Community Brag Posts

Simple Outdoor Table

Submitted by ShannonMN on Sun, 06/02/2013 - 11:06

I took the Simple Outdoor Table along with a table I had seen at Pottery Barn and kind of put this together. It made of cedar and stained with a natural to keep the pretty color.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr stain and protect in natural color.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

bullitt453

Sun, 06/02/2013 - 19:28

Very nice! If you don't mind me asking, about how much money do you have invested in the table? I have been considering building something very similar, though smaller.

ShannonMN

Mon, 06/03/2013 - 13:25

Thanks! I did have extra wood left over but if I had to guess it was around $100 - $130 and that's for all cedar.

storchinsky

Mon, 06/03/2013 - 16:58

I really love the way you did this table! I've been considering a bunch of different plans and haven't been entirely satisfied with any of them. What are the dimensions of your table? And do you have measurements, or did you just figure it out as you went?

In reply to by storchinsky

ShannonMN

Wed, 06/05/2013 - 08:33

I started out with the size of 8 ft by 40 inches. It isn't exact but it's real close. After I had the initial measurements I just kind of pieced it together. I got ideas from looking at different tables on here and followed the pattern of the one I liked at Pottery Barn.

Charging Station

Submitted by Bradnag on Wed, 09/13/2017 - 05:20

I used the charging station plans as my first attempt at building something using pocket holes, and also my first real attempt at building any piece of furniture from scratch. I stuck pretty much to Ana's plans except for not cutting the front footer (I didn't own a jigsaw at the time) and using panes of frosted glass as the center of the doors.

 

As a piece of furniture it gets used every day, but it has been most invaluable to me as a learning experience. I've built many pieces of furniture in the time since I made the charging station, growing my skills each time. But this project was where I started, so it always feels a little extra special to me.

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane Premium Fast Dry Wood Stain, weathered gray
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Coffee Table

My wife said she did not want anything for her birthday, so instead of buying her
something after she said that, I decided to try and make something.  We did not have a coffee table in our living room - when we hosted Christmas, we had a piece of plywood over boxes, covered with a table cloth.  So I decided to try and make a coffee table for her.

Made some mistakes sanding the top, so then had to spend a lot more time sanding out the gouges.I did not use a plan per se, but when I started looking here, it was remarkable similar to Clara's Table, with differeing dimensions.  The cost was a little higher due to the oak boards for the table top.  Those alone were $50.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I was tring to match the piece in the background as much as possible. For stain, the base was Minwax red oak and the top was Minwax gunstock. Sealed with 6 coats of Minwax wipe on poly - 4 clear, and 2 satin.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Red Cedar "Simple Outdoor Dining Table"

This table follows the plan pretty closely except that I wanted to use Red Cedar because of its beauty and durability. We can only get Red Cedar at one National Chain here and it only came in 6" widths, which meant a few recalculations. We also used deck strips (as recommended at the store) to attach the top from underneath (shown in photo) and adjusted the screw length to accommodate. We were able to keep waste to a minimum (seen in photo with triangle) by making sure to cut varying lengths from the boards (ie. one board gave us the length and width of the table). This was made easier by the available lengths of board from the store (8', 10', 12'). Another recommendation from the store was to use coated screws with cedar to prevent black streaks over time.
I love my new table!

Estimated Cost
$190
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

egookaasan

Wed, 11/11/2015 - 11:08

I was wondering about the size of this table.  If I need to make three different sized tables, 36x36  24x24  and 24x30 would this pattern be easy to adjust?

Thanks,

Sarah

A rustic coffee table for my mum

Submitted by sagey on Sun, 05/03/2015 - 21:59

This is a turned leg coffee table that i built for my mum. the top is reclaimed and the legs were found on a cheap craigslist side table!

I used corner brackets to secure the legs so they could be taken on and off...as i needed to ship the table in the mail.

The boards on top were already distressed but i used a gooey month long festering vinegar and steel wool concoction to add even more interesting layers.

I am so happy with the table and my mother is in love with it!!!!

Thanx again for the great plan and resource that helped me build it!

Estimated Cost
wood free
legs 35.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
top= oxidizing solution vinegar and steel wool steeped for over a month.
wax finish
legs chalk paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Farmhouse Table & Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/10/2021 - 17:48

Absolutely love how this table & matching bench turned out! We made them rustic looking before staining with Jocabean stain. Our customers went crazy over it ❤️

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

My very first build and I love it

Submitted by kimewest on Tue, 06/04/2013 - 20:47

This is my first try at building! Well, I have built above ground gardens but never furniture. Seeing what everyone has done on this site encouraged me to give it a try too. I'm so glad I did and it turned out exactly as I wanted. Now, I have several other projects that I'm excited to start. This could get addicting.

I needed a side table for my office and wanted it to match the decor. I have all black picture frames and accessories and needed the wood to look very similar to what was on the couch. I had planned on painting the bottom shelf but really liked it plain so decided to stain it as well.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About $60 but would have been less if I'd done this before
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
High gloss black paint and Minwax Rosewood stain. I finished with a glossy polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Hall Tree

After 10 years of kicking around back packs and shoes that are always in the way, my wife decided she would like a Hall Tree for our foyer. For the last year or so I have been gathering ideas from the internet and putting plans together in “Sketchup”. I wanted to re-purpose some old doors and door knobs and was fortunate to find them at local auctions and antique malls. I’ll have to say that finding a pair of matching solid wood doors was the hardest thing to do. I was lucky to find a pair at an antique mall, and only paid $36 for both. The porcelain door knobs are used for hanging our jackets and coats. I found several of these at an auction. I used a piano hinge for the bench and installed a soft close hinge made by “Sugatsune” which I found on “Amazon’s” website

 

 Not cheap but well worth eliminating the dreadful slamming sound of the bench door. I had never distressed anything, but this and my wallet received plenty during the build. I’d have to say the best part of the build was working with my little cookie monster. She was always wanting to help, and I’m gonna let her because you all know as well as I that those days won’t last forever. Not a professional by any means, but Thanks for looking.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut Stain, Antique White and Turquoise Latex
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

adeath

Thu, 05/07/2015 - 11:31

This is really fantastic. I love the doors as a design element. I may just have to head out this weekend and find some matching doors.

c_loughridge

Mon, 05/18/2015 - 05:10

Thanks Ana. Also thank you for all you do to keep this site up and going....really appreciate all the great plans and ideas.

Safejosh

Thu, 11/17/2016 - 11:37

I would love to build this but, I could not find the plans for this size of a bench to match the back piece. Could someone please assist? Thank you.

Farmhouse bed - twin size

Submitted by Teazle33 on Wed, 09/20/2017 - 19:30

This is the first bed I have built. It turned out better than I expected. The plans were great and easy to follow. I completed the bed from start to finish in two days. The steps I made from leftover material. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark walnut stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Farmhouse Tables

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 10/16/2021 - 09:43

I made the coffee table, an end table and I modified the console table to add another shelf because I have too much stuff lol! These are my first wood projects and I am happy how they turned out 🥰

Comments

Factory Cart: How Low can you go?

Submitted by chjaway2 on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 08:15

The Factory cart was really easy to put together.

I used a pocket-hole jig to eliminate any screw heads on the exterior.
The wood I had was already distressed somewhat, but I figured that would add to the 'old' look when ultimately completed.
The most difficult part of this project was finding casters that I liked and that I could afford (those suckers are expensive!)  I'm still not 100% sold on the ones I purchased, but will keep my eyes open when out & about for replacements!
The plans posted on Ana-White.com could NOT have been easier to follow.
However, I should like to stress that this coffee table is EXTREMELY low to the ground.  One of the first lines on the plan page reads:  "This coffee table sits lower than traditional coffee tables." = understatement of the year!  (my fault, I should have compared the posted dimensions with an existing coffee table to get an idea before hand) 

The plans will make a awesome factory cart height factory cart, but a nearly-uncomfortable height coffee table (As is).  In the attached photo, you'll note a foot-rest in the upper left corner as compared to the finished factory cart.
 --again, the build was super easy & a LOT of fun because I intended the finish to look worn, I didn't have worry about scratching up the wood during the build.  In fact, the kids are looking forward to helping me distress it later!  I'll just have to increase the height of the sides to make it usable as a coffee table in our home.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
(Will) Paint, distress & stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Wide Cabin Dresser

Submitted by mebohn on Fri, 06/07/2013 - 05:46

I This project is definitely the most difficult I've ever built. I've done lot of drawer slides before, but for some reason this one was the hardest. I think the culprit was squaring, which was mysterious to me bc I'm careful to take a square constantly. Could've been bowed boards, too. But, after some patience and forcing the boards to do what the should, it worked. I did rip down 2x4's for strength b/c our stores do not carry the upgraded 2x2's and furring strips would just not have been strong enough for a dresser. My son is very happy to finally have a place for his clothes. Thanks Ana for these plans!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Steel Wool and vinegar, Rustoleum ultimate poly in matte
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

spiceylg

Fri, 06/07/2013 - 08:26

Your efforts were worth it. This came out beautiful. Looks professional.

Rustic x end table

Submitted by ayoung82 on Sun, 05/10/2015 - 13:43

I had to redesign the top because my wood was too narrow and warped to make it as per the plan, and I'm too cheap to go and buy some more. I think it worked out OK. I enjoyed making this piece and I'm trying to develop my accuracy in wood working. My patience for the "finishing" element is improving, but I'm still a Sand-a-phobe.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
€40
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Satin Poly & Medium Maple Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Hall Tree Bench DIY

Submitted by jimmysingh on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 08:13

Modified From Ana's Fancy-hall-tree bench plan.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White primer one coat, paint two coats, gloss water based polyurethane one coat
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

DIY Learning Tower / Kitchen Helper

Our little one may be happily playing independently but the second I go to make dinner she demands to be held and refuses to be put down, making cooking impossible. To help keep her occupied but still involved I've been eyeing a learning tower / kitchen helper on Amazon for months now, but at $200 it just wasn't in our budget. My sister-in-law had made a learning tower from a plan by Ana White and suggested I try to make one too. I was unsure at first, I've never made anything more complicated than a birdhouse, but I decided to give it a go!

Please see my blog post for additional photos and lessons learned during this project.

Built from Plan(s)

Photo Gallery Ledges

I was always a fan of the gallery wall, but not having a big empty space in any of my main rooms I didn't think I could have one.  However, once I finally got my stairway and upper hallway painted, I realized the wall needed something and the gallery ledges would be perfect!  Save the old plaster walls from being bashed with picture hanging nails too!
I build them out've 1x3's and a small 1/4 round for the front edge instead of a 1x2.
I made 2 3' long and 2 4' long and staggered them on the walls, as the walls are at a slight angle to each other.
I decided to paint them the same colour as the walls so they would blend in and the picture frames would stand out.  All the frames are varying wood stain colours that go with the trim in the house.

I love having a place to put all the pictures I never find time to put up!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$24 for all 4
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint. Home Hardware 'Burnt Sugar'
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Farmhouse Bunkbeds with Stairs

Submitted by Yodannos on Sun, 06/09/2013 - 13:19

We have a rental unit and decided to fill one room with 2 sets of bunk beds. One is a twin over a full. The other is a full over full. Due to a duct running through one corner, and limited amount of space, I decided to build a set of stairs on the 17" gap. I used the simple bunk bed plans, but modified it to the style of the farmhouse. Also, I changed several of the heights of the foot/head boards. The full over full will have a ladder coming off the end and is in progress.

Estimated Cost
$450
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Ebony Stain. Satin Polyeurethene.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Queen Bed and Headboard

Thank You Ana-White for the amazing plans for this beautiful farmhouse queen bed! Not bad for the first try!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

DIY Rustic Console Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/23/2017 - 10:09

Built by Wndy D Keever-Keefe

"This was my very first build ever. Totally inspired by Ana White, I happened upon her site one day about 4 years ago and have since built lots of her plans."

Built from Plan(s)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner