Community Brag Posts

Outdoor furniture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 12/30/2016 - 06:21

I love taking good stuff that people throw out and up cycle them. Someone on my street had thrown out two sofa sets and the cushions were is perfect condition. They had slip covers on them too. I washed the covers and built the sofa to fit the cushions. I built two single chairs, a love seat and a matching table. Super happy with the way it turned out.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Stained and varnished.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Lisaatg3

Sun, 05/23/2021 - 08:49

How do you get the actual plans for this outdoor furniture set?

Square Farmhouse Table

Submitted by eddingsr on Sun, 01/08/2017 - 13:17

I built this table for a friend who wanted a rustic, plank-top kitchen table. She wanted a square table with 4x4 legs. Since I don't have clamps, I used pocket holes and wood glue for the table top. Also, I only have a 7&1/4" miter saw, which means the 4x4s were too thick to cut. So I made one cut in the legs, then flipped them and made another. It worked! :) I sanded down the sides of the table top with 80 grit. They needed to be evened up since some of the planks were a little longer than others. I back braced underneathe the top with (3) 1x3s. Then, I sanded all over with 120, vacuumed, then wiped it down with a damp towel. Fun build!! 

Estimated Cost
~$100 for lumber, screws, wood glue, sandpaper, and finishing products.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
For the finish I used Minwax wood conditioner, then a coat of Minwax stain in Provincial. I went back and put a second coat of stain on a few of the premium pine pieces, because they soaked up the first coat really well, and I wanted some darker pieces on top. I let those soak for about 15 minutes. Afterwards I did 2 coats of Polycrylic all over, then a third coat for the top only. I dry sanded between coats with 600 grit sandpaper.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic End Tables

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 09/24/2020 - 19:25

This was my first project in this style and thanks to this website they turned out great!

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
Jacobean Varathane woodstain

Comments

Great Plan for Garage Shelf!

Submitted by edapina on Wed, 11/26/2014 - 07:35

This was an easy project to complete in an afternoon that does not require any advance woodworking skills

Estimated Cost
About a $120 bucks considering that I had to buy all the wood and a box of 2 1/2 In screws!
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
No finish used.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

edapina

Wed, 12/10/2014 - 09:41

This is my second completed project with plans and ideas from your website. Thanks for your good work!

entryway locker

This is my first project.  With some help from my husband (navigating the power tools-- the table saw in particular) it was completed in a few weeks.   We live in Army housing, so I never really know what kind of space we will get. Inevitably, there is never enough storage, so this will find a home in any new home we might live in.  I used beadboard for the back, stained minwax special walnut. The paint is Benjamin Moore serenity blue- and then I used acrylic polyurethane- adding another level of kid resistance;)  Great plans Ana, and I am so excited to do my next project!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Benjamin Moore eggshell latex paint- about three coats- sanding in between with 220 grit sandpaper. Then added (satin)acrylic polyurethane-another three coats- and sanded in between with 400 grit. I didn't sand in between the 2nd and third coat. I don't know if that is technically "correct" , but it seems to make the smoothest surface for me.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

My take on "Lady Goats" cedar shed

Submitted by donbay91 on Sun, 03/14/2021 - 19:02

I absolutely loved these plans for this shed. I'm new to the site but I've been using your plans for things here at home... love it. I went with just one door to give me more places for shelves and I also went with a clear corrugated roof since it's shaded on that side of our house.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300ish
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
No finish yet. I haven't made up my mind
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Pergola

Submitted by benfsu00 on Fri, 04/19/2013 - 01:30

I have wanted a pergola for years and since we moved into our new construction in Dec. '12, I decided to finally go for it and add it to our new backyard plans. When I stumbled onto the plan on ana-white.com, I couldn't be more thrilled to see how simple of a project it was. I do not mean that it was an easy build by any means. I wanted a "beefier" look to it so I used 2x6 and 2x4's. The 4x4 posts are 10ft long (I was going to use 12 ft until I realized just how tall they were!). I stole the steel anchor post idea from the Popular Mechanics site and the "look" of the pergola from the Weatherly plan. I decided not to notch each beam due to time constraints and I just didn't think I need to. I did use zinc L brackets to secure the 2x6s to the support beams (also 2x6s). The top is stiff as can be but the bottom has a slight give to it since it is only four 4x4s sitting on post anchor brackets. I am planning on adding about 6 inches of concrete around the base of the posts (after my HOA "approves" the pergola) to stiffing the structure and then trim around the base for a more "custom" look to it. It will be similar style to the Weatherly except wider around the base so that I can set drinks on it. It took about 8 hours total and about an hour of that was setting the steel anchor posts (measuring and installing 2 1/4" red head screws into the 4" concrete slab patio).

I will stain it with a semi-transparent (BEHR brand) redwood-ish color in a few months after the PT pine dries.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farm House Bench

Submitted by toes on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 14:25

First bench to match the Farm House table I have built.  Istill need to finish my table now to match the bench.  

Estimated Cost
$35
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I first started my staining this bench with ZAR Moorish Teak (looked like I had painted it brown) sanded it down a little added Minwax dark walnut LOVED it! Added 3 coats of Deft stain lacquer.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

TV Stand

Easy to make tv stand from pine wood. This is what it looks like before painted. Plenty of space for dvd's.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kids Toy Bins

Submitted by brittanyj on Thu, 12/28/2017 - 13:03

Made some toy cubbies for a friend before their firstborn made her appearance, modeled after these:
https://www.amazon.com/Badger-Basket-Company-Storage-Cubby/dp/B00GXZRUA…

Personally, I really like the planked look of the back with different stains applied to each.  Gives it a bit more personalized look.  They are stackable so she can use them in whatever configuration suits their needs.  Fun, fairly quick project!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane stain in different types- dark walnut, driftwood grey, kona. White paint for outside.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Gabriel Wall System Hanging Organizer

This was a very fun project to build. I pretty much followed the directions that were posted, but I used 1x6's instead of 1x4's because I wanted more storage space on the shelves. I also used 1/2" iron piping instead of 3/4" and am happy with how it turned out. Since the guest bathroom is gray, we didn't want to stain the wood and chose to do an easy to do "weathered" (directions below) look. Now all we need to do is replace the ugly shower curtain!

Estimated Cost
$40 (paint not included).
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
"Weathered" look – First, paint a gray undercoat of paint and let dry. Secondly, coat the piece with paraffin wax (especially the edges and corners). Next, paint a top coat of white and let dry. Lastly, scrape off the wax (with a razor blade), to your liking, to give it the "weathered" look.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

tgrott

Wed, 03/30/2016 - 06:41

Love the weathered/distressed look you did.  Can you share your technique for the paint job?

tgrott

Wed, 03/30/2016 - 06:42

I;m sorry!! I just noticed that you did share the paint job!  Thanks! :P

tgrott

Wed, 03/30/2016 - 06:43

I;m sorry!! I just noticed that you did share the paint job!  Thanks! :P

File Cabinet based on Eco Office File Base Plans

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/21/2022 - 08:22

I got tired of wrestling with my old filing cabinet and decided to build one that would stand up to regular use. Based on the AW plan noted, I build this out of 3/4" plywood. The drawer faces are 1/2" birch plywood and the hardware is salvaged from old kitchen cabinets. Overall dimensions are slightly modified to fit my space. Painted the cabinet box flat black and because the birch faces have such an interesting swirl, I used clear poly for the drawers. Fun project that works well and looks great.

Comments

ROLLING RUSTIC WOOD DRESSER

Submitted by jimmysingh on Sun, 09/01/2013 - 13:08

First big project, big for me anyway. Dresser came out better than I had imagined. I followed the plan exactly step by step except for the wheels part. Thank you Ana for the plans.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-Oleum Traditional Cherry Wood Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Chunky leg bedframe

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/12/2019 - 17:43

I got tired of sleeping on the floor like college kids, but I didn’t want to buy a junky particle board bedframe. My husband and I are novice woodworkers. Even still, we bought the lumber around noon and managed to finish the whole project in about 5-6 hours! We used a Kreg jig for the first time and it was pretty simple. I am really pleased with how this turned out, and I can’t wait to try more of Ana’s plans in the future.

Estimated Cost
$100 including the cost of pockethole screws and finishing nails.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Take off of cubbies/with drawers

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/08/2023 - 09:00

Thanks for the inspiration! First time building something this massive. I have 10 foot ceilings. Bookcases are about t 9 foot tall.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Ana White Admin

Wed, 02/08/2023 - 15:43

Superb job, this looks amazing! Thanks for sharing. Would love to see it when it's all finished!

Smaller Dog Crate with a drawer!

Submitted by imalearba4 on Wed, 01/06/2016 - 14:02

You may remember my green stratton day beds that I built a long time ago- finally I have another project to post- I am soo happy I found Ana White's website. We just got back from a 2.5 week vacation in Israel and my dogs were staying with my sister. She told me they had been sleeping in the same kennel together instead of separately. Their kennels are too small so I decided to build them one using wood I already had. But since they are small dogs, I decided to size it down- but I wanted it end table height- so I built a smaller kennel- 20"H x 19"W x 28"D. but... I added a drawer to the top to bring it to the right height. You can read all about it on my blog- link below.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$35 - for drawer pull, stain, drawer slides, and hinge hardware- I had the 2x2s and plywood in my stash
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Provincial stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

KryssQuinn

Sat, 04/11/2020 - 15:17

I really like this idea. We have a repurposed dresser currently housing two crates, but this is cleaner.

Farmhouse storage bed w/drawers (king)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/10/2023 - 11:51

Seen this awesome plan on Anas site and had to build it in KING SIZE. The drawers are enormous, the bed is rock solid. I love it

Comments

Cedar 3 tier planter

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/30/2023 - 09:33

I made the boxes a little wider than the plans called for but still came out great. I'm very happy. Thanks Ana for the inspiration.

Comments

DIY Stinctly Made Crib

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 10:15

While I found the plans a little difficult to follow as there were steps left out, missing measurements, and misinformation, it was an easy project and I'm so glad I made it. Even at 21 weeks pregnant it was totally doable alone. The only thing I needed my husband for was to hold the side rails at the correct height.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Kona by Varathane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Chairs, Modern Loveseat, and the 2x4 Outdoor Coffee Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/29/2020 - 19:58

I took this opportunity while quarantined to make this set. I think it came out really beautifully!

Finish Used
Shou sugi ban, Simple Finish by Maker Brand, and Total Boat Halcyon Clear.

I used a blow torch to burn each board. Then I used a wire brush to remove soot, and washed with water and allowed to dry completely. I opted for pocket holes for the chairs and love seat. After assembling, I finished with Simple Finish by Maker Brand ($40/qt), and top coated with Total Boat Clear Halcyon ($32)