Community Brag Posts

Patio couches

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 19:14

This project was fun to build with hubby said the shopping list and the cut list was perfect! Love all your designs! King bed is next!

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Providence table made smaller

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/17/2016 - 10:12

We altered Ana's plans and made a little bit smaller version of it. :)

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Tikkurila Valtti Puuöljy Akva
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic Breakfast Bar

I built this bar for my mom to use i her dining room. I altered the plans for the X Style Desk to build this at bar height. This was my first time distressing anything and was pleased with the outcome. i used one coat of Minwax Dark Walnut stain and two coats of Minwax clear satin finish. White shellac Based primer, brown egg shell paint and Green egg shell paint for the base and sanded for the distressed look. I used dimensional pine lumber from the home center to build this with.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut stain and Clear satin Poly. White shellac Based primer, brown egg shell paint and Green egg shell paint for the base and sanded for the distressed look.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Shark HD4 Extended Bed Sturdy Workbench

Submitted by Janettx on Thu, 04/06/2017 - 05:30

I started with the sturdy workbench plans ( http://www.ana-white.com/2011/03/sturdy-work-bench ) but enlarged it to 38x64x33 to accommodate my new CNC machine.  The plans give you enough enformation so that making a size change it very easy.  I used scrap wood I had and Plywood so the project only cost $85.00 to build.  I didn't have many 2x4's so I used the 2x6's I had instead.  Very sturdy table that took about 4 hours to build.

Thanks,

Janet Fox

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$85.00 with and scraps
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
left raw
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Face frame cabinets with shaker doors and metabox drawers, swedish drying cabinet

Submitted by sylvialh on Fri, 08/27/2021 - 05:37

My first projec twith drawers! the metabox drawers were definetly easy to make and use and work beautifully.

I made the carcase using plywood and did 1x2 poplar for the face frame. Shaker doors are 1x3 poplar and sureply underlayment for the inserts.

cabinet doors were finished using BIN primer (2 coats with sanding) and then Benjamin Moore Advance cabinet paint in High gloss silver satin. Interiors were finished using leftover / mistints, and I still need to do some filling and sanding on the insides of the doors (I have to take them down to do a final coat but am waiting until I have finished the other set of doors)

the upper cabinet is a dish drying cupboard so I omitted the bottom plywood piece and instead used 1x3 on the front and back so the bottom would be open. then I made the shelves using 1x2 and dowel (paint the dowel first before cutting!!). This thing is a dream to do dishes in!

Used Kreg pocket screws, Kreg jig for the euro hinges (1 1/4 and 1/3" overlay), and also a kreg jig for the shelf pins. Metabox hinges for the drawers. Still trying to decide on handle hardware so I'm using painters tape at the moment.

Countertops are concrete using Rapidset mortar mix and the michael builds method (linked below).

Planters are just a small poplar shelf using leftover 1x3 with metal terra cotta pot hooks attached to the front. I lined the pots at the bottom with plastic yogourt tubs with holes in the bottom so the cutlery doesn't chip the pots. Those also drain onto the drain rack below. everything is painted the same colour although I used high gloss for the door fronts, so the shelvings behind the pots matches the wall perfectly and sort of dissappears into the walls to highlight the terracotta.

sink is a "new" vintage ceramic sink that I found on FB marketplace for 50$!!! had never been installed and didn't even have the holes bored out. unfortunately the drain holes were very deep and requied some macgyvering but luckily my husband had a great attitude about it and managed to make it work with a lot of googling for odd sized drain bins. Props to husband for doing all the plumbing on this bad boy, including moving over our RO system from the other side of the kitchen and installing a new hose bib under the sink for the other side of the house (why not?!).

I learned so much from this project! Including to store your poplar inside and on the flat surface or it will warp and your doors will not be flush. luckily it only affected one door but it is still super annoying.

thank you ana for everythign! loved the comment "Get on board with these euro hinges!" you are so right they are so forgiving!!

Comments

Ana White Admin

Fri, 08/27/2021 - 08:31

Love the integrated flower pots and the dish rack is so cool! Thank you for sharing, I can tell a lot of work went into it!

