Community Brag Posts

My homemade mother's day gift for my mother in law. She likes to sit in her living room looking out the big picture window at the birds eating at her birdfeeders. It's also a favorite passtime of my son who spends time there occasionally. What better gift than this! I wanted to do something a little less simple than the single "house" so I made the main one smaller, and then added two more houses to make bird townhouses.

My husband and I were on the search for a dining room table.  We loved the look of Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware but did not want to spend the money for it.  Then we came across the plans for this table.  We had already used Ana's plans for a Restoration Hardware coffee table that we loved, so figured we'd give this table a shot.  These pictures don't do this table enough justice.  My husband and I LOVE the plans and everything about this table!  It has so much detail and character as you would see from expensive stores. To top it off, we got it complete just in time for having our family over on Easter.  Thank you Ana for sharing this gorgeous plans! 

- Amber and Dave

The plans were very easy and the chair came together nicely and quickly.  I used all 2x4's instead of 2x4's + 2x6's and alternated 1x2's for dimension. My husband is a pretty big and tall guy and he really liked how the chair felt sitting in it. Very roomy for even him. I could've gotten this done in about an hour, except where I live it was about 110 degree dry heat so I had to take a lot of water breaks. But overall, I love the chair!!!

I just wanted you to see what a great Mother's Day gift your planter made. It was a great project for a 4 year old grandson!!!

Thanks, Ana

We built the one arm sectional but 8 ft cedar was all we could buy. So with the scraps left over we built the coffee table to match. Couldn't be happier with it. 

This entire project was built with 3/4 MDF plywood. The lid is 3/4 MDF with sides routed for rounded edge for professional appearance. Inside the box are two friction hinges ( one on right and one one left) to support the lid.

On the bottom of toybox are four casters with mounting plates that attach to bottom. Two of the wheels have locks while 2 are 360 degree motion.

The paint is Signature Series and primer used is Kills high hiding low odor.

The letters on the front are 4 inch letters purchased from BIGLOTS. Holes were countersunk into the letters, screwed to front of toybox, and filled with wood filler.

I couldn't be happier with how this project turned out.

Just finished this table and am very pleased with how it came out. My original intention was for it to match the gray finish of the one posted with the plans, which it originally did. However, after applying several coats of polyurethane, it changed the color to bring out much more of the brown and now having very little gray. I was also originally planning on adding the hardware on the corners and legs, but decided that because of the way the finish turned out, it would detract more from the appearance than it would add. Just a tip for anyone who is going to try and use the same finishing treatment as the one in the original plan with the vinegar and steel wool. I made the mixture and let it sit in a mason jar, waiting for some visual change to occur to the solution so as to match the picture on the website. After letting it sit for about a week and a half, and not seeing any change and only having what appeared to be clear vinegar still in the jar, I decided to try it out on some scrap wood. It worked just fine. So I guess my point is that you shouldnt be surprised if the solution doesnt appear any different, just open the jar up and try it out.  

Fun project that the kids were able to help with.

I started with the Fancy Hall tree plan, but decided to add cubbies to the top. This is the first "real" thing I have ever made. I could only work on it every other week, so it took longer than expected. Thanks for the plans!!

My wife and went through a phase, in which we saved as much money as we could to buy quality furniture. "No more cheap stuff from the department store!" we said. Well several thousand dollars later, we had a gorgeous espresso colored bed, a beautiful rustic dresser, and empty pockets. About a year ago I decided to take up woodworking, and since then we have discovered what you can build on your won, from the plans at ana-white.com look just as good (if not better) than the thousand dollar pieces we own!

When I saw this plan, I knew that we would soon have the bedside tables my bride had been wanting for more than 6 years. With a few modifications, I was able to build the set for about $40.

I modified the plan as needed, buying the cheap $1.50 2x2s and 1x2s from Lowe's, which I planed at home, and a single 12ft pine 1"x12" at the lumber yard for just $14. I also used 2x6's (planed down to 1" for the drawer) rather than 1x6's (8')  which I bought from Home Depot for about $5. I used my Kreg Jig for all the pocket holes, and took. my. time. About 8 hours of building, I stained the top with Minwax Espresso Satin Stain, laying on 1 thin, quick-drying coat, followed by a second thick coat (let dry 6 hours) after which I hand-sanded with 220 grit paper, then applied a final thin coat, which dried in about an hour. The frame was painted an off white we chose to match our baseboards. 

Super happy with this build. I think it's the nicest project I have had so far. Thanks so much for the plan!

I'm not a plan follower and just wing it. Saw a Pottery Barn Table I fell in love with and started building with 2x4s for the frame, 2x2s for the Xs and 2x6s for the shelves and tops. Finished with steel wool soaked in white vinegar.

We finally got our grass green and back yard clean, after all that work the lop sided blue little tykes picnic table stood out like a sore thumb. This was the perfect table to fit our back yard make over.

When Ana says read all comments she means it. Cherie posted "if you plan carefully you really only need 5-2x4's instead of 6. Cut 2-2x4's in half for the seats. Cut 2 legs and one seat support from the third 2x4. Repeat for the fourth 2x4 and finally cut the bottom suppport and the 2 table supports from the 5th 2x4. Just plan carefully." I still bought 6 2x4's but only used 5.
I did pocket holes on almost all the joints. I put the table on risers and was even able to use a pocket hole to add the seat boards. I did have a bit of a problem with the table top supports, I am not sure what others did but I cut mine at 45 degrees and they still wasn't enough to get the measurements the plans had. I just left it and marked where it would have been. I had some scraps from a fence pickets I ripped for my $10 raided garden bed left,over that I used as a spacer for my table top and seat boards, made it so easy and they are perfectly spaced. They are just over 1/2 an inch but It worked great.

http://ana-white.com/2010/04/plans-bigger-kids-picnic-table.html