Community Brag Posts

Love Ana's projects. Made a few mistakes, but all and all a fun and easy build

We (myself and my girlfriend) decided to build this daybed after considering several options for a new sofa. With three big dogs we knew we wanted a big sofa and after looking at many $400+ options we saw several issues (besides cost), The biggest was the availability of slip covers for easy cleaning. We went with the daybed route because a mattress is far cheaper than foam for sofa cushions and twin sheets are readily available for low prices in many colors.

Obviously I altered the plans significantly as I wanted a chunkier, heavier frame that would withstand the abuse of day to day life. Also I removed the canopy as it's not needed indoors. The rear legs are 4x4 nominal which I resawed to 3x3 actual. The rear frame is 1x3 nominal horizontal pieces with 2x3 nominal boards as the verticals. These have rabbets cut in them to join with the horizontal pieces. The bottom support for the mattress is a 2x6 resawn to 2x5 actual and rabbeted to fit each vertical and the legs. Also, the top two horizontals are longer to fit into rabbets in the legs - this allows the back structure to be far stronger.

The sides are constructed of 1x3 horizontals with the leg and arm cap being 2x4 nominal resawn to 1x3 actual. The verticals were rabbeted like the rear to accept the horizontal pieces. The front crossmember is a 2x6 nominal block planed to match the front legs.

Joinerys consists of the following -
All rabbeted joints are glued and brad nailed together.
The legs and arm/top caps are pockted screwed to the horizontal crossmembers.
The front, sides, and rear join with 3 1/2" deck screws and 5 1/2" lag bolts.
Stringers/mattress supports are 2x3 nominal.

Finish is Behr premium plus interior latex eggshell paint/primer sprayed with an HVLP sprayer.

If anyone is interested I can take some measurements and more photos. Right now we just have our old futon mattress on (we're saving to do some other projects).

Needed to outfit an antique center island with some doors because our cookware was constantly getting dirty and having to wash before using. Followed the panel, rile and stile plans and ended up with some pretty decent cabinet doors. I would say that this style of creating doors while may seem easier due to not needing many tools (circular saw and kreg pocket set is about all you need), is actually intermediate because the panels have to be cut EXACTLY right or you will have gaps in your door. I remedied this with the help of my old friend wood putty, but this limits the doors since they must be painted. If your big box home improvement store has a COMPETENT worker (sometimes those are hard to find) you just might get some panels cut well enough, although I myself know how 1/8's of an inch add up . If you do decide to get someone else to cut the panels bring your tape measure and verify the cuts are accurate.  Anyway I have created doors both the traditional rile and stiles with inset panels and this way and this way is definitely quicker!

NOTE: I haven't installed any catches or handles thats why the door is slightly open.

Great Way to Spruce Up Your Kitchen!

-Martin

I build a Star Wars themed end table from a sheet of plywood and some scrap pine. Eventually, I'll add lazy susan hardware to make it spin. The top is glitter covered with a layer of resin.  Click on the blog post link for a full tutorial on how to build it. :o)

I needed a workbench to be able to create all of these wonderful plans. I used one of Ana's table plans and modified a little. I followed exactly, then I added a second top made out of birch pure bond plywood. I then put 1x2 edging to hide the edges. I used some pretty heavy duty casters with the double locking feature, I had to buy this off the internet.
This was my second build, the first being a 10 dollar ledge.
The plan is from Ana's book, the kitchen island. I can't seem to find it online.
This took me a long time due to limited time, because of work and kids. About 4-6 hours per week, for 2 1/2 months.

I love this couch project. I can finally enjoy my deck in the evenings the way I envisioned. Thank you Ana White!

My husband built these for me and it was his first time building anything. LOL. They turned out perfect for me. It takes a little bit because we had to wait through the coats of the finish. Also, the gloss coat has to set for 24 hours before you can use it. It is highly recommended to wait the full 24 hours, we did not on the dresser I refinished of my daughters, and it started to chip. It was so easy and turned out beautifully!

I made 3 cubbies underneath and left off the doors. I'm still looking for fabric bins to go under there. Instead of doing the bottome arm, I made a bookshelf so there would be more storage space in this little room. I love how it turned out.

Great buffet for any dining room. Made with pocket hole joints. Built by mgwood_work on instagram 

This was the first piece I ever made and I was very excited about how it turned out. Last summer I spent a weekend with a friend and she had a bench almost identical to this one in her entryway-- I just had to have it. I took pictures of it from every angle and went home, telling my husband he had to make it for me (he does some woodworking). As time went by and my bench was not made, I finally told him to teach me how to use the power tools... he did and this was the result. I wish I had plans for this, but I do not. I made this bench by looking at the pictures I took of the one I saw at my friend's house. Eventually I hope to get it together in order to make some up-- it was very easy, and I do think someone with some skill (since at the time I had none!) could most likely do the same. I was able to do it about 3 days.

Thanks Anna White for your plans and for your great website!

I took the base plans from your Rustic X end tables and added a little more detail on the sides and experimented with the stain combination. I stained the entire table in Golden Oak and for the based I stressed in an Ebony to give it a slightly burnt look in the base. Turned out really well. 

Want to make a king size version but didn't want to waste material.
I made this bed for our cat to see if I could do it.
Since I made it a million kids have played with it, stood on it, ext...I'll post a picture when I make the king size.
Thanks ana

A few weeks ago I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and little did I know how many papers and supplies come with having it. For a couple weeks our kitchen counter was just littered with testing supplies and literature, it got the where I couldn't take it anymore. I decided to build this little set of shelves; so darn cute and a quick, inexpensive build.  It took me about 5 hours total to complete the assembly and paint job and another hour or two to finish the stenciling. I am using it for all my diabetes accessories but it would work great as a little organizer for all that clutter that inevitably congregates in little piles on the kitchen table and counters.

One modification I made from the original plan was the angled cuts at the top; we unfortunately don't own a jigsaw so I just cut the side boards at a 30 degree angle to the corner instead. My shelves are also only 3/4 of an inch instead of 1 inch because I miss measured and did not buy enough supplies. So instead of waiting until I could get back to the store I ripped one of the 2X6 boards in half so I could utilize both sides.

To save a little money as lumber is pricey where we live, I bought 1- 2X6, 1-2X4, (both of these I match booked and ripped to create more material) and utilized 2 inch drywall screws which I countersank and filled before painting. Total cost was about $16 (I utilized paint was already had)

Was a fun build. Took 3 days. Ana your awesome.