Bench from my old barn wood
I used old barn wood I had out back its not a perfect fit all across the top but I made it that way on purpose I like the things that don't look perfect! Great project did it all in about 2 hours!
I used old barn wood I had out back its not a perfect fit all across the top but I made it that way on purpose I like the things that don't look perfect! Great project did it all in about 2 hours!
So proud of how this turned out. Plans were so easy to follow. Thanks for such a wonderful site.
David Akridge
We used cedar for these nice, little chairs and based the table on the chair model, only 24" tall, rather than the 18" of the chair seats. It took longer to cut than assemble these - total time: @4 hours for all.
Thank you, Ana!
Darin
An easy build! Thanks for the plans, Ana. This was a housewarming gift for some friends and it now sits nicely by their pool. I got the cushions from Ikea (Arholma range) and sized the sofa around them. I used 2x3s for the frame and added a couple of 2x3 support legs under the back cleat for extra support. I also attached a couple of 2x3 pieces between the back cleat and the back apron for the back support to rest on. Now for the table... :)
We had an ugly yellow/orange flowered couch and rocker in the living room when we bought this place. I usually build stuff, but he is much faster at it than I am, so he did it this time. Finally got rid of it and my husband built the 2x4 outdoor sofa set. I love them. If we need to, we can also take this outside for our annual family/friends reunion we have.
Susan Jeanblanc
Built this for my son's nursery. Cutting and assembly was a snap. Took under four hours. Painting however took forever. I'm a slow and careful painter. Each coat took two hours, then sanding in between. I'm happy with the result. I bought the kreg r3 pocket hole jig and I love it.
We are trying to tidy up our laundry/mud room and needed a place for the recyclables. I ran across Ana's plans for these pull out cabinets and raised panel doors, adjusted the measurements to fit our space, and had at it! It's kind of a tight fit in that room but these seem to help with the clutter. I also added that little table on top for folding laundry.
Both me and my partner work from home, where we share an office. It’s nice to be together all day, but not always. Sometimes we get on each other’s nerves, and sometimes we can’t stand the sight of each other. We’re a happy couple - it’s just that working from home together takes its toll from time to time.
First, I considered renting an office together with a friend. That idea did not last for long, unfortunately. The overall expense, as well as the ins and outs of council permits, forced me to scrap the idea.
In the end, I decided to go for a backyard office in the form of a log cabin. I put two and two together - these things are perfect garden offices and both me and my husband have some of that DIY enthusiasm in us. Why shouldn’t we give it a try?
Once we found the right backyard cabin company, everything went pretty smoothly. It took them six hours to build the whole thing. Granted, it’s a 4 x 3 sqm cabin, which I chose for three reasons.
Firstly, I thought it was big enough to give me the needed space. Secondly, a cabin of that size doesn’t dominate the garden. Finally, the guys from the company assured me that it doesn’t need council approval.
The cabin came fully installed. I got it with an insulated roof, fitted windows and doors, light sockets, and a deck. All that I needed was some furniture for a home office. Which is when I decided to check out the plan catalog on Ana White.
We decided to go for two projects - a simple office desk and a file cabinet. These were the only two things I really needed. As we’re both handy with tools, it took us two afternoons to complete the projects.
Once I got the furniture I needed, I started organizing everything. Here, I realized that setting up a functioning home office is a bit more complicated. Here’s a list of things I had to take into account:
A View
One of the first things I remembered was how important it is to have a view. Just like in the office in our home, I needed to have some natural daylight while I’m working. Moreover, I like opening the windows for fresh air in good weather. I put the newly-built desk close to the window.
Lighting
Having good natural light inside your home office is one thing. Having a good lighting solution is another. The lighting in our shared office was pretty good, so I wanted the same in my cabin.
Since it’s pretty small, we solved the issue with a ceiling LED lamp and a brass lamp for the desk.
Plants and Decorations
I love plants! I have a bunch of them in and around the house. Naturally, I decided to bring some into my new home office. I also brought in a couple of paintings, and I intend to start using essential oils, too. All of this makes for an atmosphere of a stimulating office, which I think is really important.
A Second Monitor
With new space that’s only my own, I decided to upgrade some of my techs. The first and most important thing was to purchase a second monitor. I always wanted some extra screen real estate, as I hate juggling windows.
I advise buying the same model as the one you already have. You’ll get the same screen fidelity and user experience.
A Sound System
Some people find music to be too distracting when they’re working. I’m not one of those people. My husband always nagged me about this. I finally managed to shut him up by finding out that work plus music equals productivity.
For that matter, I’ve decided to invest in a good sound system. I’ve set the speakers at the strategic spots around the desk. It’s a bit weird without my hubby around, so music also helps me feel less lonely while working.
The Right Chair
If you’re someone who works from home, do not underestimate the convenience of a good chair. It should be the core of your productive home office. Make sure to choose comfort over style.
I decided to avoid buying the chair online and went to a store. After testing nearly a dozen of them, I found one that provides the right arm, thigh, and back support.
Wire Management
Since my computer setup includes a lot of wires and cables, I was worried about them getting tangled up in such a small space. Clearing up this mess was pretty easy - I only needed a couple of zip ties and clamps.
Super simple and fits right in!
ScottW
I modified the plans just a tad bit, i.e., framed the top and used 1" x 4"s on the top and bottom horizontal planes... painted a vintage citrus label on the top and now I have a one-of-a-kind side table for my porch.
Very easy to read instructions... Excellent swing. You can build and stain in one evening. Love it.
Really loved these plans and they produced a beautiful product. The only minor change I'd make is to double the number of support slats. Our Casper mattress requires gaps less than 3" between each slat. Thank you for the plans!
I used the Rustic X Hall Tree plans and slightly modified them. I'm very happy with how it turned out. I used black pipe for the hooks as I have a lot of this style of decor in my home. The stain color is Dark Bourbon from Varathane. The back is luan with screen bead across the front to hide the cut panels (I have a Ford escape and had them cut the luan into panels). The back is secured with 1x2s so I had something to hold my 5/8 inch brad nails for the screen bead. I didn't use the X design; I can always add it later if necessary. The baskets are from Amazon sized 12x12x10. I also didn't add the 16 inch side pieces or the top piece. I used pocket holes on 95% or more of the piece.
My wonderful hubby built this bed in a short amount of time and I did the sanding and staining. We made it for my 6 year old daughter for her 6th birthday surprise. Her reaction… a high pitched scream of excitement.
Our house walls are still pretty bare, we wanted some artwork. We bought an old door at a flea marker last summer and decided to turn it into a large picture frame.
More details and photos on my blog:
http://www.woodworkingfourdummies.com/blog/door-picture-frame
Cheers,
Ian
We NEEDED a table really bad when we moved into our first home. This was really easy to build as it was only my second project doing woodworking. I must have put 5 layers of polyurethane on the finish, but it was sooooo worth it!
Loved building this for my son, much easier than I expected it to be.
Total build time was about 3 hours, and another 3 hours for finishing. We've had it only a few days and it's already a staple in the kitchen, used for everything from peeling potatoes to feeding his horse!
Thank you so much for making these plans freely available.
The wife has a hard time bending down so she wanted pedestals for the washer and dryer. The metal ones with a drawer were too tall. I showed her Sausha's and she really loved that design. I basically used the same construction plans idea from Sausha's project and some tips from Ryan's brag post. But, I wanted to beef it up some. I didn't like the L-bracket to attach the top and 4X4 legs. It didn't seem sturdy enough for me. I used my table saw to square the edges on the 4X4 posts and the 2X6 rails. Then I used my Kreg jig and glued and screwed everything together. I liked Ryan's trim ideas, so I used baseboard trim for the bottom and flipped it for the top trim. I made a 1/2" lip so if it were to vibrate, the washer/dryer would not fall. I put the trim on the bottom of the legs and was considering putting on the top but I put some different trim all the way around the bottom of the 2X6 rails. The wife liked that. I also added some carpet on the top to cut down on vibration and to help keep the units in place. I also put some 4X4 pieces of carpet on the bottom to keep the noise down and to help in moving it. I primed and used an gravity sprayer to paint it. Then I put 3 coats of polyacrylic to help in cleaning and to cut down on scratches from the laundry baskets.
Wed, 06/29/2016 - 14:31
I think you could probably drive a truck on top of yours. :) I was a bit concerned about the strength of the construction when I first decided to build it, but I decided that since it would be stationary once I have it in place and the only force would be straight down, it would be fine. Once I got it put together, it was actually sturdier than I thought it was going to be...from a horizontal force perspective. Virtically, that thing could hold 100 washer/dryer pairs...the plywould would give out before the 2x4s and 4x4s would even budge.
Anyway, nice work! I love the Kreg Jig...I need one of those.
Sun, 01/29/2017 - 16:23
Great looking build, thanks for the detailed photos!
I used the rustic X end table plan to make a set, went a different route on the color and stain. I also used plywood on the bottom instead of 1" by 12".
This was inspired by a Potter Barn table that looked similar. It was one of my first projects. I couldn’t afford the 2000 plus from there so built it. Sanded very fine and used Dark Walnut stain. Sealed four times with polyurethane sanding between each. Rubbed last coat of polyurethane on with cloth and used 0000 steel wool to give it a very soft and smooth finish.
Lynn
I took the Hailey Platform Bed plan and cut to a twin bed size. I used some old wood I found in the garage for the head and foot boards and the legs. Notice the legs are 4x4s. The grandkids had some old bed springs under their mattresses so I incorporated the spring into the build. That required that I lower the cleat a couple of inches and it meant I had a very complicated leg geometry in order to get it deep enough to support the bed. I built the frame with Kreg Jig pocket joints and they made the work very easy with such large and heavy timbers. Notice I attached the legs to the frame with 5/16" lag screws which allows easy removal of the legs if you need to make it easier to move. Came out very good but I think I will build the second bed without the springs and go for the slat method as shown in the plans.The result is beautiful. My neighbor commented that it looked very Pottery Barnish!
The second bed I finished yesterday is made with slats. A very smart move. The legs are so much easier to attach to the frame. Both beds are beautiful and sturdy. One grandkid told me that when the hurricane comes he is going to get under his bed because it is so strong. He may be right but I will be in Laredo or San Antonio.