Community Brag Posts

Princess Castle Loft Bed

We used the plans from this site to build this for our daughter. We did however make the bed part a bit more sturdy to ensure that no one would get hurt and to make sure it could support any weight. We added 4 2x4s across the bed like rafters and screwed the slats on top of them.

Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

My first ever wood working project

Wood working is a hobby I got into because my wife realised I needed something to take my mind off my job. I worked in IT when I started and I was coming home frustrated, annoyed, and often angry. I think she had an ulterior motive because when I suggested wood working she seems to have come up with a bunch of projects pretty quickly from Pinterest.

My first real project these deck chairs which I really enjoyed making. I've made a couple of changes to these since making them by removing the bolts and replacing them with 20mm dowel with a 4mm dowel pin. These work really well and stops us from getting shredded by the bolts.

I purposely left unfinished because I was basically developing them at the time and then just kind of liked the look as they got older. Basically these chairs are now about 6 years old and still going strong.

I'm looking at making some more sets for friends.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Au Naturale
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Clubhouse Bunkbed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/19/2023 - 19:24

My oldest boy has been begging for Bunkbeds. With his birthday coming up, I searched to purchase some bunks. I didn’t really like what I found and remembered this site. I fell in love with the sweet pea bunk bed and knew I had to make it for my boys.

It took about a month for me to complete. But I was working about 3 hours daily. One during nap time and two after bed time.

Overall, the plans were very clear. There was one part I can’t remember where the measurement was wrong. Definitely read the plans to make sure. I’m sorry I can’t remember where it was at the moment. These beds are awesome! They are so cozy and fun. Both of the boys love it and my oldest definitely thinks I’m the best mom ever! Thank you for the free plans!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Dollhouse Bookcase

Submitted by tnlscott on Mon, 01/09/2012 - 15:27

This is my version of the Dollhouse Bookcase. I'm not very good at cutting out doors/windows so those were left off.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Less than $100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Oil based paint and modge podge paper on the backside (zebra print).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

spiceylg

Mon, 01/09/2012 - 18:51

Great job and I love the colors/pattern! It looks great as is, w/o cut outs even!

Firetruck Loft Bed

I knew I had to build this bed when I saw the images on a Google search. Thank you so much for such great plans. And FREE no less. Due to the small size of my son's bedroom I couldn't add the front bucket. He's so excited now to go to bed. Thanks again.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$275.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Olympic One paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Who needs Restoration Hardware??

We have huge open walls in our new house. We needed something big! And like everyone else on here, we didn't want shell out $3-4000 for something we really wanted. These plans were perfect. I did make a few adjustments. The overall dimensions are 98"H X 63"W. I used some different trim. I custom made the bottom trim. I also added fronts to the shelves to cover the exposed plywood edges. Really happy I added those. Made a huge difference IMO. I really love it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$350-400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
2 coats of Minwax Driftwood and Hellmans Spray Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Cedar bench for my Mom (aka coffee table)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/01/2019 - 17:46

Have loved watching Ana's youtube channel for a few years now and finally got the nerve to try and make some thing. I have always made doll furniture so I thought that I would try and make 1:1 scale furniture. I loved that video she did on the no-pour concrete paver outdoor coffee table and thought that the plans would make a wonderful bench. It took me a couple of weekends but I did it. Added some little accent pieces to the corners cause the bench did seem a bit wobbly. But it still turned out well and I love it. You get such a great high off of making and completing a furniture build. Gave it to my Mom for christmas. She loves it. Only one problem is that everyone who sees it says that it's a lovely coffee table. lol

Estimated Cost
$46.00CDN
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Boiled Linseed Oil
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Outdoor Storage Bench by Crazy Life with Littles

It’s a miracle I was able to finish this outdoor storage bench considering my kids are on summer break 😂

💡Tip: can’t find cedar pickets at your local stores? Just stain them. No one will ever know 😉 sealed with Thompson’s WaterSeal

by Crazy Life with Littles on Instagram

Seasonal And Holiday

Small Rustic X Bench

Submitted by Cassie1686 on Sat, 01/14/2012 - 16:15

I personalized this bench for a gift for my mom's birthday. I stamped both of my girls handprints on top and added their names and date. Turned out so cute :)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Farmhouse Table

Oh Goodness. This was a HUGE project for us. It was our 2nd Ana White build (the 1st can be seen in the pictures, the kitchen island with the microwave on top). We changed the overall dimensions to fit our kitchen. And we built two matching benches. The hardest part was kreg jigging. We did SO MANY pocket holes and it was our first time using a kreg jig on a LARGE project. We also trimmed up the sides of each of the table top boards so they fit closer together. We really really LOVE this table. And my kids are putting their own special touches on it daily. Thanks for the plans!!

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Kona Stain & Minwax Polyurethane Glossy.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Sliding Barn Door Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/16/2016 - 12:14

We wanted to build this piece for so long, but couldn't find 1/2" metal anywhere. Mind you, we live in a pretty small town. We finally just decided to use 1/8" Metal, which works just fine in my opinion. We followed the rest of the tutorial, but I find that they don't go over how to install the metal at all. That needs a tutorial all on its own. We improvised with what we had here in our small town. We ideally wanted to find old metal, but that didn't happen. So we bought new steel, spray painted it & then beat it up so it looked more vintage. 

I'd say hanging the barn doors & the track is the longest part for sure. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
300 ( We live in Canada, so everything is much more expensive here )
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Top is stained in our Beachwood ( colors mixed from the Minwax stains ) Bottom is painted in pure white. Hardware is black & beaten up
Matte Polyurethane finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

2 X 4 Adirondack Chairs and Tables with a Twist

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/31/2023 - 15:59

I had a bunch of my old skis that I had used as a display wall in my chalet that I needed to do something with, and this was a perfect solution!

Comments

Vintage Step Stools

Submitted by nmnguyen7 on Wed, 01/18/2012 - 12:11

This was our first build. My husband and I really enjoyed working on these! The build went very quickly and the plans were well-detailed. The painting was the most time-consuming part!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30 for the two
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
We used oops paints from Home Depot, a pink and a blue that just happened to coordinate with each other very well!
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Rustic X Side Table

Submitted by worrow on Wed, 12/04/2013 - 12:27

We loved the one from Ana's site and had to have it.

Printed off instructions and purchased material.
Didn't take long to build.

I love it

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$45
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax walnut stain.
Minwax satin polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

King Minimalistic Platform Bed

We built this bed actually from a few different styes from this website. We didn't really like the cut out that much - but we loved how low to the ground it was. So we combined the farmhouse bed, with this bed with a west elm bed to come up with this style. I can be happy to say we've sold over 40 of these beds from Double - Kings! We use 2x3" slats for the base. Super strong! Our frame is made out of 2x12's and then the headboard is attached to the base. This is our personal bed & we're so in love with it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
230.00 CA
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
We stained this bed in a Early American / Dark Walnut Mix & varnished this bed in Semi Gloss.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Dining Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/02/2019 - 10:58

Here is our beautiful truss beam dining table that we built with 100% solid ash hardwood using mortise and tenon joinery and finished in Early American stain! ❤️

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Early American stain by Varathane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Garage Organizer

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 10:48

My husband needed a solution for the garage. I showed him your video and he went right to work. We both love it! Thanks for the inspiration and all you do, Ana!

Comments

Vintage Magazine Rack

Submitted by melissa2 on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 10:55

One thing great about the plans on Ana White's site is that you can change them. Plans that don't seem applicable to your needs can be changed around to fit them. For example, this is the children's magazine rack, repurposed as storage for magazines. (Magazines used to sit around in piles around the house as they came in--what a mess!)

After finishing the building and painting, but prior to antiquing, I added 1910 magazine logos and the prices the magazines sold for during that year, to create the feel of it being an antique magazine rack one might find at a period newsstand. These were found using Google Images. When you look, think about the general genres of magazines you subscribe to, or even use vintage logos from your favorites. I chose to do a variety (the last one is a now out-of-print children's magazine). I didn't have any carbon paper, so I used a heavily-inked newspaper ad as "carbon paper." Painting the text with a tiny brush was very tedious, so I put water-based craft paint onto a watercolor marker's tip and "colored." It seemed like I had more control of the paint that way. The close-up photo shows the titles and prices of the magazines on the crossbars.

This type of project of course cannot be sold, since it uses company names and logos. But it's a fun way to conveniently display your personal magazine collection!

So, remember, you can repurpose a plan on the site for something that fits your own needs! In the near future I hope to show how to convert the Kid's Storage Step Stool plan into a storage bed step for adults.

Tip: The moulding called for is likely too tall for a manual miter box (it was for mine). I ended up cutting the moulding blunt and then doing a lot of sanding to make it match as closely as possible. It doesn't look as nice this way, but it was the only way I could cut it. And as for the "Estimated Time Investment" listed, I am a slow builder, so don't let that dissuade you!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30 (if you have most building and finishing supplies other than the wood)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
~ Paint and roll on heirloom white satin Rustoleum water-based paint--or primer. ~ Paint and roll on a second coat. ~ Sand with light sandpaper. ~ Paint and then roll on a third and final coat. ~ Next, put the text on, as explained in the post. ~ Spatter on black paint lightly. ~ Sand edges (and some surfaces) with rough sandpaper. I also sanded the lettering with light sandpaper to wear it down. ~ In any areas sanded bare, put in water-down brown paint to mimic aged wood. Use a paper towel to wipe off the excess. ~ Hammer with a meat cleaver in some areas. ~ Varnish with one coat of satin varnish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Stable for Nativity Scene

Submitted by arkep on Fri, 12/06/2013 - 18:51

I had been thinking about making something to go with the nativity scene that I made a few years ago, and was so excited to see the plans for this stable this morning. It's less historically accurate, but much easier to build than a cave. =) I had cedar fence picket scraps laying around, so this project didn't cost me anything extra.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$0--made from scraps
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
none--just sanded
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

My diy Bathroom remodel.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/02/2019 - 20:32

I got a water leak behind the shower walls. And I started calling for Bathroom remodel quotes..but the pricing quote wasn't not even close to what I had I'm in my budget.so I decided to watching YouTube videos..and I got my design inspiration from the Pinterest app ...and I decided to start my own Diy Bathroom remodel. The rest is history.

Estimated Cost
2500.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments