Community Brag Posts

My Z Gallerie inspired Outdoor Dining Table

I used Ana's plans and only made one adjustment. I could not cut the 50 degree angles on my miter saw so I just borrowed the "V" design from one of her other plans. This table is really heavy and sturdy. A helper is necessary to flip the table top back and forth.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80-$100
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Ultimate Wood Stain in Early American
Rustoleum Ultimate Spar Varnish in Satin (2 coats on base, 3 coats on tabletop)
I'm having issues with the Spar Varnish drying as white spots keep appearing when the table gets wet. I'm assuming it takes longer than 3 days to fully cure like the label says.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Northwest Ohio Pergola

Submitted by russell_h on Sat, 06/27/2015 - 17:57

I used flat stone and a masonry circular blade for the base of the corner posts. I also used 2 x 4's for both layers of the top boards. It was a lot of fun to build.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$250.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I will stain and seal in a year
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse King Bed (Modified)

This is my first Ana-White project (first furniture project, for that matter). I used the Farmhouse Bed as inspiration and modified the headboard / footboard to be a little taller. Other differences are that I used larger side railings (2x10) and left off the decorative tops of the headboard / footboard. Pocket holes hide all of the attachments, and I found some amaing bed rail hangers so the bed can easily be disassembled in case we move. It's super sturdy and my wife is happy (the most important part)!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Weathered Wood Accelerator + left over flat white paint + Polycrylic
The stain was a product of error (the lighting makes it appear off color, it's really a faded grey / white). I started with Rustoleum's Weathered Wood Accelerator and really didn't like the uniformity, or lack there of, even after 2 coats (probably more because I wasn't super picky with my lumber and had various colors). I used a flat white paint I had to try to cover it - didn't love that and tried to wipe it off... when I wiped I ended up with the perfect finish (means I then had to stain the rest of the bed, paint and wipe to match). I then finished it with 3 coats of water-based matte finish Polycrylic (didn't need to sand in between applications and was told b/c it's water-based the finish won't yellow).
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Door Spice Rack

We just moved into our newly built home, I love to cook, and realized really didn't have a good spot in the pantry for all the spices. This was my first project and in doing internet search for ideas came across Ana White's website, not only did I find the spice cabinet plan I was looking for, but a treasure trove of other projects and ideas. New to this so I have found Ana's site to be such a blessing. Yes, this made me a hero to my wife!

Built from Plan(s)

Leaning Bookshelves

Built this over a relatively warm Saturday in January. Like most projects, the building wasn't bad but the finishing took forever :)

Estimated Cost
Built it so long ago I don't remember for certain, but less than $100 I'm sure
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Mascarpone paint in Semi-Gloss; Benjamin Moore
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Woven Back Bench in White

Submitted by phantom1 on Tue, 06/30/2015 - 19:53

Great outdoor project.... Kids loved helping too....

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

Farmhouse Style Bar Table - San Diego

My husband modified these plans by making it a 42" tall bar high table. He built it and I stained it with Dark Walnut Danish oil and it came out better than we imagined. Thank you for these awesomely cool DIY plans.

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

Comments

A Simple Modern Doll House x 2!

I spent a couple of weekends making the knockoff West Elm Doll Houses using these free plans, as Christmas gifts for my 3 year old honorary nieces. The plans made building the doll houses quite easy! I opted to add trim pieces on the door and window openings, which saved me some headache, since they didn't need to be cut perfectly straight, and I also decided to cut the door and window openings out before attaching the front side to the rest of the house, just in case I messed up. The furniture was a bit harder without any plans (it's noted that the plans will be available soon, but they weren't when I did this build), but I just looked at the photos and made things up as I went along, using scrap wood and wood glue, which was pretty fun. Total cost was about $75 for both of these doll houses, the furniture and spray paint. For the finishing, I used Minwax Wood Finish Oil-Based in Ebony for the roofs and exterior window and door trim, which I stained before attaching. The rest of the house is Benjamin Moore Advance in Chantilly Lace, since that's what I had on hand, followed by two coats of Rust-Oleum spray paint in Satin Clear Enamel. For the furniture I opted to spray paint it all in satin white or black, also followed by two coats of the enamel spray. I used acrylic craft paint on the faucets, to give them a pop of silver. And I added some scrapbook paper for wallpaper and some cut up rug samples, for a little color! Both of my friends' 3 year olds are a little on the young side for these, but they've been enjoying learning how to play with them!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Beach Cottage Dresser

Again I'm sorry I have no plans, but what I do have is a great instructional video. Drawer slides are such a pain to install without the right tools. I'm sure you can find great dresser plans but the kicker is how you install the drawers. These inexpensive drawer slide mounting tools might save you from going insane. Check them out. http://youtu.be/vI3jgkhxxPE

Estimated Cost
$100-140
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Martha Stewart Interior Semi Gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

9 cubby Shelf

Submitted by sean1023 on Tue, 07/09/2013 - 19:57

I off set the shelves because my wife wanted to be able to fit some of my sons bigger toys. I also add trim pieces to make it more decorative and painted it white. Enjoy...

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

10.5' Farmhouse Dining Table

Submitted by ehays216 on Mon, 07/06/2015 - 06:20

I built this 10.5' farmhouse table for my aunt and uncle's dining room. I modified the plans slightly to try and look more like the Restoration Hardware version, using 4x4's for the beams and side supports and rounding the sides of the side supports. I also modified the top by adding an extra sideways board in the middle. The rationale for this was that I was worried about finding boards at the length I wanted that were perfectly straight from end to end, so by adding the center sideways board I only had to find boards that were perfectly straight for about half the full length. Also, we liked the look of the extra board in the middle. My little cousins had fun helping me distress the wood with hammers and other tools laying around. We love the way it came out, thank you Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
300-350 including staining materials and hardware. I bought twice the wood for the table top boards due to the modified tabletop/ and length.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax dark walnut with Minwax red mahogany on top of that. On the 2x8 boards, the dark walnut made a lot of contrast with the grain of the wood, and I was trying for a more evened-out color. The dark spots were almost black after one coat. Additional coats and the red mahogany helped even out the contrast and added color. We ended up really liking the final result, but in the future I think I will go back to using the black tea/ steel wool and vinegar method which is what I had been using in the past.

I used polywhey on top and applied several coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Stuffed Animal Storage - The Zoo

With a third baby on the way, they may not be enough room in this one for much longer, never realized how many they had till be put them all together.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Latex Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Market Stand

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/16/2022 - 06:17

Plans were easy to follow and we were able to build it using scrap and salvaged wood, and leftover paint. Only had to buy screws and the chalkboard sign materials, so very affordable to make. Birthday boy LOVES it! We set it up with some bakery toys, but the dramatic play options are virtually endless. This is one of those type of toys that will be part of all kinds of play with kids of all ages. The size is great for him at 3 years old but I expect it will be usable for many years before he outgrows it. Well worth making.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

2x4 Garden Beds

Submitted by binah06 on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 09:37

My husband and I were inspired by Ana's plans, but needed to use up some wood we had laying around the garage because it was starting to bend and warp. We made the large box 2x6 ft and the smaller one is made from scrap and is about 15in x 2.5 ft.

Estimated Cost
free
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

My second project

This is the second project I've completed and I'm very proud of it. The design was changed just by adding four legs instead of three. It took me awhile to get the color even. Sanding between coats of the clear coat semi-gloss finish would leave white marks/residue that was difficult to clean away. I would have to restain those sections with a swift wipe on/wipe off action. This made the color deeper but also richer. During the summer months, the bench will be outside but will serve as indoor seating in the winter.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$34 for wood
Finish Used
Miniwax water based stain in toffee. Two coats on the seat. More coats added to the legs (as needed) to match color. Three coats of mini-waxed water based semi-gloss clear coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mini farmhouse coffee table

Submitted by Lukilla on Sun, 01/28/2018 - 11:02

The original plans make a pretty big coffee table (52" wide).  I made this one (32") with the left over pieces of 2x6 from the bigger one. It was fun to make and is great for someone with a smaller living room

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40 (using left over 2x6)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Jacobean stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Outhouse

Submitted by taimysha on Thu, 01/20/2022 - 18:13

This is the 1st Ana White project I ever built. I now have several items of hers under my belt. I built this the summer of 2017 for the solar eclipse. We live directly in the path with longest viewing times. I placed an ad and got responses from all over the country of people wanting to stay on our property. This outhouse like all of Ana's other plans were easy to adapt to fit my needs. I extended the roof to include the covered porch and only used tin. I also added a couple of shelves a 2 mirrors. Almost everything I used to build this were things we already had. It's mainly built used our old swimming pool deck that we had torn down. The versatility and the clarity of Ana's project plans make this my go to building site!!

Comments

Our First Project

Submitted by Simplyel on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 19:56

My dear husband built the bed and I painted it. He found that it was easy to make. Thank you Ana, we love it. We are waiting for our new mattress!

Estimated Cost
Less than $175.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Latex White Paint. I want to distress it but he is not sure. Figure we will live with it for awhile and then decide.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

a miniature version for a one year old

I was looking for inspiration for the grandchildren when
I came across the full size version. I have now made 3 of the 1\3 sized as pictured, in different colours. It takes longer to paint them than make them.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ronseal exterior wood treatment
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Console Table

Submitted by ctummins on Sun, 07/12/2015 - 01:47

First table I've built. The Rustic X Console Table was fun and fairly simple. A little complicated since we live in Hawaii and decent cheap wood is difficult to come by. Makes my entrance way very inviting. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner