite as much "adjustability" for books. :-)

I wanted a more rustic look, so I left a lot of brush strokes on purpose and didn't fill any obvious knots in the wood. I really like how it turned out. :) When we were putting all of the shelves in, my daughter was so cute - she made sure all of the knots were facing OUTWARD so she could see them. She thought it looked neat that way.

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr semi-gloss off-white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Gable Roof Greenhouse

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/11/2023 - 10:42

I love my new Ana White designed greenhouse! It was amazingly easy to build and the material shopping list ensured there was very little waste or materials leftover after the build. I can’t wait to get started using it.

Bill Crabtree

Built from Plan(s)

King size Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/19/2020 - 15:59

This is a plan that My 16 year old son chose to do for a project to fulfill a goal to learn some woodworking skills during our unexpected downtime from School.
Mom is thrilled with the new space.
He adjusted different sizes based on what lumber we already had. He used 1x7’s and routed a 45deg on the edges to give the tongue and groove look. Posts are 4x5 and top railing is 2x7.

Estimated Cost
$40 in paint and supplies. Wood was free from a friend.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar Furniture Enamel.
Color - Web Grey
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

My Rustic X Console

This is my third project from this site (ok, third project EVER). I was coming on to look for doll bed plans, and the Rustic X Console showed up on my screen....I loved it instantly, and knew I had to try it. My husband ran out and picked up a Kreg Jig for me, and we spent a couple evenings on it. Had lots of fun, though now I know why Ana says to make sure you buy straight boards--the middle shelves were not straight, and that was frustrating to work with but we made it work! Now I just need to figure out what I'll be using it for.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Just like the original, I used the steel wool & vinegar mixture. I did two coats of this, which amounted to about one and a half cheese whiz jars full. Then my husband lightly sanded it (I really, really hate sanding) and we sprayed it with two coats of Minwax satin finish varathane. We'll probably still add one more coat of that.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Sturdy Outdoor Furniture Set

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/03/2024 - 13:52

The sectional is based off the 2x4 outdoor sectional plans and the table is loosely based on the 4x4 truss beam table plans, although it's built out of leftover cedar decking boards and 2x4's. I made some additional adjustments to the sofa to keep the pillows in place and used the full 10' boards from the plan (and a few extra). Super happy with how it turned out!

Sarah E

Bright and Cheery Adirondack Chair

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/13/2024 - 07:51

I made this chair for my mom on mothers day. She loves it and I was able to use some lumber from my dad's garage stash, who passed over Thanksgiving. So there was a special link for her to this chair. Loved the easy to follow plans, thank you.

cgauley.cg

2x4 outdoor couch

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/18/2020 - 18:46

I used cedar and added the extra boards so the cushions would stay put. We also made the arms 2x6 boards so we wouldn’t need end tables for the couch. The plans were super easy to follow. I mostly used pocket holes so the screws wouldn’t be visible. Love how it came out! Thank you for the plans, Ana!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Nothing yet. Deciding on whether to let it grey on its own
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Outdoor Sectional

Submitted by jwhipp on Thu, 04/11/2013 - 11:38

We followed the outdoor sectional plan from Ana Whites blog to create this outdoor sectional. First we bought the cushions and custom built this sectional to fit the cushions. We used 2x4's and the kreg jig for pocket screws, then covered the base in beadboard and some pine trim, gave it a good sanding and a nice paint job.

Estimated Cost
900
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
bead board and pine trim
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Juanita_r

Thu, 04/11/2013 - 15:12

I just want to curl up there with a book and spend the day on that lounge, so pretty & inviting. where did you get the base and back cushions, they are a great colour?

jwhipp

Fri, 04/12/2013 - 05:46

Thanks! We built the frame according to Ana's design (customized dimensions for our cushions) and then covered the base in bead board and used pine trim around the edges. The cushions are from the Frontgate Outlet in Cincinnati.

Modern Adirondack Chairs and Adirondack Table

Submitted by jer727 on Mon, 08/30/2021 - 12:18

This is one of my first wood working projects I have accomplished and these two plans were some that I really enjoyed making.

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Picnic Tables

For my son's 4th birthday party, we were doing it at our house and needed outdoor seating, so I took on the task of building 3 Toddler picnic tables and 1 smaller one. Building them was not that big of a deal, but painting all 4 took some time! After the party, we sent 1 to my parents, 1 to in-laws & 1 to my bro/sis-in-law, so only ended up with 1 left over. FYI-the picture on the plan is one of mine, thanks Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I primed each table, then painted them with 3 coats of paint and sealed them.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

2x4 cubby

Submitted by arkep on Tue, 05/14/2013 - 19:26

These cubbies are the next step in organizing my sewing/guest room. I plan to fill the shelves with fabric and books very soon!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50 (I already had the casters and paint)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
white primer, followed by Benjamin Moore Advance Paint (white)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

A Big Patio Planter

Submitted by Jake on Tue, 06/04/2013 - 17:50

I have a really boring backyard patio so I thought I would spice it up with flowers but I could not find a plan for a large right angle planter. So I made up my own.

The planter is made from cedar fencing but pine for the top trim and the corner legs. The legs have grooves that the sides slide into and are not screwed or glued in place. That is so you can remove the top trim and then just pull the sides out to replace them as needed or to even change the size of the planter.

This planter is 18" high so it is comfortable to sit on but that also means you will need a lot of soil to fill it up. Mine took 26 40lb bags which is over 1/2 ton of soil. Add water and that planter is here to stay. But it also means that there is a large tendency for the sides to bulge along the bottom so I placed stop blocks along the bottom base and screwed into the base.

I planted Angelonia for color and sage, oregano, and thyme for spice. It was fun to build and came out well but it was expensive as the soil along was nearly $60. Add another $50 for lumber and screws and you have exceeded the magic $100 mark. Still a good deal, however.

Estimated Cost
$110
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Painted the top trim and legs with Behr water-based enamel and left the cedar to mellow on its own.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

My version of "Outhouse Plan for Cabin"

Submitted by johnseigle on Mon, 06/06/2022 - 15:00

Hi Ana and Family,

I mostly followed your plans for my remote Alaska property outhouse build, with slight modifications. Our property is 7 miles from any road (and 2.5 hr drive from Anchorage) and I typically go there in the winter via snowmobile (December-April). I built this on my back deck in Anchorage and then took it apart and transported it in sections (back wall, 2x sidewalls, floor parts, door, roof parts, seat parts). It took me 5 trips to get it all up to my property from the truck at the trailhead via snowmobile!

The hardest part was digging the hole under 5 ft of snow! I cut several dead spruce trees in the area I planned to situate the outhouse and started a big fire (really big). We kept that going until we had melted out about a 15ft wide area down to bare soil. The next morning, while the ground was still warm from the previous evening's fire, we dug the hole (only about 3.5x3.5ft). Then I cribbed in the hole with old cedar fence slats to help prevent the inevitable ground cave-in that we often see with soil melt and rains in Alaska. Then, I pieced the outhouse together, with the frame sitting on small pavers.

I used a combo of T&G pine and cedar for the walls. I used metal for the roof. As I built this in January and February over several weekends (in Alaska), it was very cold and I would take the pieces inside and paint/stain them. As such, this basically took me all winter from start to finish. It doesn't take that long if you build it on site in warm weather. Once transported to the cabin site, it took parts of 3 weekends to get it in place and useable, including site prep. I've still got a little touch-up work to do (e.g., window for light in winter and bird block to keep the spring and summer nesters out). I put some anti-slip tape on the frame so that I don't slip on the frame base.

There is some waste wood if you follow the plans directly (especially 2x6), but I am using that to build a small firewood cover at home. This was not an inexpensive outhouse even without pandemic prices (I could have chosen a less expensive siding), but I wanted a nice outhouse and I'm very pleased with the outcome, so it was money well spent. Great plans! Thanks.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Queen Murphy Bed

Submitted by Jenga on Sun, 12/06/2015 - 12:59

Not too bad of a project but had to a good bit of guess work so I could changed the plans for a queen size bed and flip in on its side.

Estimated Cost
$200 if you already have the bed
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White Paint and laminate flooring left over from the floor.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Arilie

Sun, 05/29/2016 - 18:50

Good evening!

I am new at wood working, and would be very interrested in knowing the different measurements you changed to get from a twin to queen murphy bed. If it is posted on this page, I tried but couldn't find it. Thank you for your help. Have a good day.

Marie-Julie

Modified Queen Stratton Bed

Submitted by APagano on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 11:57

After we built the first level, we decided we didn't like how low to the ground the mattress was going to be, so we made another level. Our master bedroom is very small so this gives us plenty of storage space! The floor throughout the house is wavy, so theboxes do not meet perfectly ( you can see a slight gap at the bottom) which drives me crazy, but I will have to live with it for now. We kept the drawer face simple (less work, and we like the clean lines). Our mattress is quite thick, so I see myself building a step stool in my near future! This was our first project and very easy to follow. Already working on my next project. I am addicted! Thanks for the great site, Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
between 500 and 700, taking into account paint, handles, screws, etc
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Oil based ultra white from Lowes. I think it was Velspar.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Guest (not verified)

Tue, 02/14/2012 - 12:54

I too modified this plan with a second rob of drawers and im in the finishing stages of it (hardware and paint). How tall is yours?

APagano

Wed, 02/22/2012 - 13:05

Total height is 25 inches. I love how tall it is, because the dogs cannot jump on the bed! I wish we would have thought about the double drawer height before we started as it would have brought the cost and time down significantly. We live and we learn. Enjoy your new bed!

Marie421 (not verified)

Tue, 07/31/2012 - 19:48

Just wondering how you attached the double drawer layers together... Love the look of it...

APagano

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 17:41

Sorry for the delay in response. I haven't been on the site in awhile and I could not figure out my password! We used the Kreg Jig to attach the top level to the bottom. Looking back on it, we should have just built the walls as one piece, but since the top drawers were an addition, after the fact, we just had to deal. The 1x2 trim piece gave it a finished and less pieced together look. It has been so long since we built this, the details are fading!

In reply to by APagano

diy_lover

Sat, 08/06/2016 - 20:37

I'm new to furniture making and was wondering if you had plans for your work since I like the height, queen and twin size? Also, I was wondering if any drawers are for storage purposes, as I would like them to be?

natasha

Mon, 10/08/2012 - 08:00

Hi this is exactly what I need to do!
we just bought a new bed and I new I'd be making this not thinking I decided not to buy the box spring, now I realize my bed will be on the floor...

I would love it if you could share everything you learned in making it double decker! please
thanks
Natasha

APagano

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 17:48

Better late than never, I hope...
First thing we learned, the bed is a little too high, so we should have made slightly smaller drawers. Still happy our dogs can't get up there, but I have to actually hop up on the bed every night, and still have yet to get around to making my step stool.
Second, cut the side pieces for the height needed for two drawers, then you have a cleaner look with no middle trim piece. I don't mind it, but I would like it more without, I think.
That is really all I would change. The plans were easy to follow and made it easy to alter for our needs.

reneemwhiten

Tue, 05/07/2013 - 23:52

I am flabbergasted by this AMAZING bed you MADE over the WEEKEND! This is simply unbelievable! I absolutely could never do something like this. Are you willing to make a King size one exactly like this and sell it to me??
Oh please?!
Renee

APagano

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 17:53

Thank you for those kind words! I was a little nervous about taking on such a big project, but we had a fun time building it { I can't say the same for sanding and painting :-) } and are very happy with the space it freed up in our very small bedroom! Just take your time, invest in a Kreg Jig, and you can do it too!

Outside table with built in cooler

I made this table for a friend of mine. I'm a Realtor and he used me to help purchase his home. Instead of a boring house warming gift, I made him this table instead! 

Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Colonial maple stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
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