Community Brag Posts

2x4 garage shelving

Submitted by mjberger85 on Sat, 05/23/2015 - 15:07

I built this to fit inside a closet that I have in my garage to store all my camping stuff. I built it 5 feet long so I only had to buy 2x4s that were 10 feet long. I also built the bottom shelf closer to the ground to allow just a little bit more space between the first and second shelf. All in all it was a very easy and fulfilling project. I was a little worried about how sturdy the shelves would be but they are very solid. Thanks Ana!

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Faux fireplace with hidden storage

Submitted by Amymesser on Mon, 12/18/2017 - 05:59

I saw this project on the Ana-white website DIY. Luckily I have a friend that has all the tools so we used the cut list & built this faux media cabinet fireplace. I wanted it to store all my media stuff & have my TV set on top instead of the boring & expensive hanging the tv on the wall route not to mention the damage to my rented apt wall. We made a few modifications we extended the top & moved the center hidden shelf up. 

Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Painted white
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Custom Pantry Spice Rack

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/06/2021 - 02:56

After special ordering glass spice jars for my cupboard I came across your plans for this spice rack and decided to attempt the build. Plans were very well written and easy to execute with a few customizations. I opted for brass rods to hold the jars in place and lined each shelf with shelf liner to ensure the jars don’t move when the pantry door swings. I am very pleased with the outcome and will be making a matching rack for my aluminum foil, plastic wrap, etc.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Bathroom Tower out of scraps

When I saw another builder's little bathroom tower in the brag blog last week,  I knew I needed one for my powder room! Ever since we installed a pedestal sink several years ago, we've had nowhere to put extra toilet paper. With this little tower, that problem is (finally) solved!

I built it will materials I had on hand. Oak plywood I ripped to 11" for the sides and shelves, 1x2 pine for the face frame, and a variety of pine for the top glued and screwed together with my Kreg jig.

The only purchase I made for this tower was the two fabric baskets from Target for about $12, I think. The fact that they fit is not a happy accident -- I built the unit around the basket dimensions.

While it is inspired by Ana's storage tower plans, I definitely went out on my own to make it work with the materials I had lying around.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Almost free.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
The paint is Benjamin Moore Hancock Grey. I picked up a gallon for $5 at the ReStore and cut it with white to paint my bathroom walls and used it full strength for the storage tower. The top is a mixture of stains -- some pecan, some ebony, and some nutmeg. I kept mixing until I got the color I wanted and then applied several coats to get the depth of color I was looking for. I also distressed the top before staining. The whole thing is coated with Krylon satin clear coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

child airplane swing

Submitted by landseer on Tue, 06/18/2013 - 12:11

Airplane swing made from pine and "A" frame made from 2x4's

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum outdoor paint in Patriotic red,white ,black. Plus Navy stickers.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Dog Bunk Bed

We’ve been looking around for some plans for a doggy bunk bed for a while now, but couldn’t find anything that we liked so I decided to build it from scratch. This is a huge bunk bed that was built based on the size of our larger dog’s bed which is 44 x 35. This was pretty simple to build although the stairs we’re quite challenging as I have never done them before so if I can make it, anybody can.

I must stress that before I found Ana’s website about 6 months ago I could barely cut a piece of wood straight. Over this time I have made several things based on the easy to follow plans on this website which ultimately gave me the confidence to go it alone and build this bunk bed. Friends and family are shocked at some of the furniture I’ve made and some don’t even believe I made them and think I’ve bought them from IKEA. My wife has got a list of furniture she wants to make now including a TV console, an armoire and a twin bed for one our daughters. Every spare second I have now is spent is making furniture and I LOVE it.

For anybody who has never built anything and is apprehensive to do so I would just say, do it. Grab what you need and dive right in. You may get frustrated and scream a bit at first, but the reward at the end is well worth it and each project you do will get easier and easier. Be warned though. The better you get, the more people will pester you to make things for them.

Thank you, Ana.

This was made using cheap 1 x 3 and 1 x 4 furring strips for the railings and bed slats, 2 x 4s for the posts and 1 x 10 board for the stairs.

Estimated Cost
$75 - $100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I haven't sanded or finished this yet as we are still deciding on what to do with it.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

My locker Cabinet

Submitted by stedders on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 20:28

I built this locker system with a twist.  I personalized the lockers by drilling the hooks into a cd and paint brush for my son because he is so artistic, a bone holds two hooks for my doggies' cubby, and my daughter has two hooks in a stuffed animal which represents her love for animals.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60.00
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Loft Bed Turned Bunk Bed

Submitted by ktkadoo on Thu, 06/20/2013 - 09:32

When we started building this bed, we liked that it wasn't too tall for our low ceilings, but could still utilize the space beneath it. As we were building it, we thought we would just put a 2nd mattress on the floor, but when we measured it, we decided we could safely turn it into a bunk bed for our 2 youngest daughters. We just built an additional set of rails. Instead of buying another piece of wood for the mattress support, we used the support from an ikea bed that we weren't using. We put the bottom mattress off the ground around 10 inches.

