Community Brag Posts

Hailey Platform Bed

Submitted by lmr3471 on Fri, 10/25/2019 - 07:25

My husband followed these user-friendly DIY platform bed plans and was able to build and finish our son's big boy bed in 2 days. We used poplar wood for the headboard and pine for the frame. We are so in love with the results! Thanks, Ana, for sharing these awesome plans with the world! 

Estimated Cost
250.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum wood stain - dark walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Playhouse/Loft Bed In Small Playroom

Submitted by Espana811 on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 07:15

We had a small 6’x13’ storage room that we wanted to make into a playroom for our daughter. I saw the “Playhouse Loft Bed” project here and wanted to do something similar. With limited space I had to redesign the plans to make it fit. I eliminated the side walls from the plans and made cleats on the three walls to hold everything up. This actually saved a lot of money and time. As this was simply going to be a place for my daughter and friends to play and watch movies I did not worry about the size of the mattress. I simply went and had some foam cut that I am making a cover for. We are building a ladder that will go on the left side as well doors. It is dark inside so I was able to find motion operated puck lights that stay illuminated for 45 minutes at a time. So if she forgets to turn them off then they will go off by themselves to save batteries. This was a fun project. The most time consuming part was the planning. I did everything in Sketchup. This made it simple when it came time to build. The house itself went up fast. I spent the next few days filling holes, sanding, and of course painting. None of which too a long time but I was not in any rush. I also made a Dutch Door to go along with the room.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Around $125
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Bunnie1978

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 06:00

You did a great job! I see lots of fun places in that room for storage too.
I used cleats on my loft bed that's still in process... but mine is queen sized and into the corner. I am doing the measure as you go thing, so it's taking a long time.
It's like a little theater room! Toddler sized!

Espana811

Mon, 03/05/2012 - 07:45

This has definitively been a fun project. There are still a ton of things I want to do for the rest of the room. My little girl goes in every morning to play.

Sister's Table

This was the second table I built - it was much improved on my first and was for my sister as a Christmas present. It has 4x4 legs that I notched out with a circular saw for the legs and a spruce top. I modified the length down to 6' for her house but added extensions on the end that make the table up to 9' long when fully extended.

Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut with Polyurethane and a epoxy coating on the top to seal all the cracks, as sister has two little kids.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Dollhouse

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/15/2016 - 18:58

We built this dollhouse for our daughter

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Faux Fireplace with Storage

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/28/2019 - 16:33

Went with a black, high gloss finish which I sanded down with 220 grit sandpaper to soften the look. Cut up a birch tree from the backyard, back-lit the logs with two strands of orange Halloween lights from the dollar store (we drilled a hole in the bottom back for the plug for the lights).
Added a remote extender so we don't have to open the front middle door in order to operate our streaming devices.
Love to be able to decorate this for the holidays--can hardly wait for Christmas!

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Black high gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Potting Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/11/2023 - 08:03

Had tons of fun making this potting bench from Ana used a few different boards but, overall had a great time

Built from Plan(s)

Another Farmhouse Twin

I sometimes really struggle with making this bed, mostly because it's huge and heavy and not a one person assembly. For some reason I still insist on trying to go solo, and it never ever works out. I was in search of some method that would not only make assembly easier and possibly a one gal gig, but also add to the stability factor.

I decided to grab some metal brackets often used in putting together decks or fencing to use as cross braces for my box spring support. This made it much much easier!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
light stain, satin poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

L-Shaped Desk

Submitted by flyboy599 on Wed, 01/01/2014 - 08:16

This desk was made using the "Fancy X Desk" and "Modular Office Base" plans. A CPU enclosure was added with a similar "X" design. The top is 3/4'' plywood with 1x2's and 2x2's providing the framing. A 1x4 runs down the back of the desk with a cord try to hide cables.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Black paint and primer in one with 5 coats of polyacrylic on the work surface.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

ksc70x

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 15:16

HI, The desk is awesome and I thought I would make this my first attemt at building something.

But I am unable to find the instructions.

Please help.

 

Thank you.

ksc70x

Sun, 01/10/2016 - 08:46

Ok after reading the subject matter I realized that this is the merging of two different desks.

Can you post a photo of how you joined them.

The support for such a long desk is my concern, with out it having any middle support or at the the corner?

 

Thank you.

ksc70x

Sun, 01/10/2016 - 08:47

Ok after reading the subject matter I realized that this is the merging of two different desks.

Can you post a photo of how you joined them.

The support for such a long desk is my concern, with out it having any middle support or at the the corner?

 

Thank you.

Cedar shed with planter box stairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/29/2019 - 16:29

Cedar shed with planter box stairs. Both plans modified slightly to fit my needs. Siding is tongue and groove cedar. All other wood is brown pressure treat. Planter box stairs were sized and positioned to hide cement posts. Sorry for only one photo. Finally finished and ran out of time with good weather here in Canada. Will post more with weather permits. Thanks again for your plans. I've also built night stands and a farmhouse dining table.
Not sure if I linked the proper stairs plan. Was https://www.ana-white.com/woodworking-projects/outdoor-planter-steps-or…

Estimated Cost
600
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
No finishing here. Cedar siding was ripped to use as trim accents
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Double Bench with Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/15/2023 - 09:38

Made the double bench from DIY Pete. Curved top slats for the back rest for a little more style.

Neil Oldreive Nova Scotia Canada

Restoration Hardware- Inspired chalkboard

Submitted by margjack on Wed, 03/07/2012 - 16:32

For my niece's birthday, we used Rayan's plans (over at the Design Confidential) to build an industrial folding chalkboard sign. I used 1/4" MDF for the chalkboards for smoothness and 1x2 pine for the frame, stained one coat of ebony & one coat of rustoleum "sunbleached" stain. I totally forgot to take pictures before we dropped it off, but it was super easy and a real hit!

Estimated Cost
$15 (stain, screws, glue were on-hand)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
one coat of ebony & one coat of rustoleum "sunbleached" stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

8 foot Farm Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/21/2016 - 05:21

Inspired by the Fancy X farmtable plans. Added a crossbeam mid legs. Stained top and center beam chalk painted legs. Bench inspired by the table just minus the diagonal pieces.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Benchright Coffee Table

After searching for months for a coffee table I found one and put my DH to work. This is his first time making any type of furniture and I think he did an awesome job. We used Red Oak for the table and it weighs a ton :)

Estimated Cost
$780
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Stained with 'Mission Oak' colour and finished with a semi gloss varnish from Varathane.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

veggie storage

Submitted by tjhead on Thu, 03/24/2016 - 10:08

I loved this plan.  It was my first build from Ana White plans and a true jumping off point for my imagination.  I used pine boards, matte red underneath and semi-gloss white top coat.  Steel wool was my tool for the distressing.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Matte red undercoat and semi-gloss white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Farmhouse TV Console

This was the second piece of furniture that my husband and I ever made. We had built a coffee table that had a lift up top so that we could eat dinner on the couch and store all of our board games. Once we tackled that, I thought we could conquer the world (even though the table was pretty basic). So when my now-husband was about to move into his first apartment without a roommate and I saw it as an opportunity to decorate my own place (even though I wasn’t living there). Luckily,he agreed it was time to get rid of his tiny Ikea TV stand that was probably 2ft off the ground and not a great height for a TV, and agreed to build this awesome TV console with me. To this day, it’s still my favorite piece of furniture in our house.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
500
Finish Used
dark walnut

Comments

Tryde Media Console

Submitted by LBoz10 on Wed, 03/14/2012 - 08:49

This was our first build, so it was definitely a learning process! We followed the plans pretty closely, with a few minor modifications to suit our needs. The finish was inspired by CreativePineapple's stain/white paint combo - we loved it so much that we had to do our own version!

The center console section was built out of 3/4" MDF - we knew we were going to paint, as opposed to stain, and it was quite a bit cheaper. We primed and painted this section as we went, as we knew that getting our hands/brushes into the cubbies after assembly would be difficult. This added to the time to finish, but it did make for an easier (and probably more even) paint job.

The side panels and back (not shown - we still need to do cutouts for cords before we attach) are 1/4" plywood. The legs are untreated SPF 4x4s, and were definitely where we ran into the most problems. Finidng untreated 4x4's was difficult enough, and when we finally found one that didn't have a ton of chunks and dings in it, we had problems with wood cracking when we got it home. We waited until the wood had acclimatized to our home and stopped cracking, wood-filled the cracks where we could and tried to position the legs so the cracks were facing the console, and hidden. Luckily, this approach was successful, and you can't tell that cracking was an issue. In retrospect, I probably should have just gone with cedar, particularly since we weren't staining it and it wouldn't have mattered that it was different from our other pine boards.

The only placed where we really differed from the plans was adding additional trim to the front section, as opposed to edge binding. The trim was simple 1x2s, similar to the bottom trim.

We primed and painted the entire white bottom section before attaching the top, which was made of stud-grade spruce 2x4's. We used a wood conditioner on the spruce before staining, as it is such a soft wood. The stain was left on for 15-20 minutes before wiping, as we knew we wanted a darker, richer colour. Two coats were required to get the shade we wanted (3 on one board which wasn't soaking up the stain as well). We then finished with 3 coats of Varathane Diamond Wood Finish, to get an especially glossy finish.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150-200, incl. paint and supplies
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint - Rustoleum Painter's Touch in "Gloss White";
Stain - Minwax Wood Finish in "English Chestnut" (2 coats) plus 3 coats of Varathane Diamond Wood Finish in "Gloss"
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

nancy

Wed, 03/14/2012 - 19:29

You better not stop with this project - absolutely beautiful!! The finish looks amazing...I am wondering if you used a rag or a sponge brush to stain the top? I am very new to staining furniture, so any tips would be appreciated. :)

LBoz10

Sat, 03/17/2012 - 09:22

Thanks! We used a foam brush, as we had a bunch hanging around, and just wiped ta the end with a rag. We also left our wood conditioner overnight, contrary to the package directions, which we heard allows it to sink in and dry more evenly. Other than that...we'd never stained before in our lives, so don't be afraid to just give it a go!

Guest (not verified)

Fri, 03/16/2012 - 16:01

i can't seem to find the detailed plans for the console. do you happen to have them? thanks!

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