Community Brag Posts

Blaire’s Desk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/11/2020 - 08:49

My granddaughter absolutely loves purple! She is almost 3 years old and she uses it for snacks putting together little puzzles and coloring. Very fun and easy project. I added a frame around the edges so it’s nice and smooth and her colors won’t roll off the desk.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Latex paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

My first plan-free project...

Submitted by Joni on Mon, 12/31/2012 - 10:11

This was my first project without a set of plans, and all I had was a pitiful hand-drawn diagram and a lot of good ideas from prior Ana-White projects/plans (Google sketchup seems beyond my intellectual capacity!). I started with a spare piece of cherry that I wanted to use somewhere, so it became the basis for the top of this office shelf unit. I had to go with the dimensions of the cherry, so everything was built around that.

I used maple plywood for the base and sides of the cabinet, and pine furring strips for the frame/edging. Then, once I had the entire unit put together, I decided that I would like to stain just the frame. I had to take the whole project apart (all 51 pieces), stain the frame/edges, varnish the interior portions of the maple, and re-assemble without ruining the finish.

I try to never use glue because it's the one action that can't be reversed. I made a critical error on this (in a rush) when I installed the lower shelf in the wrong place and glued in a panel that hid all the screws. I thought the thing was totally ruined. My husband suggested adding a 2nd divider and calling it a "design feature". It saved the whole project.

Once re-assembled, I didn't want my Kreg holes to show, and I haven't had much luck with the Kreg plugs. So, I added a mitered frame around the insides and stained it cherry to match the edges.

Minwax didn't have a water-based cherry that I liked, so I mixed my own out of various water-based stains. That process took over a week to get just the right tone. This was the first time I've used Minwax Polycrylic, and I will be using this product forever...it is fantastic.

Estimated Cost
60
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Pre-stain conditioner, Cherry water based stain (made from 6 parts Antique Walnut, 2 parts Cinnamon Toast and 1/2 part Colonial Pine), followed by 4-5 coats Minwax polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Cyndi2015

Sat, 03/21/2015 - 17:03

Wow! This is an amazing piece and I would love to build this. Could you give me more detail on how you assembled it???

Full Farmhouse Variation

Submitted by seamusz on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 20:01

I just took the idea of the farmhouse, and crossed it with a bed in a photo my wife found on Pottery Barn Teen.

The back is one peice of plywood, and I just used the planks for accent. The top of the headboard is a 4X4, with a routed bottom edge. I made the crown pieces on the posts out of a couple of routed squares of MDF stacked.

The footboard is quite similiar to the Farmhouse footboard just with the plywood and accent planks instead of just planks.

It was super easy and cost less than $150.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Latex Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Garden playhouse

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/25/2017 - 02:58

Our little girls playhouse....

L2.2m x W1.2m x H to apex 1.8m,

Made from overworked pallets and a rough sketch!

All planks were 2.2m in length which determined the house length and were 40mm thick.

Made in panels to ease assembly and if we decide to move it as it weighs an awful lot!!!

Estimated Cost
total cost: all timber was free pallets,1 roll of roofing felt about 35 euros, about 400 screws at 10 euros, paint 30 euros and hinges etc 10 euros.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
painted
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Grandy barn door console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/16/2020 - 07:43

I followed the plans for the Grandy barn door console. Made modifications to meet the customers height requests. There is a removable portion of the bar top that covers the mixing station when not in use. The exterior is wrapped in pallet wood that was treated with a homemade stain(vinegar, steel wool, coffee grounds).

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200 in materials
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Homemade stain used on pallet wood. Dissolve a piece of steel wool in a gallon of vinegar. Add used coffee grounds to darken the color. When steel wool is gone, strain and use. The vinegar oxidizes the wood and creates an aged look. Structure and top stained epresso.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rocket Town Loft Bed

Used the plans for the Fire Station Loft Bed up until the final finish, then slightly customized. Used scrap pieces and jig saw to create some fun rockets. Plans were wonderful and easy to follow. Kreg Jig was so cool to use. Recommend using screws, even if countersunk, so that the bed can be taken apart as needed. Also recommend that you measure the path you must take from your work area to the final destination before gluing and nailing (thus the screw comment) so you don't have to take it apart and build a second time!

Thanks to my dad for partnering with me on this one. Did it 100% as a team. Couldn't have done it without your help!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr Self-priming Interior Semi Gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Simple White Outdoor Sofas

Submitted by mpkid123 on Sun, 10/19/2014 - 17:11

I followed the basic design plans with just two modifications.  I did not screw the sofa back to the bottom frame - instead I propped into place with bungee cords so I can fold it down for easy Winter time storage!  I also added arm rests to each chair.  I used a Kreg jib to screw it all together.  

Estimated Cost
The cushions were twice more than the wood and screws and paint combined.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr outdoor deck opaque stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kids rolling cart for tea or toys

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 19:22

We followed the tea cart plan (mostly). Since the scalloped edge looked hard to us, we bought molding for trim instead. We had a mitre saw so used that to cut the molding at 45 degree angles. The kids have been putting all sorts of toys on it and right now it's their legos.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Most of our cost was tools since this was our first project. Thankfully our local pawn shop had great deals on tools.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
1.5 cans Rustoleum Seaside spray paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Laundry room Storage

Wife needed actual storage and work space in the laundry room. I’m proud of this one because I planned and measured it myself. Really happy with the results and so is my wife!

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Ebony

Comments

FARMHOUSE DOLL BED

Submitted by DMax2010 on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 08:30

I made this doll bed for my niece for Christmas. I made it a bit smaller than the original plans, and I was really happy with how it turned out! I sewed the pillows and bedding from quilting pieces. It's the perfect size for a baby doll. My sister loved it, my niece is only 10 months old, but she will grow into it soon. Had a lot of fun making it!

Estimated Cost
15$
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Valspar paint, an off white sample color I had already. I used Minwax matte poly for the finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Large Porch Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/31/2017 - 23:45

We built 2 XLarge Porch Benches,they where easy to build & look fabulous! Best part was it was a fraction of the cost if I were to buy these new!!! Thank you Ana!!! 

-Sandra 

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farm House Console

Submitted by DC_Idaho on Fri, 10/23/2020 - 07:21

I really liked the idea of making a TV console for our house. I used your plans as a guide and then added a few features to it. I made all of my rail system hardware vs. ordering a kit. I also added some Walnut accent inlays on the ends of the table top.

Estimated Cost
Materials alone roughly $550.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Lacquer for the table top
Black under coat of paint
White top coat paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Mudroom Storage

Submitted by TamarasJoy on Thu, 02/02/2017 - 19:13

Full Tutorial of my DIY Mitten Storage HERE!

This was the first pic I took of my mitten storage slowly coming together.

EEEEEKK! I can’t wait to have my mudroom organized!!!

Estimated Cost
$20

All you need is three boards of pine & some stain.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I made a homemade stain from steal wool & vinegar. Didn't like it so then I used a Bri Wax that had some stain in it.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Caribbean Farmhouse X Desk

A little taste of the Caribbean in Ohio . Inspire on the concept of Farmhouses and been a Caribbean working from home I decided to have both culture mixed together. Is like home away from home for me. I'm a Buckeye fan and not a Michigan, the colors was a coincidence .

Our Mantel Moulding Headboard with a Unique Twist

Submitted by jwwilson24 on Sun, 01/06/2013 - 12:15

The charming Mantel Moulding Headboard with a unique accent feature where the "fire" would normally be. We created a tufted cushion for this open space to create a unique twist.

My wife and I completed this project over 4 days, but still under 20 hours not including wait time for wood filler and paint to dry.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$165
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
After sanding down the wood with a medium grit sandpaper, we brushed on an initial coat of primer. After the primer dried we applied between 2-3 coats of Valspar Radience Paint and Primer (spray paint) Gloss Azure Snow. This awesome color gives you the classic white with hints of grey and blue.

If you go the paint and primer combo you do not necessarily need to brush on the primer first. For a more smooth and glossy look of the wood accents more counts may be needed but please wait until the first coats are mostly dry.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Board game cabinet / charging station

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/06/2017 - 11:44

After Xmas I decided we needed a better place to keep our growing collection of board games. I made mine a bit deeper to fit our longer board games. Also, put a 3rd door on it. We also needed a central place to charge our phones and tablets. Paired with the top of the bedside charging table this cabinet is the perfect solution. Thank you!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Valspar Satin Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modern 2x2 desk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/01/2020 - 14:10

Love the simple modern look of this desk. The plans were so easy and this was a quick build. Modified the measurements as well as the top. I used a project panel for the desk top.

Estimated Cost
$55
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Tricorn Black paint for the base. Top stain is mix of Minwax Driftwood and Early American.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Truss End Table

Submitted by Liz325 on Mon, 01/07/2013 - 22:16

Reclaimed wood Truss end table. Modified legs and top with what I could find. Picture doesn't show the angles well but I think this is one of my favorite projects. My first time using angles but it was a great project to learn on. So simple but looks great. It's a little big for an end table so I usually use it as an entryway table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$5
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Miniwax Jacobean and 2 coats poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Full Size Farmhouse Canopy Bed With Storage

Submitted by Chantal V. on Sun, 11/02/2014 - 00:04

Believe it or not, this is my very first furniture project.  Inspired by my 8 yrs old son special needs to be able to draw his curtains close whenever he felt the need, I happily took on the challenge to build this for his pirate themed bedroom.  I have not filled the holes yet nor have I stained it in the walnut finish we have chosen.  The weather is just too cold for my taste (will wait until spring).  Currently, I will work on hemming the curtains.  I am just so proud that I could not wait until next year to share it with you all. I carefully changed the dimensions to a full size bed, changed the storage shelves sizes to accommodate 8 cube bins and 2 book shelves, added the canopy and some multi-coloured adjustable LED lights. Feeling so proud and have one really thrilled little boy!  Thanks Ana!!!

 

Estimated Cost
Roughly $500 but have lots of extra wood for a side table perhaps.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
None as of yet.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

JoanneS

Mon, 11/03/2014 - 14:21

Great build!  Love the added curtains.  Congratulations on an awesome first furniture build!

Chantal V.

Mon, 11/03/2014 - 20:00

Thank you very much!  I had so much fun building it.  Besides, there is nothing more gratifying than getting a great big hug from my son with a heartfelt thank you.  Priceless!

Now my other two children have me planning their beds. :)  Mixing things up a bit using two totally different type of plans.  Can't wait to see the results.

Rustic corner desk

Submitted by pmgb614 on Thu, 11/05/2020 - 06:18

I bought the plan for this desk. Took me a day to put together and I think it came out decently. This is my second project from Anna's website. Very fun. The first went pretty well too...with some hiccups. Gaining more confidence every time I do something myself!

Estimated Cost
$170
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Varathane aging accelerator
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments