Community Brag Posts

What a Beauty!

Submitted by swbaby on Thu, 06/13/2013 - 13:57

This was a doozy! Being only our second project ever (the farm table being our first) it took us about 3 weeks of hard work on the weekends and light work on the weekdays to complete this project. We extended the guardrails in both height (using 3ea 1x4s) and length to span the entire backside and all the way to the ladder on the front on top bunk. We wanted to be able to have a regular height mattress on each, so that if we take them apart to use as two separate beds they'd have a decent mattress on both. We also made two regular length, but extended height guardrails for the bottom to accommodate a toddler. We used the mortise bed rail fasteners from Rockler (due to the design the non-mortised kind were not an option). That took a good chunk of time. We also did 1x2 slats,13 per bed,to act as the mattress support. As with most projects, the lumber was around $200! The other was made up of sanding supplies, prep, stain, finish, safety supplies (mask, gloves) screws and so forth. I bet we spent about $40 on screws alone as we wanted to be really sure it's solid for two monkeys. It's a really beautiful piece that would cost well over $1000 if purchased mainstream.

Estimated Cost
300-350
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
2 coats Minwax Red Mahogany and 2 coats of gloss Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mallet

My first wood working mallet!

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0njs9X5Nyg

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Tung Oil
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

JoanneS

Sun, 05/17/2015 - 18:12

I have one of these from when my husband was in wood shop as a kid! Also a pencil holder he made in school on the drill press, I've used it on my desk for 35 years! :)

RenoRustic

Sun, 05/17/2015 - 19:38

I've been thinking about getting a wooden mallet for a bit now. Currently I just use my rubber mallet, in the rare instance I need a mallet, but being so soft, gets quite a bit of wear and tear. The video is a great!

Loft Bed

Submitted by kdins31 on Sun, 12/10/2017 - 06:19

Built this loft bed for my tween girl who needed/wanted a hangout area and has always dreamed of having a loft. It may look daunting but it's actually quite simple.  2x8"s built to size in the shape of the bed, screwed into the studs in the wall with lag bolts.  A 4x4" holds the frame up where it is not supported by the wall. I considered a pole or chain or other suspension method from the ceiling but decided that a nicely trimmed 4x4" would look nicer and it really doesn't get in the way since the ladder is there anyways.  I built the bed frame bigger than I needed for the twin mattress to accommodate free space for clutter, e.g. books, pillows, etc. Once the frame is up I added supports for the mattress, with 2x2"s spanning length and width, then plywood.  2x4"s are screwed in vertically and then topped with a flat 1x3" and spanned with a 1x2" to protect her from falling.  Since she's older I didn't feel that I needed to add as much support around both open sides.  It has not been an issue at all and I am fully comfortable with it.  I installed small LED color changing lights in the underside of the bed.  The headboard was made from standard 5" t&g boards and has a small shelf to hold "stuff."  A custom in-wall shelf holds more of her "stuff."  The wood color is just a dark walnut Danish oil that I love working with.

Finally, I built the base for the couch with 1x3". The couch itself is two separate futon style chairs that open up into single beds, perfect for sleepovers!  They are meant to just lay on the floor but I wanted to make it look more like a couch. We bought those from Walmart. I recommend!  Hope you like. Let me know if you have any questions. I don't have formal plans but can try an answer all questions best I can! Cheers!

Estimated Cost
$200-$300 excluding couch
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark walnut Danish oil
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Elephant rocking hotse

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 11/22/2021 - 18:36

My great niece was turning 1 and I wanted to make something original for her. I wanted to make sure she could use it and keep it to show her kids, hopefully. It took a few weeks of working and waiting for finishes to dry and working out the finer details to make it solid and sturdy.

Comments

tower

Teeny bathroom storage tower.  Modified size to 12"w x 26"h x 10"d.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$10.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
1. Two coats Behr French Roast paint and primer in one
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

child Adirondack

Submitted by angele2003 on Sat, 06/15/2013 - 13:51

Hello, I was looking for a unique gift for a baptism baby.I started this chair with great enthusiasm. Gradually after my job, I made ​​one mois.Du cutting the pallet until making coussins.J 'I used paint 0% solvent. I am very happy for the first time. I will now make a model adult.Conseil: Paint before because after the assembly is much more diffcile.Faire just after retouching at the screws. Start you! Thank you Ana. PS: Excus me for my English , Im french

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

First rustic build

Submitted by WhyteSage on Sun, 12/17/2017 - 05:18

My wife loves the farmhouse style, so this was my first build based on the X console plans for sofa tables. Its very "rustic" to say the least, but is very functional and was a great project to get started.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
We used duck egg blue chalk paint and then waxed. It was our first time using chalk paint, and it served as almost the majority of the project cost. We sealed it with chalk paint wax, but in retrospect, I'd use simple furniture wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Modern Adirondack Chairs!

My mom and I made these together as our first Ana White project! So much fun making both these chairs and memories! Next up is the three pedestal farm table and bench!

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Little Helper Tower

Submitted by artkdz on Sun, 04/10/2011 - 12:02

Built this helper tower for my munchkin so she has a safer place to stand when she wants to help us in the kitchen.  Put a mosaic on the front and painted it to match the mosaic and the red color on some of the walls in our kitchen (hard to see in the photo).  I am thinking of velcroing some ribbon to the sides to cover the screws and hinges.  If I use velcro, then I can take it off easily to tighten the screws in the hinges if needed.

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

Step Stool

Submitted by aennali on Mon, 06/17/2013 - 16:54

This cute step stool is my first build from Ana's book.

It is made of macrocarpa, and finished with "teak" water-based stain by Resene, danish oil, and clear furniture wax.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
This piece is finished with "teak" water-based stain by Resene, danish oil, and clear furniture wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

4x4 Truss Table and Benches - Modified

Submitted by ride4lamar on Tue, 05/26/2015 - 05:42

I took the plans and modified them a bit to build what we were looking for. - I used 2x8s for the top of the table so that the middle board could have two removable sections that could be used for ice buckets for drinks. I made those out of plastic planter boxes. I also used 4 2x4s across the top for support.

The last major change is that i used corner brackets and bolts or screws to attach all the pieces. I liked the industrial look it gave the table and benches.

Everything was sanded down and finished with a drift gray stain and seal.

The building part was easy, but sanding and staining prior to putting it all together is what took most of the time. It was probably an hour of cutting, an hour of building and the rest was sanding or staining.

Estimated Cost
$350-$400
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse bed

Just love your site so many great ideas

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Vanity, Console Table, 2 End Tables

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/15/2021 - 12:08

The Vanity was my first attempt ever at building any type of furniture. Then the console table w/ matching end tables. It was not hard at all I’m not even a carpenter. Just a guy who enjoys working with wood. I Just follow Ana White’s plans. This will not be my last builds bc my wife keeps finding things she wants me to build. Happy wife, Happy life.

Comments

Workbench

Submitted by mnewton on Wed, 04/13/2011 - 05:52

I have two little girls and two nieces...so I do not get to build boy stuff very often.

This was the second workbench I built as a birthday gift. I painted the first one white and did not round off the edges. There was some confusion as to what it was supposed to be. So, I painted the second one black and found a cardboard circular saw blade at Hobby Lobby that I painted metalic silver.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15-20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Texas size wooden cooler

I have used one of your cooler plans to create this one of a kind piece. Love your website - Thank you !

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
orange/red solid stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Jody Knowles

Mon, 06/01/2015 - 12:20

Been thinking about making one of these. As a Texan this one definitely appeals to me !

Great job, it looks really nice.

Rustic X Coffee Table Sans X!

This was my very first build, and I'm so pleased with how it turned out! I decided not to add the X pieces because I didn't want the table to look too rustic. I did add clavos for an extra touch and I love it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Classic Gray
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Bedside table

Submitted by Kslabbe on Fri, 12/22/2017 - 21:14

Added front to the drawers using the scrap 12x1 and feet on the bottom for maximum leveling

Estimated Cost
$180
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Semi-gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic Barn Door Cabinet

Submitted by Agonzalez on Wed, 12/22/2021 - 11:15

This was a great project. My son and I took your design from "Barn Door Cabinet with Mini Fridge and Microwave" and changed it up a bit. Let me start off I needed something small to a mini fridge in my "man cave". When I saw you design I used the plans to make the frame but then I took old fence slats and gave it a twist. All we need now is the mini fridge.

Comments

Modish Adirondack Chair

Submitted by imatt86 on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 09:07

I built this in an afternoon and painted the next day. It was quite fun. BIG TIP!!! Paint BEFORE you build!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Primer + Paint all in one
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner