Community Brag Posts

Ultimate Workshop Workbench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/18/2023 - 15:38

My garage needed an overhaul and I wanted to start a hobby in woodworking.
I found my way to Ana's website and found some of the best ideas and decided to try my attempt at building the Ultimate Roll Away Workbench with Miter Saw Stand.
This helped inspire me to augment my garage and build that workbench and new french cleat wall.

Thank you Ana for having such an awesome website and offering up ideas for free!!

Comments

Built in closet

Submitted by AndyH on Mon, 06/13/2016 - 19:14

Built in closet to replace builder grade wire wracking.  Closet is approximately 11 feet by 5 feet.  consists of two shoe racks with 7 shelves each.  6 large drawers and 4 small drawers.  Two hanger sections with storage  above them.  End wall has hanger for longer items and storage above and a cabinet with shelves.

Yet to finish the floor.

Estimated Cost
$1000
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Sherwin Williams Extra White satin paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Traditional Wood Toddler Bed with a Twist

Submitted by mikekmikek on Thu, 04/30/2020 - 10:34

I made the Traditional Wood Toddler Bed in a weekend and it turned out great! I did add a twist though: A chalkboard replaces the wainscot!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Used a chalkboark panel from Home Depot instead of the wainscot.
Used a hand router to round all of the edges to give it a softer feel.
Had to extend the length of the bed by 1/2" to accomodate a Greco toddler mattress. (Check your mattress size before you build!)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Style Vanity Base with Slatted Shelf

Submitted by ellemm on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 21:06

Our first build! After finding a vanity top we loved for our DIY bathroom renovation, my husband and I went in search of a chunky, open base with simple lines and a shelf on the bottom. Nothing at the store appealed to us, and I had been talking about all the projects I wanted to build from Ana's site for weeks, so we decided to try the Simple Open Farmhouse Style Vanity. We would just add a shelf to the bottom and omit the top!

This was a really easy plan to scale for our sink, and because we were not doing the top we could make all the necessary cuts with a chop saw.

The only purchases we had to make for the base were screws, slats and a 12-foot-long 4×4 that the guy at the store cut into four 36″ pieces for me. It’s pressure-treated lumber meant for outdoor use, but it was on sale and they didn’t have any other 4x4s. The rest of the materials were 1x4s and 2″ screws that we already had on hand.

For the bottom shelf, we just duplicated the spacers, aprons and skirts from the top, and placed wide slats over that. They look crooked in the photo because they haven't been glued on yet, and using the baskets makes them shift around!

With the vanity top in place the counter height is a little over 37 inches. We are tall people, so this is a tall sink! Perfect for our first build. Thanks Ana!

Estimated Cost
Under $20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I finished this with a very dark stain followed by two coats of white latex semi-gloss, then sanded back the edges to give it a distressed look. I covered it with three coats of polyurethane, which gave it a slightly off-white cast, which I wanted. Polycrilic would have been a better choice if I wanted it to remain bright white.

In figuring out how to finish the vanity, I looked at several of Ana's finish options, wanting a distressed white finish. The closest process to what I did is in the "Authentic Vintage Distressed Finish with Minwax Stain" post!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Beginner farm table bench/outdoor seating

Great, sturdy, easy build!!! Looks amazing and will be my new picnic outdoor seating. I cannot wait to build the next bench and table to go along with it. Thank you for the plans!!!!

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
I have not finished it yet, but will stain then use an outdoor poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by deckroid on Fri, 04/26/2013 - 10:15

My wife and I really love the farmhouse look and feel. We saw one of these tables at a furniture store for $2000 with no chairs. I had already bought the Kreg Tool, something that I cannot believe I have done without for so long, when I went to build some $10 Shelves that Ana has on her site. My wife asked me how hard it would be to build the table and I told her I have never done anything like it. I also told her if she didn't like the end project, we could use it as a picnic table outside. It was fantastically easy with the plans and Kreg Jig. Thanks to Ana for all the helpful tips!

Now to the build. We decided that the table needed to be a bit wider and longer for our needs, so I adjusted the plans. It came out to 90"x48". The center board is a 2x12 with the other 4 being 2x10s. The end pieces are 2x8s that I had from building garden boxes. The benches that I also built were from scrap lumber, they are not pictured here as they need one more coat of stain and then three coats of polycrylic. They are 52" long and go on the ends where the kids can use the cross beam as a foot support.

Building this project was rather quicker than I thought. Of course, borrowing a radial arm saw helped out a bunch with the legs. Once it was all together, I sanded the table three times. I used 80, 150 then 220 grit. The palm sander got a real workout over the space of about a week and a half.

Finishing the project, I decided to follow the plans and went with Minwax Weathered Oak and topped that with Minwax Polycrylic. The legs and underside of the table received 2 coats of each, but the top I gave 3 coats of stain and 2 coats of the Poly with a very light sanding in between each coat.

The table then sat completed in the garage for 3 weeks as I had to find enough help to get it into the house. This is one heavy bugger. If we ever sell the place, it stays! There are ~150 screws and all but 12 of those had pocket holes.

Fantastic build and now I am going to build the farmhouse king size bed. And a murphy bed. And more shelves. And a shoe cubby with coat rack. And a wine rack. And a greenhouse... the list goes on and on...

Estimated Cost
$80 for Lumber
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Weathered Oak and Minwax Polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Junker Dic

Fri, 04/26/2013 - 14:09

Could you have used heavy duty steel leg braces? These could slipped into saw kerfs on adjacent sides of the apron. Then used hanger bolts to fasten the legs. This would allow the legs to be removed if needed.

deckroid

Fri, 04/26/2013 - 15:09

I thought about making the legs removable, but really, it was much easier this way and very sturdy. I had a lot of fun building this.

Jake

Sat, 04/27/2013 - 18:55

You have just joined the league of addict builders. You really did a great job on this table. Did you get the lumber from big orange or blue and have it jointed? The boards look really good and the fit is tight. Anyway I am sure we will see more of you in the future.

deckroid

Wed, 05/01/2013 - 07:19

Hey everyone!

Thanks for your kind words. The chairs were from our previous table we bought some years ago. I was astounded to find that Ana's plans were the same height as our previous table. Great fit for the chairs.

As for the lumber, I got it from a local building supply company (one of the last, sad to say) and they were only a bit straighter. I got them tight by using clamps. Clamps and LOTS of pocket holes.

George

wjc129

Thu, 05/02/2013 - 18:45

Great Job! Thanks for the extra pictures. I am working up the courage to build the farmhouse queen bed myself. If it works out I might tackle this table, as I like your plans.

goalist

Thu, 08/08/2013 - 11:08

This table looks great and I've decided that its going to be my first project, I just have two questions.

1. What version of the Kreg Jig did you use for the pocket holes?
2. Did you use satin or semi-gloss for the Minwax Polycrylic?

Thanks

amytrz

Wed, 08/26/2015 - 10:53

Hi! You did a wonderful job on this table.  I would like to attempt it but am having trouble figuring out what type of wood to use.  The only wood I could find in the 2x8 and 2x10 dimensions was contruction lumber fir.  Is that right?

Thank you!

deckroid

Fri, 01/01/2016 - 11:03

Sorry about not answering... my wife told me this has been pinned over 17k times on pintrist and that there are still some questions... 

 

I used pine, but fir would be great too.  The lumber dimentions for the top were 2x10s and a single 2x12 for the center piece. 2x8s for the ends.  Really, though, any dimemtion works. Just keep going until you get the size you want.

 

George

Modified Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by Liz H. on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 13:04

This was our first project.  My husband and I took the Farmhouse bed plans and modified them to look more like the Hudson Bed from Pottery Barn.  This is a King size bed with removable side rails and under bed supports so that it can easily be collapsed for moving.

Estimated Cost
$600
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I had to dye the wood using a mahogany dye to unify the woods and then applied three coats of mahogany and english chestnut stains mixed together and then mixed with lacquer and lacquer thinner. The drying in between was long. Next time I would paint poplar or use a different wood.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Full Storage Bed

I built the Full Storage Bed using Ana's plans!  It was very easy and I love the storage space!  You can see it and my modifications at our blog http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2011/03/crates-for-storage-bed.html

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$120
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut stain and Minwax Polycrylic Gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Doll farmhouse bed for Avery

Submitted by brguad on Mon, 08/01/2011 - 13:58

Once I saw the plans posted I knew my daughter would love it and she does!! Every time she goes to bed she has to put her babies in bed too. This was a simple build but very rewarding. THanks Ana!!

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
sanded 120, white flat paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Wood Crate Keurig K Cup Holder with Mini Drawer

As Ana mentioned in her video, this project could be made with scraps. That’s just what I used.  I used a lot of scraps and cut offs for this project.

I needed to make a K cup holder but also space to hold tea in addition to other coffee "toppings" if you well. In the pictures you can see mini creamers.

This modification was made by adding a small drawer in addition to the holes that would hold the K cups. The small drawer was made with 1/2” plywood (even more scraps) ripped just shy of 1-1/2”. I did this to make sure we did not see the plys of the drawer as I planned to add 1/4” plywood to the top all around. I wanted this to make it all uniform with the K cup area. 

I added little rubber feet’s to the bottom as this will be on a granite countertop which could results in slipping and sliding. 

Estimated Cost
$15 perhaps. But as I mentioned it was mostly scraps
Finish Used
minwax provencial and wipe on poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

lolalove77

Thu, 06/25/2020 - 06:53

Made this for my mother in law. She loves it, thank you for the plans. I cant figure out how to add the pics of the one I did for her hit it was awesome and my very first wooden build EVER

Twisty Table

Submitted by stacynabby on Sun, 12/20/2015 - 11:48

Saw this clever side table on Pinterest. It's made out of 1 1x8x8. I was able to figure out how to build a jig for the table saw to suit the project and then it was easy peasy lemon squeezy from there.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Light Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Seal

Fri, 10/28/2016 - 08:40

I would love to build this unique table, but can't seem to find some actual plans with dimensions and jigs

 

Seal

Fri, 10/28/2016 - 08:45

Would you please email me the plans for this table. Thanks so much

Ana White Farmhouse Bed - King Size

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/07/2019 - 09:37

This King Size Farmhouse Bed turned out better than I could've imagined! It did take a lot of patience, time, and even left a few bruises but, a few months out, I think I would do it all over again!

We chose the Farmhouse King Bed Plans by Ana White and I read everything I could about it. This would be the biggest project I'd ever done. Through reading comments, I found the DIY Farmhouse Bed - King Version by Ed Hart. He had a few modifications I liked so I bought his plan.

Then, I set to work!

We have a Naturepedic mattress and built this bed to its specifications, including bed slats no more than two inches apart.

Check out this post to see the modifications we made to the Ana White Farmhouse Bed: https://sunshineandrainydays.com/king-size-farmhouse-bed/

Thank you, Ana, for the inspiration to build!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Homemade wood stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Window seat with storage

I wanted a window seat that would fit my window. There was no way I could afford to buy anything. Ana's site inspired me to modify her plans to create what I wanted. My husband and I worked on this during the weekends and between my son's nap. The piece is so large that 2 people were needed just to pick up the wood. The finished piece is 8' long, 2' deep and 18" tall. If we ever move, it might have to stay with the house.

Estimated Cost
150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
3 coats of Swiss coffee (Home Depot)
2 coats of poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

A little take on Ana's sink

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/19/2023 - 21:55

This was a build to convince my wife that I should do the cabinets in our new house...now I have to do them all. I should have just said, Sure, go to Ikea!"

Comments

Farmhouse Bench

Submitted by pwky on Thu, 10/24/2013 - 15:03

First time building furniture. This turned out much better than I thought. After this I probably could've build the farmhouse table myself instead of paying way too much for my wood dining table. Only if I have found Ana's site sooner. :)

Having a Kreg jig also made the whole process much easier.

Estimated Cost
$40 without the stain
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Kona and Minwax pre-stain conditioner and semi-gloss poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Lean-To Shed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/24/2023 - 13:17

I’m a first year teacher of construction class at Waterloo High School in Illinois. We recently used your Small Cedar shed instructions with some modifications for a class project. It’s a bear getting cedar right now, so we used T1-11 for the outside and 2x4 for the frame.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Octagonal Picnic Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/25/2023 - 08:16

Great plans and easy to follow!

Comments

One arm 2x4 outdoor sofa

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/18/2023 - 08:10

This was so super easy. We are so in love with this. Thank you Ana for making DIY so much fun!

Comments

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