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Ana gave me the courage to know that I could build something without a set plan. This was my first attempt at building something that I just envisioned in my head. Thanks Ana!
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Ana gave me the courage to know that I could build something without a set plan. This was my first attempt at building something that I just envisioned in my head. Thanks Ana!
One of my first projects, made from the Adirondack Coffee Table plan using 2x4's and 1x4's. Pocket holes, stain, paint, and sealer. Beginner afternoon project.
Country Table - dark walnut stain and satin polyurethane coat.
My mother had a cheap particle board sofa style table on her back porch that was coming apart. She said she'd like to replace it, so I told her I would her one.
I decided to make her a few end style tables to go with it as well.
Finally, I had seen these chairs and decided to make her a few of these also. I liked the Ana White plan, but I didn't like the idea of seeing all the screw holes, so I developed my own method using Kreg and my own assembly method that allowed me to make them strong, without seeing all the screws.
I (and my mother) were very pleased with the final project.
Mon, 06/10/2019 - 18:49
Thank you for posting this! I built the chair as is from the plans but I realized it really needed a backrest. I like how you added one and if you don’t mind, I think I’m going to “borrow” your idea. I lucked out on the cushions-I got mine from Home Goods for $40. I don’t think everyone has a Home Goods near them though. Love the tables too!
I started this bed months ago, thinking I would have plenty of time to get it done in a weekend. Ha! Well actually to tell the truth most of it was done in a weekend...but, maybe I should start at the beginning... Beware this is a picture heavy post, I tried to do collage photos as much as possible to cut back...
Mon, 01/03/2022 - 10:34
That is gorgeous, love the natural look and hardware choice!
I saw Ana's plan for an elevated dog dish, but our little cockapoo (still a puppy) wasn't really ready for that height. So I made a basic box and cut out the holes in the top for the bowls. He is still growing, so when he's a little taller, I'm going to put tennis balls on the bottom as feet which will raise it up a little more. Thought I would dress it up with a quote I found somewhere online.
Used some leftover paint and glaze from making the pantry and finished the same way.
This was my first attempt at making anything. Thank you to Ana for providing such easy plans and the encouragement to try something. I think I'm hooked!
Sun, 05/31/2020 - 13:21
Beautiful! where did you get the cushions from?
My son has a very specific color scheme in his room (Go Pokes!), and finding something to keep his toys in, that looks like it belongs, is simply impossible. I chose to do it cheap and quick way, but it came out exactly like I hoped it would. I really liked the eyelets idea, and since I wanted the zoo to be movable and able to serve as a shelf, I just screwed them in directly into the top and bottom
My closet system is four separate units that I butted up together and attached to the wall with a "decorative" 2x4 railing around the entirety of the closet. The main unit looks the closest to the real design but is 8 feet long and 8 feet tall to avoid extra cutting of boards. The smaller unit only has one area for hanging up clothes and is around 5 feet long which is just the length of the wall. I also built a unit for holding sheets and towels and another for my wife's shoes.
The plans are really easy to follow but I would suggest a few things:
-Do stain and boards before cutting; this would have been a nightmare otherwise.
-If you use the metal clothing rods (if I could go back in time I would have used wooden dowels) make sure that you put those in before you attach any boards between the support structures. I ended up having a 35 inch gap instead of a 36 inch gap and it killed my momentum.
-I made mine 8 feet tall because it was less to cut and then re-stain; time wise it probably was a scratch cause I had to build it in place and at the end it was very tight to work in the space.
I live in Ketchikan, Alaska right smack in the middle of a rain forest, so I had been waiting for a sunny day for quite a while so i could get outside and get these built and painted. I got all the wood and about a week later my day came, I got outside and had them built, primed, and painted in less than 3 hours. I painted all my frames the next day and had my husband help my put them up. I have gotten SO many compliments on them and they look so great in our living room, after we put them up, I realized how naked that wall had looked before!
We started this project a few months ago. My husband made most of the construction, and I decorated the inside. We added many little details, including a clothesline, windows with plexiglass, a BBQ, a little kitchen, a doorbell, a solar light, a slide, shelves, a table, a bench, etc. The kids loooooove their new house. The whole project took many many hours, but I am really happy with the results. Thank you so much Ana for the plans!!
Sun, 07/14/2013 - 21:10
Looks like your child has everything they need. Including a phone! I love the bench seat and the pillows with the window. So cool. You put a lot of work into this. Well done.
Thu, 04/03/2014 - 08:23
Love, love it! Couple of questions... how did you attach the walls to the decking and how far apart? How tall is the railing? I'm curious to know the sturdiness of the project overall and my SIL has concerns about the 3/4 roof sheeting over 1/4 walls. Comments please. My son-in-law and I have just started this project.
I made this for my grandnephew and it was really easy to build. I put it together first using a power brad nailer and then went back and screwed it all together for extra strength. The cut/build took just a few hours. The painting took several hours since I didn't prepaint and had to tape off where the colors were different (lesson learned for next time).
Easy instructions and simple design. One cart houses table saw, and the other I plan to make a router table. I did make a slight modification in design by adding T-nuts and 5/16” bolts for feet. (My shop floor is crowned). I also used 3/4” melamine white panels for table tops. Difficult to work with but cheaper and has a smooth surface. (Be careful using for structural parts due to glue not impregnating through melamine)
Found the plans on your site for Farmhouse bed frame, thank you!
Made a spectacular Christmas gift for Hubby!
I ended up buying a few more pieces of 1x6 as I opted not to waste the 4x4 posts, and added 14” height to the headboard and 7” height to the footboard.
I actually forgot about my lights on the wall, so what to do? Drilled holes in the headboard and wired them through! Love opportunity solving! 😂👍🏼
I should’ve moved the Hopechest for the photo, but you get the idea. Next project, matching side tables!
I needed something for my living room wall and then I found this plan. I love it! My husband helped me knock these out really fast. I sanded them then used primer and 2 coats of white trim paint.
This was my first wood project... ever. But I didn't want to dish out the $500 for the back-saving store pedestals. This thing is big and sturdy. I have a few random comments below that may help out others with my little experience.
- Lowes does not cut 4x4s. Only 2x4s. Also, call Home Depot to make sure their saw is working before you grab all the wood on your cart :)
- Careful about adding trim to the outside of the pedestal (by outside I mean with left/right side, as opposed to the front). That extra piece of trim will increase the width of your table and it may not fit in your home's spot.
- Wood Putty is ok but cannot be sanded and always stays soft. Wood FILLER on the other hand hardens. I used this extensively to help spiff up my poor trim job. Especially the corners.
- Speaking of poor trim job, I was told after the fact that you should clamp down the trim before you nail. Everytime I tried to nail a piece of trim it would wiggle out of place.
- When wood glue drips, it becomes hard to sand and leaves a mark under the pain it not cleaned up well.
- I didn't know what a countersign drill bit was, but when I dished out the Hamilton for one I found out that any ole drill bit may have sufficed. I'm gonna need some clarification on this, but I ended up pre-drilling almost all of my holes because my electric drill was not powerful enough to screw into the wood.
That's about it. It was a fun first project, but I definitely could've used a few more helpful details, or at least someone who knew something about wood to point out how little I actually know!
Sun, 07/14/2013 - 01:35
It's amazing to see all that you have learned on your first go at building! You've done a great job; have you been bitten by the building bug now? I know I have! =D
I made this outdoor chair by looking at a variety of plans and designs from Restoration Hardware and other stores. Check out more info on the project on my blog link. Thanks for looking!
I wanted a square coffee table, so I adjusted the Rustic X Coffee Table plans to fit my dimensions. The table top is 38.5 by 38.5.
This was my first time being involved in a renovation. At our last house, my husband (who works in trim carpentry) did all the work to my decor instructions. This time I wanted to be involved and do the work alongside him. Using Ana White's instructions we were able to reface our laundry room cabinet to be the shaker style cabinet that I love. Keeping with a modern theme, we painted it black. I've included the before and after photos of the cabinet as well as the cabinet in context to the entire laundry room that was renovated. It came out awesome. Thankful for all of her helpful posts.
Hi Ana,
I saw your link on Facebook to the fold-down bar by Home Depot, and I wanted to show you the one we built last year. We're pretty proud of how it turned out! It was easy to build - we just used a reference photo we found on the web and built it to our own specifications. We have a very tiny backyard with absolutely no space to set up a drink area, so this works perfectly. It folds up out of the way when it's not needed (and doesn't have to be packed away for the winter!)
After installing it, I handpainted the back (bottom) with an inside-joke between my husband and his friends. "Duffy's Bar and Grill!" is how they answer the phone whenever one calls the other.
I hope you like it!
Barb Steadman
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada