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Modified dorm desks

Due to COVID-19 the first 9 weeks of my children's schooling will be online. When I looked for cheap desks in my area they were completely sold out. I have been a big fan of Ana White's designs since I first discovered her through Pinterest. This was my first furniture build project and while it's not perfect I will definitely be attempting another. I modified the height of the desks to fit my 1st and 5th graders. I also decided to add a second bookcase for extra support and storage. My husband owns a flooring store and he had custom quartz desktops made instead of using wood. We temporarily glued the desktops on versus a more permanent install. This is so when the kids go back to school full time and the desks are no longer needed in our dining room we can remove the bookshelves, finish the tops off in another way and move the bookshelves to their bedrooms! I may still add cork-board to the front section of each desk but I am undecided at the moment.

Built from Plan(s)
Dorm Desk
Estimated Cost
$175 for two desks
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
The dark blue desk is one layer of Minwax water-based navy stain (son insisted on stain, I don't know why). Before staining we applied Minwax water based wood conditioner. Finished with 3 layers Minwax satin water-based Polycrylic. The lighter blue desk is Krylon Fusion all-in-one satin beach glass spray paint and primer in one. It is also finished with 3 layers of spray on Polycrylic.

My laundry basket dresser

I started with the standard laundry basket dresser but went with shelves. I thought that the baskets would last liner this way. The baskets used are from IKEA and sit on felt runners to keep the noise down.

Built from Plan(s)
Laundry Basket Organizer Tower - 4 Tall and Lengthwise
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Black stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Desk/Craft Space Table

I just started wood-working and found this to be a really nice build. I did, however, adjust the height of the desk legs from 31 inches to 36 inches, because I am 6'6" and felt I needed the leg room. I used 4 Severe Weather 2 1/4in x 2 1/4in x 36in Colonial Treated Deck Spindles from Lowes at $2.88 each for the legs. I also, added the drawer dividers to help organize the storage space. Otherwise, I stuck to the plans. 

Severe Weather 2-1/4-in x 2-1/4-in x 36-in Colonial Treated Deck Spindle http://www.lowes.com/pd_7954-432S2236T15N_4294610196__productId=3185415&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=

Stainless Steel Drawer Pulls http://www.homedepot.com/p/Liberty-8-5-6-in-Steel-Bar-Cabinet-Hardware-Appliance-Pull-117060-0/202023671?MERCH=REC-_-NavPLPHorizontal1-4-_-NA-_-202023671-_-N

 

 

Built from Plan(s)
Large Custom Wood Drawer Organizer
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Smokey blue chalk paint (1 cup of paint, 1 teaspoon of plaster of paris, & 1 teaspoon of water)
Minwax classic gray stain (used to give distressed spots more dimension)
Minwax dark walnut stain for desk top
Johnson paste wax
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kitchen table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/03/2017 - 16:40

Kitchen Table with matching benches

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Jacobean Stain Top
White Semi Gloss Legs
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

TURNED LEG FARMHOUSE TABLE

Submitted by kwildman on Tue, 12/04/2012 - 07:27

I love how this table turned out! This table was built for a friend of mine who wanted a rustic farmhouse table with "fancy" legs. The legs and apron are painted white and distressed. The table top is stained 2 x 6 pine. We love it! Thank you so much for the plans Ana! The legs are 5" turned maple legs. First, I painted the legs and apron "java brown" and then using Minwax furniture paste wax, I applied wax to the areas that I wanted to distress. After two coats of satin white paint, I distressed the legs using 220 grit sandpaper. Two coats of wax and the legs were silky smooth! The top is 2 x 6 yellow pine. I used two coats of Rustoleum dark walnut, one coat of sanding sealer, a final sanding with 220 grit sandpaper and two coats of wax. Love it!!

Blog Link
White House Wood Shop
Built from Plan(s)
Turned Leg Farmhouse Table
Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
First, I painted the legs and apron "java brown" and then using Minwax furniture paste wax, I applied wax to the areas that I wanted to distress. After two coats of satin white paint, I distressed the legs using 220 grit sandpaper. Two coats of wax and the legs were silky smooth!

The top is 2 x 6 yellow pine. I used two coats of Rustoleum dark walnut, one coat of sanding sealer, a final sanding with 220 grit sandpaper and two coats of wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Distressed Picture Frames From Scraps

Submitted by sraper2 on Thu, 09/18/2014 - 10:52

I built everything above my couch using scraps from my garage.  The "family" and hearts were cut out of a scrap piece of 1x12.  The frames were made using my worst 1x2 and 1x3s.  I sprayed them with stain and then paint and finished them by sanding them down. 

Blog Link
Distressed Picture Frames
Estimated Cost
Free
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain and Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Desk to Plan

Submitted by AhmaNaz on Thu, 09/17/2020 - 10:17

Build for niece. Easily converts to left or right handed desk. I'm a lefty and initially built to suit for me....then moved the footboard from back to front and turned that baby around....none the wiser lol

Built from Plan(s)
Rustic X Desk
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Raw
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Rustic X Display Shelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/08/2024 - 12:33

We followed the plans for the Rustic X Tall Bookshelf. This was THE FIRST piece of furniture my husband and I have ever built and we are now hooked! We made a mistake on the measurements for the shelf placements; thus, the extra posts at the top. But we love the way it turned out! Thank you so much for the plans!!

Built from Plan(s)
Rustic X Tall Bookshelf
Seasonal And Holiday
Halloween
Thanksgiving

Four cubby bookshelf

Submitted by Tanya919 on Sat, 09/20/2014 - 10:48

My kids' old bookshelf ran out of room and their books ended up on the floor.  I built these using the four cubby bookshelf design and adjusted the shelves for different heights as some of their books are extra large.  

 

Built from Plan(s)
4 Cubby Bookshelf or Nightstand
Finish Used
Stained these with miniwax's espresso color. Pre-stained the wood first and did three coats of the stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Console table

Submitted by MandyM on Sun, 09/20/2020 - 14:03

Modified the console table by height (approx 39"), length (approx 40"), and eliminated the middle shelf. I can't put an accurate $ estimate since I bought wood for three projects and this was one of them.

Blog Link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CE2yIvrFWAp/
Built from Plan(s)
Rustic X Console Table
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Charcoal grey stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

2x4 Outdoor Chair and Loveseat Set

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/14/2024 - 14:39

I love the ease with which this set came together! I adapted the plans for a loveseat and a chair for 24x24 deep seat cushions I had picked up on sale in the spring. I spent about $70 on douglas fir 2x4 studs. I spent three partial days on this project: one to cut all the pieces, one to assemble, and the last day for sanding and staining. After assembling the chair, I decided to move the back support of the loveseat forward by 1 1/2 inches and attached the back seat support at 23” because I’m a bit shorter (5’4”) and my feet didn’t touch the ground when fully seated in the chair. It worked out perfectly for me and my husband loves the chair. Now we have beautiful and sturdy seating on the porch. I love how easy Ana’s plans are to follow and the videos are immensely helpful.

Blog Link
Cindy Fisher on Instagram
Built from Plan(s)
2x4 Outdoor Sofa
2x4 Outdoor Chair
Seasonal And Holiday
Fall
Spring
Summer

Charlie's Scooter

Submitted by fanofana on Wed, 12/12/2012 - 18:20

I saw this adorable scooter on Ana's website and thought it would be perfect for my godchild's 1st birthday! (my kids are a little too big for it otherwise I would have made it for them as well). I didn't read the entire post before I started so I didn't read that you should use harder wood to avoid chipping and all that but it still worked out okay, certainly not perfect but a fun gift that I was proud to give.

The multiple paint colors added time as I was always retouching one color up and then going back to another color but that was more me being sloppy than anything.

Built from Plan(s)
Charlie's Scooter
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Painted finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Vintage Pew Bench

Submitted by ShannonMN on Tue, 09/23/2014 - 13:44

Entryway pew bench

Blog Link
Hand Built By Me
Built from Plan(s)
Vintage Pew Bench
Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Polyshades in Espresso
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Painters Ladder

Submitted by Slappy on Mon, 01/09/2017 - 18:12

The legs and trim were made from 2x4 that I cut down to size with the table saw. Plywood from a chicken coup I made from Ana''s chicken coup plan was used for the shelf base.

Built from Plan(s)
Wide Painter’s Ladder Shelf
Estimated Cost
Free, made from scrap wood.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Clear gloss polyurethane and blue paint semi gloss, left over from the chicken coup.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Clubhouse Bunkbed

Submitted by REDCANVAS on Tue, 09/22/2020 - 17:07

This was my first ana white project. I didn't take great photos. I also modified the bunk a bit for small children. I added a bunk right on the floor and made the legs slightly longer so that there was some headroom. After the kids grew a little, we switched it back to just the clubhouse with some room underneath for storage/playing. First time using pocket holes too.

Built from Plan(s)
Clubhouse Bed
Finish Used
Polyurethane on body. Paint/clear coat on trim.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Triptych Jewelry Stand

Submitted by lbrown on Tue, 12/18/2012 - 14:52

For my boyfriend's oldest niece, who is 13, I decided to make a jewelry stand for Christmas this year. I thought it would be fun to make a triptych with a place for earrings in the middle and necklaces on the sides, sketched out a basic design and got started building.

For the details on how to build it, check out my blog: http://homeandawaywithlisa.com/blog/2012/12/18/triptych-jewelry-stand.h…

Blog Link
Triptych Jewelry Stand
Estimated Cost
$10
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
White Spray Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Camp Loft Bed

Submitted by carongirls on Sat, 09/27/2014 - 15:48

I extended the landing and added rails. 

Built from Plan(s)
Camp Loft Bed with Stair, Junior Height
Estimated Cost
$200
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

wrigleysmama

Mon, 06/01/2015 - 12:06

I love your modifications with extending the landing. Do you have more pictures that show the whole thing? Did you by chance write down any notes with what you did differently? We are building this bed next week and would love to make a "deck" like you did.

Ana White

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 10:39

Hi, Ana here!  I might suggest something like this -

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"3154931926","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"834","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"891"}}]]

Basically just increase the length of the side pieces first to however long you would like the deck to be.

Then, if you need extra support, add legs on the inside of the platform where needed.  On the front side if you are doing railing you could even extend the front leg up so it is part of the railing too.

 

You may need to add additional supports for the deck boards, shown in green above, but this should be easy enough to do.

 

Hope this helps!

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/12/2017 - 11:11

Although I loved the original plans I had a much smaller space to put this in, so 10ft was not an option.  So I cut it down to a more managable size and I think it came out great.  Let me know what you think.  Great plans and I love the site!

Built from Plan(s)
Triple Pedestal Farmhouse Table
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Stain and Lacquer combo.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner