Community Brag Posts

Rolling Storage Crate

I am re-doing my walk in pantry, and this was the first step. I desperately needed a place for the hundreds of water bottles we keep. I put all those water bottles that were previously rolling all over the place and put them in this beautiful Industrial-style crate. I will admit before doing that my kids enjoyed going on a few laps around the house in it first!! Very pretty, very versatile.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Special Walnut stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Val Manchuk

Tue, 02/25/2014 - 22:27

I built this crate too! I love how roomy it is, and what a good way to store water bottles. You did a great job!

Val @ artsybuildinglady.blogspot.ca

Murphy bed with shelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/20/2016 - 21:14

This is the murphy bed I made using ana's plans and making the bed legs when it's down and a shelf when it's up!  This was to keep the bed off the floor.  Thanks again Ana

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

Comments

ypowell

Wed, 11/30/2016 - 19:04

Hi, I am hanging my bed off the floor too. Can you tell me what kind of hinge you used and a photo of how you attached them? Mine is not turning out right. Thank you

cayoder

Sun, 02/12/2017 - 06:05

Hi Ana!  I love the Murphy bed and feel like it is just what I need for my new home.  I have sold my family home of 30 years and am moving closer to the grandchildren.  Looking at buying a 1905 home that is less than 1/2 the size of my old home.  I am 63 and most of my friends are in the same age range.  If they come to visit, I need a bed that's a little higher off the floor.  I don't really want to hang the bed off the floor as shown in some of these, but instead like the look of a cabinet.  However, I was thinking of putting doors on it so we could pull the bed down with fold out legs of some sort.  Any suggestions?

Rustic X Inspired Entry/Sofa Table

Submitted by fallingday on Sun, 02/23/2020 - 20:22

Simple Rustic X inspired entry way table. I was able to build this project in a Sunday afternoon completely from 70% off lumber from a local big box store. All together it came in under $10 without my time or supplies. 
 

Dimensions are 44x12.5x33. 

(2) 2x4x96

(3) 1x4 furring strips 

(2) 2x2x96 

Brad Nails, Glue and a few screws. 
 

Estimated Cost
$10
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Hand Pump Fountain

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/17/2023 - 07:41

I had an old hand pump that I turned into a fountain.

Lynda Westbrook

Ladder shelf

Submitted by lazyLiz on Thu, 05/10/2012 - 13:43

Since I used hardwood (red oak) I have to modify the plan and eliminate the sides of the shelves. Modifications and measurement is on the additional photo. Thanks again Ana, you're the best!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30-$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
minwax red oak and poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Great Simple Bench

Submitted by chadw on Mon, 02/24/2014 - 13:20

I loved the look of this bench. I made this for some of our friends that have a large family staying with them. I think one is in the future for us as well! I followed the plan as a guide, but made a couple modifications to meet the needs. It turned out great and the plans were easy to follow. 1) I used 3 - 2x6 boards for the top instead of 4 - 2x4's 2) the bench length was increased to 72" long 3) I reversed the angled cross braces to give support in the middle of the bench due to its increased length. 4) the angle on the cross braces was change to allow the braces to intersect with the top closer to the middle of the bench.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60 with finishing materials
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
General Finishes "Lamp Black" Milk Paint was brushed on and General Finishes "Flat" High Performance Top Coat. Both paint and top coat are water based. The paint was brushed on and the top coat was sprayed on in layers using a spray gun.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Wood Planter

I created this wood planter using Ana's "Cedar Planter for under $20!" plans.  They were so easy to follow, this project took me about 2 hours (having no clue what I was doing) and it turned out beautifully!!! I will be making more after discovering how easy it was and inexpensive.  Thanks Ana for letting us in on your secrets!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Finished using a blend of Minwax Classic Grey and Jacobean
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Kendal Extra Wide Dresser with Dovetails

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/29/2020 - 12:47

My daughter recently threw out a lot of her things because she wanted to have a grown up room and not a kids room. So she asked if I could make her furniture and wanted a dresser as her first piece. So I couldn't say no!

This was my second project from this web site and my first dresser. Boy was it tough, but I loved every minute of it! Even though the plans were marked Advanced, I made it even more so by trying out dovetailing for all the drawers. By hand. With just a Japanese pull saw and chisels. That added about 10 hours onto the total build, but it was for my daughter, so it was worth it!

This is how it turned out.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Roughly $200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White Paint (3 coats) and Classic Black PolyShades wood stain and polyurethane by Minwax. Because the wood stain has polyurethane in it, it can get really messy really fast! If you get it on you, soap won't help for clean up. Try olive oil.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

School Bus Stop Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/20/2023 - 08:36

My daughter asked me to make a bench for her daughter’s school bus stop. After looking at many different plans I chose your plans for a 2x4 bench with modifications. I made it 7’ wide with an additional support piece in the center. I used pressure treated wood for the base and cedar for the seat and back. I finished it with a gloss “school bus yellow” and gloss black. It was very well received by the children and parents.

Ken Shallcross

 

Seasonal And Holiday

Rolling Rustic Wood Dresser

Submitted by AmJoy37 on Tue, 02/25/2014 - 20:50

We need bedroom furniture desperately! So, I decided, for my second build I would start in our bedroom! The dresser first, because I was going crazy without a place to put my clothes!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$220
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Homemade chalk paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Custom desk

Submitted by Aggiegirl on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 04:35

I started with the Cindy Wood Console Table and made some modifications. A friend wanted a desk that had colors added to the top. 

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Mixwax Early American stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Dress Up Storage

Submitted by AandTsMom on Wed, 05/16/2012 - 10:31

Built this for my daughter's 2nd birthday. Now her dresses, shoes, jewelry, etc. are organized and easily accessible! Of course she immediately threw out the clothes, called it a boat, and climbed inside. At least its being put to use!

Estimated Cost
$20 - had some materials on hand
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Flat pink paint and Polycrylic finish
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Not a great plan but I managed.

Submitted by Camaro05 on Tue, 05/31/2016 - 12:06

So not all of the measurements in this plan are correct, and it doesn't include any top for the table nor does it box in the back side of the tilt out. The instructions are also very scant. The table comes out very heavy and this design probably could have been done without the heavy 2x4's. I'm used to Ana's designs and this "lady goat" is not close to Ana's work. Definitely glad I have some experience otherwise this would have been a bust. Also with a little Googling, I found that 1/2" metal conduit clamps turned upside down work great for holding the kettle and keeping the heat off of the wood.

Estimated Cost
Without Grill $150-$200
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Exterior Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Ladder shelf wall unit with desk and file drawer

Submitted by hummbaby on Sun, 03/22/2020 - 20:38

Been in need of shelving and new desk space for the family for a while. Used this post (https://www.ana-white.com/community-projects/ladder-filing-cabinet) as inspiration and then used Autocad to lay it out to fit its space. Took way longer than planned after hurting my back shortly after starting(unrelated) and then just having a busy life with work, family, church, etc. Very proud of the outcome.

I wanted to do the under drawer cabinet slides, but the width and weight of the drawer put too much stress on the slides, so I created pieces to hold the hardware on the sides.

It is just under 12' wide from end to end and 7' tall.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Ebony stain and Varathane polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Providence Bench

Submitted by wibblee on Mon, 05/21/2012 - 06:23

Oh. Em. Gee. The best bench ever. Like, ever, ever. Sturdy as all get out and dude, it's CHEAP. Each bench cost $12.50, man! Of course, this is minus glue, screws, paint, etc.... The second one went up so fast, I could hardly believe it.... I love these benches so hard.

The only thing I wondered about was the 45 degree, angled supports in the middle. In the ones that Brook put together for the plan's photos, they're angled differently than in the actual plans. I put them together according to the plans because I think they look a bit more balanced that way. Thoughts?

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
15
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Zinsser primer, followed by two coats of Valspar exterior semi in Bistro white.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Mirror Conversion

Submitted by AndyH on Tue, 03/04/2014 - 17:56

Had some tired old mirrors but needed some new ones for the house. Used some left over 6 by 1s to try out my new router and make some new frames. Also wanted to try out the new Minwax Classic Grey stain on something. I like the look it has given it.

Estimated Cost
$10
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Classic Grey
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

King size Brandy scrap wood bed

Submitted by Kyjo5 on Fri, 06/03/2016 - 07:03

I built this bed for my wife for Mother's Day. I loved the idea of the drawers and I knew she would love the scrap wood look, and lucky for me it just so happened I had a lot of scrap wood. The build was pretty simple other than it was my first time doing drawer slides. I went with the ball bearing slides which were a little tricky to get just perfect, but with a little patience and finding a few tricks along the way I was able to complete this project in a couple days. I also added a simple headboard.  I made 1x6 legs connected by (2) 1x4s horizontally with pocket screws. Next I cut a piece of 3/8 plywood the dimension of the headboard wanted so I would have something to nail the 1x scrap pieces to. Finally I trimmed the edges out with 1x2s and stained to match the bed. These are great plans and I loved the fact that I didn't have to be perfect when it came to staining it, all my whoops-a-daisies just turned into character instead of flaws like they normally would!!

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Golden Oak,
Early American,
Espresso,

Finished with Minwax wipe on poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Bunny Hutch

My daughter got a bunny from her teacher (shaking fist in frustration) and I thought it would be a good opportunity to teach her some skills. I was inspired by the toy bunny hutch. When she finished she said, " I can make anything now" so mission accomplished!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
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