Play fort and Swing Set

Submitted by gsnpbc on Fri, 03/16/2018 - 20:33

I wanted to build a structure for the kids to play in and on. I used the playhouse deck design and made it 8 feet by 8 feet. The "roof" is removable to provide shade when it's sunny. It's just 2x2 and a tarp - pretty simple, but it does the job. I used treated posts, dog eared fence boards andlots of screws. I stained and built the walls in my garage before assembling it. Once all of the wood at been stained, it came together pretty quickly with the grandkids help...Lol

 

Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Simple Outdoor Table

Submitted by Kingsamui on Tue, 07/24/2018 - 17:24

Modifications to the simple outdoor table plan thanks to Finn’s dad. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200 -Found a place that had Cedar shorts “B quality”, but very few knots for an unbelievably cheap price. I ran all to boards through a planer to start and saved a bundle.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
3coats Spar Urethane. I’ve heard the Spar doesn’t hold up well, so would have used something rlse if I knew that at the beginning.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Mothersday Planter

Thanks for these plans! I was able to complete this planter in one afternoon.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Twin Bed Frame with Geometric Art

I was given this bed frame by a neighbor whose children had outgrown it and wanted to make a few changes before putting it in my son's room. I took the original frame (built from Ana's Farmhouse Bed woodworking plans) and stripped most of the existing finish. Then, I stained over the stripped paint to give it the distressed look. Next I created the DIY geometric wood art to fit in both the headboard and the footboard. To do this I cut down scrap 1" thick lumber to varying widths and arranged it into a geometric pattern. This was such a fun project and I absolutely LOVE how it turned out! I wrote out every step of the process in this blog post: https://mamaneedsaproject.com/diy-twin-bed-frame-with-geometric-wood-ar… Thanks!

Built from Plan(s)

Leaning Bathroom Ladder Shelf

Submitted by Jminor83 on Thu, 06/20/2019 - 10:53

My wife saw your post for this shelf and knew it would be perfect for our half-bathroom.  She showed it to me and I agreed.  I built it in a few hours one afternoon.  Stained and sealed a few days later and it fits perfectly.  Now we just need to wait (impatiently) for everything to cure so we can actually begin to use it.  We'll try and share another final photo when in full use.

Estimated Cost
Already had all supplies on hand. If I had to price it....
$5 for 2 2x4s (sides)
$10 for 1 1x10 (shelves - ripped to shorter widths as needed)
$6 for 3 1x2s
(+screws/nails/glue/stain/sealer)

Total $21
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
One coat of stain, followed by two coats of polyethylene. Light sanding with sanding sponge to smooth everything out once dried. Going to wait a week for everything to cure before placing anything on the shelves.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Style Toy Box / Blanket Chest

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 11:17

I built this for my daughter after Christmas sinse she had the living room covered in toys. The dimensions are 37" x 18" x 20" 

Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Watco Danish Oil - Medium Walnut (2 coats) with a light sanding between coats with 220 grit, I allowed 24 hours between each coat to dry. To protect the surface I used water based polyurathane matte finish (3 coats) with a light sanding - 400 grit.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

jwelch

Wed, 01/18/2017 - 13:06

Great job! Can you share more about how the legs were constructed and joined? Was this project based on Ana White's "Simple" toy box plan? Any info appreciated.

jgreaff

Tue, 01/09/2018 - 05:51

HI Anna, 

Can you provide more pictures or instructions on how you assembled this toy box? i want to make one just like it! 

 

Thanks!

apezz

Wed, 03/10/2021 - 16:31

Looking at the wall panels they look like the long edge of each panel has a small bevel cut on it. This gives each panel edge a more pronounced or well-defined edge? Is this true? Was it done with a router?

Headboard based on PB Oxford Storage Bed

Although I didn't build this from a plan I wanted to be sure and share it as it is because of my experience building from Ana's plans that I felt comfortable giving this a shot.

My in-laws were just updated their lake cabin and wanted a storage headboard as space is a premium and it will be the only furniture in the guest rooms. It is unique as it has shelves on either side which can pull out to function as a small night stand, perfect for cell phones, books etc. The back of the piece is tongue and groove knotty pine which for the more rustic look they wanted.

I will probably do things a little different when I build the next headboard but overall I am satisfied with the end result. I chose not to do a lower storage area, mainly to keep the cost down. It could be done very easily but this piece is already very heavy and that there is plenty of storage.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Special Walnut stain with semi-gloss Polycrylic. All of the wood was sanded and then I applied wood conditioner. One coat of the stain and three coats of the semi-gloss. I live in Minnesota and build it in my garage so I had to wait until this week when temperatures finally were warm enough to apply the finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Modified miter saw cart

I love having this new addition! Freed up space in my small shop and now it’s more functional and organized. I followed the plans with modifications in the leaves using scrap 1x’s (which I may decide later to change to 2x4s but I had 1x’s on hand) instead of the brackets and then the extra 1x’s holding on the leaves so they would fall flat to the sides. Love it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Under $75 (don’t remember exactly)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Didn’t finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

My Garden Shed

Submitted by jimavera on Tue, 03/13/2018 - 09:07

I used these plans of this project. Only differences are I used 2X3 studs. I also made the shed longer,, its 3ft X 8ft.. Also on the back I used two siding sheets since it wouldnt be seen. Did it over the weekend. Just needs shingles and stain. Anyway I love it. Had a spot behind the house where it fits perfectly. Thanks

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

Murphy Bed Cabinet

Submitted by Aventusman on Mon, 11/30/2015 - 14:07

I made this cabinet to house my murphy bed.  I used the Toy or TV Armoire plans as a start and adjusted the measurements as needed.

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Painted White
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Narrow console table

Attempted this plan, but I used 2x12 boards and made it 5ft long for my wife's coffee station.

Estimated Cost
40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Classic Bunk Bed with Sweet Pea Stairs

Submitted by e_hutch on Fri, 01/17/2014 - 19:03

I wanted a bunk bed for our daughters, it needed to be easily moveable like the "classic bunk beds." I also wanted stairs like the "Sweet Pea Garden" bunk bed because we have toddlers in the house. I modified the classic bunk bed to put the ladder on the end, then built the Sweet Pea stairs to fit to the opening (I think the only difference in dimensions was a 20" top stair. I didn't want the unfinished ends of plywood so I got 4'x16"x3/4" pine boards from lowes which happens to be the width of the stairs in the plan. Instead of using the 1x2's as trim on the ends of the shelves I put two of them together, one all of the way down the front of each stair and one resting on the top of the stair (screwed together) so I wouldn't lose lateral stability. I then spaced 2x2's in between to keep it "simple" looking instead of the heart shaped decorations from the sweet pea bed. I used some 1/4" paintable composite board to provide a backing to the stairs. I bolted the stairs on to the bed with some flat bar stock cut to size and 3/8' in hex bolts cut to length. I used pocket hole joints wherever possible and countersunk all other screws and used 3/8" dots from lowes to fill the holes. I painted it with a coat of primer and a coat of Glidden Trim and Door paint in antique white from the Easy Vintage Step Stool project.

Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Glidden Door and Trim, Antique White
Kilz Complete Primer
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

zaphod

Mon, 06/23/2014 - 06:39

This is absolutely beautiful! Did you modify the size for toddler mattresses?
I would love to do the same for my kiddos - is there any way you could send me your version of the plans? [email protected]

Thanks so much!

Farmhouse Bed with Storage and Bookshelf footboard

Submitted by rbgreene04 on Sat, 05/21/2016 - 15:50

I altered the plans just a bit so that I could make use of the drawer closest to the headboard, while using bedside tables as well (not the ugly ones in the pictures, but some that only exist in my mind as of now). With the plan as is, I didn't think that first drawer would be able to open if you have a nightstand. So I left about a 17" gap that can be used as an open shelf for storage, and still had room for 3 drawers. I also wanted to include a bookshelf as the footboard to make it multifunctional. We have a ton of books and no place to store them (fear not, a large bookshelf/media center is coming soon!) I also altered the top of the headboard just a bit to give it more texture and visual appeal (hopefully, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder so I've been told). Lastly, I did not put the 1/4" plywood backing on the drawer carcasses. They were pretty sturdy as is, and only got more sturdy as they were attached to the headboard and footboard; I'm not worried about racking at all. Leaving the back off also allows me to pull the drawers out and access some hidden storage in between the two drawer carcasses. 

I wanted a simple finish, so I rubbed it with dark walnut Danish oil. Super simple finish and I think it'll hold up as the bed is not like a desk that needs poly or something. 

Estimated Cost
Cost? Great question! I build things, but don't keep track of receipts. Whoops! It's a major flaw of mine, and I'm working on it. I'd estimate just shy of $300.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I sanded to 120 and then lathered on Dark walnut Danish oil. I let it soak into the wood, and boy was the wood thirsty. Then reapplied after about 30 minutes and wiped off the excess, which there wasn't much excess--did I mention the wood was thirsty?
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

ciara5545

Sun, 08/28/2016 - 19:50

This bed turned out amazing.  I love the modifications and agree the first drawer will be more usable.

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