Farm House Table and Bench
Built this table and bench according to Ana's plans worked out great.
Built this table and bench according to Ana's plans worked out great.
Thank you Anna for designing such beautiful plans, and making them available for free. My husband likes the chair so much he doesn’t want it outside! I guess I’ll have to make a few more for our deck.
Love the Modern Craft Table! It has lots of storage space and tons of workspace on top. We used pine for the shelves and plywood for the top and edged the top with pine.
There is a spot for two counter stools at the opposite ends of the table which is perfect to give kids their own spot to craft/color.
Sun, 01/15/2012 - 20:10
I love this table but I wonder how do you use it to sew with? or do you sew on this table?
Sun, 01/15/2012 - 21:57
Brook, wow!!! This table is simply amazing! Thank you for sharing such beautiful photos too!
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 10:03
the whole room is beautifull. how many of the other pieces of furniture were built using Anna's plans?
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 10:03
the whole room is beautifull. how many of the other pieces of furniture were built using Anna's plans?
In reply to looks great by Guest (not verified)
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 20:49
Everything but the dresser/hutch and barstools we built using Ana-White plans!
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 12:06
This table is fabulous and I'm really in love with the color! Thank you for sharing. So many new ideas for my room now!
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 12:06
This table is fabulous and I'm really in love with the color! Thank you for sharing. So many new ideas for my room now!
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 17:32
You won't believe this...but today I was shopping for the wood to make the Modular Craft Table, but I did not buy the wood because I was trying to tweek the plans to change the "cubbies" and size. So, I came back to this sight and here is this craft table that would be much better. I want to make it table height rather than counter height so I can sit down and sew at it. I also want to be able to drop the back 12 inches of the table if I do not need it and so it will fit better in my room, wheels on the bottom to pull it out easily so I can extend the 12 inch table when needed. I love what you have done!
Tue, 01/17/2012 - 11:36
You did a fantastic job on this project! Love the way it looks and the color!
Great job!
Sat, 01/21/2012 - 07:00
I love this table, but I can't seem to find the directions to make it. Can you point me in the right direction to find it?
Wed, 01/25/2012 - 17:24
Is there a reason you can't sew on this (from what I gathered from a previous comment)? I want to build something for my wife's craft room and love this, but she will need to sew as well. Help?
Wed, 01/25/2012 - 17:32
Joe,
It would be hard to sew at this table because the table is counter height. You wouldn't be able to reach the foot peddle to run your sewing machine. You could alter the plans to fit a spot that could hold the peddle foot. I sew on a different table in my craft room and use this for cutting fabric and general crafts.
Brook
Wed, 01/25/2012 - 19:26
at one time I had my sewing machine in a spot that was counter height. I used a wood box to put the foot peddle on. One of anna's steep stool plans or the bathroom platform for kids plan might be good to build with this. It was also nice when I was sewing small pieces that needed lots of ironing to stand and sew at the counter.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 14:25
I have a modern sewing machine (within last 5 years) and I routinely sew at counter height with no problem. I prefer it because it really helps my back. I cannot wait to make this!
Fri, 02/24/2012 - 22:36
Joe,
I think it would work to mount the foot pedal on the inside of the shelf area. She would use her lower outer thigh to depress the pedal while seated.
Tue, 05/08/2012 - 07:47
I love this table! I'm with Brook and don't sew on mine. Height issue is easily worked around - main issue is usually back support. Sewing at a huge workstation tends to leave you feeling unsupported and sitting on a stool (I have a nice wide comfy one from Target) leaves your back unsupported so you usually slouch (bad! bad!). I sew at my smaller desk in a good supporting chair and use my table for everything else. I use this table for a true work area including cutting. I have an Accuquilt Studio and that sucker is HUGE and heavy!
Mon, 11/12/2012 - 11:22
I just talked my fiance' into building this for me to use as a desk. I need a desk for my work from home position where I can store everything as well as have a large area to spread things out. I loved this the moment I saw it and talked him into building it for me. Can't wait to post the pictures when it is finished.
Thu, 02/28/2013 - 16:15
My husband made this FABULOUS Craft Table for me last weekend, it turned out PERFECT! Thank you so much for posting this with such detailed directions....
What do you have in your galvanized pails? What do the labels say?
Thank you!
My wife was watching TV and she saw a Bookshelf on a Home Depot commercial with diagonal shelving. She kept telling me how much she wanted a bookshelf like that. So, for my first wood project ever, I decided to try and tackle it for her. It is slightly over 7 feet wide and a little over 6 feet tall. I am currently trying to learn sketchup8 to create plans for this project.
Unfortunately I didn't use a certain plan from Ana's site for this project, but you can find any bookcase plan and place the diagonal shelves in place of the horizontal ones.
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 21:02
So you totally just solved my no fireplace dilemma! I think I'm going to take your design here and leave an open space for some electric logs. Thank you so much for sharing, it is really stunning!
In reply to Very cool by nicwolford
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 06:10
Those were challenging because, as I stated before I am not even a beginner. I was going to try and use my little trim router to cut them but I learned quickly routers cause much saw dust. I don't have a router table and my router is small. I decided to use my miter saw. I measured out where the slots should go and Cut the outside boarders of the slots with my miter saw. I don't have a jig saw either so I chiseled the the remaining piece to form the slot. I then used my small trim router to smooth out the slots. After I got in a groove it went pretty fast. It was a lot of Slots. Like I said before, I am very new and I know there are easier ways to do this lol. Just a hint..If you ever use interlocking slots and plan on painting the project, I wouldn't make the slots exact to the bare wood. The primer and paint add to the thickness of the wood so it is important to take this into consideration before cutting the slots. Again, very new to this.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 06:28
I don't think that you can say that your "new to this" any more. You cut your teeth on quite an ambitious project. You did a fantastic job! And just wait till you learn sketchup, the FUN you will have! Keep up the great work and keep posting! Can't wait to see your next project!
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 12:32
I've never seen a diagonal bookcase before, but I like this one. You'll never have to worry about straightening books that have fallen on their sides either.
Sat, 02/04/2012 - 15:22
This book case looks truly expensive! My excuse is always a lack of tools, but look what you did with what you had! Everything is square and precisely done.
In reply to So impressed! by Debi G
Sat, 02/04/2012 - 19:26
Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate all the input I have been getting. I look forward to posting more projects and getting more ideas.
Tue, 02/07/2012 - 12:16
I really hope you post your plans! You did a nice job. I'd like to use a very scaled down version of this to make a wine rack in an open cupboard we have over our sink. Might have to pick your brain later. ;)
Tue, 02/07/2012 - 20:25
I saw the same commercial your wife saw, and kept trying to describe the bookshelf to my husband. Now I can show him. Thanks for posting,and I hope you figure out Sketch Up so we can see your plans!
In reply to Great Job!! by mrs2tone
Wed, 02/22/2012 - 20:33
I have started to figure it out a little bit. I thank you for the comments and am close to finishing the plans. Again thank you for your comments
Thu, 05/10/2012 - 17:29
Wow! That is wonderful...I have a similar one that I LOVE and wanted for years. It was in the Pottery Barn Catalog and OUTRAGEOUSLY priced...I don't remember exactly the $$. When "Hold Everything", a subsidiary of PB, went out of business, I got the second to last one they had in stock for $200. AND...When I saw the HD commercial I realized I might be able to make a more custom version someday. Your story inspired me to plan something, and also to perhaps even open up and learn SketchUp which I downloaded months ago...Look forward to more projects!
Mon, 10/15/2012 - 20:33
Well it's crooked. LOL Jk I think it is insanely awesome! I hope my first project is even half as good!
Mon, 07/15/2013 - 10:09
Great beautiful first build! Thank you for this great idea that triggered an idea for myself. Going take this format, and adjust the dimensions to fit as a wine shelf.
I love this project. My dogs Goldie and Chloe love their new house. They are sisters who just have to sleep with each other. They had their own metal crates but when Chloe was a puppy she would always go in with Goldie and they would snuggle. It was a tight fit for them as Chloe got older but they still had to snuggle. Now they are in heaven with their new bedding and house.
Thu, 02/09/2012 - 09:42
This is beautiful! Trying to convince my husband that we should do this so I can get that grey plastic dog crate out of our living room. Maybe this will show him how much better it would be to build one.
In reply to Plans by Guest (not verified)
Wed, 02/22/2012 - 16:34
Click above where it says "From plans" - that is a link.
Thu, 07/03/2014 - 12:43
Your post inspired me to pursue this project with some left over walnut and it turned out great! I think my post is on page 10 if you're curious. Thanks.
Thu, 07/31/2014 - 03:41
I'm going to try to make mine larger as my fur baby is Grt Dane/Lab mix & needs a bit more room. My idea is to put it at end of my king size bed like you would a cedar chest/hope chest. Wish me luck!
I wanted a huge cabana for my outdoor pool area to have a place guests could kick back and relax if they weren’t swimming. I took the plans from the one arm and armless outdoor sofas and modified the plan to include posts and a lattice top for shade. This inspired plan was finished off with cushions from at home and features seating comfortably for 9. Everyone loves this area in the backyard to kick back! At night we have solar lights twinkle at the top and they complete the project perfectly with a soft twinkle.
Fri, 06/02/2023 - 11:21
This is amazing! Great work on this project, thank you so much for sharing photos!
This rolling bar was inspired by Ana White's plan. It is used as a bar and conceals an electric smoker and a grill. I added handles for moving and some hooks on the sides. I stained the salvaged 2 X 6 's and brushed on clear oil based poly on the new Cedar fence boards.
Billie
This was one of my first bigger builds. I am so happy with the way it turned out!
Thu, 05/10/2012 - 10:32
So stunning! It's gorgeous! I just love the wood!
Thu, 05/19/2016 - 19:05
This bookcase wouldn't be out of place amongst the Pottery Barn's bookcases. In fact, it inspired me to go out this afternoon and buy some cedar boards so I can start building my own version first thing tomorrow. Thank you, Becky.
I copied Ana’s fireplace insert design. So easy and looks amazing.
It’s my favorite so far.
Thanks Ana!
Al
"Cellar? What cellar? We don't have a cellar... Oh, you mean the new sand box! Here, let me get some shade too."
I'm not sure why, but I can never seem to follow plans exactly. I guess that's not entirely true. I CAN follow plans exactly, but I almost never do. Maybe it's some sort of passive rebellion or something, but I usually have to put my own spin on the things that I build. Sometimes it works out in my favor. Sometimes not. This build was a little of both.
I decided to only build one bench in our sand box. This cut down on a lot of supplies. By making it longer a single bench and making it longer, it covers about the same amount of square feet, just in a rectangle instead of a square. When pricing lumber, I noticed that 2x8's were cheaper than 1x8's. So I went with those instead. It can't hurt to beef up the sides a little, right? This required some easy calculations on the cut list. I also decided to use 1x6 fence planks instead of 1x4 whitewood or pine. The fence planks were cheap, and I figured they would look nice in the back yard. They are also naturally pest and rot resistant. They required extra sanding to take the rough off. However, this is one place that I'm thinking the modification didn't work in my favor. The fence planks are not as thick as the whitewood. This combined with the increased length makes the the top pieces feel pretty weak. I put a little support piece under the bench. I'm quite sure the bench would not have held up well without the support.
Because this is an outdoor piece, I dry fit everything, and then stained everything before assembling it, to make sure all of the edges were well protected.
Cost breakdown (not including canopy)
Fence planks $14
2x8x8 $11
hinges $9
handle $2
stain $10
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 08:49
I just love the changes you made to this sandbox! Can you tell me what you used for the construction of the canopy? Thanks!
Modified to have storage boxes on only one side since it was being placed next to a wall.
Mon, 04/20/2020 - 14:26
Love everything about this room! Great job on the bed!
I started off with Ana's plans and kinda went rogue from there. The idea of creating those curved back legs scared me so I thought I'd sacrifice an Ikea dining chair and use it as the legs. When I ruined one of the legs I decided that I'd come too far to back out and that I must continue. I adapted many conventional methods to make the settee but I'm super pleased with the outcome. For the full step by step on how I completed the settee, please check it out here Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
I needed a sturdy place to hang clothes in my laundry room as I took them out of the dryer. I saw the dress up center and it was perfect (just needed to be altered to fit adult clothes)
Tue, 06/26/2012 - 09:56
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thought this project could have a grown up application!
Fri, 06/29/2012 - 02:36
I thought of doing this myself. I like the addition of the 'hanger holder" on the side. Great job!
Such a darling bed and plans. I'm so glad I found it! I built it with a friend for her little boy, so he could use it as a couch later on, and it is just darling with the black pleather and nailhead trim she picked out.
I marked it as an intermediate project more for the upholstery part of it. I'd call it a beginner building project, though. :)
Thanks, Ana!!
Wed, 07/04/2012 - 04:34
That looks great! I never would have thought of doing it with pleather. I've been trying to decide what seating to make for my son who lives in a one bedroom apartment and needs a place for his sister or friends to crash when they come to visit. I'm going to show him this and see what he thinks.
We needed a new patio table for our deck and I loved this design. I made it out of cedar which worked beautifully and made a few small tweaks:
- Needed it longer and wider so added two more 2x4's to the middle and added 2x6 end caps (as another poster had done).
- I did not add the holes to the cooler covers for uniformity, they slide in and out very easily.
- I used 4x4's as the legs and constructed the table skirting around it. This is a very sturdy design.
Built some benches for seating and they worked out great.
Overall I loved this build and it was fairly simple. Stained with Penofin deck stain (red label) and a spar varnish for protection.
Hope you like it!
Thu, 04/24/2014 - 07:43
Thank you! Local lumber yard that had great stuff. I will say though that I had to get some additional pieces from Home Depot and their cedar is fairly nice too. Beware though, they don't have true 1x cedar (at least here in St. Louis) it's more like 1/2 inch think.
Thu, 04/24/2014 - 07:43
Thank you! Local lumber yard that had great stuff. I will say though that I had to get some additional pieces from Home Depot and their cedar is fairly nice too. Beware though, they don't have true 1x cedar (at least here in St. Louis) it's more like 1/2 inch think.
Tue, 07/08/2014 - 20:00
Really well done with the two-tone stain. What particular colors of Penofin did you use? I'm working on a similar build and would like to use your color combination.
Mon, 05/04/2015 - 10:06
Do you happen to have your lumber list? I'm not the greatest with add ons, LOL! If you happen to have a step by step that's even better.
Thanks,
Jennifer
I moved into a new house and needed a new chicken coop. I am retired and not a woodworker but these plans were easy to build. Thanks Ana.
Doug Lamm
Great plans and a great build. I used 4x4’s for the legs and decided to go with the Farmhouse Bench instead. The color I went with is Weathered Grey. I applied it with a brush and immediately wipes it off with a clean rag, then 2 coats of poly to finish it off.
Loved the plans from the site Ana! I got inspired seeing all the lovely play kitchens that everyone had created! Thought I'd share the one I've made for my little one as well, she loves it!
A great weekend project...the "love swing"! I used the plan from Ana for the swing seat and added two arm rests from left over 1x6, rounded them off and sanded.
I cobbled together an A-frame to hang everything, made from five 8 foot 4x4s and two 8 foot 2x6s laminated together for the stretcher. Assembled with 1/2" galvanized carriage bolts and hung with 1/4" chain.
Definitely going to want a good miter saw for the A-Frame angles (the top ones are a bit tricky to get everything lined up)
Love it! Thanks for another great plan Ana..and of course..Shanty2Chic!
Built Cup storage shelf after adding a new set up cabinets and wood countertop.
Comments
Ana White Admin
Sat, 05/06/2023 - 07:40
Awesome farm table!
Thanks for sharing, it is lovely!