Community Brag Posts

Ava's Play Kitchen

Submitted by tcalford on Wed, 12/31/2014 - 09:10

We really wanted to give our 2 year old a play kitchen for Christmas. We also didn't want to spend the money on the likes of the Pottery Barn set, and weweren't sold on the lesser-expensive options. Fortunately, a quick internet search led me to Ana White's website and plans for this play kitchen. As someone who has never built anything before, the plans seemed very doable. All of the brag posts were also inspirational and sold me on starting this project. I worked on this an hour or so after work for a couple of weeks, and then a few longer nights running up to Christmas Eve (always a bit of a procrastinator!). As neither my wife or I know how to sew, we decided to turn the space underneath the sink into a cabinet. The paint color was left over from painting our kitchen and family room, and we decided to stain the stove and counter tops. Overall, we are very pleased and proud with how this turned out, and our 2 year old loves playing with the set!

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

Comments

JoanneS

Wed, 12/31/2014 - 13:15

This looks awesome! Love all the details and the green color with the stained counter. Great job!

Rustic X End Tables

Submitted by BeauKSU on Mon, 06/15/2015 - 09:46

I made one table following your original plans and it turned out great! The top is American Walnut Polyshades from Minwax (stain and poly in one), topped off with paste wax. The bottom is just regular white paint that we had lying around the house. The plans were easy to follow and introduced me to the Kregg Jig. How did I ever live without it?! Thanks for posting them for everyone to see, we're so happy with how they turned out!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$70 per table
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White pain on bottom and Minwax Polyshades - American Walnut on top, finished with paste wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Bedside End Tables

Submitted by Grace734 on Mon, 02/05/2018 - 07:38

These are made from the three drawer plans but modified the size to meet our needs and used planks for shelves instead of drawers. Painted white and black gel stain. 

 

UPDATE FROM ANA - We have received MANY requests for this plan and have created a plan inspired by this post here.

Shopping List (for ONE bedside table) + Tools

  • 1 - 1x2 @ 6 feet long
  • 5 - 1x4 @ 8 feet long
  • 2 - 2x2 @ 8 feet long
  • 1-1/4" and 2-1/2" pocket hole screws
  • 1-1/4" brad nails
  • wood glue
  • Kreg Jig
  • Compound Miter saw
  • Drill
  • Brad Nailer (18 guage)

Cut List (for ONE bedside table)

  • 4 - 1x2 @ 14" - Side panel trim
  • 8 - 1x4 @ 23-1/4" - Side panels
  • 4 - 2x2 @ 27-1/4" - Legs
  • 6 - 2x2 @ 14" - Shelf support
  • 8 - 1x4 @ 17" - Shelves
  • 5 - 1x4 @ 18" - Top

Cut 1x4s and 1x2s with miter saw. Layout side panel 1x4s as shown above.  Measure and cut 1x2 to length.  Nail the 1x2 to the 1x4s, two nails per overlap with glue.  Make sure your side panels are square.  Build two.

Drill 3/4" pocket holes on inside edge of 1x4 ends as shown above.  Cut 2x2s with compound miter saw. Attach to the 2x2 legs with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws.

Set Kreg Jig to 1-1/2" setting.  Drill 1-1/2" pocket holes on end of each 2x2, one per end.  Attach to 2x2s with wood glue as shown above.

Cut 1x4 shelf boards with compound miter saw.  Nail and glue to the inside of the project as shown above.

Cut 1x4 top boards with compound miter saw.  Nail and glue to top with 1-1/4" nails and wood glue.

If you wish to add a back, measure and cut from 1/4" plywood and attach with 3/4" brad nails.

Estimated Cost
100.00 for both.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
One coat of eggshell white PPG
Two coats of ebony gel stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Cedar Outdoor Side Table First Project

Submitted by Amy.Mapes on Sat, 05/04/2019 - 09:35

This was my first attempt at making anything out of wood.  I was thankful for guidance from my husband but I did it myself!!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Colonial Maple Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

First Project

Submitted by dragondad on Thu, 08/06/2020 - 11:34

Well, I started with one chair and finished with a full set. Not bad for a first timer. Definitely room to improve. Little tip if you're going to make this amazing set... raise the backs as they are too low with thicker cushions. I built a casing to go on top after the fact. Pretty happy with how it all turned out. Thanks Ana for the plans... now onto the next project!

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!

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

Adirondack chairs

Submitted by elfi on Sun, 05/05/2019 - 08:04

Adirondack chairs from your plans. My husband added some rounding on the arms and back. We wanted them to look like well weathered beach chairs. To get that effect we used milk paint which lets the grain show through.

The best addition are the two wooden wheels on the back leg of the chairs, I can now easily move them around my patio.

Estimated Cost
$ 30 per chair
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Milk paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

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

Farm house queen/ crate storage

Submitted by Mathcky on Mon, 04/21/2014 - 10:50

Started with the farm house queen bed and changed the plans. I made the head/footboards 3 inches taller and took the panelling on the footboard all the way to the floor. I made storage underneath the bed and night stands. I'm using old apple crates for the storage. I made the night stands with the crate in it too to match the bed. I used a single piece of 18x18 ceramic tile for the top of the nightstand. The set is stained Minwax classic grey. I used a mixture of wood. Oak and pine, surprisingly it stained good and matched up. The crates aren't in the pictures yet. We have an older house with small rooms so the storage is perfect. The grey finish looks good for the old wood look with newer wood used

Estimated Cost
$100.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax classic grey
Some pieces were stained more then once to get an even,matching color
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Traditional Bird House Brag Post

Submitted by MMTruncale on Sat, 04/06/2013 - 19:15

My very first project using the Compound Miter Saw. Easy Cuts. Easy assembly. Cost was about $1.50. I think I am going to make kits (as suggested in the sister plan) for a couple of birthdays coming up!

Estimated Cost
$1.50
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
No finish. Used spray paint to put Little One's hands on the roof.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Mobile Storage Cart with Chalkboard Back

Submitted by vendo on Mon, 10/23/2023 - 11:14

I was asked to build something for my daughters varsity basketball team room. There wasn't a lot of extra space, so this is what I came up with. I wanted to give parents a place to set treats or leave an inspirational message. I was inspired by Ana's modern craft table plans. The smaller bookshelf measures 14" wide by 33 1/4" high (using a 1x8), the larger bookshelf measures 21" wide by 33 1/4" tall (using 3/4" plywood), with a 3/4" plywood top and 2" casters, it's a nice 36" counterheight. I used edgebanding for the top and front exposed plywood edges. I used aluminum flat bar (spray painted gold) to the shelves adding a decorative element as well as to help keep items on the shelves. The back is 1/8" panel spray painted with chalk paint. I added some bay supports at the top of each bookshelf to attach the top from underneath. I'm happy with the results!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Dog/Baby Gate

Submitted by advanlente on Sat, 03/28/2020 - 11:53

Inspired by Ana White's $25 Wood Baby Gate (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPV6XfheqgA), I needed a gate for my miniature schnauzers. They loved going into the basement unattended ... and well ... potty accidents happen without me being the wiser. So, I modified the hardware used, and so far so good! The puppies and my little nieces and nephews are protected. 

Farmhouse King Bed- Beetle Kill Pine

This was our first build and it was quite a big project to take on to start with. We had so much fun and learned so much along the way. 

Our biggest lessons were to hand pick our wood and make sure we get the straightest pieces possible. We had to wrestle some wood to make this bed work!  Clamp everything especially when using large bolts as the pieces would pull apart from each other. We even used a ratchet strap at one point becuase our small clamps weren't cutting it. I'm sure there's a better way and we'd love to hear about it but we made what we had work. We also had to figure out how to attach the side rails and at what height. We ended up using 3 4-inch screws on each end to screw them into the posts.  

We love this bed not only because it was a labor of love but because its such a solid beautiful piece. 

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Polycrylic Water based - 4 coats, sanded using a 220 grit sanding block in-between each coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Huffaker6971

Sun, 08/18/2019 - 13:47

This is exactly what I've been looking for. Are there plans for this build?

sxewhodey

Sun, 03/01/2020 - 11:29

Very nice! I love the lighter wood too, but my wife likes the darker stain, so we compromised in the middle for the finish. Why  arethe post always so red? I can appreciate the natural tendency of nature to add color, but the 4*4's are always red-er in color. Do they always use a different pine or certain part of the tree for those?

Cedar Planters made from Reclaimed Fence Pickets

I built Ana's under $20 cedar planters for free. Or, almost free! I had to buy some more wood glue, but I had some of the wood on hand and took some from a friend's pile of old fence wood. It took me about five hours to build both planters from start to finish. See the blog link below for more info.

 

Pin For Later!

Cedar Planters made from Reclaimed Fence Pickets

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Free
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Oxidized the new cedar 2x4s with steel wool/vinegar (http://thefriendlyhome.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-oxidize-wood.html). Other than that, no finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Providence Bench for my Front Porch

Submitted by kerrbear on Wed, 09/26/2012 - 10:30

This project was quick and simple. Just keep in mind and pay attention to the plans where they state "bevel" or "miter". There is a difference!

This project was free to me as we have a huge amount of 2x4 studs left over in our garage from a previous project so I should be able to do the table and another bench for free as well.

It went together within a few hours as the cuts are easy.

Working on the camp loft bed now with some mods to add a stationary bed beneath and more height for my girls room.

Overall great build.

I stained it with one coat of Kona. I did let the stain sit and barely wiped it off that is why it ended up being very dark which is the look I was going for. I then finished it off with 4 coats of polycrylic clear in high gloss which dries very fast and does not yellow.

Estimated Cost
$10.00 - 2x4's here are about $1.54 each
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
1 coat of Rustoleum Ultimate wood stain in Kona. This is the best stain ever for dry time (its not clean like gel stain though so it is runny and can get messy just an fyi)
It dries within an hour! And only needs one coat!

Finished it with 4 coats of Minwax polycrylic clear gloss. Its ultra fast drying and water based for easy clean up. Comes in matte, satin, and gloss.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Jamie Hynes (not verified)

Sun, 11/04/2012 - 14:15

Hi - would it be possible to get these plans also? Thx so much, it looks like a fun project with fast results. jamie

Vicki G. (not verified)

Fri, 11/23/2012 - 10:49

There is a clickable link above where it says "Blog Link: Build a Providence Bench"

Bar Height Farmhouse Table / Benches

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 11/15/2016 - 12:07

I wanted to say thank you for the inspiration.

I took the general idea, made it bar height and my own preferred size and beefed it up by doweling together the top pieces.

Given the size, I made the top removable with threaded inserts as well as the removable support beams below.

For the benches, I wanted something sturdy and a look that was similar to the table.  I added in a nickel support rod for the foot rest for both strength and a nice look.

All in all this project took a lot of time, probably more so with my perfectionist ways and wanting to  make the finish perfectly smooth.  It's like glass, which I just love against the dents and dings of the wood.

Some of the challenges were wood that warped.  After putting together the bench tops, the wood warped quite a bit, nothing that a few clamps couldn't undo but a pain nonetheless.

Using black stain really brought out a nice look and I'm taking that same look to the new trim and door that are going into the dining area as well.

 

I've not seen a bar height (not counter height) table in a full dining table size before, it's what I wanted and I couldn't be happier with the results.   Was it worth all of the time?   That's hard to say, I really love it, but it took a long time to get it to be exactly what I wanted it to be.

Thanks!

 

 

Estimated Cost
$180 in lumber, $200 for stain/poly/sandpaper/steel wool/Kreg jig/screws. $20 for furniture screws that look sharp and allow the table base to be easily disassembled. Another $20 for threaded inserts and machine bolts to hold the top to the base.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Ebony Minwax oil based stain and Satin Poly.
Pre-stain, one coat of stain, wipe after 5 min, three coats of poly using steel wool (00) between each coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

My Mom's King Fancy Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by thehallway on Fri, 10/26/2012 - 08:28

I built this bed for my parent's guest room at my sister's house. It is very similar to a bed mom had been wanting. They wanted a king size so I had to do some modifications to the original plan - primarily adding 16" to all width measurements. I also used 10 - 1x8s for the headboard panels. That made the panels slightly too wide, so I had to rip a little bit off the 2 end panels.

The hardest part of the project was getting it in her house! The legs made it about 1/4" too wide to fit it thru the door. We were about to remove the legs (which would have been a disaster since they were glued, screwed and painted on) when we finally figured out the right angle to squeeze it in. I had to touch up the paint in a few spots once we got it in position, but that was much better than having to remove legs and put them back on. We still need to get plywood for the mattress to sit on and I'm going to add a middle leg for extra support since it's a king. I will probably eventually build nightstands to go with it. Overall, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out since this is my largest and "fanciest" project so far.

Estimated Cost
~$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar Satin Latex Enamel in White
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

bran2511

Tue, 04/09/2013 - 12:41

I really love this bed, however, being military we move quite often. Is there a way that you would recommend I could alter it so that it can be broken down a little to make it easier for moving? Thank you much :D

bran2511

Tue, 04/09/2013 - 12:41

I really love this bed, however, being military we move quite often. Is there a way that you would recommend I could alter it so that it can be broken down a little to make it easier for moving? Thank you much :D

jlouki01

Sat, 08/24/2013 - 18:31

I just posted a brag post with this bed in black. I will see if I can upload a photo of how I built this bed for very easy break down. I looked at all the brackets etc.. with this being built out of pine I was not 100% confident in the Rockler / Wood craft brackets. I used a forstner bit and a 4.5" bolt with some washers.

Garden Enclosure

This was a fun project.  The plans are written so that many of the boards don't need to be cut.  It's made from cedar that (thank goodness) was on sale.  I made the raised beds twice as deep as was called for in the plans because I wanted to minimize bending while I garden.  That added to the cost of the lumber and the soil.  I also like the way it looks.

 

I found it helpful to measure and cut the boards as I went.  This was crucial for fitting the door.  The most difficult part for us was working with the hardware cloth and trying to make it as smooth as possible.

 

It has been effective keeping deer and rabbits out of the garden.  Things that can fly in are another issue.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
>$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday