Community Brag Posts

Compact Potting Bench

Submitted by vendo on Wed, 02/01/2023 - 12:43

I used Ana's Farmhouse Potting Bench plans and modified it to be more compact and left out the x detail. I built it for under $40 in material. 

Modifications for Shopping and Cut List - Construction and placement is same as Ana's original plan, so make sure you look that over.

Shopping List 

3 - 2x6x8

3 - 2x4x8

1 - 2x2x8

Cut List

FOR 2 Legs
4 2x6 @15.5"
2 2x4 @34.5"
2 2x4 @54"
(cut the 34.5 and 54 out of 1 board and repeat)

2x2 Cross Supports
3 2x2@28"

2x4 Cross Supports
2 2x4@28"

Center Tabletop Support
1 [email protected]"

Bottom Slats
4 [email protected]"

Tabletop Boards
3 2x6@36"

Top Cap Board
1 2x4@37" leaving 1/2" overhangs

VIDEO OF THE BUILD PROCESS

Built from Plan(s)

Child size table and chairs

Submitted by kbates05 on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 16:55

Table was a little tricky for me and the wood kept splitting and the legs didn't seem very sturdy. The wood I have isn't the straightest so that gave me some trouble. Changed the dimensions of the table to 24" x 36" and used a lodge pole pine board so the top is a solid piece instead of the 1x8's keep the junk from collecting between the slats. The chair was pretty easy to build and my kids just love it. Thinking I will paint the table and chairs a high gloss white so it is scrub able and look good in our house.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None yet. Thinking high gloss bright white.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Skipper's Stool

Submitted by c-e-fogus on Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:14

We needed a couple of sturdy step stools for the bathrooms. My boys are not tall enough to reach the sink for hand washing and teeth brushing. Wally wanted $8 for a plastic thing. So I headed to the big orange store and bought a few 2X4's. $12 for both stools, plus the paint and screws which I already had.

I used the plans from the Skipper's Stool for some of my cuts. But I used 3-2X4 pieces for the top and shortened the legs to 10 inches. I was going to put on the side stretchers but it was super sturdy with the pocket holes and 2.5 inch pocket hole screws. So I left them off. A few coats of paint and they are good to go. Two of my boys can stand on one so that makes them a hit.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Gliddon Paint and Primer in one, color: organic celery.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Garden bench

Submitted by law0103 on Sat, 01/02/2016 - 07:29

The plan had excellent bones, though I modified the top to hold a sink for rinsing and cleaning.  It is now painted "San Antonio Rose", and resides happily in the backyard.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Benjamin Moore San Antonio Rose, enamel
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

law0103

Sat, 01/02/2016 - 07:34

Don't cheap out on tools!  This piece did not come out square, and I accept that as it is an outdoor work bench.  Good tools never go out of style!

Table and bench design

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 05:51

Okay, I hope you like this... it was the second and third thing I ever built!!! The table is made from 2 doors hinged together with accent hinges screwed on top. In the middle there are locks (hook and latch) for design. The frame is oak. measures 81X 56 and fits a good 10 people around.

 

The bench is an old cherry tree slab that someone I know did not want. its about 72 inches long and it is slighly curved. I ushed a shilac and kept the same color....  I just sanded it down.

Estimated Cost
250.00 (table)

bench was even less because the wood was free and I reused some stain from a previous projects.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
black cherry, mahogany, and shilac
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

4x4 Truss Beam Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 12:39

We stuck with th original plans, but instead of making table ends, we did full 2x10x8 boards and capped it with 1/3’s. We filled in the gaps in the wood with stainable wood filler. We also used a 1/2@ Forstner bit and recessed the screws and used wooden dowels to cover the screw holes. It gives it a beautiful finish. We also enjoy our pew pews, so we recessed .40, .45, .223, and .22 empty shells into the table. My husband wood burnt a message in the center of the table, then we sealed it all with one step minwax finish in mission oak.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Il Bagno

5 kids, 1 bathroom, lots of waiting.
Not long ago I built the "waiting bench" and while it looks great, the space needed another little touch.

So I painted a sign saying, "Il Bagno", that's a prettier way to say "the bathroom" (in italiano).

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
had various left over spray paints that I layered, then put a dry brush coat of white(ish) paint. Then mixed some acrylic paint for the lettering and then did a little blue wash over the top. then after dry, gave it a little sand.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Rustic X End Table

My husband and I built this after the Rustic X coffee table won us over. The end table building plan is awesome, straight-forward, easy to follow. What we have learned from building the coffee table was that it is much easier to finish the frame and then mark the 2x2 against the bars for exact cut. We tried following the cut list, but turned out if the other cuts are slightly off, or the table is not squared, or the wood is not straight, then there may be a slight gap. So marking the 2x2 against the built frame was a much easier option for us. Of note, the end table is pretty big. So if you have a smaller living room, you may want to size down accordingly.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Conditioned, stained in Kona, matte finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Planter

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/03/2016 - 09:35

Tripled the dimensions, filled with mums for the fall. Now pine boughs and fairy lights! Love!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Outdoor stain, poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

CA King Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/22/2019 - 09:39

This was my husband's 3rd or 4th Ana White project.  We also had to go back for mre wood as the shopping list was not complete.  

Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

B's toy box

Submitted by kareylynn on Mon, 10/24/2011 - 19:12

I built this toy chest out of some beautiful oak. I used brad nails to tack on a sign I painted with his name. That can be removed later with little damage to the chest.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Golden Oak, 2 coats of Rub On Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kitchen set

This was a kitchen for friends daughters birthday. I used my nail gun on this, made it so much easier:)

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Behr Ocean Pearl and polycrylic coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

DMax2010

Fri, 10/18/2013 - 04:47

I made this kitchen for my son, it was one of my first projects, and I love seeing all the different ways people decorate these!

Mikey's Clubhouse Bed

Submitted by Jenga on Mon, 01/04/2016 - 17:41

Finished project for Mikey's bed.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dark Maple after burning for a antiqued weathered looked
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Desk X Build

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 07:12

Full timelapse and thoughts in the imgur album.

Estimated Cost
$120
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr: Moonquake grey and Luck of the Irish green. Polyurethane on the top and drawer face.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Giant outdoor sectional

Submitted by nprince on Mon, 10/21/2013 - 09:49

This is the first wood working project I took on. My husband thought I should start with, like a birdhouse or something, but I'm a "go big or go home" kind of person (plus I hate birds), so I thought a seven piece sectional was the way to go. After a few lessons from him on the miter saw, I got the clear to work on the project solo. (My husband builds a lot of our furniture but I insisted I wanted to do this 100% myself...and he surprisingly agreed).

The first section took a really long time for me to do (maybe 4 hours), but considering I've never even so much as drilled a hole for a screw, I considered it a success. After that (and after I decided to go out and buy a Kreg Jig - best invention ever - and ditch the "knock off" I tried to buy/use), it was pretty smooth sailing from then on out. Aside from being time consuming, I was surprised at how easy the plans were to follow. Ana it truly amazing for publishing these.

From start to finish, it probably took me a month to complete (and THANK GOD we bought a paint sprayer in anticipation for painting the outside of our house, or I think it would've taken at least another week to finish). But that's also because I stupidly decided to sew all of the cushions/pillows myself. I just couldn't justify ordering pre-made ones for seven individual pieces (the price quote I was getting for that and what I wanted was close to $1,000 in itself).

Overall, I'm VERY excited/please with how it turned out. I priced out the West Elm sectional of this size and it would've cost us about six times what it cost us to build from scratch. I can't wait to take on the next project (after a much needed break...)

Estimated Cost
Wood ($200), Cushions ($450)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used a dark espresso outdoor behr pain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

nprince

Mon, 10/21/2013 - 15:02

I stumbled upon your site a couple of months ago, and I'm a bit obsessed. I have a laundry list of projects I want to do now...more to come!

- Nicole

Providence Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/06/2016 - 13:07

I LOVE this bench. It's simple and rustic, yet absolutely beautiful. I modified the plans slightly to exclude the long support board along the bottom of the bench and found that the bench is still very sturdy and stable. I love that this bench is a relatively easy and quick to complete project, with such a gorgeous end product!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Minwax brand stain in Provincial for the color and finished it with Varathane brand varnish in a matte finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Bench and mirror

Submitted by ogie287 on Sat, 04/20/2019 - 12:21

This is the 5-board bench and project #2 mirror from Ana's "The Handbuilt Home" book. The bench was shortened to fit the space that I wanted it for. 

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Barn red stain and matte polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Montessori bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/24/2023 - 07:53

A Montessori (full size) bed made for my grandson Jack’s 1st Birthday.

Comments

Console Bookshelf

Submitted by jlamorey on Fri, 11/04/2011 - 12:10

A bookshelf to help with the everyday clutter in our kitchen.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Used MinWax Ebony stain and rub on poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Claudia

Sat, 11/05/2011 - 12:07

Glad to see someone build this plan--have been considering it, but wanted to see a finished photo. Thanks!

wpaul

Sun, 05/26/2013 - 11:04

The plan shows a total width of 39" but that's a bit too much for me (I'm mostly just wanting to store reference books next to my desk and don't need that much space). I like the proportions on your build, can you say how wide it is? (I'm assuming it's not 39", unless you have some massive countertops!)

Thanks.