Community Brag Posts

2x4 outdoor sectionals, modified 2x4 coffee table

Submitted by damcow88 on Mon, 07/15/2019 - 06:09

I took the 2x4 outdoor sectional plans and built two complete sectionals, then I modified the 2x4 coffee table plans to accommodate a home made fire table. I built the burner and plumbed the system using an old stove top from an RV and some black iron pipe. To finish off the set, I used my tiger torch to burn the wood and sealed it all with spar varnish. I love it!

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Wood burning and spar varnish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Outdoor Sectional with Slanted Back

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/16/2023 - 11:28

Fun project! Started with rough western red cedar which I ran through a jointer and planer to get good lumber.

I made a few changes to the design. I used thinner seat boards and cut a leaning tilt in the backrests. I also added 2 boards on the back rests.

I used all pocket holes to hide the screws. Once they dry out I will seal the sectionals.

Got a full set of cushions on Amazon for $300. Total for this project was around $700. Not too bad!

Laptop Table Customization

Submitted by hapsap on Sun, 12/25/2011 - 06:08

Thanks for the laptop table idea. I added a shelf, used furniture sliders for the feet (on carpet), and did a plastic inlay on top to put pictures. I used primed white MDF and painted it black, then brown, and gave it a weathered look by sanding it. This was a Christmas present for my mom and she loves it.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Interior paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Leslie in RI (not verified)

Sun, 12/25/2011 - 09:57

I built this shelf for my two pugs to hang their stockings for Christmas. As you can tell, they've been a little naughty lately. Actually, Lesterann, my three month old, has been the naughty one. Calvin, my 13 year old, is a prince. :)

I love this shelf and can't wait to use it in the kitchen as a reminder board.

Merry Christmas Everyone, and thank you Ana for all you do.

Apothecary style coffee table

Submitted by bhammond on Tue, 11/12/2013 - 12:12

Apothecary-style coffee table. I love it. And my family room is clean!

Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Old white paint I had stashed away, stained with coffee. I simply painted coffee over the white parts of my project, waited 20 minutes, then wiped it off.

Minwax english chestnut wood finish on table top. I also used a q-tip to apply this finish to sanded edges of false-drawers and corners.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

DIY Laptop Desk with Storage

How to build a simple laptop desk to use when working from the couch. This was a quick build from a woodworking plan found on the Ana White website. We added a small storage area for my blogging binder. 

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Distressing with pink paint and wood stain, poly on top.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Bird Houses

I love this pattern of Ana's! My husband and I made these together. We have 3 very tall pine trees close together, planted by my Mum 50 years ago; one for each child. Now a cedar bird house for each tree. An extra for our cottage in Garden of Eden, Nova Scotia.

Thank you for sharing this pattern Ana.

Darlene & Garry

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Patio Couch

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/22/2023 - 14:35

I have been asking my husband to help me build a patio couch with Ana’s plan. He just didn’t have the time. So yesterday I took about three hours, including the time to get the cedar, and built one with my sister. We had a great time and the plans were so easy. Bonus score… I found the great couch cushions on FB Marketplace super cheap. I love it!! It is perfect for our deck! Thank you Ana!!!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Dress up carts

My sister and sister-in-law asked for dress up carts for their girls for Christmas, I did 2 different kinds and they turned out great and the girls love them.

Could not get the link to work, so here it is: http://ana-white.com/2010/11/craftiness-not-optional’s-dress-storage

Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Rustic Tall Secretary

I needed some good storage for my laundry/mud room, and loved Ana's tall secretary plan. I was on a pretty tight budget, so I decided to modify things a bit so I could use some old 2x12 boards from my Dad's barn. I subbed out the 1x12's and 1x2 trim by simply using the thicker boards. I decided to leave off doors on the bottom for now, and added a curtain with a suspension rod to hide our cat's litterbox. I also added a shelf for extra storage. Now she loves hiding in there and jumping out at me when I do the laundry! I made the flip down door with some old fence pickets and simply planked them together with a cleat on the back. I didn't have any euro or hidden hinges, so I used small basic hinges and attached them to the 3/4" inside edge of the door and the base of the cabinet so the door can flip down fully for easy access to my laundry soap. I really like the rustic look of the secretary, and it's perfect for sorting all the mail and keeping it off my counters!

Estimated Cost
free
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
None, I may clean it up and wax it to prevent any soap stains
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

girly girls

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/02/2016 - 19:38

My neighbor danny made these beds

Estimated Cost
700
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Farmhouse Toddler Bed

Submitted by aehutton33 on Wed, 07/24/2019 - 09:07

I made the headboard a little different by using tongue and groove car siding leftover from our kind bed. I also added 1x2s on the top of the head/footboard. I decided to do 2 side rails with a 12" space in the middle since our little guy still moves around a lot in his bed.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax weathered oak
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Coffee Bar Sideboard

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/28/2023 - 05:48

I made this coffee bar from your plans making modifications to fit our space .It came out beautiful, I have made numerous pieces of furniture from your plans but this is my favorite . They plans are super easy to follow and modify to my needs .
Thank you Ana and keep up the good work!!

Comments

Kitchen Set

Submitted by lunabin on Sat, 12/31/2011 - 07:08

My husband made these over the course of the last year. We started with just the sink, and are still looking for a good faucet. For Christmas this year he added the oven and microwave stand using the sink design just scaled a little narrower. I made the curtains and the are attached with wooden dowels screwed into the sides. The sink basin is a dog bowl from Big Lots, and the clock was made from a set at Michaels. We bought a lot of the kitchenware from a flea market in town along with The Dollar Tree. My daughter is turning 3 this month, and loves to cook along with Mommy!

Estimated Cost
$150 for all 3 pieces
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Superhero Loft Bed

This was my first Ana White project and we had a blast putting it together. The plans were clearly explained and the end result is a sturdy loft bed for my son.

There were only a few modifications to this build from the suggested plans. First, I traded out the 2X6's for the bed supports and replaced them with 2X8's. I also replaced the cleats with 2X3's and used the same for the bed slats. Between the slats and the mattress is 1/2" OSB. We also did not use the steps as it took too much floor space for our needs. We added some 2X4's for a ladder step up to the landing.

The theme is Superhero so I designed a custom hero logo in Adobe Illustrator, printed it out and carved it into 3/4" birch plywood with a rotary tool and router.

We're pretty much done with the bed. We now just have to arrange the room and add some lights underneath and maybe some extra storage under the landing.

My boy loves his new bed and I loved building it with him and my dad. It was a blast and will be one of the most memorable weekends of our lives! There's nothing like building with family.

Estimated Cost
$200 (including new mattress)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
The finish is two coats of Clark-Kensignton paint + primer availabled at Ace Hardware. The red accents are from the "oops" pile of paints I rummaged through while they mixed my gray paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

First DIY Project

Submitted by Barnes9916 on Thu, 02/04/2016 - 16:16

This is my first DIY project and I learned alot. It was fairly easy to put together following the ste-by-step plans. I did however have to cut the legs of the table down by three inches due to mis-measuring, but besides that minor hiccup this project was great. This was also the first time ever applying, or even working with, wood stain. Some of the areas did not come out as dark as I wanted, but the overall look of the stain, and the finished product we're pleased with.

 

For my next project I'm going to really try my hand, step everything up a notch, and attempt the Faux Fireplace Mantle with Hidden Storage Cabinets ( http://www.ana-white.com/2014/11/free_plans/faux-fireplace-mantle-hidden-storage-cabinets ). Wish me luck!

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut, Semi-Gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Captains bed with Drawers

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 08/07/2019 - 09:01

Since you’ve been posting a lot of beds, I wanted to share my recent project. A captains bed with 6 full extension drawers beneath. I joke that it took a month to build and 8 months for my wife to chose a color...which is homemade mix of antique white and dark walnut stains.

Comments

Ana White

Wed, 08/07/2019 - 10:46

Wow this is awesome! Exceptional craftsmanship.  The full extension drawer slides are a huge bonus.  The stain color looks great, worth the wait!

2x4 outdoor cedar couch with ottoman

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/04/2023 - 11:51

I used pocket holes to hide the screws. I made an ottoman out of the outdoor coffee table plans to my dimensions that can be used as a coffee table when we need it.

Comments

Playhouse Loft Bed with Stairs

Submitted by Karajoy on Tue, 01/03/2012 - 18:12

When I showed my husband the plans for this playhouse loft bed on Ana's site, he decided that we needed to build it for our daughter for Christmas. We combined the two plans for the Playhouse & the stairs and modified it slightly to fit our space. We had left-over carpet which we used on the stairs. She absolutely LOVES it!! And secretly, I think her 3 older brothers do, too. Thanks SO much, Ana!!

Estimated Cost
350
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint is BHG Pink Carnation.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Phillip (not verified)

Wed, 01/04/2012 - 14:17

How can I get a copy of the plans?

Anonymous Coward (not verified)

Thu, 01/05/2012 - 07:16

Philip and Guest -
The plans are free, and click on the links in the post

From Plan: (plans are linked here)

Shameka (not verified)

Tue, 11/13/2012 - 18:29

Hey,
How do I get a copy of the plans for this bed? I would love to do this for my daughter for a birthday gift. I have gone to the section where it says plans but there is no link to click on. Thanks in advance.

Guest (not verified)

Tue, 01/17/2012 - 09:20

I would like to know how to get a copy of the plans for this bed. This is exactly what I want to do in my little girls room but I have not beed able to find plans. Thanks!

In reply to by Guest (not verified)

Karajoy

Fri, 01/27/2012 - 21:44

If you look in the section above, you'll see "From Plan:" There are two links (they're black and don't look like links. You'll need to hover over them). One for the basic bed and one for the stairs.

kelly.abbott (not verified)

Tue, 01/17/2012 - 18:38

I do not see the plans for the playhouse loft bed. Where is it located? Can you email it to me or post the link?

Guest (not verified)

Sun, 01/22/2012 - 11:57

Hi, I was wondering what age group this is best suited for? I can't tell from the size of the pictures, and my daughter is only 2.

In reply to by Guest (not verified)

Karajoy

Fri, 01/27/2012 - 21:38

I would say your 2 year old daughter is a little young for a bed this high. I think general guidelines would suggest waiting until age 6 for lofted and bunked beds, but I think that's being very cautious. Our daughter is just about to turn 4 and she does fine in it.

Cindy from Indiana (not verified)

Wed, 01/25/2012 - 11:29

You did a great job! That looks fantastic!

I'm going to be making this bed within the next month or two for my daughter. She's 4 (will be 5 in April). I know the overall design isn't *that* high off the floor, but my daugter has a tendency to roll out of bed...often. LOL

Do you find the guardrail/slats are high enough to prevent roll offs, or should I add some height to them when I build?

Yours turned out awesome! I can see why your daughter (and sons) love the bed!

Cindy

In reply to by Cindy from Indiana (not verified)

Karajoy

Fri, 01/27/2012 - 21:34

Hi Cindy.
Thanks for your kind words.
We had the same concerns about our daughter rolling or falling out. She is almost 4, but still had rails on her previous bed. We put the slats that the mattress sits on in the very lowest possible position and actually traded twin mattresses with her brother who had a thinner mattress. Her's had a pillow-top and even the extra 2 inches made quite a difference.
There are nearly 9 inches between the top of her mattress and the top of the rails which is plenty to prevent accidental roll-outs, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to add extra if it would make you more comfortable.
Now if we could just keep her from standing up there, I'd feel a whole lot better. lol
Good luck with yours.
Kara

Cindy from Indiana (not verified)

Sat, 01/28/2012 - 07:27

Hey Kara,

Thank you so much for replying! That does make me feel more comfortable that there will be around 9" between the mattress top and the rail top. Not sure yet if I'll add a bit more or not, but it's good to hear how it worked out for you guys. Now I'll be hoping to keep my little dare devil from trying to 'fly' off the top of it and we'll be good to go. LOL

Thanks, again! That was really helpful.

Cindy

Guest (not verified)

Thu, 01/26/2012 - 12:59

Hi! LOVE THIS!!! Am planing on making for my daughter. Any chance there are plans for this in a Full Size bed?

In reply to by Guest (not verified)

Karajoy

Fri, 01/27/2012 - 21:48

I've seen some posts on Ana's Brag Boards of these lofts with full sized mattresses on top. Ana's original plan is a twin bed, but others have modified it to suit their needs. You may just want to search and see if anyone has included their plans for a full. Sorry I can't be more help. Good luck!

Guest (not verified)

Mon, 01/30/2012 - 08:09

I will be making this for my boys. For the guard rail, I will be making it go all the way to the ceiling, since they like to jump off of things. They will get a kick out of it because it will be a "wild animal cage", lol.

In reply to by Guest (not verified)

Karajoy

Sat, 02/04/2012 - 16:14

Love it! It takes the safety issue out of the equation totally. Great idea. I know they'll LOVE it, too.

JessiW (not verified)

Tue, 01/31/2012 - 18:32

That is very nice if you dont mind me asking how long did you make that one... I am wanting to make one for my daughter but I dont have 103 inches that called for in the one plan...

In reply to by JessiW (not verified)

Karajoy

Sat, 02/04/2012 - 16:10

We made our bed to the exact specifications that Ana gave (103"), however, if you need to save space, you could leave the stairs off and opt for the ladder.

Kelly Kelley (not verified)

Tue, 02/07/2012 - 15:42

I tried to get the plans for this bed and I cant seem to locate. Could you help please? Thank you!! What a beautiful bed!!

In reply to by Kelly Kelley (not verified)

Karajoy

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 18:34

Hi Kelly,
There are links to the 2 plans in the "ABOUT THIS PROJECT" section above. Just hover your cursor over the "From Plans:" and the links will change color. They appear black and therefore, don't look like they're linked to anything. They're both there. Good luck!!

Guest (not verified)

Fri, 02/10/2012 - 14:23

I cannot find the plans to this bed. Could you email them to me ? Abby

Guest (not verified)

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 17:03

We were looking for plans to build a loft bed to save space in our 3.5 year old daughters room. My husband found this and we are sold on this idea. She is going to flip when she sees her new bed! Love it!

Amanda D. (not verified)

Mon, 03/05/2012 - 20:01

Hi there, I was wondering if you could tell me where you got the fabulous little washer and dryer combo that I see in the photo. I know the sweet owl painting is from target, but I love the little play space you seem to have created! :)

In reply to by Amanda D. (not verified)

Karajoy

Mon, 03/19/2012 - 19:42

The little set inside is from Playskool's Rose Petal Cottage collection. It's a little miniature set and worked perfectly in this space.

Kirstie (not verified)

Sat, 03/17/2012 - 22:52

I LOVE this so much! I love the color scheme as well, we decided to copy the scheme in my daughter's room. I was wondering where you got the curtain from? Did you buy it or make it yourself? It's almost exactly the color of the green paint we bought so I would love to know. Also, I love the washer and dryer too, also curious about that. Thanks!

In reply to by Kirstie (not verified)

Karajoy

Mon, 03/19/2012 - 19:40

Hi Kristie.
I made the little curtain and the little washer/stove/sink set are from the Playskool Rose Petal Cottage collection. Good luck building your playhouse. It's a little girl's dream!!

Guest (not verified)

Wed, 03/21/2012 - 20:27

Hi Kara,
I'm really interested in building two of these for my girls... they caught my attention because they've been asking for a bunk bed and I don't want to do a bunk bed because I hate the idea of struggling to change the bedsheets. Just wondering if it's a hassle with a bed this height.

Yours looks amazing, btw!

Thanks,
Sarah

gabey2329 (not verified)

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 11:18

oh my god i love this it would be awesome for my daughter also. were you able to stay in your budget???? do you think is a safe style for a 3 year old? she would go absolutely nuts!

Guest (not verified)

Fri, 04/13/2012 - 20:17

so beautiful! if i wanted to do this with a full mattress how would i tweak the measurements? i want to do this with a full with the stairs... just so she can be in the bed for a longer period and also the space underneath to be a bit bigger... also if i wanted to make the stairs have a drawer? i really would appreciate alll the feedback if possible because im so far from handy... :-/ and 1 more thing how did u get a light down there?

Veahava

Fri, 05/11/2012 - 18:27

I was wondering if once put together is it easy to take apart? My dad builds houses for a living and was going to make it for my daughter at his house then bring it to mine to set it up

Sharlean (not verified)

Sun, 06/10/2012 - 14:40

My husband and I just finished making this bed with stairs for our 3 year old and he loves it.

Rebeccaguest (not verified)

Tue, 06/12/2012 - 06:41

what age would you reccommend this for?? my son is 3 n a half and i woant to attempt to make this bed, but dont want to spend time and money if i will have to buy him a new bed in a couple of years. i would like it to last a good while. also, like veahava, i was wondering if this was easy to dismantle once put together as i am planning a move in the future, thankyou

winter_baby26

Thu, 06/28/2012 - 07:43

This looks amazing! I'm sure your daughter was thrilled. I can't believe it only cost $350 to build - I have no doubt you would pay significantly more than that if you bought something similar at a store.

Claire_UK (not verified)

Tue, 10/02/2012 - 02:14

This is absolutely divine - you are so talented! I have just found this website and can't imagine I'd ever be able to make something so beautiful. Putting up a shelf is beyond me. Your daughter must be so proud of her little nighttime palace!

Christine N (not verified)

Sun, 10/21/2012 - 20:01

I am trying to get the plans for this bed with the stairs but when I click on the link it doesn't give me the plans. Help, my granddaughter would love love love this. Thank you so much.

Nikki_DivaMomm… (not verified)

Thu, 12/06/2012 - 20:30

I LOVE this bed ! It's exactly what my husband & I are looking for !! With your measurements, is this suited for a toddler mattress or a twin??

Tara Payon (not verified)

Mon, 12/17/2012 - 20:42

Love love love this bed, what size mattress does it use?

cevans81

Wed, 09/11/2013 - 05:11

We made this bed for our daughter and now my son and daughter play with her kitchen and table underneath in the playhouse. Your instructions were so easy to follow and everything matched up perfectly. We did do the ladder due to space but the bed is beautiful. We get so may compliments when people come over and I always tell them about your website. You truly have awesome ideas! I can not wait for the next project and I am sure it will be off your site :-)

kullmann

Mon, 10/07/2013 - 17:26

I love your playhouse with loft bed! How tall is the underneath part? Would you be able to fit a desk underneath? Also, could the plans be adjusted to accommodate a double bed?

THANK YOU!!

Children's Ladder Bookshelf

Loved doing this project! We had been have a book-tastrophy for over a year. Too many books and not enough shelf space, and the shelf space we had wasn't being used efficiently. I love the different sizes for different books. We made some adjustments to the plans including using baseboard and wider shelves.

We did a blog post going into more detail here:

http://thisinsanehouse.blogspot.com/2013/11/brag-post-diy-small-footpri…

Thanks for viewing!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Painted it white first, then attached blue painter's tape and painted blue over that. Once that was almost completely dry, we peeled it away for clean lined chevrons. The chevrons weren't made to be perfect since they'll be covered 99% of the time.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Tryde Console Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/07/2016 - 01:19

I used the Tryde Console Table plans to make a small table to go in our conference room.  I liked the design, but if I had to do it again, I probably would have not built in the breadboard ends.

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

Trestle Desk with 2x6 laminated top

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/07/2023 - 16:31

Started with simple small trestle desk idea. Decided to edge glue the top. Finished with poly and paste wax. Didn’t turn out too bad for the first project.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments