Community Brag Posts

1-Board Cedar Desk Accessory Set

Submitted by JoanneS on Sun, 08/18/2013 - 15:36

This build is the prototype for the 1-Board Cedar Desk Accessory Set plan. From 1 cedar fence picket, I was able to build this set in 1 afternoon. It was a fun project that I'm hoping will make a great gift. No angles, rips or special cuts were required. The only tools needed were the miter saw, nailgun and palm sander. Of course you could do this all with hand tools, but I love my power tools! :) The inspiration for this plan was some desk sets which I had built entirely from scrap wood. I thought it would be fun to make a plan to build them from just 1 kind of board, just 1 board, and cedar pickets came to mind. You could also do this plan with craft boards - you would need 2 pieces, 1/2" x 5 1/2" x 2'.

The build was really very easy. A lot of sanding to get the picket nice and smooth, but not difficult. The plans show where to cut as you go, to get the best fit and account for variations in the sizes of the wood.

I finished this one after assembly, but on the next one I'm going to try it by finishing all the little pieces first.

Estimated Cost
$3 for wood (finishing materials already on hand)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
This was finished with Minwax Express Color in Walnut. I followed Ana's tutorial for this (in the Finishes section). The only thing I did differently was to use a small paint brush to get the stain into all the nooks and crannies. Top coat is 1 coat of Minwax Oil Modified Water Based Poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JoanneS

Mon, 08/19/2013 - 02:31

Thank you so much for your nice comments! I hope you find your cedar pickets, I'm sure you'll be able to whip up some "desk bling" in no time! :)

Kids' Desks

Submitted by docfin02 on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 18:52

Simple design, very practical, and the kids love them

Estimated Cost
$100 for two desks
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
polyurethane on desktop
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

So easy!

Submitted by cslavinsky on Thu, 08/30/2018 - 16:01

The plans were super simple, and I had it finished in about an hour (worked around the little's nap schedule).  I left it unfinished so that the recipient could paint it or stain it however she wanted.  It was so nice to see it built and the bedding dressed up before kids got to it.   :)  I will definitely build another for my own daughter as soon as she's old enough to have her own American Girl doll.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Adirondack Benches

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/02/2022 - 15:36

I fell in love with the modern Adirondack chairs, I love how comfortable and simple they are. But I wanted benches to go around my fire pit area. So I decided to modify the modern Adirondack chairs to make 6ft and 8ft benches. I added in extra supports (of course) but it was an easy mod with a gorgeous outcome!

Seasonal And Holiday

Apothecary Console Table from Pallets

Submitted by tsibiga on Sat, 07/16/2011 - 05:50

I used a combination of Ana-White's Building Plan along with close examination of the Pottery Barn Andover Table to create my Apothecary Console. I've recently picked up a bunch of free pallets and have been experimenting with ways to use them.

Pallets were used for about 95% of this project. The only thin I bought was 1/2" plywood for the doors, 20 wooden knobs, and two sets of hinges. I took some backing off an old dresser and used that for the back and I found an old rotted piece of antique wood at an antique store that I used for the top.

Since I didn't buy 1x12", I had to join together some 1x6"s that I pulled off the pallets. There's a lot more to tell about this project so if you're interested, I documented the whole thing on our blog:

http://www.tommyandellie.com/Site/Home/Entries/2011/7/18_A%7Bpallet%7Do…

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White Valspar gloss white, sanded/distressed, and then Special Walnut.

The antique piece of wood just has a coat of Poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

tsibiga

Sat, 07/16/2011 - 05:52

In my blog, I posted that I would not build it like this again......I would buy 1x12"s for sure.

theworldmovesforlove

Sat, 07/16/2011 - 23:15

This looks fantastic! You did a really great job at keeping the false drawer faces straight and uniform. It looks really great!

tsibiga

Tue, 07/19/2011 - 16:06

Thanks for all the great comments. I think it'll look even better once we paint the foyer....the white is just blending in right now....and I think paint on the walls will really make it stand out.

Flip Down Art Desk

This was a first project for us. We decided to make it for my daughter's birthday, and it took us longer than it should, although the painting took the longest, with drying time and all. It turned out fabulous though!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Used plain white paint, and 3 coats of chalkboard paint on the front. I used a touch of blue to outline the inside, and clear glitter paint to overlay the frame on the chalkboard side for pizazz.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Jewelry Cabinet - Southwest Style

Submitted by Joni on Sun, 09/30/2018 - 12:21

This was inspired by Ana's wall jewelry cabinet, but with a few changes.  I specifically wanted the long shaker style pegs so that I could hang several necklaces on each peg.  I also wanted an earring bar, and fashioned one out of an 1/8" brass rod (found on amazon), after experimenting with a few different options.  This particular option was small enough to easily hold the earrings, but sturdy enough to hold the weight.  To "cap off" the brass rod, I cut a few pieces off a thick dowel rod, and ran a drill through them. 

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
I had the 1/2" plywood scrap for the back, the 1/4" plywood for the inside, and the cabinet handle. I purchased the wood frame (the better pine at Home Depot) for $20, the 3/8" thick 2"-wide strips for the southwest design (under $20), the rod ($5), the ceramic knobs at Hobby Lobby ($12), shaker style pegs (approx. $6), a magnetic catch (< $2), and the hinges ($10). Total: $75.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
The inside stain is Minwax's Weathered Oak, and the outside stain is Minwax's Provencial. On the inside panel, I used chalk paint, covered by a coat of weathered oak stain, covered by Polycrylic. Everything else has Polycrylic, except the front Southwest design has Bri-wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Mud kitchen

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 06/12/2022 - 13:29

My niece requested this for her fourth birthday. Hoping this earns me the best Aunt award! Had some 6x6 cedar scraps from a project, cut them down, and voila!

Comments

4 Bright Little Adirondack chairs

These 4 little chairs did not take very long to put together. But they did take me a while to sand, prime and paint. I hate that part of building-haha-so it always seems like it takes forever to get through with that and on to the fun part. They are very easy to make and inexpensive. My grandkids and others who have driven by and seen them out front have loved them!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About 22.00 per chair(the spray paint was the majority of the cost). I think the chairs without finishing would be only about 10.00 apiece.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Valspar indoor/outdoor gloss spray paint. Definitely use a primer and paint or stain before putting together.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

tonjacoy101

Fri, 07/22/2011 - 05:52

What a cute little guy and cute chairs too! I bet the grandkids love them :)

Double Inset Bookshelf Doors

Submitted by dholubar on Wed, 08/21/2013 - 07:08

You made this project look so simple that I just had to try it. However, to suit my needs I had to make a few alterations to the plans. I had a set of bi-fold doors that were in need of replacement and I thought inset bookshelf doors would be the perfect way to replace them. This project was easy enough for me to do it myself and I am really new to the DIY game but I did have some help. I really love the way they turned out. You can read all about my my adventure at http://heresalittletmi.blogspot.com/2013/08/bookshelf-doors.html

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$120.00
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Full Size Camp Loft

Submitted by jcygan on Wed, 09/30/2015 - 16:37

We modified the plans for the Camp Loft Bed to accommodate a full size mattress.  We also extended the platform so that the bed spread wall to wall in the bedroom.  Since the platform was extended, we added a short railing to prevent falls.  The height was pushed up to make it taller than the junior size of the original design.  This way we were able to place a desk and add 2 pine shelves underneath the head of the bed.  

We added a board along the long side at the bottom to take out some wiggling.  The bed itself still seemed a little shaky until we attached the platform and now it is rock solid.  We have had 1-2 adults and multiple kids up there at the same time with no problem.

The bed itself could have been built in a weekend.  However, the time it took to sand, stain, and clear coat added many more hours.  Those hours were definitely worth it for a finished product.

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
We used the medium warm stain used on the original bed. The directions are found here: http://ana-white.com/2012/07/medium-warm-stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Albright777

Fri, 10/02/2015 - 10:43

Thank you so much for posting this.  My oldest wants a loft bed, but has a full right now.  I am building my 2 youngest the junior loft this fall and the oldest was jealous.  I was scared to build one.  Afraid it would not hold up.  Thank you for showing that it does.  Great job!!!

 

Child's picnic table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/14/2018 - 14:31

This turned out to be a great birthday gift. So much better than more toys. My 5 year old nieces loved it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Hard to say, used a lot of 2 x 4 scrap I had already.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
2 coats of deck stain. Sanded all the surfaces with a course grit, then a lighter grit, especially the top and seats.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Desk

Submitted by JMG on Fri, 06/24/2022 - 20:59

I needed a new desk for my office and this one is perfect. I made it a little longer than the plans so I could accommodate all my "stuff". Mine is 6' wide

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

DIY Copy Cat Nesting Tables

I found the cutest little nesting tables on PB, but I didn't want to spend $400. Instead, I adjusted the sizes a bit and built my own.

Estimated Cost
For both talbes (excluding paint), it was just over $15
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Distressed. Painted with turquoise (no primer), then glazed with walnut.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Cherie Heltne (not verified)

Tue, 07/26/2011 - 07:47

I am so making these. Your blog is great, too.

bhoppy

Tue, 07/26/2011 - 15:44

Wow you make it look so easy! Your details on your blog are awesome! Makes me want to go out and buy a router! LOL Hope your thumb is healing.

The Quaint Cottage

Tue, 07/26/2011 - 17:50

hahaha...I had to laugh at the thumb comment. I did break it, but that didn't stop me from picking up the router to finish the top :) I mean, it is just a thumb, not an entire arm, right?

Thank you for the kind comments. I try to post as much information as possible (and if I don't, please ask). I love seeing great project blogs, but found it frustrating when they would show the supplies or paint they used...then the finished project. But nothing in between. How did they do it?

When I found Ana's site, I was so relieved that there were communities where they thrive on sharing information. Y'all are amazing! A-MAZ-ING!

AnnaK

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 08:33

I'm moving from a teeny tiny apartment to a real house next month, and the first thing I'm going to do with the garage space is build these nesting tables. They really are great. Well done! Love the blog too.

Outdoor patio table

Just a simple, but solid and stable patio table to replace the IKEA version that was warping and disintegrating. So much happier with this version. Also used bolts and wing nuts for attaching the legs for easy disassembly and storage for the winter. Should get many years out of this table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Opaque stain and polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Outdoor Sectional and Cocktail Ottoman

Submitted by Annacakes on Mon, 10/05/2015 - 11:48

I made a few changes to Ana's plans to basically work with my cushions.  I found cushions on clearance at Ballard's Backroom.  I had to adjust the size of the sofas in order to fit the cushions.  I also adjusted the height of the sofa, as I found it to be a little higher than I would have liked.  The project took a while to complete, but it wasn't due to difficulty.  This was an easy project for a novice like myself.  I just primed every piece of wood with exterior primer and then painted the whole thing with 2 coats of exterior paint.  It was the drying time that added to the total project time.

I also made a cocktail ottoman out of a lounge chair cushion that I purchased at Ballard's.  Basically, the ottoman is a rectangular box built to the size of the cushion.  I added feet purchased at Home Depot just to make it look a little less box-like.  I applied a couple of coats of primer as well as the exterior paint to every piece.  

Estimated Cost
Not sure really, but I know it was a lot cheaper than the sectionals at the outdoor patio store down the street.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Binz Exterior Primer
Behr Ultra Exterior Paint in Satin Finish - Espresso Beans
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/21/2018 - 18:03

this was my first  furniture piece that I have built. Next is a round farmhouse kitchen table super excited to make it. 

Estimated Cost
I honestly don’t know I bought a 2 x 4 ripped it to 2x2’s but also ripped the rounded sides off the slats I ripped from s scrap piece of 2x6 I had laying around cut them to just over a quarter inch.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Crib Mattress Bunk Beds

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 07/06/2022 - 13:56

We took existing twin size bunk beds and modified the measurements to fit for 2 crib size mattresses. 1 for my 3.5yr old and the bottom for my soon to be 2yr old. It took us 12 ours to build from start to finish then about another 1hr to place in room and set it up completely. All in all they love them and sleep thru the night in there own beds lol. I also have a 7mth old in my room too...

Comments

Factory Cart Coffee Table

After finding the build plans for this while browsing Ana White's site, I knew I had to convince my husband to help me create this. I'd been drooling over certain high-end decor store's version for a while now, but refused to pay the costly price tag. This is now one of my favorite pieces in our home, and I love saying that we built it ourselves :) See the full post at: http://www.fromourhidingplace.com/2011/07/how-to-get-your-husband-to-bu…

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
stain, polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

The Quaint Cottage

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 07:06

I love this coffee table. I've been thinking about getting rid of the oversized ottoman and going with one of these...I think you made up my mind.

Great job.

Karen

jennywenny

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 10:19

Mind sharing where you found your casters? I am having a hard time finding anything I like. Thanks!

Benchright Farmhouse Bench nid:[3117]

Submitted by LiziT on Sun, 08/25/2013 - 21:47

This was my first project..took me a week but I loved creating this!! Got plans for more! Love your website

Estimated Cost
Aready had timber - other costs $50
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Intergrain Ultradeck - natural
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments