Community Brag Posts

Built in Secretary hutch

Wanted a builtin hutch change the plans a little for depth and height. I used tempered glass instead of lexan for the last ability as lexan discolor and looks a little cheap. Mostly red oak plywood, but choose hard wood for shelves so they wouldn't sag and small desk drawers and doors because it was easier to buy it cut and cost effective. Wish I would have done the drawer faces hardwood also. I used maple on the bottom and decided I wanted more grainy look so finished the desk and top with redoak. Matches bottom trim which was red oak. Special ordered old style secretary desk hinges. I had them played $60 for both. I liked the look and they are stable. Time consuming building but impressive when done. Don't know why photos alway turn up sideways, tried flipping them and saving them same result...

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Pecan maple stain, semi gloss poly. Stain poly, sand poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Saw horse patio table

Great table! Loved the build. 

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Small Farm Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 09/22/2023 - 07:54

This was my first time building furniture. I've restored and refurbished antique furniture for years and but never imagined building my own before. I have a small kitchen and had to modify the size to accommodate area space. I also added breadboard ends to the tabletop. I am now planning to build more furniture using your plans. Thank you Ana White for providing such a wonderful resource to help beginners build their own furniture!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

easiest daybed turned floating twin beds

we love ana's plans, and we love the way this one was executed by the bumper crop. check out more pics of our girl version and how we did it at http://www.iwantbdphotography.com/archives/2661

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$90 each
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
none :) gutsy for a kid's room. not sure how they will hold up, but we just love the raw unfinished look
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Planter Box from Pallets

Submitted by mtairymd on Sat, 02/08/2014 - 05:10
Estimated Cost
$5 Stain & Nails - free pallet wood
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Red Oak
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Coffe table

Submitted by rnkimg on Tue, 02/04/2020 - 12:23

Plans from the Tryde table plans. Added bottom shelf. Next up, Tryde end tables, one is done, other trying to plan it out to include a drawer. I added carriage bolts for looks, and black metal corners. So much fun! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax provincial, sealed with Minwax clear gloss polyurethane.

Comments

rnkimg

Tue, 02/04/2020 - 12:36

Thanks Ana!  You really were my inspiration to try and build furniture. With every build I’m getting more comfortable. I talk about you all the time when people ask where I learned... Ana White! 

Thanks again. 
btw. I really need rocking chair plans!

Karyl75

Tue, 04/14/2020 - 20:32

What kind of mods could you add in order to open the table top for a bin. Nothing deep, but a great place to keep a firearm, hide remotes etc.

Stuffed Animal Containment

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 09/29/2023 - 09:32

I made mine with 1/4” shock/bungee cord instead which I preferred for this project but turned out great. Easy to follow and the easiest project I’ve ever made. Go for it!

Kate

Built from Plan(s)

Three-Legged Stool

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/09/2016 - 13:25

My 13-year-old daughter asked me about making a stool, with the main requirement being it had to have a round seat.  So I turned to this ana-white.com to see if I could find something that we could do and found the plans for the three-legged stool. The first one we made with the dimensions specified in the plans but she thought it was too short.  So we made another one with longer legs and a larger diameter seat.

Estimated Cost
$4. The lumber was scrap and the white paint was leftover. We only bought the blue paint.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Painter's Touch
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Milled Wood DIY Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/02/2023 - 11:13

This was made from Red Oak trees that were cut down to clear a lot to build our home. We saved the trees with plans of making a dining room table. I used the Triple Pedestal Farm House Table plan and modified it for the size that we wanted to fit our space. The end result was just want we wanted!

Carla Jo DIY 

Built from Plan(s)

Paint stir stick Letter Bin

Submitted by ltl_lisa on Sat, 04/28/2012 - 18:16

I used paint stir sticks as the front of my bins!
I wanted the "bead board" look but to still have a natural wood grain that I could stain for the rustic look. I also really like being "frugal"

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Housewarming gift, Dining Table

Submitted by sgilly on Sat, 02/15/2014 - 08:15

So my son and daughter-in-law have a new home, and lots of empty space. I told them to find a table they liked and I'd try to make it for them. They liked the PB benchwright table (http://www.potterybarn.com/products/benchwright-dining-table/http://www…) with the iron support pieces. I had to get creative for those using electrical conduit and some plumbing pieces that I spray painted black. I finished it exactly like Jen of House of Wood (http://jenwoodhouse.com/blog/2013/06/07/diy-dining-table/) and it turned out beautifully!
It was a fun project and they love it.

Estimated Cost
$300 for table and bench
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Wood conditioner, Minwax special walnut and weathered oak, whitewash (old white paint diluted), satin poly topcoat. The 9 step finish was definitely time consuming, but so worth it!
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Entertainment center

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/16/2020 - 21:53

Hand made entertainment center

Estimated Cost
400
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Tilt Out Trash Cabinet with Shutter Door

My trash situation was pretty dire once my dogs figured out how to pop off the lid and dig into everything. Trash was everywhere! So to keep out prying paws, I built Ana's tilt-out trash cabinet to keep the can safe. But I didn't read the plan through before going shopping, and didn't get any plywood to make the door! So I used part of an old bifold door that looks like a shutter and cut it to fit. I also added a cabinet clasp inside the top so it can securely shut. Now we don't have any trouble with my dogs dragging trash through the house!

Estimated Cost
15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Three coats of semi-gloss white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Shaker style cabinet doors and drawers!

Submitted by ksmith311 on Sun, 02/16/2014 - 16:49

After some inspiration from Ana, my husband and I tackled refacing and rehabbing our original cabinets circa 1939. The drawers and shelves were in rough shape so we built our own using the kreg jig. We're extremely happy with how everything turned out. When the weather gets better we will be building new cabinets on the opposite side of the kitchen where unfortunately we don't have ANY storage.

Thanks for looking!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Farrow and Ball "Lime White" uppers and Benjamin Moore "Kendall Charcoal" lowers
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Childs Bench with Arbor

Submitted by Fitz3636 on Tue, 02/18/2020 - 08:28

This was one of my first Ana-White projects. I am a hack builder and found this to be fairly easy with the back of the seat to be intermediate (However, I slanted the back and found that to be challenging for me.) Loved this little arbor bench and how it turned out. A couple coats of polyurethrane has helped it last outdoors all year through the sun and rain in Florida. Kept costs down using extra wood in the garage. Kids love to sit on it but mostly climb...!

Estimated Cost
45
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint and polyurethrane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate