Community Brag Posts

Modern 2x4 and Fence Picket Outdoor Chair

Submitted by vendo on Tue, 04/22/2025 - 11:12

Hard to believe common 2x4’s and cedar fence pickets can produce such a beautiful outcome. Planning to knock out 1 chair a week over the next month to have them ready in time for summer! Thanks for the easy plans Ana.

DIY Folding Workbench

Submitted by suzeet305 on Mon, 10/18/2021 - 18:32

I'm a beginner DIYer and I knew one day I was going to have to make a workbench. I made mine 24x48 so I wanted a little more support to hold up the drop down leaf. I searched your site and found another plan with these gatelegs and knew this is what I wanted. I love the way it came out. What do you think?

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Cedar Chest

Submitted by Keldani5 on Mon, 12/27/2021 - 06:42

I created this from rough cut cedar I glued everything together and finished it off with brad nails and brass hinges. Then I added a poly gloss on the outside.

Comments

Cedar deck box

Submitted by JMG on Wed, 07/06/2022 - 19:47

I had to modify these plans to use what I had on hand. I used left over cedar fence pickets (planed down and sealed) and adjusted the size to fit all my outdoor cushions. Overall dimensions are 49" wide x 28" deep x 26" high. I also used 2x4's instead of 2x2's because that is what I had in my shop. I added 1x3's around the top to fit snugly instead of using hinges (again trying to use what I had on hand). We get A LOT of rain in the summer so hopefully the cushions will stay dry. I also added some screen left over from the screened in porch to the bottom before adding the "floor" to keep bugs out. I just stapled it to the frame before adding the floor boards. I did add a piece of treated 1/4" plywood under the top in hopes of keeping the rain out.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Sandbox with built-in seats

I modified this a tad from the original plans to suit my needs. I will eventually be adding a platform with attached slide and swing set.

Plans were easy to follow. My store didn't have 1x8's so I stacked 1x4's and used my Kreg jig to join them together and then I added extra bracing.

I had seen this on Pinterest a couple years ago and thought it was the coolest thing! Io excited I was able to build it myself!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About $40
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
None yet. I will stain and seal everything when I get the entire play set finished.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Playhouse

We built this playhouse for our daughter's 6th birthday. She absolutely loves it! We were looking at purchasing one, but they were way out of our budget. Ana saved the day with these plans :).

Estimated Cost
$320.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
We painted the house with white Pittsburg Ultra Exterior Latex paint. The mailbox, door and shutters were all painted with Pink Viburnum Sherwin Williams Satin Exterior paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

Laundry Dresser foling area and hanging shelf

Submitted by sandrabees on Tue, 06/19/2012 - 13:15

more details on my blog. I built 2 of the laundry dressers. adjusted the placement of my baskets due to restrictions in the overall height of my unit (I have a ironing board cabinet built into 1 wall that I still wanted to be able to open and use :) I used MDF, but it was a bear to work with and next time I would spend the extra $$ on birch. i painte the bottom in a semi gloss. and plan to add the doors (which will have a beadboard backing) they will be painted white with a dark walnut glaze. The top and shelf /brackets are all done in a distressed finish with ebony and mahogany stain mixed then 2 coats of poly very sturdy even filled!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$140
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
white semi gloss paint, (will be glazing with dark walnut as well),
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Sherice

Tue, 07/15/2014 - 20:27

Very cool rendition of the original plans. I like the folding area, awesome job!

thewife

Fri, 06/26/2015 - 00:00

I have been wanting to make the laundry basket dresser but am holding off because we are moving. What color did you us on the walls, I love it.

Our Pacific Northwest Privy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/25/2016 - 11:25

We have a small rustic cabin that needed a clean, functional outhouse.  We followed Ana's plans, but with a few modifications to include a Solar gray polycarbonate roof to let in light.  We also decided on cedar board & batten for the siding.   We look forward to many years of use. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$800
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr - Cedar naturaltone Weatherproofing. All boards were cut to size and then stained with 3 coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Modified Simple Outdoor Dining Table

Submitted by DD5.1 on Sat, 04/26/2014 - 20:00

I didn't make any changes , his orginal design was great. Hope these pictures help others. I tried to link to the modified-simple-outdoor-dining-table but wasn't able too.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
120
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
make sure you stain as you go
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

DD5.1

Sun, 04/27/2014 - 14:06

Found the plans "modified-simple-outdoor-dining-table" and I built it. Very nice table, I posted more pcitures to help others

DD5.1

Sun, 04/27/2014 - 14:06

Found the plans "modified-simple-outdoor-dining-table" and I built it. Very nice table, I posted more pcitures to help others

Nesting Office Station

Submitted by Sb1212 on Tue, 07/14/2020 - 18:38

So loving this nesting office station❤️! We will have a sofa sleeper in the office as well. So we needed a desk that could be moved to the wall when the sofa sleeper is being used by guest. I saw a post from Ana for her Nesting Grill Station and I came up with the idea to make this nesting office station. The cabinet includes a file folder drawer (which is from Ana's mail boss plans), a regular drawer, cabinet doors with shelves. One of the shelves is a pull out shelf for the printer. I think it came together great! Design for nesting desk inspired by these plans: https://www.ana-white.com/woodworking-projects/nesting-grill-station https://www.ana-white.com/woodworking-projects/mail-boss

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Golden Pecan
Valspar Signature Ultra White in satin
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Sb1212

Sat, 10/03/2020 - 08:35

Hi, Thank you! Actually I didn't add wheels to the design since this will be in an office with thick carpeting. I added adjustable metal foot pads to the bottom of the desk.

Extra tall bar stool

Submitted by Jbonacci3 on Sat, 01/26/2013 - 12:18

I built a breakfast bar into an existing wall shared between our kitchen and living room. I built it on the taller side of average since I wanted to have room to install new electrical outlets above the counter on the kitchen side. After the project was done we went to buy bar stools to use with the new bar and found that even the "tall" stools were too short to work. Research into extra tall stools showed that what we needed was going to $400-600 each! Luckily my wife found these stools on your site and we were able to make three of them for around $115. Also, they are much sturdier than anything we looked at to buy.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$115
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Painted frames with Valspar paint + primer (black). Padded and covered seats with a canvas material.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Breibee23

Mon, 11/11/2013 - 23:53

This is a saving grace... We didn't want to spend 600-1400 on extra tall bar stools that actually look good and this plan rocks as a stand in :)

Rural School Bus Shelter

Submitted by Medeek on Thu, 02/28/2013 - 09:02

Rural Bus Shelter with 3/12 shed roof, designed to keep your kids out of the elements as they wait for the bus. Shown with log siding and 2x trim. Can be constructed on a slab on grade or remain portable with pressure treated runners and wood floor as shown.

Upgrade further with electricity and insulation for those really cold and dark climates (ie. Washington, Oregon, Alaska, B.C.).

I will make the plans for this shelter freely available to all that are interested.

Estimated Cost
$1200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Very good idea to stain and treat the siding which will greatly increase its longevity and attractiveness.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

3 Tier Planter

Submitted by ranlim on Thu, 05/18/2017 - 21:24

Love this planter. Used quality pine. Perfect size for the balcony! I use it for fresh herbs... i have have other people wanting one too!

Estimated Cost
17
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Special walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Foldable Farmhouse Table 2

I recently published my first foldable farmhouse table last week here: http://ana-white.com/2013/06/foldable-farmhouse-table The first one I made was very heavy because I used 2x6 tops and 4x4 legs. I decided to make another one that would be lighter and easier to transport. The plans are basically the same just instead I used 1x6 for the top and put 2x4s together for the legs. I also shorted the length by about a foot. The only issue with making the table shorter length is that the legs don't fold completely flush. You could easily make the legs short enough to fold flush, but then the table was a little too short from the ground up for us. The same as before I simply used kreg joints to join the top boards together. I then made a 2x4 frame and attached it to the bottom. I made each of the legs separately by joining 2x4s together and sanding everything down. Everything was stained before putting the legs on using Miniwax Dark walnut stain. I used 2 coats of Miniwax water based clear coat to seal it. A notch was cut out on each of the bottom 2x4 supports on the legs and I glued in a small piece of wood cut to size. These are so I can put in a 2x4 support board under the table so that the legs do not fold in on themselves when it is standing up. The legs are just attached using door hinges you can buy in packs in the hardware section. Be careful when screwing into the 1x6 top not to use too long of screws or else you will over screw and have them come through into your table top. Table design was by Amber Veatch Designs and photographed by Andi Mans Photography

Estimated Cost
120.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Sand to finish and then used Miniax dark walnut stain followed by Miniwax water based clear coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Freddyflis

Tue, 07/07/2015 - 06:41

We have built something very similar and we have a good bit of wobble at the top, even though the stretcher down the center of the table is holding solid in there and secred with clasps. Were thinking of some sort of sliding pin into the top of the leg to the apron. Anyone run into this before?

Seasonal And Holiday

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by Kkmcbryde on Thu, 07/12/2018 - 05:42

My husband and I built this table from the farmhouse table plans (Kreg-jig). I wanted a farmhouse table for our new patio and couldn’t quit find one to buy-so we made it! We used red cedar because it is an outdoor table and we wanted it weather resistant. 

Estimated Cost
Our cost was higher due to the red cedar we used. It costs $350. Time completed also includes staining time as well.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Top table- I used special walnut and dark walnut stain.
Legs I used special walnut stain. Then painted it with Acadia white outdoor paint. I then scrapped with steel wool.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Painted X Shelf

Submitted by scokenour on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 15:26

I slightly modified the X Shelf plans, using 2x2's (actually ripped my own from 2x6's since the only ones I could find were in horrible shape). The X's were a little trickier than I anticipated, but well worth it! I really like the look using 2x2's vs. the chunkier 2x4's.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Stained using a vinegar/steel wool (my favorite!), then painted a quick coat of antique white milk paint, sand; then a quick coat of gray wash (1/2 Pewter Grey 1/2 water); then sealed with finishing wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Lady Goats

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 08:57

I'd actually considered going down to 2x3s instead of 2x4s, but the 2x2s look great! Awesome Job!

scokenour

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 09:19

Thanks! My inspiration piece actually came from a piece that one of the dealers (I work in a high-end antique & interior store) and I was THRILLED to see your plans which made it so much easier! Can't wait to start my next project!

Grandy Barn Door Corner TV Stand

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/08/2020 - 12:46

I couldn't find any corner TV stands with the barndoor style that were big enough, so I decided to design and make my own using the Grandy buffet design.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
200-300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Polyshades Satin
Wax paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Shed Ramp Build

Submitted by mtairymd on Sat, 06/11/2016 - 06:07

Build Instructions:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Shed-Ramp/

Video:

https://youtu.be/WTqfV1HDstc

My garage was starting to get cramped so I decided I needed a shed for the lawn/garden equipment. I thought about building one but bailed and decided to purchase a 10’ x 14’ shed with 6’ wide doors from the nearby Amish community. To not be a total slacker, I decided I could at least build the foundation and ramp. I’ve never built a ramp so I did a little research online and found that there are an abundance of styles, both good and bad. Anyway, this is my attempt at ramp design. Hope someone finds it useful.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

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