Community Brag Posts

Backpack and Homework Center

Submitted by efmolly on Sun, 08/17/2014 - 16:09

I needed a solution for my kids backpacks and disorganized papers. I was able to come up with organizer using a quarter-sheet of plywood, a fence board, and a 4' hobby board. It involves ripping the plywood into smaller strips, so I table saw would be helpful, but the project is totally do-able with just a skill saw.

You basically notch 3 divider boards, attach it to a piece of plywood and build a box for each cubbies. I added lag screws and washers for decoration, and some small coat hooks for storage.

Estimated Cost
$35 - with hardware
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
oxidizing solution and clear, matte lacquer.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse side desk

Submitted by vprice on Mon, 08/17/2020 - 16:28

This is a modified farmhouse desk we built. It is 60” and it doesn’t have the crossbars on the backside. We put this to the side of my desk.

Fanxy X Table

Submitted by joyride805 on Fri, 11/02/2012 - 14:05

Our fancy x table and bench

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Small table and ledges for Baby's room

After making the Kendal dresser for my cousin, she ask me to build her the small farmhouse table to put next to her glider. I had to make it smaller to fit her space but the plans were so easy to follow and just as easy to make the adjustments. Ana's plans are user friendly like that.
I also made the $10.00 ledges so the little guy can have a place for his stuffed animals and books.
The stain I used was the same as the Kendal dresser so it all matched beautifully in the room. I think this is about the 40th piece I've made from Ana's website since discovering it in January of this year. Am I hooked? I'd say so! Great plans!
My next project will be the toddler seats painted like animals from Killer B Designs that were featured today. I love them!

Estimated Cost
used left over material but probably around $40.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
ZAR wood stain in Moorish Teak and ZAR finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Hand Made Loft Bed

I have not done any wood working since high school some 30 years ago. I inherited a table saw, found these plans and thought 'why not?' I took my time with measuring, cutting etc. and the matress support pieces have a LOT of screws. This bed is SOLID. It holds my son and granddaughter easily. It disassembles and reassembles for moving so we had no trouble moving from the apartment to my son's new house. Do I need to say that I'm the hero grandpa for making this bed? My granddaughter has used this bed for a year and it's still as solid as day 1.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$350-$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
clear coat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Outdoor Privacy Wall

I built this wall to give us a little privacy when our family wants to lay out and go swimming. Also, to hide our neighbor’s ugly fence! The length for all pieces are 8’ long for no cutting and the widths are 1x2, 1x6, 4x4 with 3/4” spacing and about 100 or so deck screws. I modified the pattern from a photo of a fence I seen on HomeDepots YouTube.

Estimated Cost
140
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Thompson Waterseal - Semi Transparent - Autumn Brown
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Clothesline Frame

Submitted by lphair on Sun, 11/04/2012 - 21:55

I loved the simplicity of this project. I scaled down the original size, to make the 1x3's 33 inches high by 22 inches wide. I also went with my kreg jig set at 1/2" and used 1" screws. I did this because I cracked the first board without even blinking when the kreg jig was set to a depth of 3/4", using 1 1/4" screws.

Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Express Finish in Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Adirondack Stool or End Table

First Ana White build

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Legs were painted pure white & top was painted tan with ebony glaze.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Farm table for 12

A modification of the plans from Shanty2Chic - built to fit the space. I eliminated the curves brackets - I wasn't able to pull those off without a bandsaw. Instead, the legs have black steele straps that will match hardware on the beams in the house.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax - mixture of Provincial, Weathered Wood, and Classic Grey
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Outdoors Simple Modern Chair (dining size)

Submitted by Joella C on Sun, 08/23/2020 - 11:47

Finally the 3 rd piece made for the COVID-19 Birthday Celebration outdoors for my husband and his twin! “ all together but socially distant” I made the Oudoor Simple Modern Chair (dining size) for the ends of the 2 tables! Again...I’m a nurse never having touched Power tools, let alone knowing what they were called! Ana made it possible for me to create these to celebrate outdoors my husband and his twin for their birthday during a Pandemic!

Estimated Cost
$100 for 4
Finish Used
Matching deck stain and poly all in one Varathane Natural

Camp Loft BEd

Submitted by Anna H on Wed, 11/07/2012 - 17:09

My son has a very small room so this bed is perfect! It gives him much need play space. He loves it! It was super easy to build. I added a support across the back to make it even more sturdy. Thanks Ana for another great plan!

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Black Cherry Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Chris' version Pedastal Table

Submitted by mydoc17 on Fri, 08/29/2014 - 05:26

This is my version of the pedastal table.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut and polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Rustic Rope console table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/14/2016 - 12:38

We took the plan from Ana and instead of the wood X's on the sides, we changed it to rope. We stained it a dark brown so this just gave it some more dimension... we love it!!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Miniwax gel stain in hickory, top coat was miniwax polyacrylic in satin so there wasn't a gloss or color change. Spray painted the hardware in a matte black dorm rustoleum.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Finally finished my 2x4 modern adirondack chairs!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/28/2020 - 07:52

I finally finished my DIY Modern Adirondack Chairs! Frame made with 2x4 cedar lumber and seat and backs with 1x10 pine planks. Stained with Benjamin Moore Aborcoat silver grey semi-transparent stain with a clear coat. Used a free diy plan by Ana White with some slight modifications to make the chair back higher. Cost was a bit higher than expected but lumber has gotten more expensive during the Covid time.
Thanks Ana for the design and the YouTube video. I watched it at least 20 times!

Estimated Cost
About $100/chair
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Benjamin Moore Arborcoat Silver-Grey semi-transparent again, Arborcoat Clearcoat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Seasonal And Holiday

Nursery Crib

The crib was our last build project for our daughter's cowgirl nursery. My husband knew he wanted to build the crib long before we knew we were pregnant.

As a mechanical design engineer, he found crib dimensions online that put together a design of what we wanted in CAD. We wanted the end panels to look like barn doors. We also wanted the slat sides to look like the metal on a horse stall. This gave us the overall look we wanted for our cowgirl room!

We also built together a side table, closet system, barm bookshelf, and dresser/changing table. I cannot take any credit for the crib. This was all my husband's work. Excited to bring our daughter home to her complete nursery soon!

Estimated Cost
$150 (red oak is pricey)
Finish Used
Light oak and hammered black spray paint for the slats
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

Drew N Heidi 07

Sun, 08/31/2014 - 03:39

My husband worked very hard on the design and building of this. I couldn't be more pleased! This was definitely Drew's build for the nursery. The rest of the projects were done together. :-)

booksnotbombs

Sun, 08/31/2014 - 12:51

What a beautiful build. He did a great job, and you can sleep soundly knowing it is safe since he is an engineer! I also love the barn bookshelf in the background of the pics.

Drew N Heidi 07

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:12

Knowing he is an engineer does help me feel better about safety, but I sat on it before the final rail was installed for good measure! If it can hold a 8 month pregnant lady, pretty sure it will be safe for our baby girl! Thank you!

Girls Twin Beds

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 12/18/2016 - 13:44

Easy to make thank you for the plans.

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

modified spa-bench

I've wanted to build benches for my dinningroom table for years. When I first saw the plans for the spa bench 2 years ago I bookmarked it, saying thats the one. Now all this time later Ive finaly gotten to it! I modified my benches by making them longer, they are 48 inches, adding the dividers/supports to the inside to make 3 cubbie compartments, (I will eventualy put baskets under there to store stuff) and raising the bottom edging up a half an inch to create a lip to keep the baskets on. I made 2 benches, sanded and restained my table at the same time. the benches took about 3 hours and $50 each to build. Simular benches cost aobut $150 for the cheep particalboard ones, thank you so much Anna White for making this possible!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
minwax red mahogany 225, 2 coats of red mahognay 225 applyed with sponge brush, 3 coats of polyurathane gloss(2 hours between coats) applyed with sponge brush
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

3/4 size Armoire

Submitted by lervy on Tue, 09/02/2014 - 08:03

TV Toy Armoire 3/4 size

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ronseal Walnut Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate