Community Brag Posts

Simple Outdoor Dining Table

Submitted by robindres on Fri, 09/13/2013 - 18:48

Love this project! I used cedar boards with red mahogany stain. I did adjust the gaps to a 1/4 inch.

Estimated Cost
Less than $100.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used a pre-stain from Minwax and waited 15 minutes. I followed with one coat of red mahogany stain from Minwax. The final stage was three coats of high gloss Helmsman Spar Urethane (Minwax) with a light sanding using 220 grit sandpaper in between coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Bookcase Dollhouse

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/07/2019 - 11:23

My aunt wanted to get her grandaughter a dollhouse for Christmas.  I came to Ana's website and found this plan.  It was tedious and time-consuming, but it was worth it.  This was such a great confidence builder and has led me to build a lot more things for other people.  I can't wait to see what the future holds.  Used these plans...http://www.ana-white.com/2012/07/bookcase-dollhouse

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

Planters

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 10/15/2022 - 17:36

Just made these planters. I haven't painted them yet but I had to post it. They came out perfect. Thanks Ana for easy to follow plans.

Comments

Reclaimed Wood Headboard- First Ever Build!

Submitted by KaylaM82 on Wed, 08/24/2011 - 19:43

This was my first ever build and I did it on my own, so I'm super proud, but there are admittedly some things I'd like to learn from. The top trim piece is missing because the board was too crooked to attach and I was too impatient to wait to go to the hardware store again! It also stands crookedly. Not really sure why, but if you have any idea, I'd love to hear because I had a great time building it and look forward to my next build, but want to learn from that mistake first! Thanks Ana, I really didn't even know how to use a drill before hand, what an inspiration you are!

Estimated Cost
$150, but that includes some tools I needed to buy to make it.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Black paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Double Twin Camp Loft Bed

Camp Loft Bed modified to fit two twin loft beds in the bedroom with a shared platform step.
Age of boys in bed: 6 and 4

The boys have yet to agree on a stain color...awaiting their decision.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

New Farmhouse Kitchen Table

Submitted by tbladecki on Mon, 11/23/2015 - 09:21

This is 84" long and 41" wide. I built this to fit our family. We are a family of 7 and our old table was just too small. It would not hold the food or all the people, so we came up with this. It has plenty of room and there is no more buffet style eating.

 

The build was pretty easy, the finishing took some time. All in all happy with the results. Looking forward to building the bench and chairs. This entire build is made from constuction grade pine off the shelf at the big orange box store.

 

Cost was under $100 for just the wood but the finishing items I did not ahve so I had to purchase. The finsih was a 80/20 mix of gloss minwax poly and miniral spirts. It worked very well and I am very happy with the outcome. I did learn a few things along the way, 1) off the shelf cheap lumber is not very stable and 2) this thing is HEAVY

Estimated Cost
150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Ebony & Jacobean (Ebony base, top Jacobean) 1 coat for all

Wipe on poly, 4 coats base and the top was about 8
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Functional Workspace

Submitted by jvos on Fri, 01/11/2019 - 20:19

I don't have much space for a workshop in my home - just the corner of my basement.  This plan was the answer!  It adds so much storage and functionality.  I plan to add some shelves to both units but love them already.  Thank you so much!

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

X based pedestal table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/19/2022 - 18:05

I was so impressed with the dining table i decided to make a lamp table as well

Comments

Cube Bookshelf

Submitted by Anna H on Sat, 08/27/2011 - 08:35

I love this bookshelf! It was quick and easy to build, the finishing took the longest. I decided to add a contrasting top with pine boards stained with dark walnut. I love how it came out! Now, on to my next Ana White project...

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr Ultra in Bone distressed then antiqued with Valspar mixing glaze mixed with dark walnut stain. Top is dark walnut stain and sealed with wipe-on poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Guest (not verified)

Wed, 10/19/2011 - 18:20

Did you use the Bone distressed paint then put a glaze over top of it? The top dark walnut looks amazing.

ehansen25

Wed, 07/17/2013 - 12:23

I love love LOVE the look of your version of the cube shelves. I have a question for you though. How did you attach the pine boards on top?

First project

Submitted by reidev275 on Wed, 09/18/2013 - 20:31

modified the plans by making the top from 4 1x6s and adapted the legs to use 1x6s instead of the 2x4s. The wood I used was higher grade pine than what is called for, but because of the reduced size (2' x 4') I came in at the same price.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Early American with clear semi-gloss poly
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Easy Heavy Duty Sawhorses

I build these from the plan for Heavy Duty Sawhorses. I preferred these for the thickness to match my butcher block desktop. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Navy Blue paint applied with roller and brush.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Over Bed Fort to fit a queen size mattress

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/14/2019 - 12:35

This is my first time building anything, and it was so fun, minus the million trips to home depot! I had to modify the original plans to fit over a queen size bed, and I actually built the roof that is part of the plans, but we decided to use fabric for the roof to let light in. For now, it's a convertible fort, ha! 

 

I also added shelves along the back wall, similar to the onces done by Jamie Costiglio. I thought it was a good way to incorporate storage for some action figures. Plus, I left a space in the front open so that my son could jump from the fort to his bed. Underneath I strung up some lights with small command hooks and they're connected to a smart switch so we can ensure they aren't left on all the time.

 

This took me significantly longer than it might take a skilled builder because it was my first time. It was a solid 3 days of work - a full weekend and then one day the next weekend. 

 

Overall this was such a fun build - now to add a rock wall on the side! :)

Estimated Cost
$300-$350 - but I had to buy a kreg jig and I used significantly more wood to make it fit a queen size bed. I had to buy wood - I didn't have much on hand.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I didn't add any paint or stain. I wanted it to feel like a tree house, so I thought the natural wood would work best.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Adirondack stool or table

Submitted by takahler on Wed, 08/31/2011 - 11:20

This was my first project to tackle alone. It twisted a little on me not having another set of hands to hold things square, but it stands straight and doesn't wobble! Good enough for me. Plus it is an outdoor piece of furniture. The plans were easy to follow and I added 3" to the height of the legs so it was the same height as my arm rests on my chair.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Scraps from adirondack chairs ($0)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark walnut and polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Double pedestal breakfast table and bench

Submitted by Lschnell19 on Sat, 09/21/2013 - 09:24

Thank you Ana for yout amazing plans for the triple pedestal table and bench! I modified it to work for the dimensions that I needed which brought it down to a double pedestal table and bench. It ended up as a 3'x5' table. I attempted the antique coffee stain technique but it wasn't taking so I just used the stain that I used on the table top instead of the coffee. I LOVE how it turned out!

Leah

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Primed the legs and then added two coats of latex paint. Sanded the edges and corners and then applied dark walnut minwax stain over the entire surface wiping it off quickly! For the top, I did two coats of dark walnut minmax stain. I finished everything off with two coats of polycrylic.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

2x4 Desk

Submitted by new2wood on Sun, 11/29/2015 - 20:26

Modifications adopted from two other posters.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$37
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Leaning Desk and Bookshelves

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/19/2019 - 21:22

Used a handheld propane torch to “burn” the wood and it turned out amazing! 

Estimated Cost
$100 I didn’t have any wood on hand so had to buy all of it. The rest of materials I already had.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Propane to burn the wood
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Grid Mirror

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 11/25/2022 - 06:05

Thank you Ana for your amazing easy to follow plans and videos! I’ve had so many compliments in the mirror and goes great with the table from Shanty2Chic. I went with 8 x 8 mirror tiles. We love it!

Comments

King-size stratton storage bed

Submitted by melanieann on Sat, 09/03/2011 - 14:53

This was our first time building furniture. We built our new bed over the course of four days. We don't own any power saws so opted to give the cut list to our local hardware store who only charged us about $50 for all the cuts.

Day one consisted of picking up all the lumber, sorting into the three sections and labeling all the pieces. Day two was the longest day, lots of drilling and measuring and screwing and gluing and even the first two coats of shellac. On the third day we built the drawers, and finished coating everything with shellac. The last day was the installation of the drawer hardware, including the slides.

We're quite happy with the quality of our work, and appreciate the directions and plans. Though we aren't fine furniture makers, and probably none of our corners are 100% square, we finished in the time we thought, pretty close to budget, and with the satisfaction of doing it ourselves.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$600
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
shellac dyed a bright, happy blue.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project