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Kid's Playhouse and Slide

Submitted by docfin02 on Mon, 03/28/2011 - 18:56

I LOVE these plans. This was my first project, and although it was a big one to start with, the plans were easy to follow. If I can do it, anyone can. I added the rock wall. My kids and I love it. Total cost for me (including all lumber, nails, paint, slide, etc.) is about $850.

Built from Plan(s)
Build the Simple Playhouse - Front Wall with Door
Build a Simple Playhouse Deck
Build a Simple Playhouse - Roof
Estimated Cost
$850
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
1 coat primer, 2 coats paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday
Spring
Summer

Factory Cart Coffee Table

After finding the build plans for this while browsing Ana White's site, I knew I had to convince my husband to help me create this. I'd been drooling over certain high-end decor store's version for a while now, but refused to pay the costly price tag. This is now one of my favorite pieces in our home, and I love saying that we built it ourselves :) See the full post at: http://www.fromourhidingplace.com/2011/07/how-to-get-your-husband-to-bu…

Blog Link
Our Hiding Place
Built from Plan(s)
Factory Cart Coffee Table
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
stain, polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

The Quaint Cottage

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 07:06

I love this coffee table. I've been thinking about getting rid of the oversized ottoman and going with one of these...I think you made up my mind.

Great job.

Karen

jennywenny

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 10:19

Mind sharing where you found your casters? I am having a hard time finding anything I like. Thanks!

4X4 Truss Table and Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/09/2019 - 14:46

My daughter moved into her first apartment and asked me to make her a dining room table. I used the plans found on Ana's website and made a slight modifcations. I used 5/4" pine boards to build the tops and regular douglas fir 4x4s and 2x4s for the bases. All screws are hidden exept the lag bolts I painted black and used to bolt the end trusses to the center truss which gives it kind of a industrial type accent. Thanks to Ana White and Shanty 2 CHIC for the great plans. My daughter loved the table and bench and she is going to find chair for the other side of the table. 

Built from Plan(s)
4x4 Truss Beam Table
4x4 Truss Benches
Estimated Cost
Approximately $275 for the table, bench and misc stain, screw, sandpaper etc.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane Stain and Poly Mission Oak in Satin. Two coats on the bases and three coats on the tops. Used a pre stain conditioner prior to applying the Stain and Poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Mudroom Bench with Easy Drawers

Submitted by GeekAthair on Mon, 01/06/2020 - 20:12

We've been desperate for more storage in our little house and this build really helped. The whole bench is 103“ wide and each drawer gives us 24"x17" of usable space. We had to do some custom shaping for the benchtop (two joined fir 2x12's) fit as the walls are not square but in the end we were really pleased.

The hardest part of the project was getting all of this built and in place while working around a busy family as this is our only meal space and the majority of cutting/forming was done either on the weekends or after bedtimes. If I were to do this again I'd prioritize sending the kids to grandparents for the weekend and know king everything except for paint out in one go. 

We could have spent less time with the benchtop by using plywood like in the plans but we wanted the look of a separate benchtop. We may replace the fir with stained oak down the line but this should be plenty sturdy for the next several years. 

Built from Plan(s)
Mudroom Bench with Easy Drawers
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Valspar paint, minwax clear poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

King Size Farmhouse Bed with Dog Stairs and Storage

Submitted by jkjackson on Sun, 05/30/2021 - 15:21

We have a frosty faced blind girl and an aging tri-pawed that we wanted to be able to continue snuggling with us so we adapted the Farmhouse Bed with Storage to make it a king size. We made the drawer boxes deeper which allowed us to get rid of our dresser to create more space in our room. And we added a flight of stairs for the pups.

Blog Link
Kick Can’t to the Curb
Built from Plan(s)
Farmhouse Storage Bed with Drawers (Queen)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
General Finishes White Wash with Arm R Seal Oil Based Satin Finish top coat. (If you want the white wash to be more white and less amber, use water based.)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Took all day but worth it!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/06/2016 - 03:21

Loved the simple look and convertible design. Easy to visualize, hardest part was making sure of square 

Built from Plan(s)
Picnic Table that Converts to Benches
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Unfinished now, but will be sanded and polyurethane applied
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday
Spring
Summer

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!

Built from Plan(s)
Laundry Basket Organizer Tower - 4 Tall and Lengthwise
Open Frame Laundry Basket Organizer
Laundry Basket Dresser
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.

DIY Murphy Wall Bed

Submitted by Dstor22 on Sun, 03/15/2015 - 07:05

Just finished up my Murphy Bed project. Hope you like.

Built from Plan(s)
PLANS: A Murphy Bed YOU Can Build, and Afford to Build
Estimated Cost
280.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Weathered Oak Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

A-Frame Chicken Tractor

Submitted by Tonya P on Tue, 07/09/2013 - 19:46

New to raising chickens, but eager to jump right in to it.
We bought a pre-made coop for the main home for our new chicks and it's very nice, not something I could do myself since I'm not yet at that level, but I saw this chicken tractor and thought it would come in handy for what I have in mind so I made up my mind to build it.
The lumber, chicken wire, staples, and wheels are all store bought new and came to about $75. The materials we had on hand were the screws, hinges, plastic coated metal shelving (used in the nesting area, I thought that would make it easy to clean), paint, and the corner piece of vinyl siding for the roof cap (hubby's brilliant idea, and I painted it green with spray paint for vinyl).
I did not try to build it quickly, I don't really know how much time it took me, but if I had to guess I'd guess total time would amount to about 3 afternoons, by myself.
I wanted to leave the top on the one side open with the option to slap on the other boards if/when the need arises. I have the other t1-11 panels that can sit right in those areas because I stapled the chicken wire in a way that would allow it.
I also added a flip up panel as seen in the pictures for access. I didn't want a small door that I would have a hard time getting to things in there. I'm so glad I added this feature, it sure gives plenty of room for me to maintain the food and water dispensers as well as get in there and catch the little chickies :)
I wanted it green to blend into the wooded background in our backyard. I didn't want to take any beauty away from the cedar greenhouse and fencing we added last year, and this tractor would be moved from time to time and I felt this green that we had on hand was perfect to help it blend in rather than stand out.
This thing is heavy! I have a hard time moving it around and usually need my husband to move it so I won't hurt myself. I am considering some options... I don't like the rope I have on it to pull it, any suggestions would be appreciated.
As with the other items I've made with Ana's plans, this was fun and pretty easy to make. I love this site! Soon I will take on my next project, I've bought and gathered the materials, I'm anxious to get started :)
Thank you for looking :)

Built from Plan(s)
A Frame Chicken Coop Tractor
Estimated Cost
$75 - $85 for the new materials listed
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Green exterior paint we had on hand.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Hanging Plant Stand

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/08/2023 - 09:51

I made this for a friend. The hardest part of the build was finding the correct font.

Allyn

Screen door with built in dog door

Our old screen door wasn't cutting it anymore, so I built a new one, and to kill two birds with one stone, I included a built-in dog door. Now I just need to find the motivation to close off the old dog door.

I have the plans to build this screen door with a built-in dog door posted via the blog link below for anyone interested.

Blog Link
Free DIY plans for the screen door with dog door
Estimated Cost
80
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
white exterior paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

My First Builds!

Submitted by DiyIsFun on Tue, 06/23/2020 - 09:33

Made the swing and two sets of planters since we were on stay Home orders. I’d never done anything like this...ever! My husband helped me hang the swing. We love, love the results. (Now to make a seat cushion😆) I couldn’t tag the plans for the modern square planter boxes. They are huge and I can hardly wait until Christmas to put trees in all four!

Built from Plan(s)
Simple to Build Porch Swing
Tall Wood Planters

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday
Spring
Summer

Drop Leaf Mobile Kitchen Island

Submitted by jkjackson on Sun, 03/14/2021 - 11:19

This was born out of the need for more counter space in our galley kitchen. We don't have the space to add an island. Especially around the holidays, it would be great to have extra space for making cookies, serving big meals, etc. I used Ana's Small Kitchen Island Prep Cart plans for inspiration. I adapted the dimensions to fit at the end of our counters when not in use and added a drop leaf to give us almost 4 additional feet of butcher block counter top when we need it. I used scrap lumber that I had for the cabinet and had an extra drawer handle that matches our kitchen cabinets but bought the butcher block, locking casters, drawer slide and hardware for the legs. Also, the weight of the butcher block makes it want to tip when it's away from the cabinet with the drop leaf down so I added a lead counter weight inside the drawer.

Blog Link
Kick Can’t to the Curb
Built from Plan(s)
HOW TO: Small Kitchen Island Prep Cart with Compost
Estimated Cost
$150-200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr paint for the cabinet, food grade mineral oil and cutting board wax for the butcher block
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

jkjackson

Sat, 07/24/2021 - 16:59

Sure! I used a 4 foot butcher block and cut it down. The horizontal part is 13 1/2" and the drop leaf part is 32 1/8" attached with a piano hinge. The legs need to be cut and hinged to fit when folded up. This one is made so that the drop leaf fits right under the overhang of the kitchen countertop that it is next to so it's snug against the cabinet and not an issue but, if you want it to be freestanding, the weight of the butcher block will pull it over if you don't weight the cabinet down with something as well. I got a 5 pound lead bar from Amazon in case we need to use it somewhere else. I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Triangular Rabbit Hutch

Submitted by Medeek on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 18:14

This is a rabbit hutch I created for my kids 5 rabbits. The thing that makes this hutch really nice is if you have a large lawn you can just move the hutch a little bit every day and the lawn gets mowed, fertilized and you don't have to worry about cleaning up all the rabbit droppings. I also mounted a rabbit feeder on the inside of the house door to keep the food dry, which has worked really well.

