Community Brag Posts

Picnic Tables

For my son's 4th birthday party, we were doing it at our house and needed outdoor seating, so I took on the task of building 3 Toddler picnic tables and 1 smaller one. Building them was not that big of a deal, but painting all 4 took some time! After the party, we sent 1 to my parents, 1 to in-laws & 1 to my bro/sis-in-law, so only ended up with 1 left over. FYI-the picture on the plan is one of mine, thanks Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I primed each table, then painted them with 3 coats of paint and sealed them.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

2x4 cubby

Submitted by arkep on Tue, 05/14/2013 - 19:26

These cubbies are the next step in organizing my sewing/guest room. I plan to fill the shelves with fabric and books very soon!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50 (I already had the casters and paint)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
white primer, followed by Benjamin Moore Advance Paint (white)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Train and Activity table

Submitted by mamrotu73 on Sun, 04/05/2015 - 11:06

With a few modifications, I made this table into an actovity table for my son. 

I made the lid out of 1/4" plywood so it would be lighter, painted one side in chalkboard paint and glued down lego base plates to the other.

Instead of a shelf underneath, I added sliders to hold storage bins.

I also mounted a curtain rod on one end to hold a roll of art paper and cut slots in the end trim pieces to feed it through.

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Chalk paint with furniture wax for the main body. Chalkboard paint on the lid. Felt lining the inner train area.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Shelves (ledges)

Submitted by jwillo on Fri, 07/14/2017 - 00:15

My husband and I built the 10 dollar ledges to use for book storage in our nursery. I love how they allow you to display the books as well as store them. This is the second time we have used this plan for wall decor in our house, and our fifth build overall from one of Ana's plans. I love all the fun options! 

For the small size, we only needed three boards so it was inexpensive and they came out great. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$8
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Natural walnut stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Patio furniture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 14:43

Followed Ana’s plans, very easy to follow. Chose two different sizes, different woods, and different cushions. Very pleased with outcome.

Comments

Danielle's Painter's Ladder Shelf

Submitted by zigmommy on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 13:50

This was the first good-sized project I built by myself. I finished it more than 4 months ago and it still makes me smile every time I look at it. :-) A simple, functional and BEAUTIFUL shelf that will work anywhere and for anyone! I was so impatient for it to be finished I didn't put poly or any clear coat on it and I'm still in love!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About $30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Sherwin Williams 'Sierra Redwood'

(The grain in the wood shows through just BEAUTIFULLY!)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Weatherly Outdoor Sectional!

Submitted by Celeste808 on Sun, 05/19/2013 - 07:40

I really wanted some outdoor furniture but did not want to spend the thousands for a sectional. I used this plan and created the entire sectional for less than $500!

Wood =

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Valspar Outdoor White Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

spiceylg

Tue, 05/21/2013 - 04:43

This came out so beautiful! Okay, I usually don't bring attention to typos, but this one you might want to fix. You wrote suck instead of such. Oops! :)

Reclaimed console table

This reclaimed console was not build from one of Ana's plan but I did want to share it to inspire others to work with reclaimed wood.  I used reclaimed pallet wood for this build, except for the drawer, I used MDF. For the finish I used an oil based poly. 

Estimated Cost
$0.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

tracygator

Wed, 04/08/2015 - 13:54

This is awesome! I have wanted to make a coffee table similar to this and was inspired by west elm Emerson collection. Can I ask how you cut your boards so the top and sides meet seamlessly? Thank you!

tracygator

Wed, 04/08/2015 - 19:38

It looks just like west elm. Did you lay the boards on plywood first? It looks like there are a few pieces per row on the side if that makes sense. Seriously I love this

dthomas

Sat, 07/30/2016 - 16:51

Do you have any building plans for the pieces you make? I'm a beginner to intermediate in my skill level and sometimes need specific instructions. I really liked your one drawer console and your reclaimed unique TV stand.

Thanks

Industrial Chandelier

Submitted by SaraLodise on Fri, 07/21/2017 - 05:22

Industrial chandelier for our dining room made from black iron pipe pieces from Lowes and some leftover black walnut scraps. It was a sometimes frustrating design-as-you go project that required loads of help from my electrical engineer husband. Love how it finally turned out!

Estimated Cost
$220
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax special walnut to match pine to other wood, then a coat of Waterlox to bring out walnut grain.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Sideboard

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 16:40

I had a friend ask me to build them a sideboard that fit a 7' wall in their dining room. They found the picture and I made to their specifications. First picture is just finished, the second picture is how they painted and placed it.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Farmhouse Bench

Submitted by lhynx28 on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 16:34

Tools Used:
Jigsaw, Hammer & Sander.

FIRST Project! Made this for my brother who works out at home and uses his bed as bench when he lifts weights. tsktsk. It took me 2 days, on and off to finish this. :))

Thanks Ana for the plan. I learned a lot and I can't wait to try and build your other plans. :)

Estimated Cost
$35
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Dog Kennel End table (small)

I loved this plan, but needed to cut down the size. I added fabric to the side panels to make it a little prettier. I had my ply cut at Home Depot, but cut all of the rest of the wood with my little had miter box, which added a lot more time to the process, but it was worth it! More details on my blog. Great plan, as always, Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Clark & Kensington, Paint & Primer all in one from Ace.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Brookstone King Size Headboard

Submitted by RenoRustic on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:20

I built this headboard to coordinate with the nightstand, tv console and blanket ladder I had previously built. We recently purchased a King size bed and found ourselves in desparate need of a furniture makeover. I modified the plans to fit our bed, and wanted a beefier look so I used a combination of twelve 1x6s and three 1x4s as opposed to only using 1x4s for the panel back. I also used 1x6s for the trim as well. Legs were made of 1x4s, doubled up at the bottom for additional support. I built it so that the legs could bolt to the bedframe using lag bolts. I also wanted it to be a bit taller so I increased the height to 56" tall.

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I stained the headboard with Minwax Special Walnut and then hand painted 3 coats of Pittsburgh Paint, which is very thick. I let everything dry and then antiqued it using a combination of 120 grit sandpaper and steel wool pads.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Rustic picture frame

Submitted by FireWolf13 on Thu, 08/03/2017 - 19:26

Simple picture frame made from old scraps of wood I found laying around. 

Estimated Cost
Free
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
None because I wanted the old look.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

My version of Adirondack chair!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 18:32

I tweeked this project because I was making it for a larger person. On the whole, I think it came out pretty good! Thanks Ana! I love your website and plans.

Comments

Triple Pedestal Farmhouse Table & Bench

When my wife and I bought our new house, our little apartment-size table looked dumb in our new dining room. With the help of Ana White's plans, my first ever building project was a great success. The project took some extra time because I was doing it by myself in the afternoons and whenever I found the chance. The plans were for a 9ft table and matching bench, but our dining room wasn't quite that big. I shaved about 14 inches off the length and planed the boards for a flat surface (making the table and bench slightly narrower.) As an absolute amateur, I cannot stress how important the use of the Kreg Jig was for this project! With a little bit of patience, love, and faith in yourself, you can do anything you put your mind to. I am so honored to have built the table at which my children will grow up sitting. Thank you, Ana White!

Estimated Cost
$300 + necessary tools
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Brand, Early American Stain and Minwax Brand Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Building for six

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 12:26

I love how smooth your tabletop looks! I grew-up with a kitchen table with a grove all the way around it and can't imagine dealing with that again. Can you go into more detail about how you planed the boards and how difficult the process was? I have built a couple pieces from Ana's site but am still new to all of this...any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sarah

Bird Feeder on a pole!

Submitted by Sue Hill on Fri, 08/11/2017 - 15:34

What a great little feeder! I didn't put mine in the window yet, because the screens are on for the summer. I screwed a metal flange into the bottom of the bird feed then screwed a metal pipe into the flange. Then put it in the ground under the window.  I'll add the suction cups and put it in the window in the fall.  I love watching the birds!

Estimated Cost
It didn't cost me anything since I used scrap wood from other projects. I also had the metal flange & pole in my basement. The 1/2" pipe flange is about $5, the metal pipe can run $12-$15 or more depending on how tall you want it. I used some exterior paint that I also had from another project.
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Exterior paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Best Farmhouse Bed (Q)

Our fifth build.

Built from rough pine.

Modified for 1x2s in both panels.

Footboard is stacked a little different because silly me got carried away and cut a board, before it was time to cut, and cut it too short. Oooops. Still works though. And looks superb I think.

We did not screw the joists vertical, and through the sideboards. I cut 1 inch pieces off the scraps from the joists, and mounted them from the inside, then laid the joists thick side up, and screwed them down into the mounted pieces.

For step by step instructions, and details on where to buy everything, see my blog. I blogged each step of the way. It took us a month to build this due to life obstacles and bad timing on baby naps, but you should be able to do it in one good afternoon.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$115.94 - 10% + Coupon = Less than $100, seriously!
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rockler's General Finishes Espresso Stain, and General Finishes Aqua Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Vintage Step Stool

Submitted by chrisiross on Mon, 05/27/2013 - 08:18

I made this awesome step stool for my daughter to be able to reach things a little bit better. It works perfectly. And the heart adds the perfect touch, don't you think?

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
paint and poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner