Community Brag Posts

Garage Workshop Bench

This was my second project, with so many more projects in mind, figured I needed to get started on a Workshop bench. This was a fun and easy project and such a great plan.

Comments

Built In Closet for Nursery Room

Submitted by karahart on Wed, 05/11/2011 - 09:47

I didn't follow Ana's plans for this, I actually designed the closet system to correspond with my dimensions / wants / desires (see blog post), but this goes to show you that once you start building things, it's really hard to stop! I think in building brain now. I don't think in "how can I afford that" terms anymore, I think in "how can I make something similar, but BETTER?" Ana has helped us make our nursery for our first baby a labor of love!

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
We primed all of this with white primer and then applied a few coats of ultra white paint by behr.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Easy and Fast DIY Garage Workshop

I used these plans and modified the height to create functional countertop and shelving in my garage. I added a little face framing too. Thank you for the inspiration Ana!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Mineral Oil
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

tarah

Thu, 03/26/2020 - 15:58

How do I access the plans used for this project? Thanks!

Modern Parson's Bookshelf Turned French Antique

Submitted by cbeach1717 on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 20:55

Much to our dismay our tiny town is not host to any sweet antique shops. So when I began designing our new guest room, I knew that I was going to have to BUILD two bedside tables. Thanks to Anna, that is much more of a possibility for us than I ever might have imagined.

So, I decided on one bookcase and one vanity. For the bookcase I adapted the Parson's style bookshelf plans. But instead of going the modern route, I stained it ebony and painted over with a white satin paint--and of course distressed. Simple, affordable, and quite cute. You can see many more photos at www.thereadinggirl.com.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Ebony Stain, White Satin Paint, distressing.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

theothermrsbell

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 04:31

I am about to start one of these, Reading Girl, and was a bit concerned that it could be too modern for our shabby chic style but no you've done it and it looks great.

Thanks for the inspiration all the way from Botswana.

Kate (not verified)

Fri, 07/08/2011 - 09:22

I just have to know where you got the wire holder and glass bottles!! I absolutely love it!!! I've been looking for something similar for years now.

In reply to by Kate (not verified)

cbeach1717

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 13:55

Thanks, Kate! I bought this set at an antique store! I hope you can find one, or at least something similar! GOOD LUCK :o)

platform bed and jr loft bed with stairs combined

Submitted by jarsofclay on Fri, 08/02/2013 - 17:41

Well we just bought a new house and the bedroom was a bit smaller and lower ceilings for two beds. One daughter had a queen and my other daughter was begging for a new loft bed. Well I searched for plans on many different bunk beds and I came to the conclusion that creating one from two different plans would save the most space. So I made the platform bed and the loft bed separately and added dowels to attach them . The girls were ecstatic. It turned out beautifully!

Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark mahogany with the one step polyurethane. Two coats makes it beautiful brushed with the grain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

jarsofclay

Fri, 08/02/2013 - 18:21

This is my first bed turned out great had alot of challenges though my cordless drill died couldn't find my charger for it so I had to use a corded drill. Then I got a cordless with two fully charged batteries and the batteries drained quickly. One battery died on the first screw...man I was mad had to go back to my antique drill. So this took me a few hours longer than needed ... I think I put in maybe 15 hours into this.

Simple Outdoor Table

Submitted by Kingsamui on Tue, 07/24/2018 - 17:24

Modifications to the simple outdoor table plan thanks to Finn’s dad. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200 -Found a place that had Cedar shorts “B quality”, but very few knots for an unbelievably cheap price. I ran all to boards through a planer to start and saved a bundle.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
3coats Spar Urethane. I’ve heard the Spar doesn’t hold up well, so would have used something rlse if I knew that at the beginning.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Twin Sleeper Chair

Submitted by Hoff7.62 on Sat, 06/04/2022 - 15:20

This was my take on your Twin Sleeper Chair. I made it into a full. I used 2x4’s where there was suppose to be 1x4’s because I changed the width. This was a very fun project, my first project actually. Thank you for the plans and idea.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Michaela Kitchen Island

Modified the plan to use 2x2 with pocket screws to support the shelves.

Shelves were made edge glued board from Lowes https://www.lowes.com/pd/Common-1-in-x-24-in-x-4-ft-Actual-1-in-x-23-25…

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150 - not including the granite countertop
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Spray painted the legs with Flat white paint
Stained shelves with General Finishes Gel Stain in Antique Walnut - 3 coats
Applied General Finishes Top Coat in Satin to everything - 3 coats
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Channing Coffee Bar

Submitted by dbarndt on Thu, 10/01/2015 - 12:11

The Channing Snack Cabinet was the perfect fit for a coffee bar in our little kitchen/dining room. We modified the plan slightly by adding two inches to the height, and putting two drawers in behind a pair of barn doors made from plans by Shanty 2 Chic. The top drawer holds k cups, coasters, etc, and the bottom two drawers hold coffee cups, extra water bottles, and tea.

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
The wood alone was $100, and we used some wood and mdf left over from another project.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
First we stained the cabinet with Minwax dark walnut, and sealed it with Shellac to prevent it from bleeding through the chalk paint. Then used white and yellow chalk paint (Americana Decor Delicate) and distressed with sandpaper for a vintage look. Then it was sealed with Annie Sloan clear wax. The drawer pull and knobs were a splurge from Anthropologie.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Parsons Coffee Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 06/25/2022 - 11:33

I host an Airbnb and wanted to add a small fire table feature to the outdoor front porch of it. Everything prebuilt was either very large or very ugly, so I decided to build a small coffee table and add a tabletop lp gas unit I found. I had built Ana's Farmer's table before so I searched the site and found the Parsons Table series. Ana's plans are so straightforward and easy to customize so I scaled it to fit the space. I added some privacy panels to hide the lp tank making one hinged for access.

Comments

Jewelry/Makeup Storage Cabinet

Thank you Anna for providing the template plans for this project. My wife had a mirror leaning on the wall in our bedroom that rarely got used and jewelry all over the dresser. So thanks to you I was able to turn this cheap mirror into useful storage and organize her jewelry.  Thanks! 

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Glossy spray paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Ana White

Wed, 10/07/2015 - 10:18

Thank you for building!!!  Your post just made my day, I'm so happy to see your build! I love the customization with the jewerly holders too!  Thank you so much for sharing!

Drop Down Hutch Desk

Submitted by danicarby on Wed, 08/28/2013 - 12:05

I designed this desk and created a building plan using Google Sketchup. It has 2 file drawers, 2 smaller drawers, 2 large adjustable shelves and a pullout shelf in the bottom, 4 small adjustable shelves on the top and a large space for a computer monitor. The large door drops open for a large work space. When you're done, put the door up and you have a beautiful piece of furniture!

I consider myself an advanced-beginner when it comes to building. I have just enough knowledge to get me by. If you have time, patience and the right tools you can build this too! It took me 10 days to build, working as much as my kids would allow.

It took me countless hours to perfect the building plan - probably just as much work to design it as it was to build it :)

I really scrounged around to build this desk. I used a large beam my friend cut up into 2x2's for the main posts/legs, pine furring strips for the side boards and around the top for moulding (lots of scraps I already had), 3/4" plywood for the inside dividers/panels & desktop, 1/2" plywood for the drawer boxes, drop-down door & top, 1/4" plywood for drawer bottoms & backing-board. I used 3/4" pine boards for the drawer faces and small doors on the bottom. I used drawer slides from an old dresser I found by our dumpster and vintage knobs I bought online. The other black hardware (hinges, pull handle, and clasps for door) I bought from a big box store and is categorized as gate hardware.

Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I did one coat of Mixwax Whitewash Pickling on the main desk frame and doors. Be careful because it dries fast and you need to do sections and wipe off every minute (especially on plywood). I did Minwax Jacobean Stain on the shelves, drawer boxes and inside parts of the top/back panels. I used Minwax Polycrylic* for all visible surfaces. I sanded with 220 in between all layers.

*After using the desk for a year I wish I would have used a more durable/lasting clearcoat. The Minwax Polycrylic stained very easily (my kids love drawing on things with Crayola markers & pens) and was hard to wipe off and make it look clean. Invest in a nice clearcoat.. you won't regret it (try Ceramithane)!
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

spiceylg

Wed, 08/28/2013 - 15:33

Beautiful and unique build. Just a shame you are in a sense advertising it to sell on a site that offers plans free.

Joni

Sat, 08/31/2013 - 08:22

Your attention to detail is amazing! I see that every little detail matters to you, right down to the stain selection for the interior. This is a beautiful design. I only wish I had a place to use it so I could make it!

Something to hang you hat on

Submitted by sgilly on Mon, 09/02/2013 - 17:45

I built this for a friend of a friend. They had seen a similar hall tree on line that ran between $300-$500. It was made of a mix of materials, including mdf and veneer. It was for newlyweds so I did the finishing (something I really hate) and I made the cushion. I had the mirror cut at a local glass shop, and had it cut a bit shorter than how it appeared in the picture they gave me - I was afraid someone would toss somthing onto the cushion and it would end up hitting the mirror.
They seemed happy with it. I hope to get a picture of it in place so that I can add it to my album titled "Look what Gramma made when she could still do things".

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used 3 coats of Minwax Dark Walnut, 2 coats of rub on polyurethane, satin finish, and then applied a coat of wax and buffed that out.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

CreativeChaos

Tue, 09/03/2013 - 16:45

I was considering making the hall tree for our bathroom and wondering how you stabilized the back without those curvy side supports? I like how yours turned out!

sgilly

Tue, 09/03/2013 - 20:31

It was an easy build and would be really easy to anchor to a wall. I suggested to my clients that they just add anchors to the top piece and screw to the wall there. This is 72" tall. Most people wouldn't even see the anchors. You could also screw through the back from inside the cubbies. It wouldn't budge!

Bathroom Cabinet

Submitted by Smokeydog on Wed, 11/11/2015 - 10:58

I built this cabinet for a little additional bathroom storage.  I used select pine for most of the project and some old leftover hardwood flooring for the top.  The lines of the hardwood gave the cabinet top a nice rustic appearance.  I am happy how this project turned out.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Around 100.00.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
BEHR satin paints
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

LARGE FARMHOUSE TABLE

Submitted by mdbennes on Mon, 11/23/2015 - 09:25

I used Ana's plans for this project, but had to deviate since I built it for a friend who needed a table for 14!!  This thing is huge, 12 feet long, and about 44 inches wide.  I made it out of pine, 2x8s for the top but stuck to the plans for the frame.  It weighs about 200lbs or more, and had to move it with 4 guys...used an enclosed trailer to move it from my house to theirs. They love it so that's all that counts!  Oh ya, in the picture, you will see Ana's rustic X console table too! 

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax English Chestnut stain, then a GLOSS polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Fireplace Barrier

Submitted by ccapps4284 on Tue, 11/24/2015 - 10:54

I was worried about my 13 month old Grandson getting burned by the glass on our gas log fireplace. And I could not find a screen that was not metal and was sturdy enough that I felt comfortable using. So, I did some measuring and built my own to match our existing mantle and frame around the fireplace. Made my own 2x2s for the rail as I could not find any straight enough and "knot free". My wife was a little hesitant when I told her I was going to buld something because I am not the fastest builder as I just do it hwne I get time and feel like it but, this only took a couple of weeks including the painting and staining. I can take it apart in 3 pieces for the summer and store it in the garage.

Estimated Cost
75.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Latex Paint and Minwax stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse table- love it!

