Community Brag Posts

My version of the outdoor chair

Submitted by jharrisjr on Mon, 04/20/2020 - 00:12

I saw the plan and thought I would give it a shot. My wife loved the plan, but wanted something with a higher back. I used the bases of the plan as is, but I adjusted by adding some higher pieces at the back. They are attached at the seat flat and the back rail. It worked out pretty well. I still need to sand and stain.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None yet
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

The Carb Cupboard

Submitted by Booooozle on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 18:34

Anther creation of my own but this would easily be created from Ana's plans for this wall shelf. There isn’t much cupboard storage in our kitchen so when friends gave us a sideboard they didn’t have use for & it fit perfectly in one of our kitchen’s oddly spaced corners we were thrilled. It became our “Toasting Station” where the toaster & Panini grill are. I decided that we needed matching shelving to house our “Carbs” since it was much easier to make toast & sandwiches when the bread was right above the toasting implements.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar Flat Black Indorr/Outdoor Enamel
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Entrance Cabinet

Submitted by AndyH on Tue, 04/01/2014 - 19:55

First project from own design and wanted to share as pretty pleased with how it turned out. Sides are 4 by 2s with a routed 45 degree grove on each edge to give some detail. Wanted to make the drawers stand out so I added the edging detail.

Estimated Cost
$220
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax pre stain. Minwax Ebony - 2 coats. Minwax Poly Satin - 2 coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Fancy Hall Tree, scaled down

I scaled down the fancy hall tree plans to 39" wide to fit along our entry way wall. I also added shelves for shoes. It was a great birthday present for my wife, thanks Ana! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax classic grey 271 oil stain, and minwax polycrylic sealant.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Simple Step Stool

Simple Step stool. My husband suggested we needed one of these for our pantry, so I whipped one up for us! The plan was so easy to follow, it took me about 20 mins to make this stool.

Estimated Cost
$7 CAD
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Stain in Espresso
Chalk Paint in Tidal Pond, "distressed" then stained over in Espresso
Sealed with Minwax polyacrylic

Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Wainscoated Hallway Upgrade

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/04/2023 - 08:41

We moved into our new home. The hallway looked dark and gloomy. I decided wainscot the hallway. I brought 2x6 and 2x8 for hallway. Started installing on the wall and framed out the wall after completing the wainscot still didn’t look to my satisfaction. I then changed the carpet and installed laminate flooring. Everyone who comes to our home loves the look.

 

Tryed Side Table

Submitted by pekuhlers on Fri, 06/08/2012 - 11:42

This was my first project using an Ana White plan. I thought the plans were easy to understand and follow which made the project go smooth. I am a fan of painted and distressed furniture so I went with that look for this project. After painting the tables I used a hand sander to scuff up the corners and then added "worm holes" using a hammer and nail.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Pedestal Table Build

I used the plans from your site to build this table for a friend. I made a couple of little design changes just to make it look different. The plans were very easy to follow, and I had a lot of fun putting this together. I did have a small problem with the pine stock wanting to bow and twist, but that was taken care of with the planer and sander.

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
MinWax Dark Walnut and satin polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Sports theme Adirondack Chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/28/2016 - 11:20

 These chairs turned out awesome!!! Go Royals! Go Tigers! The step-by-step directions were great and easy to follow. We went with a fun twist on the Royals chair by cutting out the top with the scroll saw to look like the crown. Turned out great, couldn't be happier with the outcome and will definitely be making more!

Estimated Cost
$50 per chair
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
decals are all hand painted which took the longest, the chairs themselves were easy to make and assemble. Great step-by-step plans! I went with the actual team colors that I found info on at our local Home Depot (the sample size paint worked great, no reason to get quart or gallon size) and applied a couple thick (but not runny) coats of polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Outdoor Garbage Can Shed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 12/08/2023 - 08:45

Chose the small firewood shed project as a "template" if you will .. built this to house our garbage cans and eventually put a gate on it to "help deter" the Florida black bears (we do multiple things to keep them at bay) but this will also just be a nicer looking way to keep the cans outside.

I modified the floor since the firewood shed had a floor that was suitable for, well, firewood but not so much for rolling garbage cans. Had to leave the one slat off the back for the depth of the can which I didn't completely account for in the beginning. Overall, still need to paint it and water seal it but happy with how it turned out.

Built from Plan(s)

Seesaw

This was a pretty quick and easy project. My third one from this site, as well as being my third one ever. We rented a mitre saw to cut the wood (and cut wood for a few more projects we had on the go at the same time), and then it was just a matter of staining it and putting it together. The staining and waiting for it to dry actually took a couple of weeks, mostly because we don't have a lot of room to do that, so couldn't do it all at once, and it wouldn't stop raining. Once we actually had that done, drilling and assembling only took 2-3 hours at most. (Maybe even less, but hard to judge as I had two children helping the whole time.)

I've put a video of it in use on my blog as well. :)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Some of the wood was finished with Behr natural cedar that I had a sample can of, but I ran out and decided I didn't like how orange it ended up being. I bought a can of CIL walnut semi-transparent stain that was on sale for the rest, as well as putting it over the Behr on the ones I had already done.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Full size farmhouse bed

Submitted by sbethTX on Sat, 04/05/2014 - 19:09

Day one...Two of us making cuts and starting headboard and footboard.

Day two...Working solo, had to get creative in order to add posts and 24 and 26 to top of headboard. Sanding and staining complete.

Day three...Two of us again. Built frame and added slats using decking brackets rather than screws for ease in disassembly. Attached headboard and rails with bolts.

Only issue not specified in plans was how to attach frame to footboard. But we made it work.

Thanks, Ana!!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Clear polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

DIY Farmhouse Table For Under $40!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/02/2016 - 16:39

This is my sqaure farmhouse style dining table. It is so easy to make! An important tip is to get good pieces of wood. You don't want any bowing or else it won't be perfectly level. To see more photos and tips, go to SweetTeal.com/diy-farmhouse-table.

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
For the color combination, go to SweetTeal.com. For whatever color you do though, remember to put a finish on top. It will help protect your table and seal the wood. I used DecoArt's Soft Touch Varnish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Potting bench -> coffee bqr

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 20:34

My husband and I decided to turn this potting bench into an indoor coffee bar. Great project for first timers, like myself. 😊

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Adirondack Chair, Fountain and Bench

Ana, I want to say how inspirational you have been to me over some years. I think my first project found on your website was a chicken coop. More recently I have built the large garage workbench system with 2 rollout workbench/storage units (still in progress). In the past few weeks I have built the Adirondack chairs. The Adirondack chairs spurred me to continue building a “park like” setting in my small backyard. This includes a park bench (to match the Adirondack chairs), a park style grill, and a water fall. The waterfall is fairly simple (now that I have done it once - ha).

Ken Moody - Babcock Ranch, Florida

Seasonal And Holiday

Simple Outdoor Bench

My sister wanted this to go with the Simple Outdoor Chairs I had built her for her birthday. I added a 2x4 between each leg to make it more stable and shortened it by one slat to fit the cushion. This was very easy to build and would make a great beginner project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Scraps from other projects and leftover paint from chairs
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Flat black exterior spray paint with exterior gloss clear coat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

planked wood sideboard

Submitted by mritek77 on Tue, 04/08/2014 - 10:21

I found this plan while looking for a entertainment center, I had never built such a large piece of furniture. After reading thru plans I decided to build my first. Plans were simple, yet effective. I did make some modifications on the fly. I didn't want to go with the panel look so I replaced side panels with 1/4 plywood routered into outer legs (cleaner look than nailing to inside). Also went with glass doors(partially frosted to hid junk stored inside). I deleted the drawers and placed shelfs instead for tv components.

My advice to anyone making this is to be really careful when building main frame of cabinet and check square-ness several times and when applying wood strips around door jams careful measuring openings for consistency top to bottom and side to side. This will make hanging doors much easier. I learned the hard way, had to make some adjustments when hanging door. Also have hinges you plan on using on hand so as to measure thinkness of desired hinge to check clearance of door.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Black/tan paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

mritek77

Wed, 04/09/2014 - 20:10

Thanks balloongal,

I had plans to paint it all black, but it just seemed so boring. The detail was lost with no color and It was really hard to see the frosted glass.

Bedside Tables

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/05/2016 - 18:33

Went together well, a few things modified. 

I get my wood from a sawmill and plane it myself, so the legs are 2x2's instead of the commercial sized 1.5's x 1.5's and to make them go with my Ana White Farmhouse bed I built a few weeks back I made the legs 30" long to compinsate for the height of the bed

Winwax Polyshades Mission oak

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
40 dollars before stain
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Polyshades Mission Oak x2 coats
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
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