loved the husky dining table on Ana's website so sort of followed the plans this is how mine turned out :-) still in the process of distressing the legs and then varnishing
This was my first table, so there were a few hiccups, but I was pretty content with it.
I recently made the bench that you see in the picture as well. I made it to match the table, so I pretended I was making a mini table. Used plywood for the top, padding, and wrapped it with fabric. I was trying to match the charis as much as possible. Finished it by making the buttons and tufting it.
My daughter needed some mobile storage and a seat while using her sewing machine.
I came across Ana's mobile stool storage plan realizing I could make four stackable storage trays to go inside. I applied the Watco Walnut finish which I have seen Ana use before on her projects.
This project was a great birthday gift that will used for hopefully years to come!
Turned out beautifully for our master bedroom!
My first project on my own!
Wed, 05/14/2014 - 00:46
For the end pieces at either end of the top of the bench and table, how did you secure them to the legs? It doesn't look like you cut the extra pieces to fill in the legs so that they are level with each other to make the base. I like how this version looks but it seems like half the 2x2 is barely attached to the legs. I'd love to hear how you did that so I can copy, thanks!
This is a modified version of the Penrose “Impossible” Triangle which is an interesting example of how the brain can be fooled. The main difference in this version is the use of hardware to simulate the triangle side connections. Watching the video is the easiest way to see how it works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B2D5h74mMA
Please check out my other woodworking videos as well. Each video has a PDF drawing of the plans in the description.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcLIJdluqiyiI7J9qp5VAXrALMOftr0RT
This was my first DIY project and it turned out perfect. Thank you for the plans! Took me about two weekends.
This table took me working on it on and off for two days. The most difficult part was getting the legs leveled. After adjusting a couple times,I got them right and the rest was easy.
It is a solid and heavy piece and we enjoy having family meals on it.
I had the stains and spent a total of $80 for the table and bench material.
I think a beginner like myself can tackle this project- As long as you can use a miter saw. I don't have that much experience with woodoworking, but was able to tackle this project
This was the first thing me and the hubby ever built. We had lots of fun and even got the kids involved. Pretty sure we got the building bug now! Thanks Ana for inspiring families to build better lifestyles one board at a time. :)
First project attempt. Instructions were really easy to follow. The X's were quite challenging at first, because I only had a Miter Saw. After many trials and errors, I found that building and attaching a 90 degree fence on the saw and then cut the 60 degree angles at the 30, gave beautiful 60 degree cuts. I used Min Wax Special Walnut Stain. I didn't do a lot of sanding because I wanted a gritty rustic feel to it. I used common pine boards. For the hardware, I bought zinc plated L brackets and Large bolts. I used a blow torch to melt the zinc to give it a great look.
We built our nesting box from scrap wood we had from an old barn we tore down and other scraps from previous projects. The dimensions were modified based on the width of the wood we had on hand. It's not very pretty, but it was free to make and will be inside a chicken coop. Our chicks are scared of it right now, but they are only 8 weeks old and not laying yet. I'm sure they will like it when they get used to it.
A smaller version of the farmhouse 4x4 truss beam table. Made with inexpensive Douglas Fir construction wood. My biggest woodworking project yet. Very satisfying!
Deb B
Sorry the the photos were taken from my phone so the lighting is making it look darker than it really is.
Basically I followed the plans to a T other than the poplar trim and crown molding.
For the head board I Used 3/4" red birch ply and made some stiles with excess from the sheet and then just trimmed it with poplar molding. instead of stacking 2 2x4 for the sides i just used a solid 4x4 and cut the spot out to old the rails on. I was afraid how the stain would react or how it would look since 2x4 have rounded edges. Thats pretty much it. The finish was a tricky process. since I used red birch and white poplar I had to find a way to get everything to stain evenly. So basically I
Dyed all the wood then sealed then stained then toner then glaze then a little more toner then when i got the color i wanted i put 2 layers of top coat.
Wed, 05/16/2012 - 06:11
That's simply stunning. That WAS a tricky finishing process, but obviously well worth the effort.
Thu, 05/17/2012 - 03:41
That is one of the most beautiful finishes I have ever seen on this site.
Thu, 05/17/2012 - 11:38
I'm doing a bed very similar to this... but i'm only doing 2 larger panels rather than 4 like you have. How do you the insides of the panels? Quarter round and then crown molding? I was thinking I would attach the trim on top of the plywood and then just attach some quarter round on the inside to round it and make it stand out a little more.
Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:00
I didn't use any round(but that is the idea to hide the ugly plywood layers that are exposed when cut). Its just 2 3/4 x3/4" whitewood/poplar casing that I had left over from a project i was working on. the frame of the squares was 3/4" birch ply so the casing laid nice and flush with it so it looked nice. the trick is to get the stiles(the frame of the squares to lay flat against the plywood backing other wise the casing won't lay even all the way around.
heres a link to the casing i used
http://www.lowes.com/pd_105664-81562-OML14-7FTWHW_4294801993_4294937087…
heres the link to the crown that i used on the top
http://www.lowes.com/pd_105626-81562-1069-8FTWHW_4294801991_4294937087_…
the trim stuff at the box places are considered paint grade and don't take stain very well. its easiest to paint if you don't have the right setup to finish things. and if you are going to stain I recommend a product called timbermate its stainable wood filler its hard to get but its amazing stuff it blows the minwax stuff out of the water.
Pottery barn Ladder Shelf
Wed, 12/10/2014 - 13:55
When I click the pdf or printer friendly it does not give the how to instructions....
My birthday present from my hubsand. He built it following Ana's plans, then I stained it in Sunbleached by Varathane. I had him make the top shelf higher than her plans called for, though, so that my KitchenAid mixer would fit.
I came across the plans for this workbench - exactly what I need for my basement laundry area. I wanted a nice flat space where I can fold laundry. I started yesterday and put together the legs and frame. I'll pickup a countertop or nicer finished plywood for the bottom and top shelves. Here is the link to the page with plans and pics https://www.ana-white.com/woodworking-projects/workbench-get-job-done
Thanks so much for this great project idea, plans and instructions! Super helpful! I can't wait to finish it - I'll post final pic when it's complete.
Had a bunch of scrap wood from other projects and random pieces we found in our barn after we moved into our new house so decided to make a new coffee bar to use it up. Modified the Potting Bench plans and pretty happy with how it turned out!
Nate B
A friend of mine said she needed a potting table (aka bench) so I offered to make her one. Got the plan for the simple potting bench and went to work. The friend wanted a lip on the left and right sides of the top self and she wanted the top shelf to be solid. So adding the lip was no problem and I added the same but smaller on the bottom shelf. I built the solid top from three pieces of wood held together with pocket joints and glue. Worked great. With just a little sanding it is a beautiful flat solid piece of wood. Much better and cheaper than plywood. Since I do not like to rip lumber the final top self was about an inch or so deeper than the plans but that was easily adapted to. It is a good lesson to cut as you go along rather than cutting everything at the onset of a project. You make changes and it effects other aspects of the build. I added a Shaker peg on each end to hang a bar towel or a trowel whatever suits your fancy.
Most important is to continually check for square joints. Especially if you don't have the fancy tools and jigs. I got lucky and my final bench was square and level in all directions.
The build takes about 8 hours (plus a couple of days for priming and painting) using mostly hand tools. If I do another one I am going to substitute lighter and thinner wood. The 2x4 shelves and supports are over kill. I think it will give you a better and nicer looking final product. Keep Ana on The Web,,,,
Sun, 05/20/2012 - 17:10
I also added a face to the exposed lumber ends in the front and for the top and bottom shelves. The bottom face is actually a piece of old cedar fence I found in the garage. Sorry I forgot to mention in my first Brag ...about the potting bench.
My wife and I loved the look of this bed and decided to try to do it together. I built the frame and she tackled the headboard. In my haste at the hardware store I picked up the smaller packets of shims, a happy accident in my opinion! I decided to put the supports together with joist hangers to make it easier to take apart ,if need be.
We used a nail gun to attach the shims to the head board , and changed to
the pattern a little. Being that we were putting it in a smaller room I made some floating bed side tables as well. What a gratifying project!
