Community Brag Posts

Jewelry Boxes

Submitted by yhaas on Sat, 11/28/2015 - 06:55

I made these boxes for my daughters for Christmas. I used maple, and I rabbeted the drawers and backs so that the plywood would sit flush. On the first box, I attempted to join with dowels, but as a novice, that didn't work well, and I converted to a few countersunk screws. On the second box, I used glue and nails as the plan suggested, which was much better. Installing the box hinges and lock was the most finicky part of the project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
The dark wood is stained with Goudey stain - San Miguel Oak. Goudey is a family-run Toronto business, and they make beautiful stains. For the finish, I used Tried and True varnish oil. Hardware was from Lee Valley Tools.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JoanneS

Wed, 12/02/2015 - 14:28

Gorgeous jewelry boxes!  You did a beautiful job, and I'm sure your daughers will love them!  Love the finishes too!

Aged turquoise

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/19/2019 - 09:09

Aged rustic turquoise 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
To be auctioned
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cabin Bed

Submitted by coskam14 on Fri, 11/18/2022 - 17:29

Cabin Bed for toddler. Alternate take on the Jen Woodhouse bed. Built to fit the space

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

step stool #2

kids step stool made using scraps, personalized with name and flowers

Estimated Cost
$0
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
1. prime
2. two coats Behr watermelon
3. satin poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

West Elm Outdoor Sectional

My husband surprised me by making this sectional after I found the plans on your site. THANK YOU! We love it! It's been the centre of many cocktails and conversations over the years!
Note: cost includes the cost of the outdoor cushions which were purchased at Lowes Canada and slightly modified.

Estimated Cost
$800.00, including cushions
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Left as is. This sectional sits outside all year long (we store the cushions indoors over the winter).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse table

My husband built this table, making slight alterations to the plan to make it smaller. He also picked out beautiful walnut planks from a local exotic wood shop. This made the top have slightly different dimensions, too. The top is finished with teak oil and wax. The bottom part of the table was painted a solid gray. We're thrilled with the results. It's so sturdy!

Estimated Cost
About $300. The walnut cost more than typical lumber. It's worth it.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Teak oil in Medium, Howards wax and feed on top. HGTV Sherwin Williams paint in flannel gray
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modified salsa console buffet

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/22/2019 - 16:25

Made a little smaller than original plans and completely out of oak  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
400 (oak is expensive)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax early american.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Fireplace with hidden Mantle storage and side bookshelves

Submitted by ibseenu on Thu, 12/01/2022 - 14:30

Thank you Ana for you Fireplace design as it was exactly what I needed! We’ve lived in our house for 3 years now and I’ve wanted a fireplace ever since. Your plan was perfect and with a few modifications I made it come to life. My 9yr daughter as I was almost done building thought there should be a shelf for books and movies below the fire place. It gave me the idea of adding storage on the sides. I had already had the idea of the mantle storage and just used a floating shelf idea and made that. This was a lot of fun!! It took me a little over a week to build. But can’t wait to build something else for our house… like the mudroom!

Amy

Comments

jtemperley

Sun, 01/08/2023 - 19:02

That looks awesome! My husband and I are planning on doing this as well. I do have a question, as I see you have carpet just like us. Did you cut out the carpet where you built out, and if so how did you go about that, or did you just build on top of it?

Crib size mattress bunk beds

I used crib size mattress instead of twin to make this bunk bed. I wanted more stabilty so I modified it with more rails at the top and didn't make a brake in the front rails.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$65
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

LifeofChaos

Sat, 12/31/2011 - 18:41

No I don't. Not off the top of my head, it has been a few months and I am afraid I would miss something. However, it does appear I put everything except the screws (1.5 inch, I think) in the drawing.

Double daybeds.

Submitted by MaryMurray on Wed, 09/25/2013 - 18:15

For my first 'Ana White' project I built two Lydia daybeds for the guest room. I added beadboard for a cozy feel. I LOVE them and so does everyone else.
Thank you Ana, for these easy to follow plans. I have discovered a wonderful new interest and I BUILT THEM ALL BY MYSELF!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I tinted the primer with some brown paint then added a coat of red paint, Valspar 1011-3 Quite Red, for a warm,cozy feel.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Pub Style Table

Submitted by Nathan O on Tue, 12/08/2015 - 17:53

Made from the above plans. Instead of use pocket screws I just drilled through the table top and used wood filler to fill the counter sunk holes. It was an easy solution and really isn't noticeable. I used basic pine for it as I wanted a very rustic/reclaimed look and think I achieved that. We also didn't have a saw that could 4x4's so instead I just took 2 2x4s and glued/wood screwed them together. Gives the table another fun dimension. Used a few coats of stain and then poly over top. Went with 1x6s instead of 2x6 to save some weight.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50-$80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Office shelf

This took about 7 hours over the week after work. 

Estimated Cost
Had the extra wood already.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain “Provinicial”
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Farmhouse Coffee Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/19/2022 - 08:04

Working a full time job, I was still able to finish each table within a week (taking a couple hours a day to cut, build, sand, burn, stain, ect). These are my second and third tables that I’ve ever built and looking forward to making more.

Comments

entry cubbies

custom size entry cubbies x 2, open top locker section with small basket, bench base portion with two baskets

Estimated Cost
$220 ($110 each)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
1. one coat primer
2. two coats semi gloss white
on bench
1. one coat Minwax dark walnut stain
2. three coats satin poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

SingleMomThriving

Mon, 09/12/2011 - 11:20

I read your blog and all your modifications and love the changes that you made. I have a very small area with a bench and a coat tree that could benefit from this solution. Thanks for posting.

jaimecostiglio

Mon, 09/12/2011 - 12:37

Just stopped by your profile - guess you already got out your tools! Love that RED ladder shelf and creative use of steel sheets for the sides on that planter. PS - Can I borrow your miter saw, I'm dying, dying to get one. Someday.

JES

Mon, 09/12/2011 - 17:03

LOVE this. White with a rich deep wood top is my absolute favorite! Love that you flanked the door on each side with matching ones. Looks like it's right out of a design magazine. Also liked that your blog shows details on how you attached the tops to the bottoms. I want to swipe these for my house! ;) J

Stephan (not verified)

Sat, 11/05/2011 - 12:57

That looks great. It's inspired me, and I'm going to attempt to build it as well. Was on the Pottery Barn website and placed an order, but they are on back order until December 15th. Just hope it does not take that long for me to build it!!

Martina Bath Wall Storage

This is the second building project I made. I really like that it's small, but there's a surprising amount of room in it for towels and stuff. And easy to build, too!
Thanks Ana!

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Leftover CIL Smart3 Trim and Door paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kentwood Bed

Submitted by jbolson21 on Mon, 12/14/2015 - 07:30

Kentwood bed 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
cabinet coat white paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kid's play kitchen

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 18:54

Play kitchen I made for the grandkids 

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Burned wood and stained with golden oak Minwax
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Coffee Bar

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/28/2022 - 18:35

My wife wanted a coffee bar and I wanted a fridge for wine and beer. So we compromised on this.

Comments

Window seat built in

Submitted by daliae on Sat, 09/17/2011 - 20:19

I made this two years ago in my daughter's room, before I got to know Ana's site. This was my ever first carpentry project. It took me 4 whole days to finish. The whole wall is like a bay wall so I had to custom make the built in. Also – I did that when my husband was out of town so in order for me to be able to lift all the pieces from the basement to the second floor, I made it of 4 pieces. When my husband came back home he thought I paid someone to built it.

I made it out of 2x4’s and plywood. I trimmed the bottom with a trim.

One day I will add drawers and the cushions are in the making.

Estimated Cost
100 $
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Primer and two coats of Valspar high gloos White Dove from Lowe's.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

nhoffer

Thu, 06/11/2015 - 20:20

Do you have more pics of the finished product...especially where it meets the angled wall? I don't have a table saw (yet) so I'm trying to figure out if I can handle this without one. :(

Family Art Center

So, so happy with this table! I've always been a fan of the Pottery Barn Bedford Project table, but even if I had the $1,200 to spend on a craft table I doubt I could ever justify it. When I saw these plans I knew my dream table was within reach!
This is my second build using Ana's plans. I worked carefully and used the Kreg Jig, and it came together easily. I added an extra trim piece here and there. I painted the whole thing with Valspar color "Storm At Sea", which is a gray. It took forever for me to choose the color, too many choices! Then I used some wipe-on Poly to protect it.
Now my kids and I have a dedicated art station stocked with all the supplies, I can see us spending many hours creating at this table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Valspar paint and Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Works well painted too!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 12/18/2015 - 04:21

Came together so well. Thanks to Ana and pneumatic addict for tips and plans

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint varathane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate