DIY Banquette Wall
I started with the banquette….then thought, 🤔 hmmm. Let’s do an accent wall too. I included before and after’s of the space. Thank you!!
I started with the banquette….then thought, 🤔 hmmm. Let’s do an accent wall too. I included before and after’s of the space. Thank you!!
Desk for my sis, build on out of state visit. Left raw for her to finish. The X was a character builder as I only had my circular saw and my first time but decent enough lol
Thu, 09/17/2020 - 10:52
Are you going to paint or stain? Can't wait to see the finished project!:)
Fri, 09/18/2020 - 09:51
Looks awesome, can't wait to see how she finishes it!
For this project, I used 6 foot cedar fence posts and 8 foot cedar 2x4s. I used a pencil to space the boards and allow extra air flow. More space between boards is acceptable - even to the extent of dropping off one full board and putting an inch between each side rail.
Another option is to make your sides interlocking layers, one or two boards high - http://cedarstackingcompostbin.blogspot.com/
Since I am composting large amounts of leaves and grass clippings, mine is made in one piece. I don't turn my pile often - when I do, I can either lift the whole thing up or move the pile from side to side. I cut the 2x8x8 posts - cut a 3 foot length off of each end. Save the 2 foot center piece to brace the long sides. Affix your 1/2 (3 foot side) and full fence (6 foot side) boards to the 2x4, leaving the desired gap between each board. Affix each board with 2 weather proof screws - I used coated deck screws.
Attach the vertical posts to the inside of the cedar fence boards, including the short 2 foot boards that are just long enough to brace the long sides. I alternated the dog eared sides, so that each corner had one flat and one notched board.
I used 24 cedar fence posts and 16 feet of cedar 2x4. Note, I was able to do this all along. The trash cans acted as supports - no clamps or saw horses needed.
Fri, 12/07/2012 - 18:43
This is a little heavy when finished. I can easily flip it over to turn the compost, but after building it and tiring my arms out with the cutting and drilling, it was a long haul to the back yard to position it. You might be happy with a 3x3 bin, in which case, I suggest making it 1 board shorter and leaving wider spaces - if you think through the math, you can probably get it down to 10-12 cedar fence posts and 1 longer 2x4. Cost would be about $35 that way - cheaper than most compost bins.
Thank you Ana for the great plans! We adapted the project for wood we had on hand. It is only 40 inches wide instead of 42”. Our widest pallet board was only 40”.
Thank you for continuing to inspire us! We made two couches a couple of months ago. Great plans!
54" Bench with Cross Bracing, used the plans on this site, plans were great, easy to follow. I used a 2 x 12 for the bench top to give it more heft. I think it looks better than a 1 x 12.
On to the next plan.
I enjoyed making this chair. Even though I am a beginner at wood work, it really was easy to make and the instructions were very clear. I made it for my daughter. She will be 3 years old in May and she loves it. Our next project is making her a table to go with the chair. Thanx for sharing the plan
This was our second project (though I'm proud to say that I was able to put the bulk of it together all by myself...and that's because of the miracle of the Kreg Jig pocket hole kit!)
First I had to modify the plans so that the sideboard wasn't as deep (about 16" deep...so just a couple/few inches off the original plans). Then we bought the wood. My husband helped me cut most of the pieces, and then I started drilling pocket holes. It felt like it took forever! But once that was done, I was able to put it together so quick...like an IKEA furniture! BUT! I really should have checked for SQUARE better than I did, b/c once it REALLY started coming together, things were a little off kilter... Thank goodness my husband had the patience to SAND THE HECK out of the bottom of the poor thing to level it back out. :P
The door fronts took forever...and the drawers took a while to fit in correctly (all of which my hubs did). We had left our lumber on the patio, and the second day it got rained on. It might have helped if our lumber didn't get wet (to help keep things straight and square).
The things that took the longest: squaring, leveling, doors and drawers, and the base molding (I ended up using a 2x4 and 1x2 to build my own base along the bottom...we wanted to stain the wood instead of paint it, and didn't want to pay the $$$ for paintable molding).
I used the same Rustoleum Dark Walnut stain that I had used on our Farmhouse Table...but I didn't shake it enough before using it, then left it on longer than I should have, so it is much darker than our table. Eventually may want to paint over it since it was so hard to get stain in all the nooks and crannies.
I didn't think to stain the inside of the doors. I will have to go back and paint it someday. We used particle board for the bottom and inside shelf (much cheaper than plywood). I tried staining the bottom piece, but it just soaked in the stain. So I used some dark brown spray paint instead. Worked like a charm. Planning on painting/covering the shelves one day, too.
OH! AND, I couldn't find the wider "bead board" (or whatever it is that everyone else used on their sideboards), so we used plywood as a backing, then attached some thin Poplar boards on the front for the appearance of planked boards. VERY painstaking. Would recommend a different method for that part.
(Timing: We started building this around the beginning of November, brought it in and used it before it was finished...then finished it a couple days before Christmas. Just the other day I added some drawer liners).
Wed, 02/06/2013 - 15:20
I saw your comment on my blog and had to come take a peek! It sounds like it was a challenging project, but you did a fantastic job. Beautiful!
Thu, 09/26/2013 - 10:15
I love the dark stain on this piece! It looks beautiful! Congrats on a job well done!
Well this was definitely the most challenging so far because we decided to modify the kitchen island plans to incoporate the tilt out trash bin. Very pleased with the results. Extended the back of the island to accomodate a 11" deep trash bin. Slim trash cans fit perfect. Found a gift wrapping bin for half price after Christmas and it is a perfect fit and 13 gallon bags fit great.
The x's were definitely a challenge because it changed the angles and it would have been best to just mark it with the board before finishing the whole box.
Now we just need to paint the cabinets and change the countertops and paint the kitchen walls. Not happening anytime soon, but at least the island is done.
Mon, 01/05/2015 - 19:18
Thanks Ana! We love your site. We've never built anything before finding it a couple months ago and now we can't stop.
This built was easy with Ana white blue prints I used 2x10 for the top and also made the matching bench.
thanks Ana white
My son and daughter in law had an unpurposed room in their home and wanted to turn it into a play area for their three kids. She came to me with an idea and it turned into their Christmas present. 8' tall and 140" wide. Now the kids don't want to come out of the room. Papa and Mimi helping them make memories
Did so many "firsts" with this project. My daughter/grandsons moved in just before Christmas. They needed space for their toys in their bedroom. Soooo, without tools, or paintbrushes, or..... anything, I opened my mouth and out came the words - I can make them some cubbies!
These took me 10 days to build, because I had to keep running to the store to get tools, paint, screws, circular saw.....
Then I decided to make a cut out at the bottom, tried to use a hand tool, chucked it, went to the store and purchased a jig saw. Completely happy with how little time it took!
I figured out the bottom shelf was missing from the cut list/shopping list. I made a ton of mistakes, figured out how to fix them, and am pleased with my first project.
Fri, 01/23/2015 - 20:15
Thanks! I had so much fun, I am looking around the house and figuring out what I want to build next :)
I adapted the garden tool storage project to fit my small space. I used some reclaimed wood as well as 2 x 4s since lumber is so expensive right now. I placed the racks up high to open space close to the ground in our little 12' x 16' workshop.
I used the x-back bench plans to build this bench, but trimmed the length down to 4 feet to fit the space. It's constructed with cedar and is so beefy and sturdy. It has stood it's own against several storms already and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. Thanks Ana for all the free plans and tutorials!
I was 58 when I built these. Super easy. I also built these in my kitchen to store all my gadgets..
Thanks Ana. You have so many things I want to try.
April E
Those are the first projects that I try to make. Thank you Anna White .
Steps:
1) Cut the boards to the specs below or adjust to your space
2) Kreg Jig the cut boards along each of the sides (length wise and on the ends) for attaching and making a box.
3) Make 3 separate boxes, don't assemble until you move to location. I used 4x4 cedar posts in the corners of the base box to add stability. I used 2x2 pine in the front corners of boxes 2 and 3 for stability. Install these after the dirt has been added so you can hammer in as a stake, attach with screws on front and sides. I created 2 stakes for boxes 2 and 3 and added to the front to prevent bowing when the dirt is added.
Box Dimensions:
1) (base) 70.5" L x 46 W x 4 cedar boards high
2) 70.5" L x 32 W x 2 cedar boards high
3) 70.5" L x 16 W x 2 cedar boards high
Followed the new home depot plans, only change I made was using 2x4 instead of 2x2. Getting ready to build another one, but this time will also change the arms to be wider on the ends to accommodate wine holder on one arm and cup holder on other arm. :0)
Fri, 11/13/2015 - 20:36
Hi Ana,
Thanks for all your free sharing and advice. I'd like to return the favor (hopefully)...
Just wanted to say (as I am a painter) that it is best to avoid using any sort of "clear" varnish (such as poly, or spar, etc...) on anything that sits outdoor (such as furniture, doors, decks), because UV rays from the sun will break-down the varnish and cause them to fail.
Instead, it is best to use a stain that is suited for decks, like Cabots Semi-Transparent, or semi-solid, etc,,
best regards,
Aaron
Fri, 11/13/2015 - 20:36
Hi Ana,
Thanks for all your free sharing and advice. I'd like to return the favor (hopefully)...
Just wanted to say (as I am a painter) that it is best to avoid using any sort of "clear" varnish (such as poly, or spar, etc...) on anything that sits outdoor (such as furniture, doors, decks), because UV rays from the sun will break-down the varnish and cause them to fail.
Instead, it is best to use a stain that is suited for decks, like Cabots Semi-Transparent, or semi-solid, etc,,
best regards,
Aaron
This summer my husband built three of your pieces. We are so in love with how they turned out. Thank you so much for your easy to follow blueprints!
The moment I saw this I knew it would be a perfect teachers gift for my daughters teacher. She loved it.
This was only my second project, the first being the 10 dollar ledges. I'm glad I tried a smaller project before tackling the farmhouse bed. I think it helped with just knowing how to assemble a project a bit better.
I used my Kreg Jig and it worked marvelous! Also I ended up not having a jigsaw so I just cut the top at a 35 degree angle with the miter saw and rounded the edges a bit with the sander. I was going to add handles but the top goes up enough that it's easy to manuever without. I also wanted her to be able to fit it in anywhere and was worried that the handles sticking out would just get in the way.
Overall I think it turned out great. Her teacher loves it. Thank you Anna for such wonderful plans!!
Krista