Community Brag Posts

COVERED SANDBOX WITH BUILT IN SEATS

Once we hade the frame of it built, we stapled landscaping fabric and chicken wire to the bottom to keep weeds and moles/gophers from coming up through the bottom.

Other than that... We followed the plans as given.

The kids LOVE it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Storage Bench

Loved using the plans, had to modify them to work around my baskets and a pipe sticking out of my wall. I'd say this is somewhere between beginner and intermediate, as I had to use the pocket screw for some added support when attaching the sides. I primed then used two coats of white "door and trim" paint. So far it has held up to the baskets being slid back and forth, if I had to do it again, I would add a poly coat for durability, at least on the bottom of the cubbies. Cushions and pillow from HomeGoods. Would have been nice to design the bench to fit more standard cushion sizes, but oh well!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
white primer, two coats of white "door and trim" paint, applied with small foam roller and angled brush
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Storage sofa on steroids!

Submitted by Imadeit on Wed, 07/20/2016 - 12:59

First furniture project, first Kreg jig use.

Heavily adapted storage sofa plans.  Used existing day bed mattresses.  Made all wood surfaces finished with nice cladding, and all fabric portions removable and washable.

Added arms, and a back ledge.  Ledge is hinged to allow access to wall behind so I can get to the outlets.

Lots of work, but it is AWESOME.  Thanks for the inspiration Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$700 including the fabric
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dark gray latex paint, and gel stain for the shelf.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

WackyPup

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 13:37

This is almost exactly what I want to do! I have a dog who loves to rub on furniture and I don't want upholstery. Why did you make the back thicker? Is it just for added shelf space along the back? Thanks for posting the pictures. Very inspiring!

Imadeit

Mon, 02/20/2017 - 07:18

Sorry for the delay in seeing your question.  I haven't signed on to this site for a while.  You are correct thinking that I wanted to have shelf space along the back.  The sectional is the entire width of the wall and I knew that I would not be able to have end tables.  I wanted a way to have a lamp and a place to put drinks, etc.  As it turns out the arms of the sectional are great for holding my beverage.  The shelf holds my lamp and some baskets with general stuff like the remotes inside.  Thank you for the compliment.

sahorn01

Wed, 01/18/2023 - 09:28

Hi! I know this is a very old post but I would love try to make something similar to what you did in your storage sofa modifications - especially the wider frame and armrests. Any chance you wrote down your plans or have more pictures of your build? I also would love to understand how you made your upholstery/fabric removable. Did you follow any plan for making the cushions? Thanks in advance!

My Outdoor Bar Table

Submitted by schackjw on Mon, 06/01/2020 - 09:46

This is my first project, based on your outdoor bar table plan. Great design. I changed the top a little, still needs a little work.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Painted with the Limousine Black in the plans.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Pony Wall Workbench

Submitted by jboliver09 on Wed, 06/10/2020 - 19:22

Had to size the project done to fit my garage wall.
Left the sides open to use as storage for wood.
Overall Everything worked out, love it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Octagon Table

Really enjoyed making this one. The plan was great but i ran into a few difficulties. The 2x2 trim was the hardest. I settled on 22.5* miter because my saw has a positive stop there and i thought it might be the angle that i needed. Careful as the plan doesn't have much room to experiment unless you want to buy an extra 2x2. If your selection of 2x2 is anything like mine, that could be a huge endeavor. Hard to find a straight board in texas.

Estimated Cost
120
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax PreStain Conditioner
Rustoleum Kona
Rustoleum Ultimate Polyurethane in Semi-Gloss x 3 coats. Sanded by hand with 320 in between coats and wetsanded with 600 grit after the final coat and it really came out smooth.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

cmjohnson

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:05

hey! im currently working on this table & am running into the same trouble with the 2x2 trim. did the 22.5 miter cut work out for you for the trim pieces or was there a different angle that you ended up needing to use? thank you!

Rustic X Kitchen Island with 4x4 Legs

Submitted by Rich2727 on Fri, 06/20/2014 - 10:52

In order to make this island a little beafier I used 4x4 wood for the X as well as the the top and bottom braces. Top is made up of glued up 1x3 maple wood. It looked really good raw, but decided to stain it to give a more uniform look. I bought the rustic handles and the bottle opener on Amazon.com. I used lag bolts and washers for the finishing accents...similar to the pottery barn island. Painted them with Rustoleum oil bronzed paint and then dabbed it with a paper towel to give it a rougher finish to it and then sprayed the casters as well. This was a fun project and are getting a lot of use out of it. Thanks goes to Anna for the plans and inspiration for this island. Rich

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Mriddle

Fri, 06/20/2014 - 11:44

i keep debating if i should do this, you did a great job. i like the 4x4 sides.

Susan Hubbard

Sun, 06/22/2014 - 08:25

Rich, I love the changes you made with the 4x4's. You made a gorgeous piece of furniture! Can you share with me where/how you attached the drawer/shelf sides? I'd like to follow how you made this, but can't tell from the pictures. On the original they look inset from the 2x4's, but your space is taken up by 4x4's. Would you mind sharing??? Thanks!

Rich2727

Mon, 06/23/2014 - 16:36

So, I ripped the 4x4 cross pieces down by 1/2" so that the side panels would rest inside the rectangle and flush with the 4x4 frame and up against the X.

Did that make sense?

Susan Hubbard

Mon, 06/23/2014 - 18:28

That's what I thought, but I wanted to make sure. I'm going to make one similar to yours :)

Susan Hubbard

Mon, 06/23/2014 - 18:28

That's what I thought, but I wanted to make sure. I'm going to make one similar to yours :)

2 Seater Console Chair with Icebox

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/29/2024 - 09:28

I took one of Ana White’s Adirondack chairs, and made some changes to the back part of it and then turn it into a two seater console chair with ice chest in the center

Norman R

Pallirondack Laundry Basket Dresser

I showed my wife the Laundry Dresser featured on Ana White's website and she asked if I could make one for her, but not quite so tall. I also turned the orientation to fit our laundry room space. I used primarily oak from recycled pallets to build the Laundry Basket Dresser. She wanted a work space on top, so folded laundry, empty baskets, etc. all have a temporary resting place depending on the day. From start to finish, it took me about 6 hours. She plans to stain the piece at some point, but its already in use, so I'm not 100% sure that will ever happen until we move or something. ;-) Great idea and laundry room organization!

Estimated Cost
Half a box of screws
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Kathy in Pittsburgh (not verified)

Mon, 09/10/2012 - 10:22

I love the open sides, plus it makes it much more feasible to build with scraps repurposed wood, which I love. Thanks for the inspriation

payne.kj

Mon, 04/08/2013 - 08:48

Hi, do you have any kind of plans for how you did this or atleast dimensions? I think this one fits more of what my wife needs, but I'm pretty new to making anything.

nicholas_ftm

Sun, 06/14/2015 - 20:16

Soooo I made this according to the measurements and no laundry basket I find fit. Kind of dissapointed in the fact that this cool thing I just built doesn't have any baskets that will fit it. Any advice on finding a basket that fits?

jkread

Fri, 07/10/2015 - 20:56

I think the idea is to build it to fit the baskets you have or buy some and build around them.

Custom Kitchen Island - Is this the biggest version of an already big plan?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 10/20/2016 - 21:19

I'm building a house for a client who wanted a country farm house feel.  The kichen cabinets are custom frames with beaded board inserts.  

Custom Kitchen Island

The custom kitchen island is unusually large for this size home at 10' 6" x 4'. The base cabinet 90" x 25 1/2".   But, there is no dining room.  I wanted the island to not look like the rest of the cabinets.  Then I found Ana's design.  I reworked the design to fit my space and the buyers preferences.  Trash pullout, larger drawers ect.  My plan was so far from typical site built trim that I decided I would build it myself or it would really be a budget breaker.  I do have experience in all aspects of building but, this is my biggest trim project.  Time?  I'm sure I have 40 + hours in it.  Money?  The columns alone were $500.  I'm sure I have $1,500+ in it.  Don't even ask how many cool tools I had to add to my collection just for this project!  

I built the custom kitchen island in pieces in the shop, and assembled it in place.  Very heavy, no way to move it after assembly. The stain went on today.  I'm happy with the way it turned out.  Thanks for the inspiration Ana!    

Estimated Cost
$1500 to $2,000
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Sherwin Williams, custom color.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

lanatorlak

Fri, 10/21/2016 - 08:13

WOW! This is absolutely breathtaking! Just think of the memories that will be created around this beauty. The cabinets are great, but the console island steals the show! Job well done! 

Shelf/Desk Organizer

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 08/26/2020 - 08:31

I loved the cubby storage idea from Ana. It was the perfect solution to help my family stay organized during virtual learning at home. I tweaked it a bit to match my more modern decor, but love it! Thanks for the inspiration!

Estimated Cost
$35 (2) 47" long organizers
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse TV Stand

Submitted by chenny on Sat, 12/01/2012 - 00:08

This was my first project from scratch.

I used the following resources:
Kreg Jig
Table Saw
Random Orbital Sander
Jigsaw
Bosch Power Boss 360 Radio (for my sanity)

I used the following materials:
2x2 Furring Strips
1x2 Furring Strips
1x6 Cedar Planks

1 1/2" Pocket Hole Screws
1 1/4" Pocket Hole Screws
2 1/2" Pocket Hole Scerws
Minwax Prestain Wood Conditioner
Minwax Classic Grey Stain
Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane
Magnetic Touch Latch
Hinges
Handles

*Project Idea was based on the following item:
http://www.porterinternationaldesigns.com/ge5016-plasma-tv-stand.php

I altered the design and materials to fit my needs.

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Classic Grey
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Large Porch Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/31/2017 - 23:45

We built 2 XLarge Porch Benches,they where easy to build & look fabulous! Best part was it was a fraction of the cost if I were to buy these new!!! Thank you Ana!!! 

-Sandra 

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Barn Greenhouse with Entryway

Submitted by MikeMc100 on Sun, 11/09/2014 - 19:46

This was built mainly as a place to bring our pond plants in for the winter. After looking at various kits we decided this was the best option for us and much cheaper.

The size was increased to 12 X 12 and the walls/ceiling were increased another 15" in height over the original plans. An entryway was added to block the cold wind as our original barnstyle door wasn't tight enough and ended up being too drafty. Also added an RV type autoswitching propane system and blue flame heater for backup. For the winter months we insulated the lower portion of the interior walls with spun fiberglass and 6 mil film stapled over it. 

This is a very utilitarian version that serves our needs well. Great original plans and easy to build.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$1200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

cmswebster

Mon, 11/10/2014 - 09:57

Did you have to change the angles for the roof beams?  If so, what angle did you use?  

Ana White

Tue, 11/11/2014 - 16:04

Wow, this looks awesome!  I love the arctic entryway (thats what we call them up here in Alaska) and all the mods!  Thanks so much for sharing!

Modern Outdoor Chairs (modified for 24in cushions)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 11/25/2020 - 18:25

I built two of Ana's "Modern Outdoor Chairs" and adjusted the plans to accommodate 24" in cushions. We're pleased with how they turned out and have gotten great use out of them. Thanks for the plans, Ana!

Estimated Cost
~$60 per chair (not including the cushions)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used the exact finish that Ana recommended.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project
Seasonal And Holiday

Beds for my girls

Rather than buying beds for two of our daughters, I wanted to take the opportunity to build them. I really had a great time doing. I used the plans from the Captains Storage beds, but modified it a little.

We ripped two 3/4 inch finished ply into 12in pieces.
That gave us all the sides, ends, and dividers.
The platforms are 12x12 3/4x
The ends are the same only sorter.

Rather than using slats for the middle support I just used the remain ply.
We finished the front with 6ft sections of 1x2 inch furring strips. A good sanding and clean up, and we are good to go!

Thanks for posting the plans! We really enjoyed building the beds and our girls love them!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
unfinished wood
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

sulu293

Fri, 09/20/2013 - 13:14

LOVE this! was looking for something other than the slats that would TRULY hold my polynesian kids, thank you for sharing! :-)

Guest Room Addition

Submitted by AKMan279 on Wed, 12/16/2020 - 09:36

This project took me a couple weekends and turned out great.

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

Comments

King Farmhouse BED

This is my DIY for a farmhouse bed. Inspired by Anna white and Pottery Barn. I wanted a sturdy look and used 4 x 4 posts and decided to make a king!

Check out my blog:

http://www.woodworkingfourdummies.com/blog/king-farmhouse-bed-diy

 

Cheers,

Ian

Estimated Cost
$ 270.00 CDN
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut with a water based polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Back