Community Brag Posts

Simple, cheap, easy and FREE console table

Submitted by MLE04 on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 12:26

My husband and I wanted to try something relatively simple before attempting to make a dining room table.

We used some old fence boards that were very weathered, so we expected that the end result wouldn’t be perfect.

It is definitely rustic, but I think it is charming!

We modified the stretcher and the table top, but otherwise followed the plans.

It was easier than I expected... I think I am hooked!

Estimated Cost
Free
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Birthday Farmhouse Queen sized Bed

Submitted by ksmith311 on Sun, 09/29/2013 - 12:41

We built this bed way back in April for my birthday, but hadn't gotten the bedding quite right until now. We love this thing and it is sooo sturdy. I wish I would have taken more time on finish work to get the paint just right. I will probably repaint it in the future but for now it is a beautiful and necessary addition to our bedroom.

Thanks so much for the plans Ana, this was our first furniture project besides shelves and boxes. It definitely gave us the confidence to continue building and even to start creating our own plans and furniture designs.

** updated photos on 11/21

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Antique white paint in semi-gloss and distressed with Early American Stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Saw Horse Inspired Coffee table

Submitted by Nathan O on Tue, 12/15/2015 - 18:01

I essentially followed the Rogue Engineer plans exactly with the exception of making the table on 50 inches long to help it fit better in my living space. I also opted to not add the lower support struts that would be perpendicular to the table top. I felt like that were bulky and were necessary for support. I may choose to go back and add them though. A miter saw and Kreg Jig are essential to get this project done with ease. I gave it a rough sanding to help keep the rugged texture of the original woodand maintain the reclaimed look. Feel free to post any questions.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30-$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Mini Wax Dark Walnut and Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Husky farmhouse table w/ butterfly leaf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/06/2019 - 17:43
  • Hand built Husky Farmhouse Table, plans from Ana White adding a hideaway butterfly leaf
Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
4 coats of Polycrylic Clear Matte
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Factory Cart Coffee Table

Submitted by LindseyA on Mon, 09/19/2011 - 18:17

I was feeling like I needed a new project, so I called my sister. She was more than willing to give me ideas to build for her new condo and gave me a WHOLE wish list of furniture projects to choose from. After looking at her list, we decided on the factory cart coffee table. If you look elsewhere, this kind of table ranges from $600 - $1500 dollars! And our version costs right around $100!

Ana's version set the basis for the build and the only modification was adding three 1x2's under the slats on the top (rather than directly attached the slats) so that the compartment underneath can serve as a secret storage area (plywood lined and screwed into the lower supports). We absolutely love the table and it looks AWESOME in her living room!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
~$100 (Wheels were the most expensive part, but give the table its style!)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Alternating Rustoleum "Sunbleached" stain and Minwax "Dark Walnut" one coat of each color at a time, with time to dry in between coats) with a satin poly finish.

Wheels are 6 inches tall from a local supply store and were spray painted oil rubbed bronze.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

skyeblu87

Tue, 09/20/2011 - 11:22

I just wanted to say that your finish is gorgeous! Your table is beautiful too, but my goodness does that finish bring it over the top! Good job :)

Rhune (not verified)

Thu, 10/11/2012 - 12:48

How many of each color did you use? I'm looking for this driftwood look for my kitchen shelves.

Taylors console

We needed TV and game system storage for our vacation cabin and didn't want to spend a lot. This is perfect!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Used a mixture of some old darker stains I had on hand over the bare wood, then some Vaseline on edges I wanted to distress. Painted with DIY chalk paint (approx 1 teaspoon of unsanded grout mixed with a little water, stirred into 1 cup of latex paint.) Distressed with sander, then finished with two coats of wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Square Farmhouse Table

Submitted by 42jbmayer on Sat, 12/19/2015 - 21:25

This is a square farmhouse table I built for my dining room.  It is just under 5ftx5ft size.  The top is 6 planks that I cut down from 2x12 down to 10inch sized planks.  Then routered each plank with a 1/8 roundover router bit.  I made the bench big and wide since I wanted it safe and stable so my toddlers don't fall off.  Lots of sanding since this is all kiln dried construction lumber.  I sprayed varathane poly, water based, and loved it.  I put 4 coats on of semi gloss, came out perfect.

Estimated Cost
250-300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Varathane Dark Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Bench with foam padding

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/11/2019 - 16:52

This was a fun little project. I made the bench to be placed in our foyer to sit down and put your shoes on and off. 3” foam and fabric makes for a comfy bench.

Estimated Cost
$100 ($60 lumber, $40 3” foam and fabric)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
White paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Ella's Doll Bed

Submitted by margjack on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 17:12

Just finished the American girl farmhouse bed for my sweet niece's birthday & she loved it! The best thing was that it was made totally from scraps and paint on hand - only had to spend $6 for the fabric!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
white spray primer; Gloss white spray paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Bedside Tables

We love our farmhouse king bed, but that meant that our old side tables didn't fit anymore! (our old bed was a queen)

I really like the mini farmhouse bedside table, but the open storage would be problematic with the dog, so I added full length sides and a door.

The top of the tables is a board we found at my husband's grandparents farm, and the pulls are from some old tack. The metal loops were on some old horse harness, and the leather was cleaned up from the same piece. I was able to drill a hole in the leather and then pre-dill the doors to accept post screws from home depot.

I love these tables!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$125 for both tables
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
The tops are stained with Varathane gel stain in Walnut, and then a wipe on poly.
The sides were done with Kilz primer and then a white paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JoanneS

Wed, 10/02/2013 - 19:11

Love these tables! The wood top is just gorgeous, and I love you you re-purposed other items to make the hardware. That is so creative! Great job!

spiceylg

Thu, 10/03/2013 - 05:24

I concur. Love the tables and love that you re-purposed items for them!

jackiemacrae

Sun, 11/10/2013 - 18:58

Thanks guys!
I'm loving these- they are perfect for the space, and it makes me smile to know that the re-purposed parts come from the cottage.

Black Farm House Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/23/2015 - 06:26

I used Anna's plans, but I wanted to reduce the weight of the bed so I replaced the 2 x 10's with 1 x 8's and I made the cross slats 1 x 4's face up. The 1 x 4's also create a platform to put your bed on so no need for ply wood or box springs. This is still very sturdy, but about half the weight as the original plan.

Thanks Anna for the great ideas and plans! Now I am on to the farm table, wish me luck!

Estimated Cost
I actually spent too much, I bought everything to plan and then bought everything to redo the plan, so all in with paint it was about $300.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Killz as a base coat then a flat black paint, looks great but it will take some maintenance.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse modern queen

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/17/2019 - 19:10

We followed the plans except added in bed rail brackets to make it easier to relocate and adjusted the bed as a whole to sit higher off the ground. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane carrington with gloss finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Reclaimed Wood Look Bedside Table

Submitted by holly1968 on Sun, 10/02/2011 - 08:52

My husband and I built this table in an evening. We really like the finished table as it suits our needs perfectly. The plan was easy to follow. We followed the plan nearly as it was written with the exception of leaving out the drawer glides. The drawers are a little wonky because of this, but i think it adds to the charm and character of the farmhouse feel. I bought the drawer pulls from Lowes on clearance for $1.19 each. This table and the farmhouse bedside table match the farmhouse bed that we built back in January so very well. We love our new furniture and we love Ana White plans! Our plan is to have a whole house full of Ana White Farmhouse Furniture in due time. lol. Thank you so much Ana for your plans. You are truly amazing to design and put them online for others to build!

Estimated Cost
$30 - $35
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Do-It-Best Hardware paint and primer in 1. Color is Bullfrog. I used 1 coat.
Stain is Rust-oleum in the Summer Oak shade.
I have not put polyurethane over the paint or stain as of yet.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rolling Dressers with Flip-up Compartment

Submitted by SaraLodise on Sat, 10/05/2013 - 17:39

New dressers to match the nightstands. I modified the plans to make three smaller drawers up top and added a flip-up compartment for small stuff like jewelry, hair brushes and trinkets etc. It was fun to get more creative.

I made two at the same time so the wood and stain would be more consistent. However, in hindsight, I will never do any project that requires me to make 14 drawers at the same time again. I also used planked 1x4s instead of plywood for the sides and tops for looks. This made the dressers about an inch or so narrower. I used 2x4s instead of 2x2s for the bottoms of the frames to beef it up and reduce deflection, and also did not use braces in the back.

Wood -> $245/dresser
Hardware -> $ 150/dresser
Strain -> $20/dresser

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$415/dresser
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Wood conditioner -> 1 coat of Miniwax oil based stain in Weathered Oak -> 1 coat of Miniwax oil based stain in Special walnut -> 2 coats of Polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

daybed converted to fit ikea kura bunk bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 12/26/2015 - 12:29

We wanted to add some storage to our Ikea Kura bunk bed. We needed to adjust the size of the day bed by a couple of inches but worked awesome. Looks like one finished bunk bed.

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

Comments

Trakrys1011

Wed, 02/03/2016 - 12:43

Hi i just purchased the lumber to make this following the plan from thw original day bed. Would you happen to still have the changes that you made to put it under the ikea kura bunkbed?

Entryway closet bench

Submitted by ga2akwld on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 13:33

Adapted from Ana's mudroom in closet plans, I made this to fit the small closet when you walk into the house. I slotted it and hung wire baskets for air flow since it will be used mainly for hats and gloves which we wear more than not up here in AK. Next for the closet directly across will be a sho storage project which I'm sure I will find on here. Thank you Ana for your awesome site and work you put in.

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Espresso min wax and satin poly for top. Morning sky chalked paint for bottom.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Fancy X Farm table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/20/2023 - 17:59

Had to watch a few YouTube videos but got it done and very happy with how it turned out!

Comments

Twin-size Storage Bed

Submitted by kristen on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 08:30

I recently finished this bed in white for my daughter, when one of my sons decided he'd like one for his room. So this is my second time building this bed. I like the drawers Ana has in the Queen storage bed, but I needed it in a twin, so I used two of Ana's plans to modify the bed to our needs. Drawers make me nervous (but less so now that I've done them a few times) and these work great, so all is well!

The only problem? Now with the bed in his room, I feel the need to paint the rest of the furniture, change his duvet cover, paint the walls...you know what I mean?

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$325
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Benjamin Moore Super Spec D.T.M. Acrylic low-lustre in black (comes off the shelf in black)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Pam the Goatherd

Thu, 10/06/2011 - 17:05

Definitely paint the rest of his furniture to match, but with a black and white graphic design of some sort. All black would be too dark, but with the white trim in the room you could get away with some really creative graphic art on those dressers.

jen227

Sun, 03/10/2013 - 21:31

looks like the face of the drawers are trimmed out instead of being just plywood in the front...how did you modify this?

"Fireplace"

Only heating source for our house have been wood stove and some mornings we don't feel like starting a fire even if it is chilly, so we bought electric fire place. As our house is Scandinavian country romantic style, I wanted to make modern fireplace a bit more rustic.
We are missing some beams and moldings, so it looks a bit "naked" now.

More about this project you can read in my blog:
http://ourleaningtree.wordpress.com/diy/fireplace/

Estimated Cost
left over lumber
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner