Community Brag Posts

Thank you!

Submitted by cm18lajo on Mon, 01/20/2020 - 17:16

Thank you so much for the plans and pictures!! This table was the first piece of furniture I've built. Your designs made everything straightforward. Couldn't have done it without you. So far the family loves it. I can't wait to share memories around it for years to come. 

We have a a fairly large and long dining room, and have a lot of family over for dinners, so I adjusted the plans to make the table 108" long and 46.25" wide. Should fit 10 comfortably and we can squeeze in 12. 

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Special Walnut
Minwax Satin Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Shanty Sideboard

My wife and I are very happy with this piece. It was challenging but not too difficult. The plans were very easy to follow.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Upholstered Bench

I loved building this bench! It truly is the easiest upholstered bench! I used reclaimed lumber and it cost me virtually nothing!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Less than $25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used General Finishes Stain in Espresso for the legs.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Spy plane shelf

Submitted by tommybo76 on Sun, 02/02/2014 - 22:50

I just finished the shelf we’ve been needing for months…a shelf to hold the nanny cam out of reach of our toddler. I didn’t want a boring shelf so I used a design I found on anawhite’s site. This should have been a quick project, but as usual things took longer that I would have liked. I used all scrap ply I had laying around. I rounded the wings and struts with my router and put in a screw that grabs the bottom of the camera and keeps it from sliding off.

The paint was leftover from the stripes I put on Braxton’s wall 18 months ago. Unfortunately, the below zero temps ruined much of the paint as it was stored in the garage…it was still good enough for this project. I angled the plane to ensure we could look down into the crib, and now we get a full view of the room as well. Overall, I think it turned out great and compliments the room nicely and only cost was time.

Apparently, it will be a short flight for the stuffed animals as my wife said the plane looks good but not so much with them on it. I guess I’ll stick to building and leave the decorating to her LOL!

-- Tommy

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
0
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

COOLER BOX

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/27/2020 - 10:56

Wanted a place on my porch to put a cooler to hold ice for pool party.

Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Exterior stain and three coats of exterior poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Glass Top Display Side Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/19/2023 - 10:58

I made two of these side tables for my niece and her new husband as a house warming gift. I dropped the top down 1.25 inch and added a glass top so she could display items. They are going to be a surprise, so I left them bare. She can stain or paint them whatever color she wishes.

Donna Cox

Comments

My first Ana White project!

Submitted by taylorjt22 on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 12:14

This project only cost me about $5 which is unbelievable. I had a small wall that was useless in the playroom so Ana gave me the perfect idea with her 10 dollar ledges. I love them! I am new at the Kreg jig and I didn't know what screws to use or how deep to make the holes at first so i'm learning! My husband even liked them so much he wants me to make some for his garage(man-cave) which is a huge complement...

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
5.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
valspar white semi-gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Large Dog Crates for Rocket Hounds

Submitted by probrwr on Thu, 02/06/2014 - 07:45

Large Dog Crates from the plan. We used reclaimed 1x4 material which I milled down to the correct sizes. The tops are edge jointed 1x4's glued up. These were my first project with a Kreg jig! I have been wood working for MANY years and was amazed at how fast things went together with the Kreg.

The two crates are a little different. I shook up the stain for the second one so it came out alot darker. We like the difference but I may rebuild the lighter one in the future. They are finished with American Walnut stain and 4 coats of tung oil.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
HArdware and Finish $15 per crate. Materials were reclaimed and free
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
American Walnut Stain (Shake it up!)
Hand Rubbed Low gloss Tung Oil. (this is the time consuming part) One coat per day and let dry)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Corner Base Cabinet

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/03/2016 - 17:00

This was the first time my husband has build kitchen cabinets.  We have used many wood working plans from this website.  The cabinets are made of two sided prefinished maple wood.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Spray Painted Benjamin Moore Knoxville Gray
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Chunky Coffee Table

Submitted by Malka on Sat, 02/01/2020 - 15:17

Chamfered the bottoms of some 4x4 douglas fir, and used 2x6 douglas fir for the top. Stained in Minwax Dark Walnut/Special Walnut. 

Estimated Cost
50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
MInwax stain and Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

DIY Storage Cabinet

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/25/2023 - 11:58

Needed something to hold an antique scale. The sides have pop out drawers to house bags and tags.

Darren

Computer desk

Submitted by Flowerchld on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 15:47

I made this computer desk with just an idea and a picture of my aunt's compter desk I loved! In her desk the middle section goes clear to the floor, but I wanted room for my legs. Her's also was wicker shelves on the bottom sides so I found a general cabinet plan and of course altered that. This was made in 5 separate pieces and put together!
The other picture is the desk in progress and the second pic is the desk I was kinda copying/altering.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
off white paint, sanded and topped with a glaze mixed with stain for an antique finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

big dreamer 2

Wed, 08/26/2015 - 13:26

This gorgeous desk/bookshelf/cabinet is just what I've been looking for. I'm new to your impressive site & can't access the plans...please help!  Thank you for all the wonderful plans

 

Shaker Style cabinet doors DIY style

Submitted by ksmith311 on Sun, 02/09/2014 - 21:18

Pleas excuse the mess in the pictures. It is too cold to work in the garage up here in the northwest, so this project took over our entire kitchen and dining room. We built these frame and panel-style doors using Ana's plans from the mom-plex bathroom vanity! We are so excited because we spent about $100 including paint and have plenty of leftover materials for the drawers next week!

These are the original cabinets in our 75 year old house and they were in serious need of rehab. We even contemplated ripping them out and using Ana's cabinet plans to build new ones but after we removed the shelves, the carcass of the cabinets were still in good shape. We filled, sanded, painted and built these new amazing doors that I'm seriously losing my mind over. They are so beautiful and I don't think I could have ordered something better. Maybe better made but how sweet is it to save all that money by building them yourselves?

We'll post drawer pictures after we get those finished up and hopefully have a clean kitchen at that point. :)

Thanks Ana! Our home is becoming truly special with the skills we learned from you!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Benjamin Moore's Kendall Charcoal in Semi Gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

TV Table, DIY, Rustic, X Console, Console

Submitted by j_macindoe on Sun, 05/08/2016 - 10:58

This was my very first DIY wood working project and I'm very pleased with the final result. I learned a lot along the way and after completing the TV table, felt confident enough to make a matching coffee table and side table. 

This is a great project for a novice DIYer.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Approx. $150, as I had to purchase some tools.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
TV Table
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Dress up center

Submitted by jim7sf on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 11:44

 I Purchased Kitchen cabinet handles to use for the ribbon so that the girls could put their bows on there I also got 1 inch wheels 2 of them with breaks on them from amazon. Between the vinyl letters and added bonus I spent about 110$

Estimated Cost
110$
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Hall Tree Modified

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/02/2023 - 10:29

My variation of the hall closet. Dark stained bench and top shelf, it is taller (5'6") and skinnier (30") and doesn't include the venerated X's.

Jeffrey Knotts of Black Boots Woodworks

Built from Plan(s)

Pottery Barn's Bailey Console Table

Submitted by tsibiga on Sat, 04/28/2012 - 10:07

I've built two of these based off the Ana-White plans. I tweaked them a little bit to accomodate the wood that I had available as well as the space that the table was going. I built this one for a customer and they needed an exact width...so I cut it back to just 3 drawers.

www.tommyandellie.com

I documented the whole build here;

http://tommyandellie.com/index.php/2012/02/21/bailey-console-table-remi…

My older one with 4 drawers can be found here;

http://tommyandellie.com/index.php/2011/11/02/bailey-console-table/

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Painted white and distressed the base. Special Walnut stain on the top. Sealed with General Arm-R-Seal and Briwax.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

4x4 Truss Beam Table w/Gray Finish

Submitted by Pokeysmom on Thu, 02/13/2014 - 11:32

We followed the 4x4 Truss Beam Table instructions but changed the overall dimensions to account for our narrow space that is a thoroughfare through our house. We made the table 29" x 65". This was our first furniture construction project and we are very pleased with the results.

Estimated Cost
$400 (including the cost of the Kreg Jig)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Finished with a custom stain from Sherwin Williams. Started with their Rustic Gray color but had them color match the stain on the fir and pine to create the best match. Applied one coat for one minute and wiped off. Used a satin water-based polyurethane (3 coats).
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Outdoor pation sectional

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/11/2016 - 10:54

Total spend 440 $.

Estimated Cost
440$
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

2x2 Playhouse Basement Loft Hideaway :)

We loved the idea of making two of the 2x2 playhouses featured on this blog and adding a 17" riser below to add more of a loft feel in our basement.  The riser really adds something special. [We designed the riser ourselves]. 

We resized the houses to accommodate adults as well as children, so the space can be used flexibly as a playhouse, reading space, or just a hideaway for kids and adults alike.  The house as we designed it is 70" tall (5.8 feet).  We also utilized a recessed wall in the basement, so the footprint feels just right for the room.  

After building the frames, we painted them white and custom-designed curtains for them.  We wanted the curtains to feel like walls and define the space. The curtains are attached via buttonholes that we sewed into the finished curtain.  They are looped over small cup hooks screwed into the frame.  

We left the risers in their natural color without stain and simply sealed them using a beeswax and olive oil DIY sealant that I've used on a handful of other projects in the past.

Overall, we feel so happy with this space.  It's just what we imagined it to be.  It feels so special and set apart :).  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
~$300-350 for all materials (includes fabric)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Beeswax and olive oil sealant on riser, white paint on playhouse frames
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