Here is a short blog of all the steps in its construction:
http://design.medeek.com/gallery/RH3080_COPALIS_2013/RH3080_COPALIS_201…

Estimated Cost
150
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Exterior Paint brush or spray. Choose your color.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Medeek

Sun, 05/05/2013 - 01:52

I apologize I haven't got the completed planset up for this project yet but I will try to get it up in the next couple of weeks as well as a very complete materials list. You will need to go to a farm/feed store to get the correct 1"x2" wire and 1/2"x1" wire for the floor. Do not go to Home Depot and use the cow wire they have or the hardware cloth for the floor, neither of which are the correct choice. Home Depot has the lumber but not the wire. If you have any questions or even improvements to my design I would be interested in hearing from you.

Medeek

Sun, 09/13/2015 - 19:18

Finally got around to uploading the plans.  I still need to create a material list for this plan but the basics are there now.   We've had rabbits in it for about a year but recently we've tried some guinea pigs and it works great for that as well.  The guinea pigs can pretty much live off just the grass and dandelions but you do need to move it daily to give them plenty to eat.

Reclaimed wood king bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 10/17/2019 - 20:34

Built for a customer out of reclaimed 2x6 spruce corrral boards. There was a lot of sanding involved in prepping this wood, but I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!

Built from Plan(s)
Farmhouse Bed - Queen Sized
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Western Saloon doors

Submitted by tracysmith on Thu, 08/02/2012 - 00:44

I built these doors for a very good friend of mine who actually helped me get started turning my new love for building (after finding Ana's site) into a way for our family to make some extra money.

It took me a little while to wrap my brain around building something without using my Kreg Jig. I used a router table set up with some raised panels bits and put the whole thing together with glue and nails! Wonderful experience!

For the finish, I used a vinegar solution to give the cedar wood an old barn look. I think the final result turned out great and the final step was a clear coat sprayed on out of a rattle can.

Estimated Cost
Lumber cost was about $80
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Vinegar solution and a clear coat put on.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

birdsandsoap

Thu, 08/02/2012 - 10:51

These turned out great! I haven't seen this style of door in forever! They used to be really popular, I remember my Aunt and Uncle having these in the entry to their kitchen. They were the coolest thing ever when I was a kid! Maybe they are a making a comeback?
I'm really impressed with your routing skills, that's a task I have yet to tackle, but I've got the bits laying around waiting.

Nice job!

tracysmith

Thu, 08/02/2012 - 21:10

Thanks a bunch! My friend is replacing an old set of louvered doors that went into her laundry room. Her family are farmers and rodeo people so the western decor really fits in their house. Great western stuff there. They made a chandelier out of a wagon wheel! Really cool!

This was my first attempt at routing so I really appreciate your compliment! It's really simple if you can get the basics of it. I'm sure you'll do just fine when you get to that point. If I can do it, anyone can do it! Thanks again!!

laneal1987

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 09:32

I really want to try and build this for a closet.  Are there any instructions for this?  This is the first door of this style that I have come across that I absolutely love.

Twin Storage Beds

Submitted by anne_c on Thu, 08/07/2014 - 07:36

This was really my first build and it stemmed from not being able to find the kind of beds I wanted for my girls. My brother helped me cut the wood and assemble the first one and my husband and I did the second together. It was so rewarding to make them and I love how they turned out! You can store so much and they are sturdy pieces. My girls love them too. (bedding is from Pottery Barn) I would stay this is a beginner's project. You don't need any specialized tools. it was a lot of fun and now I'm it itching to buy a Kreg Jig so I can complete many more projects!

Built from Plan(s)
Twin Storage (Captains) Bed
Easy Build Wood Headboard (All Mattress Sizes)
Estimated Cost
$150-$175 per bed
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
After they were built, I sanded them and primed. The paint I chose was Polar Bear, which is a pretty true white, Behr brand from Home Depot. I used 2 coats of water based polyeurethane (Verathane brand), which has really protected it from knicks and scratches
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Outdoor Sofa

Submitted by dionneds on Sun, 04/10/2022 - 07:16

This was our first big project with our Kreg Jig. We adapted the plans to make the sofa 8' long. On Friday night, my husband did all the cuts and I pre-painted everything. With the help of our son, we had the whole sofa built in a few hours on Saturday morning. I puttied the visible holes, did a second coat of paint, and made custom cushions. The plans were very easy to follow. I followed the others' advice about pre-painting and assembling the back on a perfectly level surface. It came out better than I expected and it's super comfortable!

Built from Plan(s)
Outdoor Modern Sofa

Comments

kdykes08

Mon, 04/11/2022 - 07:44

I want the plans for this one! I like this style a lot better. I really like how the bottom cushions are at a slant. I suck at modifying plans.

Seasonal And Holiday
Summer

Modern Outdoor Chair - High Back Adirondack

Modified with a high back and modern adirondack arms.

The base of the chair is built exactly to the plan except that the arms are done in a modern adirondack style.

The back was made independently to fit inside the base and then attached to the plan base.

Very comfortable but very heavy chair even without the modified back.

Not stained yet obviously.

Cushions are hard to find I think I would make it slightly smaller next time and maybe even find the cushions first and alter the plan to fit.

Built from Plan(s)
Modern Outdoor Chair from 2x4s and 2x6s
Estimated Cost
$45 Can
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None yet
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

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