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

AmandaAK

Sun, 06/23/2013 - 09:23

I love the stain! Did you change the overall height of the bed? How much head clearance is there under the bottom bunk? We are wanting to build something similar, but I don't want to hit my head when I tuck the kids in.

ktkadoo

Tue, 06/25/2013 - 19:12

We kept the overall height of the bed the same. I think (and I will try to remember to check in the morning, the kids are all in bed) that there is about 37 inches between the bottoms of each support. WE had another bunkbed and the measurements are pretty similar between the commercial bed and the bed we made.

Becca Trunk

Submitted by Linda7 on Fri, 05/29/2015 - 13:39

I built this trunk for my grandson’s high school graduation, and filled it with a lot of things he might need as he begins his life in the U.S. Air Force. Here are a few hints:
• Build the top after you place the moulding around the top of the box so you can measure exactly how long and wide the top needs to be.
• Don’t forget to measure the width of the 1” x 6” boards; if they are not exactly 5 ½”, adjust the length of the vertical boards on the trunk top or it could be slightly too small.
• Because of the extra width the moulding creates around the perimeter of the box, use narrow utility hinges, piano hinges, or Beverly of bzhays used black decorative strap hinges from Amazon.com.
• I used black handles from Amazon.com: Reliable Hardware Company RH-0540BK-2-A Set of 2 Chest Handle, Black
• For a more finished top on the inside, I filled the holes with wood putty and sanded it smooth, then stained and polyed like the outside of the trunk. The kreg holes are still visible, but not too much.
• Before screwing the box together, I recommend finishing the inside surfaces first; cover the edges that will meet with painter’s tape so the glue will have bonding surfaces.

I love the rustic look most have used in their finishes, but since I used a traditional stained finish, I used the ideas from Justin of jeverette1 who covered the exposed plywood edges with scrap. Since I didn’t have that, I used corner moulding for the corners, and lattice strips to cover the top edges of the box. This gives the trunk a more finished look if you are not going for the rustic/distressed look. I notated below a week-long project - I spend a lot of time in the finishing and do so over several days. Others could certainly finish in a weekend.

I’d like to thank Ana for the wonderful plans, and Whitney of Shanty 2 Chic for the great step-by-steps. Also, a big thank you to Beverly of bzhays and Justin of jeverette1 for responding to me with my questions; you were both so helpful.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150.00 - I used better pine and stain-grade burch plywood to avoid hours of sanding.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Stain: Rusteoleum “classic cherry”; one coat and it took every drop of the small can. Finish: Minwax wipe-on poly, one can is enough for several coats. The pictures were taken at night with a flash, so it appears much shinier than it really is, plus the color is off too - not as "orange-ish" as it appears. I also had to paint the sash lock black (couldn't find any in black) and the piano hinge. The decorative tacks were found at Lowe's in the hardware section among the nails and they come in several finishes.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Carrots Included

Submitted by hoffer5353 on Sun, 12/24/2017 - 07:16

Adorable gift ready for Christmas!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
This project was less than $10 because I used hardware and scraps in my shop.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Express Colors
Spray Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

4 in 1 Entrepreneur Stand

Submitted by jkjackson on Thu, 12/23/2021 - 19:55

I LOVE the hot cocoa stand but wanted to make it “year round”. So I also created accessories for lemonade, fireworks and snow cone stands. The signs are reversible. They are made of metal and attach with magnets. The banners also attach with magnets. There are hot cocoas, gingerbread cookies, peppermints, lemonades, iced cookies, a cake plate, fireworks, smoke bombs, bottle rockets, sparklers, snow cones and a snow cone holder that flips over to become a crate.

Comments

$2 Farmhouse Table

Submitted by Handy Andy on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 14:29

I am starting to work on more and more projects and I'm limited with space. I needed a worktable that could double as a backyard dining table (should the occasion arise). We have been planning to build the farmhouse table for a while now, so this was a great opportunity to build a prototype. I did some repair work for a friends deck and she gave me the leftover decking material. This became my table top. I purchased 4 2x4's at our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore for 50 cents each (this was the only money spent on this project). While I was at the ReStore I also picked up 4 pallets (they are free). After cutting them apart, the 2x4s from the pallets became the table legs and the 1x4's & 1x5's from the pallets became the shelf underneath. The shelf has been great for holding extra tools while I'm working on projects. My daughter likes to stack her toys on it too! This was a super quick and easy build. My wife even suggested we just refinish it and bring this one inside!

As always, I have to give thanks to Ana for such great plans!

Estimated Cost
$2
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
We haven't yet decided on the finish, we might just use a clear coat and call it done!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

My first "build"

Submitted by dkarinen on Sat, 06/22/2013 - 21:05

This was my first Ana White project. It was really super easy! I love the way it turned out! I can play around and change photos depending on my mood or the holiday. We had them all together pretty quick. I sanded and primed them and my husband used the spray gun to paint them. I quickly learned there is a technique to that and I didn't want to screw them up! Great beginner project, now I'm hooked on this site!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$70
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
BEHR Rejuvinate
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Farmhouse nightstand

Submitted by mgibson on Tue, 06/02/2015 - 13:30

This project was very fun, and it was my first nightstand. The directions are so easy to follow. Thanks Ana : )

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

Comments

Faux Fireplace Mantle

Submitted by KristineF on Thu, 12/28/2017 - 08:15

Thank you for providing the plans to this mantle. I had a lot of fun building it with my father while I was training for the NYC Marathon. We finished it the day before the race and was a great way to display both of my accomplishments! It was also a lot of fun to decorate for the holidays. Next I have to build a nice shelf to display all of my finisher medals! 

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Distant Gray paint with satin finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Queen Platform Storage Beds

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 12/26/2021 - 13:01

My husband and I made two Queen Platform Storage Beds for our "Carriage House" apartment. They are a beautiful and functional upgrade! Thank you Ana for sharing your plans!

Comments

Tall Cupboard based on Single Locker Plan

Submitted by mac226 on Fri, 04/22/2011 - 14:22

We have a funny alcove in our kitchen that is narrow but very high.  I didn't want the space to go to waste, but because of the odd shape I couldn't find anything that would work.  I modified the Single Locker Cabinet plans to design a tall cabinet and reclaimed a door from an old wardrobe we found on the street.  


I tried cutting the wood myself with a circular saw, but the cuts weren't straight enough.   So I took the wood to a lumber yard and had it professionally cut.  I had to get a little help from a handyman to get the cupboard square, attach the door and get it anchored to the wall.  (It's so tall it could easily topple without being secured!)

We primed the plywood with two coats and then used and Eco-Friendly eggshell in white to finish it.  To keep the door securely closed we used a long double sided magnet strip.  Now that funny alcove is being put to use.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Two coats primer with white eggshell for interior. Primed door and used Antique Cream cupboard paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Workbench

My husband and I just bought a home that has a fantastic shed/barn in the backyard. I've been wanting a workshop ever since college and this is finally my time to make that dream come true. Enter ana-white.com!! My sister had recommended this site after her husband created an unbelievable loft bed for their 6 year-old. Looking through all the plans I became ecstatic and couldn't wait to get my first project under way. I've printed out MANY plans and can't wait to work on them all, however I realized very quickly that I did not have a space to actually "work" on in the shed. When I came across this workbench plan I knew it was the right one for me.

Some changes were made, since I already had a perfectly good table top that I purchased from IKEA years ago. The top came out to be 23 1/2 x 78 3/4" so I had to make many adjustments in the cuts. I also left the bottom shelf free of plywood since I couldn't fit a piece that large in my Toyota Corolla. All in all, I couldn't be happier with the table. It's sturdy, reliable and provides a TON of workspace for me. My back is already thanking me!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
No finish
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

bullitt453

Tue, 06/25/2013 - 05:58

Good job on the workbench. Since you can't fit the piece of ply in your car, I would recommend cutting a 2x4 support to go between the leg supports. Then cut 1x4s to place perpendicular to the supports to create the shelf. Believe me, that shelf will come in VERY handy, so I would definitely recommend adding it. Its nice to be working on a project and simply reach down for the next tool/supply instead of walking away from your work area to get it.

Simple Stackable Compost Bin from Pallets Collars

Submitted by mtairymd on Sat, 06/06/2015 - 13:48

Build Instructions:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Stackable-Compost-Bin-from-Palle…

How it works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgtd88kKIn0

With one single unit as opposed to two or three bins, the space needed for composting is minimized. Each tier stacks on top of the other, latching together to make the bin. This setup makes it easy to turn and rotate the compost, since moving the collars is simple. Just remove the top collar and place in a new location adjacent to the original bin location. Turn the compost into the new location and stack the collars until finished. This is a great alternative to having multiple compost bins next to each other.

Estimated Cost
Free
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Cabernet colored stain from Varathane and a polyurethane from Minwax.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Table for barbecue

Submitted by Pjc6 on Sat, 12/30/2017 - 11:38

Modified plans to make it a little larger. Top is brown and bottom is ‘wild currant’ (red)

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Top was Olympic paint / sealant. Bottom was SW enamel acrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate