Community Brag Posts
Square farm table
My couches were inherited from my mom, and she loves everything BIG. So I have very deep, very tall and very BIG sofas that need a hefty table to hold it's own between them. I was working on converting the dimensions of the modern farm table on my own, but Miss Ana is known to be a mind reader, and drew up these plans before I finished mine!
I am terrible when it comes to a) reading the advice given in comments and b.) finishing, so I didn't know it would be absolutely beneficial to stain these pieces before assembly... OOPS! At least it's in a corner! :-p
made with love by my Grandchildren and I
My grandchildren needed a table that they could use for blocks, coloring, trains and just all around fun so with the help from my 4 year old and 3 year old Grandson's we created the perfect table from the rustic x coffee table plans.
Restoration Hardware-like coffee table
So Worth It!
This project was possibly beyond my expertise however persistance, reading and asking for help worked. This table was a 5 month project with a start, a quit, a re-buy and finally a full steam forward to the finish line.
Although difficult, I learned so much during this build-how to use a biscuit joiner (then reverted back to my Kreg Jig), how to clamp pieces so that they remain even, how to properly finish a table, how important measuring and squaring are, etc...
I have a large sectional so I had to revise the size of this table. Ours is a 3' x 5' table. The most difficult part of building where we live is finding good lumber. There were 3 different types of wood used on the project but thankfully I was able to stain to match.
Off to start my next project-our son's headboard. Should be a piece of cake. I'll let you know and it WILL be sooner than 5 months! Happy Building! Karla
Spa bench
My wife asked for a terrible particle board bench for Christmas. When I complained about the quality, she told me to build one instead. I may have been played.
I found the plans here and the only modifications I made were resizing to fit our space, and adding a tree design to the sides, cut using my desktop CNC router. The design was purchased from an artist shop on Etsy.
She loves the bench and I saved a few hundred dollars. I also got to finish another project which is awesome.
X based pedestal table
The entire table was made from 200mm x 50mm x 2400mm pine landscaping sleepers. Finished with Cabots benchtop clear
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My pottery barn ledge
I've been wanting the pottery barn decorative ledge forever! I saw the picture online and was hoping I could find a tutorial for it. I ran across a couple but they weren't quite as big as the original and I wanted it to hang above my king size bed. So yesterday I headed out to my garage where I new I had a bunch of scraps/leftovers from my projects as well as my neighbor brought over some of his scap wood. I printed of the PB picture and wrote down the dimensions and got to work! This was my final result.
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Building Built In Bookshelves
I decided to build bookshelves on either side of the fireplace, where it was just drywall. I wanted them to be flush with the wall, and the garage is behind the wall. So, I built them into the garage.
I put headers above where the bookshelves would be, and framed the back side in the garage with just 2x4's. I used full sheets of bead board to cover the backs and sides, and tops. Then I bought pre made shelves and put them up using quarter round to support the shelves on all three sides.
I then bought a door frame kit that I liked, that came with fluted pieces for the sides and top with decorative squares to put at the corners. I caulked and painted it all once it was built. I used a circular saw, framing nail gun, compressor, trim nail gun, chop saw and a hammer total. It was a pretty simple project but has made the space much more useable and pretty. My next project is to build a mantle and surround that matches the bookshelves.
Butternut Coffee Table
I built this table out of really rough old lumber from our family farm. Lots of sanding and a real rustic look. Thanks for the plans! I love it!
Dream Dollhouse
Built for 3 year old Granddaughter 2018 Christmas. Great instructions thanks. Added ridge cap instead of chimney. Stained floors for the hardwood floor look.
Small Bathroom Shelf
We had an existing cabinet in our small bathroom, so I build this small "bookshelf" to fit perfectly under it for more storage. Always inspired by Ana, this is just a bookshelf made with 1x8 boards with a 1x2 face frame. Quick, easy and functional, that's how I like it.
Coffee table with storage, based on the factory cart coffee table.
I modified the factory cart coffee table plans to make a coffee table with a removable top for storage. The result was more Pottery Barn than Restoration Hardware. I put a piece of plywood on the bottom, to make an enclosed box. Then modified the frame under the 1x6's of the top, to make it fit snugly in the opening of the top of the box. The sides of the box were 1x12's I had leftover from another project. Actually, everything was leftovers, except the 1x6's for the top, and the castors. The 4 inch castors were painted flat black with high heat wood stove paint (also a leftover from refinishing our pellet stove). I used smaller castors, since the table was already taller than the original plans.
Satin Polyurathane (oil based)
Ralph Lauren Flour Sack White Latex paint
Rustic X Desk from - Console Plan
I wanted to create a library table (big desk) for my two youngest boys so they would have a craft/homework space. I liked the plan for rustic x console so I adapted it to make this 7 ft desk. Kids love it so much I couldn't even get a picture of it before they started using it.
Comments
Fri, 09/13/2013 - 07:02
Top looks like metal!
I love what you did with the finish on the top. It makes it look like metal. It looks so good with the black base. Very unique!!
Fri, 09/13/2013 - 11:07
Thank you
The vinegar will turn oak dark purple (not a chemist so I can't tell you why). The first coat of stain (gray) protects the wood (but not entirely) from that reaction. So when you rub the rusty steel wool and vinegar over the surface and let it sit, it creates depth. But it is easy.
Fri, 05/09/2014 - 07:55
I love this!
This desk is great! I love the X plans, and I need a better desk than what I have. Would you be willing to do a plan post to share how you modified the console to a desk. While I've been lurking Ana-White for a few months, I've yet to actually build things, so I'm not sure I want to attempt going too far off plan on one of my first eventual projects.
Antiqued TV frame
Me: Hey can we get a new TV?
Wife: No, there is nothing wrong with ours.
Me: Darn, ok. Hey what if I build this cool frame around it?
Wife: <3 <3 <3 OK! <3 <3 <3
Me: Win.
So this is a project from quite a while back, one of my first builds that got me hooked on woodworking actually. I made a few modifications (obviously) since our TV was super thin it just wasn't going to work the way I wanted. I decided to go with more of a tapered look instead. It was my first experience with the "antiquing" technique, after lots of trial and error I ended up getting the look we were going for. It was overall a fun and fairly easy build, with a few learning moments along the way. The only time any of these projects seem "complicated," is when you over think everything, like I do :)
Comments
Sat, 03/26/2016 - 08:42
Barn Door Hardware
This looks beautiful! Was wondering where you purchased the barn door hardware? Been looking everywhere to find some that won't break the bank.
Such a fun build!
I've used Ana's plans for several builds in my house and this one was so much fun to build. I love the way it turned out and think it looks great! Thanks for all the great plans Ana! Keep them coming and I'll keep building. :)
Comments
Sat, 01/05/2019 - 14:27
SO pretty! I love this table
SO pretty! I love this table too, it is so easy but very substantial! We are using the same table right now too!
trundle Bed
Revised plans to fit smaller mattress, removed side, and simplified head board and footboard.
Comments
Tue, 10/04/2022 - 08:11
Sweet bed with trundle!
Great mods, looks awesome, thank you so much for sharing!
The Wife's Request
My wife wanted me to build her a coffee table that looked like an industrial cart for about the last year. I saw this plan on the Ana White web site, and it was just what she wanted. The hardest part of this was finding the wheels for the cart.
Another Pirate's Treasure Trunk
I had so much fun doing the prototype of the pirate’s treasure trunk, I built another one today! It was a super-fast build, and I did some things differently today which really speeded up the finishing process.
The first difference on this one is the use of the ½” x 2 ½” angle. It’s the next size larger than the one from yesterday. Instead of using the screws that came with it, I used some 1 ¼” Kreg screws. The hardware and screws are painted with some gloss black paint. I think it made for a sturdier hinge, so I’ll be doing them that way from now on. I also made a little “gasket” out of felt to go behind the bracket at the bottom where the pivot screw is attached. I’m hoping this will protect from friction over time.
For the finish, I started it with the gray wash just like the original. For the walnut glaze, instead of mixing the Minwax Express Color with mixing glaze, I just diluted it with some water. This dried much faster, but it gave the same look. I added 2 coats of Minwax oil modified water based poly before attaching the hardware. I still used the super glue before attaching with the furniture nails, but skipped the mod podge step, and just went over the hardware and keyhole with an artist’s brush and some poly.
All the wood was scrap and the finishing materials were left over from other projects. I bought the corner brackets and the larger angle brackets this morning at Ace for $7.50. These pieces cost a little more than Lowe’s, but Ace was closer so it saved me a trip.
There's another one of these in work (a lady’s trunk) which I will post later.
Comments
Table centerpiece trough
Used scrap cedar fence pickets for this build- only sanded the roughness off the top so that the saw marks remained to give it a rustic look. added tea stain then steel wool vinegar mix to age the boards, then a coat of poly on top. Very quick build, held together by brad nails.
Rustic X Console
This project took an afternoon to cut and assemble and a morning to paint. I wanted to try a light grey stain but only had dark browns on hand so I did a grey wash with some grey paint I had from another project and wiped down with an old rag. I love how it turned out! The X’s Were a little tricky for this beginner but I figured it out after a refresher course with the speed square.
Custom made easy. Thank you!
Wanted something that could accommodate two foot stools so I made a couple of changes to the bottom construction and added casters. My version is a bit rough and ready (first time building a piece of furniture) but your plan was easy to follow and it's perfect for our space. Thank you for making these plans available and your comprehensive videos! My husband wants to know when I'm starting my next project.
Comments
Ana White Admin
Sun, 09/04/2022 - 12:51
Love it!
Beautiful porch and love the addition of the potting bench, super pretty!