Community Brag Posts

This bed took me just about 2 weeks as I only worked on it roughly 2 hours a day. I had to convert the plans to work with platforms because we needed a platform bed. I used whatever wood was around the garage to make the platforms so they are a mix of different woods and sizes. I originally was going to have the platforms detach but I wanted the bed to come apart in as few pieces as possible, so I made the platforms part of the main box. So there are only 3 main pieces. Although I do have 2 pieces of wood for support under the bed, beneath the center beam. I also used bolts instead of screws so I could take it apart more easily. I did end up putting the arch in using my handheld jigsaw.

We love the bed and think it turned out great! Love this website!!

Farmhouse Media Center

I built the library book cart to organize all my toddler and preschooler's books. What we were using just wasn't cutting it; the books end up being scattered everywhere. I love the idea of a pretend library cart (I used to work in one...), and the kids can feel like they have the library in their room! They're playing "library" as I type!

This was an easy build. I used 1 1/4" screws for the 2-in castor wheels for 3 out of 4 screws per castor where I had enough depth. I also used wood glue. For the 4th screw per castor, I used 1/2" screws. This was mainly due to being all I had on hand...not sure if it was correct. We'll see if the wheels hold up with the weight of all the books! Other than those changes, I followed Ana's plans.

Oh, and I managed to create handles without really knowing what I was doing! They turned out OK. I tried two different methods for each handle, but basically used a drill, chisel, and jigsaw and then sanded, sanded, sanded after I made the cut. I think I can do better next time!

When I saw this bed plan, I knew it was a must have for my 4-yr old daughter. It was a fairly easy build as long as you have the right tools (ie Kreg Jig). Due to the size of the finished product, I built the 5 sides out in the garage, put one coat of paint on everything, and then carried them into the bedroom for assembly. I then put on a second coat of paint. Needless to say painting this bed was tedious, and if I had to do things over, I would consider a power sprayer and at least priming the entire thing before final assembly. I went with the toy boxes in the steps per Ana's plan and it is perfect for all of my daughter's "babies". We found some wall stickers at Target that fit our theme perfectly and added them to the bed. She loves it!! Thanks Ana for the plans!

I've been thinking about this one for a while, and finally built up the courage to do it.  Ana had lots of good plans and I learned so much from her other table plans, but the brag post: http://ana-white.com/2012/03/simple-square-cedar-outdoor-dining-table is the one that ultimately pushed me over the edge to start.  I spent a ton of time researching wood types, Minwax types, Kreg Jig settings, etc.  Finally pulled the trigger and got started.  It took me several weeks start to finish, but it was usually only a few hours at a time at night after everyone had gone to bed.  The most labor-intensive part was triple-coating all of the redwood.  Coat, dry, flip, coat, dry, sand, repeat.  Took a loooong time but the finish is absolutely gorgeous.  The photos don't really show how deep red the wood really is.  Actually assembling the table didn't take that long.  Big thanks to Finns-Dad (user) for the inspiration and good photos - it was relatively easy to build my own plans in Illustrator from those.  Now to make some matching benches...

I have wanted an outdoor sectional for our Atrium for a really long time, but I didn't want to spend the thousands on it that Pottery Barn/West Elm Charged. I built the entire sofa for $220, which is less than the cost of one armless piece from west Elm. (To get the pieces that I built from West Elm it would have cost $1116 which includes the extra delivery charge, but not tax or shipping.) I also sewed my own cushions to save a little extra dough (even though I'm a TERRIBLE sewer) for aprox $29 a cushion. (Their cushions are $59 a piece!) I also used leftover stain and poly that we had from some window trim we had freshened up a few weeks prior. So, total, I saved myself about $1000!

I mention that this project is probably a week long project, but that is only because there are so many pieces. In reality, I probably made one part of the sectional per day, including all of the sanding, staining, and poly.

I'm so proud to have such a beautiful piece to lounge around on and entertain this summer while still keeping a budget!

My dream project...took me a lot longer than anticipated. But a very sturdy bed when finished. I only have the matress and not a box spring, so i raised the support for mattress almost to the top of the sideboards.  The large posts gave me problems at first because i was unsure if ''special 3x3'' meant actual 3x3 or 2.5x2.5 so i ended up having to send them through table saw twice.

Built for my sister. Bolts from Home Depot. Flat corner brackets are spray painted and hinges ordered from Lowe’s. 

I used Ana's idea for the plan, but modified it slightly to stand up to my wrecking crew (aks the kiddos). I posted a step by step plan with photos on my blog if you want to use the information for yourself.

Thanks for the plans Ana! We love our new bed.

I found the plans for a farmhouse table here on Ana White`s and decided that this would be a great design an real outdoor table.The table seats 12 people and I also made four benches to go with it. The reason I made four benches is that it is easyer when someone needs to get up and leave the table. Under the feet I mounted small blocks of wood since the table will be standing directly on the ground. This way the rainwater will pass under the feet and if necessary these blocks are easy to change. The feet and the supports are made with 2X4" and the tabletop is made with 1,5X6" all in pressuretreated pine. Pressuretreated pine workes well outdoor in the nordic climate here in Norway and is cheap and widly awailable.

Greatings from Norway

This was my first project after discovering the "Ana White" web site.  After looking through the brag photos I zeroed in the Rustic X Console.  I was specifically inspired by the photos from "Celeste808" and "aDIYguy".  It also gave me an opportunity to try out my new Kreg Pocket jig. I hope you like the pictures.

I took Ana's amazing easy upholstered bench from modern to "magnifique," with a simple pleated skirt and silk upholstered seat cushion! Now our oddly shaped breakfast nook has a built-in that doesn't look so--well--built-in! Ana was right, it truly doesn't get EASIER than this :o)

I chose to laminate 1x2's together for legs, and then simply used a 1x2 as the brace between the legs. I also ran the top across my router to give it nice rounded edges around the top. Really was super easy and super cheap. I painted it to match my dog-kennel coffee table.

I was just thinking "Where can I put their backpacks and folders this year so we don't lose/forget so many things this year?" Thanks Ana! Modified the plans to make use of my scrap pile. I ordered the vinyls off Etsy from, The Vinyl Things in Life, she custom made them to my dimensions and I love the pop of color! Sorry I can't get better pictures, our entry is tiny.