Submitted by DogDoc25 on Sat, 09/21/2013 - 13:26

I made this table because I have a very small house and needed a table that was more of a compact size. This table was perfect for that. I also love the farmhouse style. Originally, I didn't realize how much my screws were going to show on the outside, but I actually like how it looks, with the mix of hardware and wood. This table is very heavy and thankfully ended up sturdy! I used a compound miter saw (which I LOVE!) to cut the wood for this project which made it a lot faster than cutting with my jigsaw like I started out with. I bought the wood from home depot, and it took about a whole afternoon to cut the wood, sand, and construct and then about 2 more hours to stain and put the polycyrlic coats on. I did have a little trouble getting the legs on by myself since I had to hold them in place while I was screwing them on, and it was awkward and more difficult than if I had someone to help me hold them while screwing them on. But overall, not too difficult and love how it turned out!

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
1 coat of wood conditioner- let it dry for about 30 minutes
1 coat of minwax dark walnut, (which I loooove) let sit for 20 minutes then wiped off, let that dry overnight
2 coats polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Bunk Bed from Simple Bed, modified

My husband modified the Simple Bunk Bed plan by Margjack and built this bed on weekends over the last month. He first built the four head boards and then went on to design his own railing and ladder. I liked how Margjack created more height and identical beds, especially if/when we use them as individual beds instead of a bunk bed.

After priming and painting all pieces, we assembled the bed in our sons' bedroom. A slide show of the assembly can be found at:

http://vimeo.com/27997563

Estimated Cost
$300.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Primed and then painted.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

river4250

Sun, 09/04/2011 - 09:13

Looks amazing, and I'm totally in love with that color! Great choice.

Tregg Istre (not verified)

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 06:11

I was wanting to know if you could get me the plans to this particular bunk bed? We really like it very much!

Tregg

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 06:24

We are interested in building this bunk bed for our girls is there any way we can get the plans?

Margaret Kubiszyn (not verified)

Wed, 03/14/2012 - 06:22

Tregg - I just used the Simple Bunk Beds plan from Ana (http://ana-white.com/2010/01/plans-how-to-modify-the-simple-bed-to-a-bu…) which is a modification of her Simple bed plan (http://ana-white.com/2009/11/plan-by-request-simple-bed-twin-sized.html)
I further modified it by making 4 headboards instead of 2 headboards and 2 footboards. I fashioned a ladder attached perpendicularly to the side instead of an angled one.
If you look at Ana's plans it should make sense.

Guest (not verified)

Fri, 03/30/2012 - 20:07

I love this, and like others I particularly like the extra height created by doing 4 headboards instead of 2 footboards for the top bunk...my question, though, is how high are your ceilings? I am afraid that if I do this there won't be enough room for the person in the top bunk in our house! Yours looks like it fits just fine, though! :)

Patricia Mandli (not verified)

Sat, 07/21/2012 - 12:49

I LOVE this color! Do you remember (or could look at the can) the name of it and where you bought it? Thanks so much!

wotto

Mon, 03/17/2014 - 08:59

link from vimeo isn't working. Is it still available?

Entertainment Unit

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/05/2022 - 12:31

This entertainment unit was inspired by the 4x4 x base pedestal dining table with planked wood top. It completes the set which also includes the Table, coffee table and lamp table.

All 4 pieces have the same top design
Made from 200mm x 50mm pine sleepers and finished with Cabots benchtop clear finish

Comments

Trash Can Cabinet w/ Bead Board Insert

Submitted by dhunt on Sat, 09/17/2011 - 22:00

My mom bought a similar one several years ago and I've been wanting something like this ever since...so glad I came across this site so I can proudly say I built it myself whenever someone asks!

Estimated Cost
$50-$75
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Olympic One
Paint and primer in one!
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

shammrocky

Sun, 05/19/2013 - 13:44

I would like to purchase something like this, but I cannot find it any where. I actually want to make it into a laundry hamper where it is deep enough to fit two tall thin laundry baskets. Can anyone help me on this?

dia

Thu, 10/10/2013 - 20:59

Absolutely adore how yours turned out. Such an elegant look. Please share the color you used. Can't really tell if it's black or a very dark brown. Thanks and congrats on the gorgeous result!

Debbie440

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 16:23

Yes, I agree, this turned great. I'd also like to know what color it is?