Community Brag Posts

Baseball bat headboard w/ farmhouse style footboard.

Submitted by jbayer80 on Sat, 04/06/2013 - 11:21

I found a baseball bat headboard that I wanted to make for my son...thankfully I found this website that has helped me so much. I BUILT every piece of furniture my in sons room, crazy!

I had a blast doing and have no plans on stopping.

Estimated Cost
$250 for everything
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
AS chalk paint. @ $36 a can, I will be making my own from this point forward.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

mrpaulperry

Wed, 07/31/2013 - 07:54

That looks awesome!

What site did you use to build the headboard?

Where did you get the wood bats? I'm struggling to find a cheap option for those.

Thanks

In reply to by mrpaulperry

jbayer80

Sat, 01/18/2014 - 20:52

There wasn't a plan for the headboard. I found a picture a few years back and knew I wanted to make it for my son. I can take measurements of everything and let you know but I got the bats then just did what looked best.

I searched high and low for bats in local stores and online. I ended up finding the best and cheapest online. I did my best to find old, used bats but couldn't find all the right sizes for what I wanted so I just got new bats.

kpmcmullin

Wed, 08/19/2015 - 14:50

Hi- do you have the plans and measurements you used to make this headboard and bed? Thanks!

Benchright Coffee Table

Submitted by jessem491 on Fri, 02/20/2015 - 15:01

I used Douglas Fir instead of pine, which increased the cost but I love the warmth of the wood in this piece.  The instructions were pretty easy to follow once I got going, and the longest part of it was the staining process.  I love this piece and I'm ready to do another one!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Cabot's Espresso with 3 coats to get the darker, warmer tint I was looking for. I like the Cabot Espresso because it's a water-based stain & sealer, and because it dries REALLY fast.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Office Desk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/21/2017 - 08:24

Thank you Ana for all of your woodworking plans. I have made several now and this desk is my latest. I stuck with the plywood for the file cabinets and went with an ash top panel made from 8" wide boards in order to practice some jointing and planing. The stain is minwax honey finished with 7 coats of poly. Again, thank you.

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Bookcase/ laundry and cleaning storage

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/02/2021 - 08:26

We mainly followed the plan but made some adjustments because we wanted the “ugly” side to be able to house brooms and mops and we cut the width down just a tad. We absolutely love how it turned out!! And we definitely needed this in our space!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
400
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Chalk paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Easy Frame and Panel Doors

Submitted by skydogda on Tue, 02/24/2015 - 04:17

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 crying. 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

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50 for 4 doors
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Semi-gloss Cappuccino White Valspar Ultra
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Rustic Modern Platform Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/23/2017 - 12:48

We loved this bed much! And others loved it so much that the people who purchased our home requested to keep the bed frame as well. I guess we'll be building it again. We used a vinegar/steel wool solution to oxidize the wood and then sealed it with a natural finish (rubio-monocoat 'cotton white'). Thank you for these plans!

Finish Used
vinegar / steel wool + rubio monocoat cotton white,
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

octagon lazy susan

1st time working in walnut, 1st time using my miter saw for more than 90 degree cuts!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Old Master's Gel Stain Dark Walnut, Waterlox

Comments

Outdoor Sectional

Submitted by jwhipp on Thu, 04/11/2013 - 11:38

We followed the outdoor sectional plan from Ana Whites blog to create this outdoor sectional. First we bought the cushions and custom built this sectional to fit the cushions. We used 2x4's and the kreg jig for pocket screws, then covered the base in beadboard and some pine trim, gave it a good sanding and a nice paint job.

Estimated Cost
900
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
bead board and pine trim
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Juanita_r

Thu, 04/11/2013 - 15:12

I just want to curl up there with a book and spend the day on that lounge, so pretty & inviting. where did you get the base and back cushions, they are a great colour?

jwhipp

Fri, 04/12/2013 - 05:46

Thanks! We built the frame according to Ana's design (customized dimensions for our cushions) and then covered the base in bead board and used pine trim around the edges. The cushions are from the Frontgate Outlet in Cincinnati.

"Cube" storage unit

Submitted by kds199 on Fri, 10/14/2022 - 09:49

My wife and I wanted a nice way to hide more of our son's toys in the living room that didn't look tacky. We actually bought the cubby bins before even deciding what to make. (From target of course.) I made the bookcase out of wood shelving that already looked kind of beat up when I bought it knowing that the wood stain wood bring some character to it.

I only changed the plans slightly by making the legs flush with the inside so I could trim the ends and customizing the size of the cubby openings to fit the bins. (Mine aren't actually cubes.)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
2 coats of stain...minimal sanding to keep the surface looking rough
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Handmade by Jungle Jim

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/27/2017 - 15:11

Great plans, Ana. Very easy to build. A good project for someone like me who has no carpentry experience.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Polycrilic
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Media Cabinet

Submitted by scidster on Sun, 04/14/2013 - 10:35

Modified the size to be 42" (w) x 16" (d) x 19" (h). Used radiator covering grate for door inserts and left shelves open for horizontal component storage.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
130
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr Swiss Coffee and minwax polycrylic top coat. Applied using Wagner HVLP sprayer (#518080). Pulls from Hobby Lobby.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Storage daybed with bookshelf

Submitted by Quinnfire on Mon, 03/02/2015 - 14:18

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.

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Seesaw for my daughter Milica

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/31/2017 - 01:25

Seesaw for my daughter Milica!
Thank you Ana for the idea.
Greetings from Serbia.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
15€
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Belinka: Belles (for impregnation, 1 layer) + Toplasur UV Plus (3 layers) No.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Closet

Submitted by bpkliver on Sat, 06/26/2021 - 07:40

This was originated from an Ana closet build. There were bypass closet doors that I am still converting to hinged doors. I added the drawers in the center to eliminate the need for a dresser in the room. Doors should be ready in a couple weeks. I’m converting the bypass door to hinged, which is a project in itself!

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)

Comments

Firewood Shed using Round Posts and 2x4s

Submitted by tommybo76 on Mon, 04/15/2013 - 15:50

I used the basic design principles from Ana's site but decided to use 3.5x6.5 round fence posts (purchased at my local Tractor Supply Company) for a different look plus they are a little cheaper than 4x4 posts. I also used pressure treated 2x4s for some added strength and perhaps longer durability. I used Ana's cedar fence pickets idea for my roof (these pickets are used as walls on one of the other shed plans on this site). I didn't need a very robust roof as my firewood shed sits underneath the deck which provides a lot of protection from the rain. I attached the structure using 3 inch deck screws and the roof with 1.5 inch deck screws (nails would have been more than adequate for the roof but I had the screws on hand).

I did run into some problems due to my design changes. Most of my issues involved attempting to square up the round posts which are much closer in shape to a jagged stick than dimension lumber such as a 4x4 post. If I had to do it over again I would not have used the round posts. Constant tweaks and adjustments to the posts significantly delayed my build time and frustrated me at times. I was just barely able to wedge my woodshed in between the 2 deck posts which actually came in handy as I was able to secure the shed to the deck posts with 3 inch screws...making the shed very solid! The final issue I discovered after loading up my wood shed. The 2x4s at the bottom of the structure began to sag. I fixed this by using my floor jack to raise them up and placed 8 inch tall 4x4s underneath (2 in the front and 2 in the back).

Overall I'm happy with the way it turned out and I really love all the plans on this site...GREAT ideas!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$90
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

My First Project Farm House Table

Submitted by iceman0941 on Thu, 03/05/2015 - 10:22

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

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

Comments

Doggy loft bed!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 06/03/2017 - 17:31

My dog loves to people watch all day while I'm at work and she needed a new bed so I took the plans for the lower platform and modified them so it would stand alone. Took the platform and put it on the bottom so that her bed would sit inside instead of on top where she could more easily fall off.

I tried building without PH screws at first and all I ended up with was a lot of cracked and wasted lumber. Got the PH jig and finished the whole build myself in 2 hours. Sanding, staining, and sealing tomorrow but I'm just so excited about it I had to post now!

Estimated Cost
With the two sets of lumber, having to buy the jig, hardware, stain, and electric sander it cost me about $130
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Love these chairs!

Submitted by ae1ret99 on Fri, 07/16/2021 - 13:14

I needed some chairs for my firepit and I found these Ana White plans on Pinterest! They were not too hard to make and they look great!! The only problem I have now is what's my next project...cause now I have that "Creative Fever!"

Estimated Cost
$100/chair
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Valspar Redwood Natural Tone
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Reclaimed Wood Farm Table

I built this table for a friend a few weekends ago. The reclaimed top turned out amazing!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Polyurethane Satin
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Kitchen Shelf Organizer

Submitted by oadsitt on Sun, 03/08/2015 - 16:50

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)

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner