Hidden Desk
I shrunk the size and dumbed down the plans to fit my skill level.
I shrunk the size and dumbed down the plans to fit my skill level.
Made from 2 pallets, 2 x 6 x 8, leftover trim from my house, wood branch from my backyard. Attached shelf with pocket holes.
Accents:
-Handpainted lettering; painted prior to glazing entire piece
-Finials made from 4.25 inch spray painted and glazed clay pots and saucers coated with Valspar clear finish and attached together with epoxy; buttons attached to pots with E6000 adhesive
-Buttons attached mostly with small screws; a few with holes too small for screws were attached with epoxy
-Plastic flowers made from mayo and water bottles and lids; sanded, primed, spray painted, coated with Valspar clear coating; attached with screws
-Faucet knobs sanded, spray painted, glazed and attached with screws
-Plumbing pipe filled with plumber epoxy puttty; insert screw into putty before it hardened, then screwed into wood
-Gardening tool hooks made from pant wire hangers with a few beads attached; wire simply wrapped around tree branch
Not sure that I will use pallet wood again since difficult to pull apart pallets, uneven and some split boards could not be used, and required tons of sanding for those boards that could be used. I think I paid more for orbital sanding pads than the cost of buying new wood. Will use pallet wood for other non-furniture projects not requiring a perfect finish.
Inspired by Ana's Farmhouse Bed I adjusted my plans to work with the scrap wood I had on hand and an old reclaimed wood post I snagged from my neighbor's garbage. To make the scraps of wood work for this large piece I added 3/4" rope in between the wood pieces. I like how the rope also helps tie it into the room as we created a wood and rope accent wall in this same room. You can see the full project here, http://thespacebetweenblog.net/2013/09/10/how-to-make-a-wood-bed-frame/. And since this was my first furniture build I also posted about the top tips and tricks I learned in the process, http://thespacebetweenblog.net/2013/09/12/wood-bed-frame-making-tips/.
The 8' picnic table plans are great for a family of 8 or less, therefor the only changes that I made to the original plans was to use 10' boards for the table top. I centered the the table boards on top to allow for an extra chair on each end for more seating spaces.
Another alternative with the 10' table top boards would be to slide all of the excess footage to one end of the picnic table to make room for someone in a wheelchair. The original plans are great and turn out just like you would like but don't be afraid to modify your work!
From our blog, 1885 Prospect Hill Renovation:
Annie and I have four kids. One of the most amazing things about Annie is that three of them are not biologically hers, but she is an intensely loving and caring parent to them. I brought them with me into our relationship and she never saw them as "baggage", but as more outlets for her seemingly unending displays of love and affection. We bought this house, in part, because it was big enough for our family. One of the best features was this "bonus" room between the dining room and the kitchen.
Now most houses of this period have a front entryway, a front parlor, a second parlor, a side room and a kitchen. For some reason, the builders of our home stuck an extra room that we lovingly call our "family room". This is where the kids play. Where they do their homework. Where we have our family game nights. Where we sing happy birthdays. It is the heart of our home and we needed a table worthy of accommodating these things.
Now, Annie doesn’t like to spend money on things. Ever. So it was up to me to build this table. So I leaned on my favorite website, the queen of all DIY projects, Ana White. She has plans for many great projects, and she makes them easily accessible and affordable. My favorite was for her Farmhouse Table. It was big and it was doable.
I used stock wood from my favorite lumber place in Western New York, Lenco Lumber. Using my new compound miter saw, my grandfather's old dado blades on my table saw, and about 1,000 screws, I built this guy. It is so sturdy the kids can all dance on it and it won't budge. It is now a permanent fixture in our home and when we die, it stays behind.
We painted the legs white and stained the top a dark red oak. Because we wanted it to be durable and stand up to anything the kids could throw at it or spill on it, we gave it a thick epoxy bar coat. This was a challenge. We had to mix the two parts and spread evenly across the table, letting the epoxy drip over the edges to cover the sides. Then came the blow torch. Heating the wet epoxy forces the bubbles to the surface and allows them to burst, leaving a smooth and even finish.
We built a bench to match, also thanks to Ana White's design.
Finally, we found some chairs on Craigslist from a family that was moving. They look pretty old and needed some reinforcement, but we think they look great! Oh, and we also painted the walls to a brighter, more playful color. Now it is truly a Family Room that we love!
Tue, 09/30/2014 - 21:52
Annie and Jeff your table is just lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post, so I jumped over to your blog. You have done amazing things with your home. The history of the home is so interesting, and I'm sure your family will be the custodians it deserves throughout your tenure there.
Full tutorial on the blog tamarasjoy.com
I built this basketball hoop for my sons room over a year ago and it has stood the test of time! The wood rim never cracked. Plus it looks fantastic :)
This project was a bit of a challenge. My garage has uneven flooring and a concrete lip around the edge of wall so I had to make the back legs 10 inches shorter than the front. Overall, it turned out well and everything is completely leveled much to my amazement. I'm thinking of making more shelves on the other end of the garage to free up more space.
This was my first project ever. I had a lot of fun and it didn't quite turn out right but next time it will be perfect.
About This Project
Love how this turned out!! Thank you thank you Ana!! Plans were great, I think we got it done for just about $250!
Thanks again!
Using the plans provide, I simply changed the measurements needed for my dining room. A really fun build and a great looking end product!
This was our first time using the kreg jig. We bought the recommended $99 one and boy was it worth it. Can see a lot of kreg jigging in my future! :) We cut the legs at 35" and omitted the arches so it can be stored under the kitchen counter. The crawl-in space is definitely a little tight, but he's getting the hang of it after just one day of practice. We built the tip resisters, but haven't added them yet. It seems sturdy enough without them for our cautious 17-month-old, but I suspect we'll have to attach them when he gets bigger and more rambunctious. We sanded the edges liberally, and notched the top four corners to avoid taking eyes out. We also added felt pads to the bottom of each leg so it doesn't damage our wood floors.
Tue, 06/18/2013 - 20:07
The tower gets constant daily use. My son is now 20 months and pushes the tower around the kitchen to access counters and light switches. Definitely the #1 most used baby item in our home!
Modifed slightly to make a sectional. Used extra cushion for an Ottoman. Added an additional board behind/beside cushions to hold them firmly in place. (2x2)
Purchased 9' boards instead from our lumberyard. Cushions from Lowe's, throw pillows from WalMart/Canadian Tire.
Adjust the height slightly. Easy to follow plans, quick project.
Fri, 05/28/2021 - 10:44
Love the hardware and two tone finish! Thank you for sharing:)
I used the basic design principles from Ana's site but decided to use 3.5x6.5 round fence posts (purchased at my local Tractor Supply Company) for a different look plus they are a little cheaper than 4x4 posts. I also used pressure treated 2x4s for some added strength and perhaps longer durability. I used Ana's cedar fence pickets idea for my roof (these pickets are used as walls on one of the other shed plans on this site). I didn't need a very robust roof as my firewood shed sits underneath the deck which provides a lot of protection from the rain. I attached the structure using 3 inch deck screws and the roof with 1.5 inch deck screws (nails would have been more than adequate for the roof but I had the screws on hand).
I did run into some problems due to my design changes. Most of my issues involved attempting to square up the round posts which are much closer in shape to a jagged stick than dimension lumber such as a 4x4 post. If I had to do it over again I would not have used the round posts. Constant tweaks and adjustments to the posts significantly delayed my build time and frustrated me at times. I was just barely able to wedge my woodshed in between the 2 deck posts which actually came in handy as I was able to secure the shed to the deck posts with 3 inch screws...making the shed very solid! The final issue I discovered after loading up my wood shed. The 2x4s at the bottom of the structure began to sag. I fixed this by using my floor jack to raise them up and placed 8 inch tall 4x4s underneath (2 in the front and 2 in the back).
Overall I'm happy with the way it turned out and I really love all the plans on this site...GREAT ideas!!
Great Plans. I extended the back with an extra 1x10 and it works great being that I'm 6' 4". Also used a router to round the arms, front seat board, and the top back board. Just need to stain and waterproof for the patio. I'm new to woodworking (besides home trim work). Your plans are great as is or for just getting started. I'm trying this out as a hobby for retirement (sometime in the next 5 years). Buying the equipment now as needed. Thanks so much for the plans and videos.
I really wanted some outdoor furniture but did not want to spend the thousands for a sectional. I used this plan and created the entire sectional for less than $500!
Wood =
My first attempt at a country farmhouse style dining table, my children managed to also use it as a playhouse within minutes!!
Made this Loft bed for a full size mattress in 2019 and it is still strong. I added a stretcher on the bottom of bed across the length of the the bed added strength.
Starting with Ana's simple $10 raised garden plans, we built ours to be part of our experiment: Growing Vegetables in Our Driveway. Because our boxes are visible from the street, we made them a bit fancier and sturdier than we would have if they were hidden away in the backyard. An easy, afternoon project - with delicious results!
Comments
Texastia
Mon, 10/10/2016 - 09:08
This is awesome
I love what you did! It looks so great! I prefer this style, which is more simplistic than the other. Great work!!
Ana White
Mon, 10/10/2016 - 10:28
Amazing Hidden Desk
Love how this turned out - the simpler drawers is just as (if not more) beautiful!
Jessi_ites
Tue, 10/11/2016 - 14:56
Thank you!
Thanks! I wish I would of set up an account before I posted so I could get notifications. I honestly didn't think anyone would notice it :)
Ana White Admin
Tue, 10/11/2016 - 09:56
Brag Post
Congratulations, this is our most popular brag post ever on Facebook!
Jessi_ites
Tue, 10/11/2016 - 14:58
Love!
I am so excited that people noticed this :) Is there any way of putting this under my account? I didnt make an account until today and I would like to get notifications. I have my project on my facebook page and can prove that I made it with other pictures. Thanks!
mosesantony2013
Thu, 12/19/2019 - 02:11
nice
nice
crstorm
Mon, 01/20/2020 - 07:44
A couple thoughts...
I would love to see this in a farm-house (rather than rustic) aesthetic along with drawers under the seats for extra storage. Maybe on casters with a fold up extension on the other side? So many ideas running through my head with this!
kountrykritters
Sun, 09/20/2020 - 16:32
Width?
What was the full width of this table? How wide did you make each seat? I LOVE THIS!