Community Brag Posts

One arm 2x4 outdoor sofa

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/18/2023 - 08:10

This was so super easy. We are so in love with this. Thank you Ana for making DIY so much fun!

Comments

farmhouse night stand

Submitted by CoreyS on Sun, 01/08/2012 - 20:51

I just Built two of these for my wife and I. the plan was great and easy to follow for the most part i would really suggest spending as much time on the drawers as possible it makes such a big difference getting them to slide easily. now hopefully with anyluck ana will find time in her busy life to post a farmhouse tallboy dresser plan or something close to it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
1 coat of mixwax pre stain wood conditioner then two coats of chocolate coloured stain then two coats of semi gloss poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Media Console from The Handbuilt Home

Submitted by Shorty on Wed, 11/27/2013 - 08:38

We built this media console because our old TV stand was pretty much a safety hazard for our soon-to-be mobile baby. We found a good plan in The Handbuilt Home and modified it to our dimensions with the help of Sketch Up. We couldn't be happier with the final product!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Primer & Behr's Swiss Coffee in Satin
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Toy storage bins

Submitted by DIYMomof4 on Fri, 02/12/2016 - 16:26

I made this for my 2 year old daughter. She absolutely loves it! I'm glad I only made two levels, because she uses the top to play with her toys. The open bins make it easy for her to find what she wants to play with and she even likes to put things away. I had extra shiplap boards, so I used them for the back.   The back is a bit higher than the top, which helps keep toys from falling behind the bins.  I secured it to the wall with furniture straps screwed into wall studs.  The only tricky part of building this was figuring out the angle cuts. I built this about 6 months ago and it has held up very well. It is a very sturdy design!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I think I used English Chestnut by Minwax for the stain. I also did several layers of Minwax high-build polyurethane clear semi-gloss. I lightly sanded with fine grit in between coats. I also wiped it with mineral spirits in between coats. It came out very smooth and has withstood several water and chocolate milk spills!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

High back porch swing

Submitted by wconway07 on Tue, 10/01/2019 - 17:47

it was an old swing on the family farm.  I saved it from the burn pile and remade it. Have made five so far.  All hav even 5ft wide, but one was 7ft.  Amazingly comfortable swing!

Estimated Cost
175
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Provincial 211
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

My First Project

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/24/2023 - 05:04

My very first woodworking project and could not have done it without you!!

Mistakes were made and lots was learned but pretty happy with how it turned out in the end.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Another great Loft bed

Submitted by mijohnst on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 08:30

This is another one if your popular loft bed houses. Thanks very much for the plans! I changed a few things, but not as dramatic as others have done. Was a fun project and my daughter actually helped. One spur of the moment idea was to allow her to paint a mural on the backside so that in few years when she out grows it we'll be able to look back and remember how we built it together.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White and blue paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Cindy from Indiana (not verified)

Sat, 01/14/2012 - 10:34

You guys did a great job - very cute! I also love the idea of a hidden mural that you get to revisit in the future. So cool!

Outdoor Bench Ted Moyer

Submitted by ted1735 on Sun, 12/01/2013 - 17:23

Easy bench to build with my son! added double legs for more stability, just glued two together and followed all directions.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Flood Cedar Transparent 2 coats and 3 coats of Helmsman Indoor Outdoor Spar Urethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Toy Box

Submitted by bsbdays on Mon, 02/15/2016 - 20:20

Built this using Ana's plans, thanks Ana!!!!

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

How to Quit Woodworking in 8 Simple Steps (Almost) - Coffee Table Edition

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/01/2019 - 19:42

First off, I appreciate you for taking the time to click on my project. Rest assured, this project didn't make me quit woodworking, I know the title was a little "click-batey". I don't want to discourage you from replicating this table because of the title of this post, as this has been my favorite project I've done to-date. The struggles that made me want to quit were laughably self inflicted and by my own doing, they weren't due to the instructions online. That being said, it did make me second guess whether I bit off more than I could chew. I promise not to disappoint with the story behind this build, so lets get into it.

My wife and I moved into a new home in the suburbs of Chicago and like many first time homeowners thought to ourselves, "We'll have no problem filling the house with all of our stuff." Then after settling in we had the realization of, "Wow...we really don't own that much furniture, this is going to get expensive FAST!" So after a decent amount of DIY and woodworking "research", I decided to give furniture building a shot. It all started with a desk...or so I thought it would. I fell into the hobby first by thinking that I needed to build an L-Shaped desk for my office. After having a few meals in our new home, I realized a new dining table would have to take precedent. After building the dining table, I was ready to tackle the desk, but then quickly realized that we didn't have anywhere to sit and eat. So I ended up doing more "research" and found a beautiful design based upon a Williams Sonoma box-joint bench. Following the bench build, I was ready to build the desk for my office...WRONG again! I was getting quite good at building furniture now, so the new couch we just purchased required a new coffee table that wasn't 30 years old and purchased 11 years ago at a garage sale for $5.

After finding the coffee table design on Ana White's site, I knew the build would not only be a challenge, but rewarding in the long run. About a day into the build I thought to myself, I really need to get the office desk done. So *Enter* a really terrible idea, "I'll do both the coffee table and the desk at the same time, it'll be no problem!" Hind sight is 20/20, because I was a moron for thinking that. We're fortunate enough that space wasn't an issue, I have about a 20' x 12' workshop that was able to accommodate both projects simultaneously. Unfortunately, I gave myself a deadline and the 3-4 days a week of traveling for work wasn't helping. I don't suggest doing that. I had all the pieces joined after the first week, but wanted to stain and finish each piece before putting the table together. This was due to the fact that I didn't want to be crawling on the ground and under the table trying to stain and finish. Finishing each individual component was painstaking to say the least, but glad I built the table the way I did. Luckily, the coffee table along with the L-Shaped desk took about 2 weeks total, and I could't be happier with both project.

Thank you again for taking the time to view my post, the story was a bit long winded but hopefully entertaining and insightful. I would appreciate you adding this as a pin or engaging the post socially and sharing. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, I'll do my best to respond in a timely manner.

Sincerely,

Jeff G.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$250 USD
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
The stain utilized:
1. One coat of Minwax English Chesnut (Sand to 220, apply stain and wipe off after 10 minutes)
2. One light coat of Minwax Weathered Oak (Paint on a light coat of stain and wipe off after 3 minutes)

Finish:
1. Three coats of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal Satin (Oil Based)
2. Lightly sand after each application of finish, thoroughly clean before next application
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Essential Adirondack Chair Two Seater

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/31/2023 - 12:04

I followed plans from someone who modified the Essential Adirondack plan to make it seat two. It is a fun and quick build!!

Comments

Ten Dollar Ledges (which were free - sort of)

Submitted by lcf on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 22:18

Thanks for a great plan! I've been procrastinating in posting, since I have plans to start blogging and wanted to link. Unfortunately, my blog remains a pipe dream as I still can't come up with a name.

The two long ledges were the ones I made (smaller ones are ancient.) These have helped me a great deal in my efforts to pull together/put my own stamp on the most awkwardly laid out and chopped up house imaginable! The 'in your face effect' created by my piling nearly every photo I own on them should be temporary - wall space will open up as other rooms get done. I do think they soften up the gigantic television (Ok, stop laughing. It was worse before.).

While the Ten Dollar Ledges were the inspiration for these, I didn't follow the instructions, since I have lots of leftover plywood and buying lumber when you live in the country and drive a VW Bug is not much fun. I'm very pleased with both the shelves and the garage space their creation opened up. There was a tradeoff, though, as it took me far longer than the hour or two each would have took had I used dimensional lumber. Four inch rip cuts are a pain! (especially since I was a bit too perfectionistic.) But I'm very happy with the results. Thanks again!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
very little (always have screws on hand and used paint I had)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Black semigloss spray paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

patricia klein (not verified)

Sat, 01/21/2012 - 16:20

Hi - I am SO EXCITED - just made a $10 ledge! I have been wanting a photo/art ledge for a long time and actually purchased one from Pottery Barn which I returned. I hated the finish on it an found it very difficult to hang, not to mention that it was expensive! I had some idea how I might make one but wasn't sure, so went on line looking for instructions. So glad I found yours - it was really easy and looks great. The best part is that you can make it whatever size and finish that you want. Now i have to get busy making art to fill it! Thank you so much for your great ideas - i see quite alot of others on your site that I just might try.

My red stove :3

Submitted by Sniqqi on Wed, 12/04/2013 - 04:56

I made it a little different, with a small door on the bottom as a little storage.
I loved making this for my kid, and as my first project ever I feel very proud of it.
I don't remember the exact amount of hours it took because I had little time to work on it (maybe 3 hours/week) so it took quite a bit of weeks to complete but it was really easy and fun! :D
I like how it's tall enough for my 2 year old to play standing, before we had a plastic one that was very very short, also it's sturdy enough for climb on it. xD
By the side I made a super easy, varnished, cupboard, following the same main steps from the stove, I only didn't put a front door and added on one side a towel holder and on the other side a small shelf/bar table

Estimated Cost
45€
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Reese

Wed, 12/04/2013 - 10:05

Love it! I like that you added a door for storage. I need to build one of these Very soon as it's on my little girls christmas wish list. It looks so good you did a great job :)

Rustic X-Frame Coffee Table

We've built so many of these coffee tables, but this one has got to be my favorite. Isn't the stain so dreamy?

I think the biggest thing about this coffee table is to finish it properly. We like to plane our boards down so it gives it a bit more of a seamless look - but real rustic lovers don't need to do this. 

We sanded the coffee table down with 120 grit paper & then stained this table in Sunbleached Oak by Varathane. It's literally the most stunning color. Blends with almost any decor. 

Once that was dry, we applied two coats of polyurathane 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
75.00 CA
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
We sanded the coffee table down with 120 grit paper & then stained this table in Sunbleached Oak by Varathane. It's literally the most stunning color. Blends with almost any decor. 
Once that was dry, we applied two coats of polyurathane 
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Cabin loft bunk bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/02/2019 - 08:49

Elevated loft bed for my two boys! Easy build with the plans from Ana White! I modified this version and elevated it so I could fit my youngest underneath. It was my first time using a Kreg Jig and I’m obsessed now. I would recommend buying top quality wood and increasing all numbers by 2-3 inches to make getting the mattress in easier. I would also recommend a lower profile mattress than I used. Happy Building!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used SW marshmellow and stained the roof walnut. Ladder is made out of steel piping that I spray painted (with primer) black.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Outdoor buffet table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/05/2023 - 15:03

My first project using Ana White plans. Used pressure treated lumber and Kreg pocket hole jig. Cost: $126.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Workbench Console Project

This was a fun and relatively easy project. Thanks Ana for all you do!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Bombay Mahoghany (3 coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

viola

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 09:49

This is great. You did wonderful for a first project. I could see this as a kitchen island...Thank you for sharing...

Workbench

Submitted by RyanLaw on Sat, 02/20/2016 - 22:33

I built this workbench in about two hours.

It is a nice, sturdy bench that I plan to use often.

For the top I used two sheets of 1/2" MDF.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Toddler Bunk Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/02/2019 - 17:54

I needed a solution to getting my bed back from my children. Since we live in a small apartment, this toddler bunk bed was the best option for our family! We are a military family so I wanted to build something that could be taken with us every time we move. The plans were easy to follow and has such a professional result!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Pizza Oven Cart

Not quite big enough for Pizza Oven, but love the plans!

Comments