Community Brag Posts

Great Shelves - made to measure!

Submitted by tailspin10 on Fri, 09/04/2015 - 08:54

Thanks for the plans Ana!

I stuck to the design but changed the dimensions to suit the space and the boxes we intend to store. This made the shelves 7.5 feet high by 8.5 feet wide. The timber was supplied in 17’ lengths so this also meant very little wastage. The frame is composed of 2x4’s, the shelves are 4.5 x 1.5’s  - as I wanted the shelves slightly shallower this meant I could get away with three boards for each shelf instead of 4 as on the plans. 

For the short cross pieces I used woodglue and screws – to attach the long shelf pieces I just used screws. I predrilled holes in the first piece for each of the screws, but I didn’t drill a pilot hole in the next piece, the screws were self-tapping and didn’t need one.

The back wall is concrete block and I screwed each upright to the wall using wall plugs and screws. I’ve 2 young children and as the shelves are quite high I was afraid they might climb on them and tip them over otherwise. The attachment to the wall definitely makes the whole thing feel much sturdier – the structure is completely rigid.

The only real issue I encountered was that some of the boards were slightly twisted or warped – and I had to apply some force to keep everything square when I was gluing up. Overall I’m very happy with the end product, and found it reasonably easy to put together. Now its time to put the shelves to good use and start tidying up the garage!

Estimated Cost
$180 including screws - I'm in Ireland and unfortunately wood seems to be more expensive here :-(
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I gave it a quick wipe of some old danish oil I was going to throw out, I'm not that bothered about finish as the shelves are in the garage.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Octagonal picnic table

Submitted by Mike F on Wed, 07/04/2018 - 11:39

Picnic table is built of non treated pine. 2x6 and 2x4 only. I did stain as I went with outdoor stain just so everything would be protected. I don’t have the exact amount of wood bought but I think it is around 11 2x6 and 6 2x4. I used plans off of YouTube from A Simple Design of Ocalala. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WlprN_rUiJg

Estimated Cost
$180 -$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Super deck from Sherwin Williams.
English walnut and Mountain Ash
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

My version twist on the apothecary

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/30/2022 - 12:09

A bit wider and taller to hide our litter box in our too small living room. Thanks again Ana!!!

Comments

Second Project - Farmhouse King Bed

Submitted by scot price on Fri, 07/08/2011 - 11:41

This was our second project from the site.

We used the plans from the Queen Farmhouse Bed as a guide, and used information from the Two-Tone Kingzize Bed to finish it off.

Some differences we had were to used a single panel instead of multiple panels for the headboard and footboard. We then bordered that panel with 1x3's, and a 1x3 down the middle of the panels.

We also attached the box frame (we dont use boxsprings) a little higher than the plans. We attached these at 11.5 inches up. If you like high sitting beds, this will do it.

Great project. We havent sanded/stained it yet.

Estimated Cost
250 - 350
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
No finish yet, but plan to go dark stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

wonderfullyweird

Tue, 07/03/2012 - 07:47

Thanks for the tip about attaching the frame higher. I prefer high-sitting beds (I'm tall, so I hate feeling like I'm falling onto the bed), so I'm happy to see I can make it higher up.

StudioVaHi (not verified)

Sat, 10/13/2012 - 08:29

Love the single panels. Did you use one piece of wood for the panels? What size? Also, would love to see pictures of it with finish!

Striped Tent

Submitted by akruszyna on Sun, 08/11/2013 - 14:32

Not too bad for my first project without my dad to oversee! I did adjust the plan a bit for a more colorful option. I bought a 9' x 12' canvas drop cloth at Home Depot, cut a 3' wide strip, and used Dritz Stitch Witchery to finish the edges. I then mixed samples of Behr paint with fabric medium to paint stripes. So that I could wash the canvas if needed, I attached it with Velcro strips at the base of the tent.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-Oleum Flat Gray Primer
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Concrete Dining Table

I built this dining table with a concrete top and a base using the Rekourt Dining Table plans.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Special Walnut, one coat with an additional coat of white wall paint mixed with water and rubbed on/blended in followed by 3 coats of Polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Upcycle Bench

Submitted by LARMO on Fri, 07/20/2018 - 17:55

Upcycle headboard bench made for a local fund raiser

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Exterior cream with an exterior sealer, with a rubbed walnut stain into the seat.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Adirondack chair

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/10/2022 - 15:53

I had a customer ask if I could make a chair , they sent me a picture and I used your,and another persons chairs as my pattern, I made a few adjustments for my liking. Turned out great, thanks for always sharing and inspiring your ideas

Comments

Twin Fancy Storage Bed

I built my girls' beds using two of Ana's plans. I used all whitewood boards for the construction. It took a few hours to build both beds and I love the result! I used my brad nailer and gorilla glue for both the headboard and bed base. I also used drywall screws (my fav) to attach the bottom bed pieces. You can see more details at http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2011/01/beds-finished-well-almost.html !

Estimated Cost
Under $100 for each bed
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Two coats of custom cream color you can find in my blog post above. I use Whizz 4" rollers on almost all furniture painting... LOVE.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Grey Secretary From Ana's Book!

Submitted by ksmith311 on Tue, 08/13/2013 - 17:46

This was our first build requiring any doors. We didn't get them perfect, the inset part was kind of challenging, but its still functional and beautiful! I will be lining the top section (the desk part) with mirror and will be using it as a vanity desk! It has created sooo much storage in our extra bedroom and I LOVE THAT! It was a pretty easy build except for adding all the doors and hardware, which turned out to be the most frustrating part. We added some leftover crown molding to the table top which makes it feel a little top heavy. I'm thinking about adding some chunky feet to it to balance it out a bit.

The secretary is from Ana's awesome book: The Handbuilt Home!

Cost: approximately $60

Finish: Soft Gray paint in eggshell (What was I thinking using egg shell? It should have been a semi gloss but I guess that's what happens when you're using what you've got.)

Estimated Cost
60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Soft grey paint in eggshell
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Toy Room Table

Submitted by TToupin on Fri, 09/11/2015 - 13:51

We were unable to find a table that all 5 of our kids could sit at together in our toy room, so we decided to build one. We were able to use mostly scraps of wood that we already had in our garage. I distessed the legs and table top since I knew the kids would be playing with it every day. We love the way it turned out and the kids love playing on it!

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Hexagon address planter

Not much to say, just a quick project to use up some scrap lumber. Better to use it than burn it. 

Estimated Cost
$15 for the numbers, wood was all scrap 2x2 and 1x2
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax English Chestnut and Thompsons Outdoor Sealer
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Laundry Basket Dresser & Board and Batten Wall

Submitted by canesa on Thu, 07/14/2011 - 21:44

If you'd like to find out how I modified the laundry dresser to hold four baskets and how I hung the board and batten wall, check out the details on my blog. http://isteppedoutofmycomfortzone.blogspot.com/2011/02/and-did-spontane…
After I hung the boards with Liquid Nails I found out that if I ever want to take them down, the sheet rock is coming down with them! So I would probably skip that step...just incase!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Under $50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I painted everything in Dark Kettle Black by Valspar.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

aw02bzhmz (not verified)

Sun, 01/08/2012 - 15:34

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Avant, [url=http://www.longchampbagsfr.com]Sacs Longchamp[/url] sont réellement développés au sein d’une manière assez normale. Vous avez vécu des usines qui a élaboré des normes, brun ou des sacs, offerts à des milliers pour pas cher, alors vous incontestablement connu les sacs de créateurs. Les individus sont réellement développés par des designers bien rémunérés qui ont travaillé dans l’industrie de style, et montrerait loin de leur nouveaux sacs à chaque douze mois sur le tapis de couleur rouge. Là, ils obtiendraient des célébrités, acteurs et artistes en général, à mettre sur leurs nouveaux modèles, et leur montrer lointaines à partir de la route du monde. Mais quand il est arrivé le temps de les générer, ils ne font de petites quantités, tout comme le choix de maintenir le co?t varie de haut. Voilà comment ils seraient artificiellement fournir les gens de la demande et la pression ces temps qui désiraient acheter ces articles à dépenser des prix exorbitants. Mais dans les décennies précédentes, cela a commencé à changer avec Longchamp bon marché, ainsi que la révolution qui est-il passé au sein de l’industrie de style.http://www.longchampbagsfr.com

Modge Podge black and white photos onto the headboard

Submitted by TanyaBell on Sat, 08/17/2013 - 06:57

I chose to modify one of your headboards by only doing step 1-4.

We made a queen headboard and I wanted it slightly taller than the plans suggested so I added 12". I used 3/4" MDF as the back cut 60" w x 48" H, 1x4s for the sides and top and a 1x3 for the bottom. I glued and nail gunned each piece to the edge letting the sides extend down for the legs of the headboard.

I filled the nail gun holes with wood filler. The piece was primed, then painted with 2 coats of color, and then the photos were Modge Podged onto the interior of the headboard touching and overlapping. As my daughter gets older we can add more photos or I can make a fabric insert to go over the photos. She loves it and I'm happy we could do something different.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint is Valspar Gypsy Rouge 1010-9 in semi-gloss.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

yurra-bazain

Sat, 08/17/2013 - 16:23

I love how you made your daughter's headboard personalized. No one else in the entire world will have a headboard like hers! :) That's amazing! And the color coordination is great. =D

Husky Farmhouse Table

Submitted by plainkelly on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 07:12

We scaled this table down to fit in a Boston apartment dining room, which also serves as an entryway. We used six 2x6's instead of seven, and cut them down to 5' instead of 6'. We also went with standard Home Depot table legs in the interest of cost. This was our first-ever Ana White project and the first furniture my dad has ever built - and it was great to be part of the process (I mostly attached the screws, sanded, stained and painted while he did all the hard work. I bought the chairs for $5 each off Craigslist and intended to sand and re-finish them to match the table, but I've received lots of compliments on the red! I absolutely love this table and eat at it daily.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Espresso stain (two coats), satin white primer (three coats).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Queen sized bed

I wanted a new bed that was a little taller that the irobot vacuum could get under and the dog could not. Altered the modern queen sized farmhouse bed using mostly pallet wood to come up with this. Overall cost about $65 with the lights and all. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$65
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Red Mahogany, headboard has a coat of minwax classic gray over the top, let dry and then wiped down with mineral spirits.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Doll Bed

Submitted by jazberg on Fri, 07/15/2011 - 13:47

I asked my husband to build these as birthday presents for my daughter and my niece this past spring. Very cute, collapsable when they get tired of playing with it, sturdy enough to be sat on and used by both small children, the dog and the dolls! Materials and labor were cheap (thanks hunny!) and the product will last for as long as the girls play with dolls.

Estimated Cost
$50 for two
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
White spray paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Printer's Triple Media Console

Submitted by ladyamypc on Mon, 08/19/2013 - 22:11

I found the plans for the Printer's Triple Console on Jen Woodhouse's blog and fell in love with the design. Once I studied the entire Ana White website, I decided I could try to build this as my first project because the plans were so clear!
I changed the top to be cubbies instead of drawers to accommodate TV components and such. I just measured the openings, cut the ply board to those dimensions and used my kreg jig to make installing the cubby bases super easy.
I blogged the process (it took me a while so it is three separate posts) at becauseitalktomyself.com, look under "Optimistic Ideas"
I was DELIGHTED with how it turned out! I still can't believe I MADE THIS!!
THANK YOU ANA WHITE!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Varathane Stain + Poly: Kona
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Joni

Tue, 08/20/2013 - 07:45

Having built a version of this myself, I really appreciate the work that went into this. I can't believe this is your first project -- really amazing!! Great finished product!