Community Brag Posts

Changing Table / Dresser

Submitted by Ben W on Mon, 12/22/2014 - 09:09

I wanted to build a dresser & changing table combination for our son, who is due in January. I liked the Fillman (Pottery Barn's Fillmore) dresser plan, but also wanted to incorporate some ideas from Pottery Barn's Larkin Hi-Lo Changing table ($1100 - yikes!), namely the side cabinet, so I made a few modifications.

The side cabinet has a pullout shelf to accomodate a diaper pail or hamper. The changing table topper is removable so that this can continue to be used as a dresser when we no longer need the changing table.

I have built a few pieces from or inspired by Ana's site before, but none have been as rewarding as this!

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Sherwin Williams ProClassic Enamel (semi-gloss) in Snowbound.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Linda7

Mon, 12/22/2014 - 10:26

Beautiful build. Your modifications make this table very versatile, and I noticed that your spacing all around the drawers and door is so even. This should become a family heirloom.

Cal King Scrap Wood Bed Frame

Submitted by Jaruddp on Thu, 01/21/2021 - 17:41

My first project from Ana’s plans. Loved having the material and cut list available!! I adjusted my measurements to fit a Cal King just as Ana suggested.

Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

King Size Farm House Bed

Submitted by lolli020 on Sun, 02/17/2013 - 17:32

We made this bed after making the farmhouse bedside tables. So now we have a whole new bedroom set for probably less than $600. We love how it all turned out, and the plans were so easy to follow. We built both projects from Ana's book and plan to build a lot more from it too!

**In the book the plans are for a queen size bed, we modified it to fit our King size**

We added a piece of plywood to the back of the headboard and footboard and stained them so that it would cover all the pocket holes. Also, we extended the very top piece of wood that is on both the head and foot boards so there was a two inch overhang instead of just one.

This bed is so sturdy! I think if a tornado ever blows through we could just hang onto the bed and we wouldn't go anywhere! The side rails also give it a nice finished look even though they just essentially cover the box spring and bed rails. The bed still sits on the metal frame that is bolted into the headboard.

Check out the bedside tables we made to go along with it!
http://ana-white.com/2013/02/farmhouse-bedside-tables-2-toned

Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut- one coat that sat for about 20 minutes before being wiped down

Minwax Water Based Polycrylic- Clear gloss- 2 coats on top of the stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

garzalesley

Mon, 09/14/2015 - 10:05

is there a link that gives the dimensions?  When I click on the print friendly or PDF version it doesn't have much on there

Fancy Jewelry Box

Submitted by mmihelcic on Thu, 12/25/2014 - 21:18

My first real wood project with no help from my father. I wanted to make this for my mother for christmas and I got it done 2 hours before church. I recently purchased a kreg jig r 3 and put it to good use. I made a few changes to the plan that helped me achieve the look that I desired. First, through trial and error I adjusted the kreg jig to be able to drill pocket holes to secure the shelves without the need to go back and wood putty the scrww heads that normal would have been exposed on the outer walls. There is a picture of this set up that I uploaded. Also, when byielding the drawers I made two changes. From what I could tell, the plans called for 1/4 inch plywood for the bottoms of the shelves and that is the way I made them at the beginning. However I was not happy with the appearance of the plywood on the nice face boards I was using for the drawers. So I decided to rip down the two side pieces and the back piece of the drawers ( should be 1 - 5 1/2 inch back piece and 2 - 5 3/4 inch pieces ) but I left the face Plate the full inch and a half that way the plywood wous not show from the front. The last change I made on the drawers was I made 2 pocket holes on each side piece to attach the face to the drawers that way the nail holes would not be showing from the front view. While these steps might not have be necessary , it worked for me. Thank
you very much for the plan my mom cried when she opened the box for the first time.

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
Minwax early American
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

JoanneS

Fri, 12/26/2014 - 16:25

Great job! What a lovely gift for your Mom! It turned out beautiful!

mega coop

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/26/2017 - 13:42

milled a bunch of cedar with the intention of building adirondack chairs, but we got chickens instead :)

Estimated Cost
$50 in hardware milled all the wood
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
just going to let it weather naturally
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Tryde Coffee Table

This is our very first Ana White project! We are so happy with how it turned out and have definitely been inspired to continue to create. Plans are already in the works for matching end tables, a dining table, and a bookshelf! We used cedar for this table. The stain was MinWax American Walnut, the slight red hue is from the wood only. We finished it with polycrylic because we didn't want any ambering. I think we probably spent about 6 hours doing the actual building A lot of that was spent trying to get the table top boards flush against each other. Any tips for picking straight pieces would be very helpful!! I would suggest cutting and screwing together on the same day do boards don't start to dry out. The rest of the time was really about doing test staining, waiting for coats to dry, etc. We did this in our basement so having water base stains was really key.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
MinWax water based conditioner (pre-stain) (applied with cloth)
MinWax water based American Walnut (applied with cloth)
MinWax polyryclic finish (applied with brush)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modified Beach Cottage Dresser

Submitted by diyduo on Sun, 12/28/2014 - 15:38

This is a modified version of Patrick's beach cottage dresser with a shelf at the bottom instead of a fourth drawer. The dresser was painted with Americana Decor chalky paint and distressed with Americana Decor wax. Thanks for this excellent plan, Ana and Patrick! 

Estimated Cost
Under $100.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Americana Decor Chalky Paint, 2 containers of 'Primitive' and 1 container of 'Treasure'
Americana Decor Creme Wax, Deep Brown
Americana Decor Soft Touch Varnish
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Patio sectional

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/27/2017 - 12:22

This was exactly what I was looking for! I was able to make a sectional that fit our 4-season patio perfectly, and saved thousands of $$ in the process. 

 

Cushion details

Fullerton Outdoor Deep Seating Cushion Set - Threshold - http://www.target.com/p/fullerton-outdoor-deep-seating-cushion-set-threshold/-/A-52019240

Watch for sales on patio furniture, we were able to save 35% on the cushions (30% off sale + 5% Target REDCard discount)

 

Estimated Cost(s):

  • Lumber = $200
  • Cushions = $500
  • Screws, stain, miscellaneous supplies = $100
  • Total = $800

Finish Used:

  • Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner
  • Minwax English Chestnut Oil-Based Stain
  • Minway Fast Drying Polyurethane
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Lighted hall tree

Submitted by jeff.meyer on Tue, 02/02/2021 - 16:35

A lighted hall tree.

Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Simple Changing Table

Submitted by JimmyE3 on Sat, 02/23/2013 - 08:59

Wanted to make our friends who were expecting a nice gift that would serve them for many years to come. Used a Kreg Jig (greatest tool ever for amateur carpenter or wood worker!!) for most of the joinery. Wanted it to have a bit of an older look to it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Early American 230 stain and Fast Drying Polyurethane Clear Satin (2 coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Workbench console

Submitted by lincey23 on Wed, 12/31/2014 - 08:27

We built this after getting a new tv. We love it.

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
we used standard pine so it probably cost with stain around $90 to build. Took longer to stain and sand than anything.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
oak stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

4x4 Truss Harvest Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/29/2017 - 10:28

I began with the plans for the 4x4 truss table and modified the plans to include notched joints to make the table stronger. Finished the 4x4 pine base with paint to match our dining chairs and finished the 2x10 top with 1 coat of dark walnut stain and 5 coats of verathane. Added hardware under the legs to level the table. This was my very first woodworking project and everyone says how well it turned out! Next is a headboard and then maybe a dresser. Thanks for these awesome resources!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Adirondack Chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/09/2021 - 08:09

I wanted to buy Adirondack for comfortable lounge chairs but they are so expensive! Came across these plans and it took a little bit of trial and error but they turned out great! Completed 6 chairs total and they are super comfortable and look great!

Estimated Cost
$70 per chair
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Apothecary Console

Submitted by drewkayla on Sun, 02/24/2013 - 23:10

Apothecary Console

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Krylon white primer, Krylon gloss Ivory, walnut stain and polyurethane spray in semi gloss, Behr faux glaze mixed with a Behr brown (roasted nut)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Numbered Cubby Desk Organizer

Submitted by donnamarie on Sat, 01/03/2015 - 12:50

Here's my version of Ana's 'Numbered Cubbies on the Wall'.  Mine is made from a 6' long 1/2" x 3" craft board and a 6' long 1" x 4".  I followed Ana's plan, adjusting mine for a smaller size and proportion.  I used a finish nailer with 1" nails.  The numbers were drawn on with black Sharpie following Ana's method.  First print out a 3" number in your choice of font, cut it out and tape to the cubby, press HARD to outline the number with a ball-point pen, then remove the stencil and fill in with paint or marker. 

This is an easy and fun project.  It's very versatile and cute and looks store bought and expensive.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Woodfinish in Provincial 211, with numbers written in black Sharpie
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Black and Brown Simple Outdoor Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/01/2017 - 12:47

I built the simple outdoor table using a black frame and Brown boards on top.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100 with paint
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Black outdoor paint and valspar color radiance dark brown
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

We Did It! We Made The Farmhouse Table and Bench!

Submitted by fsufan3535 on Tue, 02/16/2021 - 10:58

My sister and I made The Farmhouse Table and Bench (with pocket holes) for my daughter and son-in-love. She was so surprised, she cried! I think she loved it!! It was my first project and now I'm getting requests from my oldest daughter to make one for her after her closing the end of next month.
Thank you Ana White for sharing your plans and making it so easy to follow!

Our family coffee table

Easy to build 

Estimated Cost
$30-$40
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Black walnut stain s/g laquer
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Loft bed with side rail

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/03/2017 - 13:53

na

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Plant Corner

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/23/2021 - 08:35

This was my first piece of furniture to make all on my own and the Corner Cupboard plans were soooo helpful! I needed more space for plants and had already built shelves in every window of my house, so I decided it was time to make a larger space to house my plants and add supplemental lighting so I could put it anywhere I wanted. This corner was dark and I don't love lamp light, so I thought a pop of color + plants + daylight grow lights would be perfect for the space! I've been taking on more carpentry projects and also wanted something that was a bit more challenging. This plan was perfect! I'm more of a napkin planner myself, so it was nice having the structure provided in Ana's plans and the cut list was super helpful. I had to make some modifications to fit things into my car, but it all came together nicely! This being a plant hutch with grow lights was the plan all along, but I gotta tell ya, when it came to having to drill 3/4" holes in the back of my newly built beautiful hutch, it took me a minute to work up the courage! I really love how it all came together - thanks for sharing your plans, Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Kilz primer + Behr orange flambe paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Train Table

Submitted by amberhibbs on Fri, 03/01/2013 - 10:17

I made this train table for my nieces for Christmas. They LOVED it!

I used pre-primed MDF boards and plywood. I skipped the bottom shelf since I knew it would never actually be used as a coffee table and cut half circles out of the top for access so that it wouldn't need hardware.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50 (I bought the plywood at the ReStore and saved some money)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I gave it two coats of an aqua I mixed myself from some random paints I had around the house, then distressed the edges and used a Minwax Stain Marker on the bare spots I created. I should have gave the whole thing a coat of furniture wax or hemp oil, butt I didn't get that done before Christmas morning came.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner