Community Brag Posts

Bench was made using the plans on the site. I modified the plans to create these accompanying 15" x 15" side tables. cut list for each table:

7 2x4 at 15" each (stained for the top part of the table).
4 2x4 @13 1/2" each (for legs)
5 1x4 @ 15" each (used for the top of the table)
2 1x4 @ 8" each (used for the top of the table)
4 1x4 @ 17" each (for legs)

Time varies depending on if you cut, sand, stain, and treat the lumber for outdoor use. The estimated time below is does not include time for the stain/weatherproof treatment.

I used these plans and modified the height to create functional countertop and shelving in my garage. I added a little face framing too. Thank you for the inspiration Ana!

This project took a week to build.  Working during my boys' nap time and late nights, I was able to complete everything in about 7 days.  I used cedar, and sealed with Cabots Bleaching Oil.  The cost of wood for the beds and stairs and drawers came to about $700.  The extra cost came from the additional side rails on the top bunk and the stairs and drawers.  Still comes in about $500 less than if bought commercially.  The famiy loves the bed and as my kids are 2 and 3, I expect to get many years out of the bunk bed.  Side note:  I had to add quite a few brackets and angle joists to secure and minimize wobble due to the additional weight of the top bunk.  (2 2x4s from the 4x4 to the side of the cleat and side rail of the bottom bunk, on the back side only, made a world of difference)

I started with the queen storage bed plans and modified them to fit my needs. Two drawers on each side, one at the foot, all the same dimensions. I left open bins at the head of the bed because there wouldn’t be room to open drawers. They can be used for books or electronics, whatever my son wants to keep close. I mounted a power strip with USB ports inside the open bins (out of sight) so he can charge his electronics.

I used birch plywood for the benches, pine for the drawers. I painted the drawer boxes navy blue, matching one wall in the bedroom, and used edge glued birch panels finished with clear water based semi gloss poly for the drawer faces. 

This is is definitely my most difficult project so far, and the one I love the most. 

This is our second Ana White project, our first was the loft bed which turned out great! With this project we used 16" wide boards for the extra room for backpacks and it fit perfectly in our space at the end of the hall.  We used Beadboard for the back panel and painted it with Valspar interior semi gloss paint I got off the reject shelf at Lowes at $10 for a gallon! This is my new favorite piece of furniture in the house!

Two tone 3 ft long slat bench

my mailbox was hit by a vehicle so I decided I wanted to do something creative/different but also didn't want to spend much money as it may just get taken out again in the future :)

this is a good project to get kids to help you with

instead of cutting into the concrete easement, I installed 2 post bases & locked them with sleeve anchors.  They're sturdy enough but will give if hit again.  drilling the holes for the sleeve anchors was the hardest part of the project.

I used a left over 4x4x8 for the posts, scrap 1x4s, 1x2s up the sides (1/2" gap between boards), and a 2x4 scrap to attach the mailbox.  I eyeballed the width between posts using the mailbox itself. I left over stain from another project (almost bought a quart of oops paint at HD)

I figure the total cost would have been about $100

It's a super easy project that took about 4hrs. I've already had a couple of neighbors come by to take measurements to try something similar.

FYI: USPS guildlines for installing a curbside mailbox: https://www.usps.com/manage/mailboxes.htm

This is my first, of hopefully many projects to come. I modified Patrick's Jelly Cupboard plans to be 40" tall and added the tins to the doors. I used spruce and pine board from a local lumber yard. The finish is Miss Mustard Seed milk paint inside and out. With kids in the house I didn't want to use stain with the heavy chemical smell so I mixed the milk paint with a lot of water to look like a stain. That product is so easy to use and looks great. Needless to say my wife loves her pie safe. Thanks Ana for this site and the inspiration to give this a try. I'm hooked!

I got inspired by Ana to design my own toy garage - so that there would be somewhere to store all the hot wheels that kept piling up! I have no idea what the angle is for the driveway ramp - it was trial and error with help from my husband, but it's pretty sturdy. Between the mitered cut and the copious amounts of glue, it holds the weight of a 25 lb toddler walking up it (though I try to discourage it!).
I used chalkboard paint and acrylics - so that we can draw parking stalls, lanes, or arrows as desired - my son helped with the painting. So far, the favorite activities are sending the cars down the ramp, one after another...

Our 19 year old daughter moved back in with us and we had to put her in our den. This room doesn't have a door or closet. The closet system was priority one. She has a ton of clothes. We followed your plans to the letter, but didn't add the shelving in the middle. She wanted a space to put her dirty clothes basket. This was the perfect solution and super inexpensive and easy to make. 

I have made six of these so far.  Starting to become an expert on this one.  They look great in the yard and will look even better when I make the table to go with them. 

Ana White inspired Rustic X Coffee Table finished with dark walnut stain and Annie Sloan graphite chalk paint.

I'm building new beds for my daughters for Christmas. My oldest wants a bigger bed, so she's getting the full size simple bed. My baby bear needs a little more space in her room, so she gets the loft bed. The loft bed is finished but no pic's yet, as I can't assemble it till Christmas. For the full bed, I combined the Simple Full Bed with the Simple Bed with Arch. It's not quite finished yet, but here is a picture of the headboard. I'll add more pics when I'm done. I want to thank Ana for the hard work she puts into this website. To go out and buy similar beds to the ones I'm building would have probably cost me a couple thousand dollars, and would have been made of flake board. Because of Ana's plans, both my children will sleep on good quality, solid wood furniture for under five hundred dollars. Thanx Ana!

My kitchen cabinets were deep, dark and disorganized. Trying to find things was like cave exploring. When we began remodeling our kitchen I knew those cabinets had to go and be replaced with some open shelving where I could see things without a flashlight.
I love how these turned out! Now I can see what I need and don't have to spend 20 minutes with a flashlight digging through a cabinet.
I plan on making curtains to cover up the stuff on the bottom shelves so my kitchen doesn't look quite so busy.
Thanks Ana!