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Big Kids Picnic Table

Submitted by tictoc on Mon, 10/08/2012 - 12:20

Build straight from Ana's plans. Very easy and quick to build. I spent a little longer sanding it a lot. I then just stained it and put two coats of urethane on it.

Built from Plan(s)
Big Kids Picnic Table Plans
Estimated Cost
$20-$30
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Light Oak stain and urethane (for indoor/outdoor use)
Sand really well so the cheap wood looks good.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Media Cabinet

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/13/2016 - 19:05

Super excited for my new media cabinet!  I painted my cupboard doors white and added L brackets on the inside of the doors for support.  I had never worked with crown molding before so this was a great starter project on how to cut crown.  My cost was kept down by using supplies such as paint and hardware that I already had. 

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Sherwinn Williams Pro Classic - Extra white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

First Ana Project - Modified 2x4 Potting Bench

Submitted by Tracy HNG on Sat, 08/01/2020 - 23:01

I have built several garden boxes and was lugging my gardening tools back and forth from the garage every day. I found myself with some spare wood and a tall, skinny pallet that I'd gotten from my work when a new conference room TV was delivered several months ago that I'd been trying to find a use for. So I decided to build a potting bench and found the one on Ana White's website and thought I could use what I had to build it. And it worked! I cut the pallet in half that I used to make the back wall and had a small piece of it leftover that just so happened to slide in between the two pallets walls. So I added some leftover scraps and made it into a small shelf for things like twine and plant markers. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out and how it looks in my garden! Looking forward to building more of Ana's projects!

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Simple Closet Organizer

Submitted by bcy419 on Thu, 10/11/2012 - 13:46

This was mine and my wife's very first woodworking project. Overall, it wasn't bad at all. I thoroughly enjoyed the actual process of cutting the wood and putting everything together. As far as the painting goes, I'd much rather just go on to another woodworking project, but I have to say that all the hard work paid off. Anna's plans helped tremendously. I tweaked slightly just because we wanted our center piece to be a little taller and slightly more narrow. We also added two shelves on each side, for a total of four. For our small reach-in closet, this was by far the best way to go about everything. We definitely have much more room and overall it is a much better use of the space.

I threw in a "before" picture just for fun.

We also just finished the Farmhouse Queen Bed that Anna has plans for, and we will be putting up a brag post on it very shortly.

Blog Link
Ana White Homemaker
Built from Plan(s)
Simple Closet Organizer
Estimated Cost
$40-$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
We just went with a simple white. My wife and I sanded everything down, then used some leftover Behr Premium Plus, Self-Priming, Interior Semi-Gloss that we previously used on our bedroom trim. We sanded between coats and applied a total of three coats for the finished product.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Triple Pedestal Farmhouse Table

I modified it slightly by leaving off the trim around the perimeter. I also shortened the table to 84" which then only required 2 legs for a custom fit for the mom space. The finish was distressed to conceal heavy use (more like spills :-D) from kids which turned out to be a home run with moms

Check out some tips during my build @ charitybuilds

Blog Link
Charity Builds
Built from Plan(s)
Triple Pedestal Farmhouse Table
Triple Pedestal Farmhouse Bench
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
General Finishes Antique Walnut Gel Stain
General Finishes Water based Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Cedar planter and 3 tier planter

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 17:48

My very first attempts at wood working. My new COVID-19 hobby 🥰

Estimated Cost
20.00
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Wide Cabin Dresser

Submitted by jmsmith12 on Thu, 10/18/2012 - 13:37

Modified wide cabin dresser with metal full extension drawer slides on the bottom of the drawers. The extra set of drawers on the bottom were added to give more space for storage.

Built from Plan(s)
Wide Dresser with Open Bottom Shelf - Cabin Collection
Estimated Cost
200-250
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Any advice for a finish with a linen covered bed?
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

mebohn

Thu, 01/31/2013 - 14:04

Beautiful! I was wondering if it would look pretty with the extra drawers on the bottom. I'm building this plan for my son right now, but I might build another with extra drawers for myself!

dbwalk

Sun, 11/23/2014 - 05:29

Your build looks awesome!  I'm going to be doing this for my twin daughters room very soon.  I was just wondering how you modified the dimensions on the left and right sides.  What were the measurements and dimensions of all the pieces since it had to cover all the way to the bottom?

 

Papu5477

Thu, 01/25/2018 - 18:29

Are plans available for this build? I love the extra drawers. 

Full size Brookstone Headboard

Submitted by Speedi58 on Wed, 08/06/2014 - 07:53

We built this out of solid Maple for my son's 30th birthday. He has a full-size bed, so we had to adapt the queen size plans. It turned out great....he was thrilled...but it was heavy to carry upstairs to his apartment!

Built from Plan(s)
Brookstone Queen Headboard
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Colonial Maple - two coats of stain and two coats of ply
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Grey console table

Submitted by damrobin on Sun, 11/20/2016 - 00:30

This was my first attempt at furnature. I didnt use the best quality wood, and had a hard time finding straight boards at my local Lowes.

Built from Plan(s)
Reclaimed Wood Console Table
Estimated Cost
$110
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Grey paint and Minwax dark walnut stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mediocre man makes an the outdoor sofa!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/07/2020 - 10:23

I made this awesome sofa based on the plan. I'm not very good at this stuff however, these plans were great. Easy to follow and gave me a great excuse to buy a mitre saw.
It looks great with the blue cushions. It's quite comfy and a great size.

Now complete - a mod I will make is to add a second 2x4 in front of the back brace as I find it too deep.

I really appreciate you sharing these plans!

Built from Plan(s)
2x4 Outdoor Sofa
Estimated Cost
$90 CAD
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Cabot Stain (I need to get better.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Library Console Table

Submitted by JMillar41 on Sun, 10/21/2012 - 16:22

My husband and I are doing a bit of remodeling in our 150+ year old farmhouse - over time we have amassed a not so small pile of old lumber. We hated to see it go to waste so it has been our hobby to try to find ways to reuse. Small projects. Finding this website was a dream. My husband and I are NOT natural carpenters but the plans we found here were perfect for us. Clear, simple, un-intimidating. I've been meaning to make the Library Console Table for a while and before the weather got too yucky to work outside I knew I had to get to it. It cost us zero to make, however, since it is all old barnwood - no two pieces were alike, the wood was a bit warped, dinged and splintery. But with enough sanding and the right paint I think this will be adorable. Husband does not want me to paint it and I might not have but we were forced to use some plywood (we also had a small sheet on hand) and I hate plywood too much to leave it exposed. We'll see.

Blog Link
Library Console Table
Built from Plan(s)
Library Console Table
Estimated Cost
FREE
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
So far no finish used.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Classic bunk bed

Submitted by egookaasan on Sat, 08/09/2014 - 05:30

We recently moved to across country and couldn't fit all our belongings in our moving van so I am on a slow but steady quest to my own "hand built home"! While my husband works with his computer genius types, I am pulling out my tools......rather basic and simple tools because none of my good ones fit in the truck either!

Built from Plan(s)
Classic Bunk Beds
Estimated Cost
$85
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Cherry stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

54" Round Pedestal Table

This was such a fun build. Instead of the square table top I opted for a 54" round table top and I also altered the plans for the base. I upped the size for each board used to give it a chunkier look ( Ex: instead of 2x4s, I used 2x6s and so on)

Blog Link
Custom Builds
Built from Plan(s)
Square Pedestal Table
How to Build a Round Table Top with Free Patterns in Different Sizes
Estimated Cost
$110
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
1 Coat Minwax - Wood Conditioner
1 Coat Minwax - Ebony
3 Coats Minwax - Polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

2x4 Patio Chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 08/12/2020 - 11:18

One of my first projects! Built the 2x4 Outdoor Sofa and two of these chairs and had a blast! The plans for this were simple and easy to follow.

Estimated Cost
$45
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Madison Changing Table: Part 1 (Side Bases)

Submitted by Huthbert on Tue, 10/23/2012 - 15:13

Still working on part 2 and part 3 of this project. We've been eyeballing this project for awhile and are so excited with the results! We love that we can potentially use these as bedside tables in the future.

We wrote out how we did everything on the blog: http://thehuth.blogspot.com/2012/10/madison-changing-table-part-1-side-…

Blog Link
Madison Changing Table: Part 1 (Side Bases)
Built from Plan(s)
Build a Beautiful Nursery Wall – Side Bases
Estimated Cost
$60 (for both tables)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr Irish Mist Paint and Minwax Satin Polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

First Project

Submitted by ryneregan on Sun, 11/27/2016 - 13:48

First try at building something.  Start up cost in tools is not reflected in the estimated cost.  Learned a couple of valuable lessons in cut accuracy and order of work.  For us, we will buy/cut/sand/paint/assemble.  Dont let Home Depot cut your plywood.  They did a terrible job.

Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar Furniture Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Fancy X Farmhouse with umbrella

I built this for use as an outdoor patio table suitable for an umbrella by eliminating the center truss below the table. Instead, I used my Kreg Jig to join the two sets of legs with 2 2x4s each set about 6 inches off center directly under table top. (See picture). I used Douglas Fir for most of this build. I also added a 1x2 cap to the bread board ends of the table top to help stabilize it against warping. I secured the table top to the frame with countersunk screws under glued wood plugs since I needed to allow a gap between boards for water drainage. I used the Varathane wood weathering product to soften the “new wood” look. I helped preserve the wood with a coat of Benjamin Moore’s clear Arborcoat. This acrylic product will allow the wood to continue to gray naturally. I recommend this as an intermediate project due to the awkwardness of joining the 45 degree angle cuts. Having a second set of hands here would have been very helpful.

Built from Plan(s)
Fancy X Farmhouse Table
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane wood weathering
Benjamin Moore Arborcoat clear

Applied with foam brushes.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Fits around my thermostat!!! Downsized Puzzle Bookcase for DVD Storage

Submitted by moosmani on Sun, 10/28/2012 - 09:41

This was my first build and I learned a lot, like it’s better to just invest in some decent clamps at the beginning of the project rather than waiting until near completion. Anyone with any experience at all and with more than 2 clamps could have finished this project in a fraction of the time. However, I enjoyed every minute of it. This project took a week to complete only because of the wait time between finishes. The bookcase itself went together surprisingly fast, especially once I got more clamps. The hardest part was making it square. This plan was the perfect solution for my thermostat placement problem. I had been searching high and low for DVD storage to fit within the confines of my space. It had to be low profile to leave the doorway clear and it had to allow the thermostat on the wall to be accessible, yet big enough and wide enough to fit all our DVDs. This puzzle design couldn’t have been any more perfect. I was so excited to find it. I just made a smaller version. It expands to exactly the space I need. Many thanks to Ana and this wonderful website! I have spent countless hours studying and reading on this website. I am now thinking about building in every spare minute I have!

Built from Plan(s)
Puzzle Bookcase
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Red Elm Gel Stain and 2 coats Minwax Bombay Mahogany Poly Shades
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project
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