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Cedar Outdoor Dining Table and Benches

My wife and I loved the version that Finns-Dad made but we wanted it to be rectangular. The top is 1x6s around the edges with 1x4s in between. The frame is 1x4s. The bench tops are all 1x4s with 4x4 legs. There are 3/8 inch lag bolts in the legs. We did 4 coats of the urethane.

This was my first major project, and while there are many things that I would do differently if given the opportunity, we're still very pleased with it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-Oleum Varathane Classic Clear Water Based Outdoor Spar Urethane Semi Gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

DIY Reclaimed Wood Outdoor Chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/04/2024 - 08:06

Made this patio set out of old lumber from a deck we replaced. I saved a lot of the 2x10 joists. I ripped them all into 2x4s, then had to sand off 25 years of grime. Built two chairs and a loveseat. Just added additional seat support for the loveseat. Then stained them. Very happy with how they turned out. Was nice to be and to repurpose that old wood.

 

Modern Bunk Beds

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 09/11/2020 - 16:23

This was my largest project to date. Took me a LOT longer than I thought it would (big chunks of 4 weekends, plus sneaking in some time during the week), but enjoyed the process. The devil is in the details as always. The raw dog 2x6's took me hours upon hours to sand down to an acceptable state of smoothness. For the ladder, I kinda winged it and made it straight. My kids' room is really small, so every extra bit of square footage matters. My oldest is 5 and is fine going up and down. My youngest is 3 and hasn't quite figured it out yet, but that's probably for the best anyway. I also winged it a bit on the guardrails. I used pocket screws wherever possible in the joinery. I was planning on painting this since I knew staining/sealing would be a pain. But in the end, I'm glad I took the time (even though I was hating life during the staining). The kids are thrilled with the results. And I am VERY grateful for the plans you provided Ana! Thank you!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner (Oil based), Dark Walnut Stain (Oil based), Semi-Gloss Lacquer
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Sturdy Workbench

Submitted by AhmaNaz on Thu, 09/17/2020 - 09:43

Did a couple builds for my family out of state and quickly realized that working without a station is CRAZY. Addedd wheels for mobility as I left it there.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
60 to 75
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Raw
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

High Loft with Desk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:06

My sons tiny box room needed updating. He wanted something more grown up. The brief was "a high bed with a den underneath". As with all Ana White plans it was easy to follow and gave me the inspiration to build something bespoke to a very limited space. I have added a desk for him to do homework. He's over the moon with it. Thank you for the inspiration. - Harry

Swiveled Bookshelf with Mirror and Cork Board

Submitted by miki0225 on Tue, 01/01/2013 - 19:49

I saw a cabinet like this on Pottery Barn's website (for $600) and I knew I wanted to build it for my 12 year old niece and could do it cheaper. I have only built one other thing so I am a beginner. I do not recommend this as a first project because if it wasn't for my husband figuring out the "lazy susan" part and fixing a couple other "oops" then it would not have turned out as great as it did.

I started with the plans for the 5 Cube Tower Bookshelf and then went from there. I ended up with only 4 shelves because of a miscalculation on my part. I cut off the legs and added crown molding to the top. Used plywood for the 3 layered base and quarter round for the decorative look. The base is heavy, which I wanted because of the 2 pegs on opposite sides for hanging things (she's 12 and purses, scarfs, clothes...there is no telling what will be hung there). I added molding to both side of each opening so that as it spun things would not slide off. I have no explanation for the lazy susan because my husband figured all of that out.

The Cork board and mirrors were easy. I bought the cork in a pack of 4 squares at Walmart and the mirrors in a pack of 6 squares from Lowes. We placed and glued them on before adding the molding around the edge. Fyi: I tried to use the $5 full mirror from Walmart but it was to wide. I bought some cute buttons and cut off the loop part to glue flat metal tacks to the back. She now has decorative thumb tacks. I painted it white and then top coated it with polyurethane.

We absolutely love this and so does she. It is in her room and I think looks amazing. Can't wait to share my next projects that are almost complete.

Estimated Cost
$125
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White paint and polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Mandy3689 (not verified)

Wed, 01/02/2013 - 01:19

So great! I just found this at PB Teens last night and thought NO WAY! For $600!!! I had exactly the same idea as you did.... Build a 5 cube tower and make it spin. Ana rocks! Thanks for sharing!

End of the bed storage bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/04/2017 - 15:14

I changed up the dimensions to make a storage bench for the end of our bed. I wanted something different and couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. I stained it with weathered grey, then a coat of golden oak and then another of weathered grey. And painted the box with linen white chalk paint. I love the black knobs with the grey and white!

I only used 2x2s for the legs. I made the seat frame from 1x2s because of the warping I. The 2x2s. It made my life so much easier!

Estimated Cost
I used mostly scraps so it only cost me about $50 because of the knobs
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Linen white Chalk paint, Rust-Oleum weathered grey stain and golden oak stain. Black knobs from home depot
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Classic Storage Bed, adapted

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/05/2021 - 16:24

I doubled the height of the Classic Storage Bed to create 6 side drawers and 4 bottom doors for my daughter's twin bed. She lives the extra storage in her small bedroom. Thanks for the inspiration!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)

Comments

Frosty Garden Greenhouse

It was truly great for us to find a greenhouse design from a fellow Interior Alaskan blogger. We kept coming back to this design, enough times to where we decided to actually build it.

We would be the first to admit that tackling a gambrel style building was slightly intimidating and not what we had in mind for our very first self-built building! But, we faithfully followed the cut lists and directions. It turned out beautifully! If you're in the same boat, have confidence that you can build this too!

We love the options available for making it your own. We decided to stain the greenhouse lumber of ours to match our cedar sided home. We also built a semi frost-resistant foundation, since we're a little north of Ana at 65 degrees and sometimes experience frost heaving. We also added full climate controls to ours, adding both fans and louvers that keep our greenhouse at perfect temperatures.

The performance has been great! Building this greenhouse has been the single greatest thing we have done in our years of subarctic gardening. We might even consider building a second greenhouse down the road. No matter how big your greenhouse is, it's never quite enough!

Thanks for the great plans, Ana! We appreciate your work!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$2400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Transparent cedar stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Rustic Modern Platform Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/23/2017 - 12:48

We loved this bed much! And others loved it so much that the people who purchased our home requested to keep the bed frame as well. I guess we'll be building it again. We used a vinegar/steel wool solution to oxidize the wood and then sealed it with a natural finish (rubio-monocoat 'cotton white'). Thank you for these plans!

Finish Used
vinegar / steel wool + rubio monocoat cotton white,
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Chairs and Round Side Table for the yard!

Submitted by tbman7 on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 15:38

My dad and I built these chairs by following Ana's Adirondack plan, and then adding our own curved back. We also routed all the edges to give the entire chair a rounded feel. We also built the simple little round side table to use with the chairs.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25 per chair
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
unfinished, but plan on using an outdoor finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Craft Table…Done!

This was mine and my husbands first project ever! And it turned out even better than expected….now we are hooked! Next the loft bed!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr Ultra White
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Classic Bunk Beds modified for toddler mattresses.

Submitted by sjs1220 on Tue, 03/31/2015 - 11:13

Started with the classic bunk bed plan. Changed most of the 1x4s to 1x3 except the boards at the mattress level. Added an additional rail up top to make safer for my young children. Also added 1x3s on both ends of the head/foot board to make the legs a litter sturdier and to widen the frame as our mattresses turned out to be a little wider than standard. Took out the built in ladder and matched the rest of the rails. Then added detachable stairs to be able to remove during the day and make it easier for my girls to get up and down. Made a few mistakes along the way (when you write 57.5 inches and transfer 52.5 inches to your cut list you eventually have a really bad/sad day), but had a ton of fun!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax wood conditioner to start. Minwax (1/3 red mahogany, 2/3 dark walnut). 3 coats of spray poly. Then sanded with a 0000 equivalent fiber sanding pad.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Outdoor Sofa and Table

Submitted by Don Ellery on Wed, 07/19/2017 - 11:42

I enjoyed making this outdoor sofa and table combo from Ana's Ryobi series.  An inexpensive and easy project that we just love!  All construction grade 2x4.

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr premium exterior "Slate"
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

No pocket holes farm table w/bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 17:52

I used a few pocket holes and cut it down to 5 ft long(I have a smaller kitchen). The plans made it real easy to do so. The bench was also cut down.

Comments

She Shed - Guest Room, Craft Room, Office

Submitted by Chriss45 on Tue, 01/23/2018 - 08:18

I needed an office and also a guest room so i built a she shed and all the furniture.

Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

junesummer21

Thu, 01/25/2018 - 06:27

I love your murphy bed idea and would love to have plans for it. I too am looking for a guest bedroom and craft area and I know this would work in my space.

Chriss45

Mon, 02/05/2018 - 16:20

I didnt really have a plan when I was building my Murphy bed, I can do a sketchup plan for you if you would like. I used boat chair swivels instead of hinges and there is a YouTube video on how to do this. 

Chris

Nurserene62

Thu, 06/24/2021 - 23:11

Hi Chris! I would love to have a copy of the sketch up of this. I have a small she shed/guest cottage I would live to duplicate this in. Thanks in advance.

cgself12

Mon, 11/08/2021 - 14:18

Hi Chris!
I know I'm coming late to this party but I just found your shed and I adore it. You did an amazing job and I cannot express how impressed I am! I would also like a sketchup plan of both the murphy bed and the adjoining side cabinets. Great job!

Kim Daigle

Thu, 06/06/2019 - 10:59

I absolutely love everything about this she shed!!  I would be interested in a sketch up of the murphy bed as well as the cabinets next to it.  I would at least like to know what the dimensions of it all is.  You did an amazing job!  It's so beautiful!

mcocooper11

Tue, 06/25/2019 - 15:14

Me too!! I built a horizontal Murphy bed so I have that part done but I would like to see the plans for the cabinets on either side with the pull out desk!

so very cute!

Fancy X Farmhouse Table and Bench

Built this table and bench for my wife. She wanted to host Thanksgiving dinner and needed a bigger table. I used the 96” plan, building the bench first and the table second. 3 coats of Danish oil dark walnut, and 2 coats of poly. I get a lot of compliments about this table. The bench is remarkably comfortable and sturdy. And yes, my wife was very pleased, plus I finished on time for dinner.

Comments

BearWoodworks

Mon, 01/17/2022 - 13:49

Thank you. The set up gratitude goes to my wife. She inspires me to complete these builds. And thank you to Ana White for these awesome build plans. I’m running out of house for all the builds so far.

Glider

Submitted by Seansg5 on Sun, 08/09/2015 - 20:24

The bench was easy to build with great instructions. I had Home Depot make my cuts for this first project and then I went and bought a miter saw and other power tools for future ones. So much fun. 

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

Comments

Cross35

Mon, 03/14/2016 - 08:35

Great work.  DId you do anything different to the swing itself?  How did you build the frame.  I'm looking to do this exact thing for my patio.  I don't have anywhere to hang the swing.

 

Thanks for sharing any info.

mbarland

Sat, 06/13/2020 - 16:54

Made the chair and then built the glider frame for it just eyeballing the picture. I can't figure out how to upload a photo of my design, but can try to describe it.

I made mine with a 4x4 on the base of each leg, but a 2x4 would work as well, it was just what I had on hand. The base board on each leg I made 48". From there I put two 48" vertical boards. The vertical boards were centered and from the front edge of the first board to the back edge of the second board. Two 16" boards were then used at the top and bottom of the vertical boards to hold them in place. Cap it off with a 30" board on top of the verticals. This is where you'll attach your eye bolts. I put both eye bolts 3 1/2" back from the front (a scrap of 2x4 works well as a guide). To join the two legs, I used two 52" boards on top of the base 4X4 of the verticals (one in front of the legs and one behind).

Ten Dollar Cedar Raised Garden Beds

Submitted by kelli224 on Wed, 06/29/2011 - 19:19

Since moving and finding Knock Off Wood, we decided now would be a good idea to try some gardening (again...after failed attempts!) These beds are so simple but beautiful out in the yard and for the first time I actually have vegetables growing. We used the cedar fence posts just as Ana suggested.

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Twin Farmhouse Bed with Trundle

Took the farmhouse plan and added a Trundle.   Was initially going to build two farmhouse beds for my two girls, but thought adding the Trundle would free up some much needed floor space.  The girls love it!

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Latex paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modified Beginner Farm Table and Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/28/2022 - 12:09

Altered the Beginner Farm Table plans to use 2x8s for the top and 4x4s for the legs. I used pocket holes for the table. I followed the bench plans almost exactly, adjusting slightly for the 2x8 tops. I am a beginner and I did it myself! The table and bench are beautiful and sturdy! Thanks Ana!

Comments