Community Brag Posts

Farmhouse coffee table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/29/2022 - 17:19

All pocket hole joinery
Base is painted shade of white
Top is dark walnut

Comments

Spa Bench

Submitted by canesa on Fri, 07/15/2011 - 00:36

This is the bench that got me started! My very first Ana White project and I love it! Oh, and I'm also addicted! I've come a long way since this build and most importantly, so have my tools!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I painted it with Sea Spray by Glidden and then I distressed it with Ralph Lauren Smoke glaze.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by Vetsch on Mon, 08/19/2013 - 09:18

This was my first project built from this site and I absolutely LOVE this table! Thanks Ana White!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White paint, walnut stain, and polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

bullitt453

Mon, 08/19/2013 - 17:10

Nice work. I've been meaning to take pics of the one I did, which I paired with the exact same Tobias chairs. Love the look of modern and rustic together.

Big Red Buffet

I was on a mission to find just the right buffet to house Grandma's china and infrequently used serving dishes.  Countless searches in second hand stores, hours scouring Offer-up and Craigslist, and even some regretable purchases all led to the building of this magnificent buffet. I found a build plan for the planked wood sidboard, printed it and started in. I had always planned on painting it and wanted a rustic look so decided on budget friendly lumber. The frame and top of the unit is made from fir and the drawers and doors from pine. The door insets and the back of the unit is pine beadboard. The top and interior of the buffet is finished in GF Antique Walnut Gel Stain. I used a wipe-on polyurathane on the interior of the buffet and the inside of the drawers.  I choose an amazing shade of red for the exterior of the buffet:  GF Milk Paint in Holiday Red. It was my first experience with milk paint and it was a pleasure. It went on so smooth and brush-stroke free. After two coats of Holiday Red milk paint I applied a single coat of GF High Performance Top Coat in satin finish. This really enhanced the color of the Holiday Red and served as a base for a glaze application.  I mixed the GF Antique Walnut Gel Stain with ten percent mineral spirits and glazed the entire buffet. I got into all the nooks, crannies and knots and left a thin coating on the face of the unit. I loved the buffet before the glaze, but now I was head over heals. The buffet was finally finished off with two coats of High Performance Top coat. Mission accomplished!

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
I used all General Finishes products. Holiday Red Milk Paint - 2 coats, High Performance top coat - 1 coat, Antique Walnut gel stain mixed with ten percent mineral spirits for glaze, and finally two more coarts of high performance top coat, the top is Antique Walnut gel stain with 3 coats of high perforamance top coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

My version of "Outhouse Plan for Cabin"

Submitted by johnseigle on Mon, 06/06/2022 - 15:00

Hi Ana and Family,

I mostly followed your plans for my remote Alaska property outhouse build, with slight modifications. Our property is 7 miles from any road (and 2.5 hr drive from Anchorage) and I typically go there in the winter via snowmobile (December-April). I built this on my back deck in Anchorage and then took it apart and transported it in sections (back wall, 2x sidewalls, floor parts, door, roof parts, seat parts). It took me 5 trips to get it all up to my property from the truck at the trailhead via snowmobile!

The hardest part was digging the hole under 5 ft of snow! I cut several dead spruce trees in the area I planned to situate the outhouse and started a big fire (really big). We kept that going until we had melted out about a 15ft wide area down to bare soil. The next morning, while the ground was still warm from the previous evening's fire, we dug the hole (only about 3.5x3.5ft). Then I cribbed in the hole with old cedar fence slats to help prevent the inevitable ground cave-in that we often see with soil melt and rains in Alaska. Then, I pieced the outhouse together, with the frame sitting on small pavers.

I used a combo of T&G pine and cedar for the walls. I used metal for the roof. As I built this in January and February over several weekends (in Alaska), it was very cold and I would take the pieces inside and paint/stain them. As such, this basically took me all winter from start to finish. It doesn't take that long if you build it on site in warm weather. Once transported to the cabin site, it took parts of 3 weekends to get it in place and useable, including site prep. I've still got a little touch-up work to do (e.g., window for light in winter and bird block to keep the spring and summer nesters out). I put some anti-slip tape on the frame so that I don't slip on the frame base.

There is some waste wood if you follow the plans directly (especially 2x6), but I am using that to build a small firewood cover at home. This was not an inexpensive outhouse even without pandemic prices (I could have chosen a less expensive siding), but I wanted a nice outhouse and I'm very pleased with the outcome, so it was money well spent. Great plans! Thanks.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Twin-size Storage Bed

Submitted by kristen on Sun, 07/17/2011 - 08:19

I love how this bed turned out! I wanted some of the extra detail that the Pottery Barn version had--like routered edges, which proved to complicate matters from Ana's plan. I also needed this in a twin, so I looked at Ana's Brookstone twin storage bed for some advice as I planned this build as well.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$325
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Two coats primer, one coat of Olympic no-VOC paint, and three coats of General Finished High Performance polyurethane in satin. Primer and paint applied with a foam roller and the topcoat applied with a foam brush. I sanded with 220 grit before initial coat of primer and with 320 grit between each coat of paint and sealer after.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Rustic X Coffee Table

Submitted by krochelle on Tue, 08/20/2013 - 08:06

This was made using plans for the Rustic X coffee table

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Red mahogany stain with a satin poly overcoat
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Counter Height Craft Desk

Submitted by Stockweb on Mon, 09/28/2015 - 07:39

This was pretty easy for my first build!  Don't look too closely though....  I raised thedesk to counter height to adjust for working while standing and add a bar stool.  The hardest part was adjusting the angle of the diagonal braces.  For the desktop I found a 2' X 6' piece of aspen at the blue big box store.  Sanded well, grey "whitewashed" it and sealed with paste wax. 

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
Base painted with satin interior in revere pewter. Made my own grey wash for the desktop and sealed with paste wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Farmhouse style queen headboard

Here's a queen headboard we just completed for our guest bedroom.  

It only took an afternoon to build this simple yet stunning headboard, and then a little more time to paint, distress, and wax it.  

More information is available on our site at FamousArtisan.com

Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Chalk paint and wax
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Coop Update

Submitted by vendo on Mon, 06/20/2022 - 15:37

I had to move our original coop to another property, so decided to do a little upgrade. We used Ana's Chicken Run plan for both of the large sections and just added a roof. We attached the run to a small red coop that we purchased. Ana's plans are great for modifying for any size, as you can see the main tall portion is from her run plan just built taller and we added a door to the front.

Built from Plan(s)
Seasonal And Holiday

Creative storage solution

Submitted by dreamer43 on Sun, 07/24/2011 - 01:44

After months of staring at extra water bottles and soda on our kitchen floor, I decided to create my first original plan and build a cabinet to house all of those bottles.

Estimated Cost
$20 (I used left over MDF from a previous project)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Guest (not verified)

Thu, 01/05/2012 - 13:19

Hi, I like this cabinet design, do you happen to have the plans for it?

Framed and Tufted Upholstered Headboard

Submitted by marrsgirl on Wed, 08/21/2013 - 17:16

I love the look of diamond tufting, so that's how I did the upholstered insert, which added hours to the project. The frame itself was built in about 3 hours, so this could easily be an afternoon project if you skipped the tufting.

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr "White Mocha" with wipe-on poly finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Grandy Console with Barn Doors

Built in about 2 days.  Hardest part was definitely the hardware.  Looks great!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Jelmelda3

Sun, 10/18/2015 - 10:49

This came out so awesome. Did you use the same dimensions given in the example? Also what size is your TV? I ask because I want to build this but I'm scared my TV would be too small but this actually looks really great! 

HankTheTank

Thu, 02/11/2016 - 08:32

I used the same dimensions as the plan.  That TV is a 42".  We have since upgraded to a 60" and it now looks more proportionally correct.

HankTheTank

Thu, 02/11/2016 - 08:32

The hardware was a pain in the butt.  The metal bar was easy to cut actually.  I just put one of my old blades back on my mitre saw and it worked great.  Extracting the wheels from their casing was the most challenging.  I ended up putting the entire thing in a vise and drilling through it.  It is totally worth it though.  Everyone who comes over is obsessed with it.  Also, I did not attach the boards on top.  It's much easier to move if you take those boards and the doors off and carry it.  Good luck guys!

HankTheTank

Thu, 02/11/2016 - 08:29

I used the same dimensions as the plan.  That TV is a 42".  We have since upgraded to a 60" and it now looks more proportionally correct.  The hardware was a pain in the butt.  The metal bar was easy to cut actually.  I just put one of my old blades back on my mitre saw and it worked great.  Extracting the wheels from their casing was the most challenging.  I ended up putting the entire thing in a vise and drilling through it.  It is totally worth it though.  Everyone who comes over is obsessed with it.  Also, I did not attach the boards on top.  It's much easier to move if you take those boards and the doors off and carry it.  Good luck everyone!  

Ashlin

Sat, 03/26/2016 - 08:41

Hey, love how this turned out! Was wondering where you purchased the barn door hardware? Been stuck with trying to find some that won't break the bank!

Rgoodwin1206

Tue, 01/03/2017 - 00:02

Can you please help me as to exactly what hardware to get

 My husband and I can only find the hardware for the big barn doors. We are so lost and no one can help us!

 

DIY farm house table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/15/2018 - 21:41

Followed the farmhouse the design but with my ite dimensions and 4x4 legs. Also painted base and blue/gray to pop through when sanding eyese.

Estimated Cost
175
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Fancy Farm House Bed

Submitted by jlouki01 on Sat, 08/24/2013 - 18:27

My son has been wanting a bed for a while now, We threw out his falsa-wood bed and I decided I liked this plan. I think I got the entire bed built in a few hours. There were a few details that would snag a rookie wood worker but just be creative in finding solutions. This bed is designed to be rustic.

I uploaded a very cheap assembly system that I used. I think total cost was less than 5.00 for two bolts and a couple washers.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
150
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust Oleum Black with burnished edges. Treated edges with Walnut stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

farmhouse table

Submitted by AmeriKeren on Sun, 07/31/2011 - 13:12

We used Ana's plans to build this Farmhouse Table for our summer cottage in Maine. We distressed it with all sorts of tools, blackening it with a blowtorch, having my daughter tap dance on it, creating wormholes with my Dremel tool and hand painted the name of our cottage on the ends. It turned out great, and we are enjoying many great meals of Lobster looking out on to the harbor!

Estimated Cost
Less than $200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Mini wax Jacoban stain; with satin Mini was poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

pairett

Sun, 07/31/2011 - 20:29

Great job! Whenever we get to build this table, I would like to paint our last name at each end. Thank you for the idea!

Beach dresser

Submitted by dmather82 on Mon, 08/26/2013 - 14:43

This was my second project. Just finished today. I've never done anything like this before so the drawer slides specifically were difficult. I ended up picking up a kreg drawer jig and it was a piece of cake! I initially wanted a minwax water based blue stain but the small amounts of wood filler residue on the drawer faces would not accept the stain and in a period of frustration I broke out some leftover blue paint. Luckily I think it looks better!

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Semi gloss blue paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modified Wide Cabin Dresser

Submitted by bcarter_1 on Tue, 10/30/2018 - 04:32

We modified these plans to make this, liked the sides.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Em's Picnic Table

Submitted by dbck on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 10:06

This was my first project - and it came out GREAT!!! Since our table saw lost its guard, I was too scared to use it. So I cut most of the wood by hand with our saw and miter box. It took FOREVER! But all that sweat was worth it. I love that I hand made something for my daughter. Thanks Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
A few cans of spray paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments