Community Brag Posts

Dresser with Removable Changing Station Topper

Submitted by BKiel29 on Sat, 03/18/2017 - 07:35

My wife and I loved the look of the Rolling rustic wood dresser.  We didn't care for the wheels so instead I opted for legs, 2.5" long.  I simply made a couple of tweaks to the frames (the bottom 2x2 was shortened to 59.5" and the side 2x2's were extended to 34").  I then built a really simple topper that fits a changing pad and a couple of baskets my wife bought for miscellaneous supplies. The topper is removable so when my son is no longer in diapers, we can simply take the topper off and he can have a flat surface on top of his dresser.  All-in-all, we are all really happy with the end product! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
We used Oak plywood and boards so about $200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Early American Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Batten Boards

This project was pretty easy up until the nail hole patching, caulking, and sanding. It was still pretty easy, just time consuming. However, if you want something to look nice, it is going to take some time. Bottom line, my wife was ecstatic with her new bedroom and that's good enough for me. It went from bedroom to master suite.

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

Comments

Little Kitchen Helpers

Made two of these fabulous kitchen helpers! One for my niece and one for my own active 2 1/2 yo daughter. She loves to bake with me and is always underfoot while I'm cooking dinner. This has made her so independent, she gathers her own supplies and pushes it around the kitchen to reach whatever she needs. Came out of the shower to find her scooping ice cream into her bowl for breakfast... Thanks Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Square Oversized Coffee Table

Submitted by Lotus1 on Fri, 12/19/2014 - 18:56

We could not find a large enough coffee table that we wanted so we decided to make our own.  We loved the Rustic X plan and thought if we put two tables toghether we could get the pefect table size for our living room.  Project cost us around $120 and it took us a week to complete, but we are happy with the results.  The color is a dark expresso.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$120
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
The stain is called Kona
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/20/2017 - 19:32

I love this farmhouse style. It's 7'x3' and 30" high. I got the plans from Ana white. I just made a few changes. 

Estimated Cost
$85
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax dark walnut/ minwax polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kitchen Island

Submitted by loritabor on Wed, 01/20/2021 - 11:48

I used and modified the easy kitchen island plans. I put a back on it and extended the top to accommodate bar stools.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Golden oak stain with a polyurethane finish
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Max's Big Boy Bed - thanks to Ana White!!!

Submitted by jaimekehoe on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 16:56

My son was finally ready for a big-boy bed and I found the plans for this bed on this website (ana-white.com). My husband and I built it w/o too many problems (this being our first attempt at building a piece of furniture). I stained it with "classic black" stain for a rustic look and my son, Max, picked the "cars, trucks, construction" theme and I ran with it. I installed some rope lighting and a closet rod (along with curtain clips and a bed sheet) for a super cool play area underneath. Along with some vintage signs, new signs, old license plates and automobile decals - my son now has a big boy room he LOVES!

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Folding Lap Desk Christmas Presents

Submitted by beeski44 on Mon, 12/22/2014 - 13:47

This was a fun project for my three nephews for Christmas (ages 3, 2 and 2). I thought they'd each like their own little personalized desk for coloring, blocks, snacks, etc.

This was a relatively simple build with the only tricky part being the leg holes (and getting the legs to open at the exact angle I wanted). I had to fudge a couple of them with some patches that you can see in one of the photos.

I would suggest using lock nuts on the bolts. The original nuts I used were turning as the legs opened and closed. I thought that eventually the nuts might work themselves off the bolt.

The frame was built completely out of 1x6 scrap wood I had lying around my garage that had been used for shelves. I cut the 1x6s down to 1x2 and 1x3 with my table saw. I did buy a small sheet of plywood underlayment for the top.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Aprox $10/ea for my three. If you buy all the wood, it would probably be closer to $15-20/ea.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Acrylic paint for the names and border. Poly clear coat all over.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Beautiful Modern Farmhouse Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/24/2017 - 10:56

I added black accent brackets to this project to give it a more unique feel. Love it!

Estimated Cost
$175
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

My X desk with drawer

Submitted by MSteed7931 on Sat, 01/23/2021 - 08:11

Here is my version of Ana White's X desk with a drawer. This desk was made out of poplar wood.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Twill Frames

Made these from plans found inside Ana's book. My wife loved them and so did my "little helper".

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
No Finish. Light sanding to minimize splitters.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Grandy console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/26/2017 - 16:07

Made a couple of mods because I didn't want shelves on the two ends and changed to "z" doors. I had a welder make the hardware. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400 ($200 for custom hardware from welder)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Grey Tabby paint by Glidden and Special Walnut stain by Minwax
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

60" Barn Door Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/27/2021 - 09:39

This is my #1, go to, piece to make and sell! I love these plans and I'm so grateful for Ana for posting them!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Professionally painted with Woodwright paint in Black with 20 sheen
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

All Dolled Up

This is my first project. My husband was out one morning so i decided to try to figure out how to work his tools and create this dress up cabinet. I love the way it turned out and it was so easy! I am praying God will bless me with a little girl, so I made this for her--for I WALK BY FAITH not by SIGHT! Thanks Ana, your plans are amazing!

Estimated Cost
$35
Finish Used
White, lavendar, and Pink paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Modified Wide Cabin Dresser

Submitted by JimmyE3 on Sat, 02/23/2013 - 09:15

My wife's Christmas present. I modified the Cabin Wide Dresser plan to include two extra bottom drawers. I also built the drawers without metal slides which made the drawers a little bigger. Technically, I need to finish this with some nylo-tape to make the drawers slide more smoothly. A similar style/size dresser made of solid wood was easily over $500, this cost less than $200 in materials and my boys were able to help out.

Estimated Cost
$170
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Early American 230 stain, then several coats of natural Danish oil. Brushed the stain on and allowed to dry for 24+ hours. Then put on several hand rubbed coats of Danish oil (I love this stuff).
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Double square X pedestal dining table

Submitted by eklein21 on Wed, 12/31/2014 - 11:44

Thanks for the great plans. I modified them slightly by building a 60x40 farmhouse style top and a double pedastel. The other change is that I made the side 4x4s into 2x4s. 

Estimated Cost
~$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
General finishes gel stain in brown mahogony (https://generalfinishes.com/retail-products/oil-base-wood-stains-sealers/oilbase-gel-stains#.VKRQ2ivF9UM) and finished using general finishes arm-r-seal in satin (https://generalfinishes.com/retail-products/oil-base-top-coats/arm-r-seal-urethane-topcoat#.VKRRDyvF9UM) ... sealer is so strong it was harder to drill through then the wood when attaching the top to the bootom. Started with the pre-stain conditioner as well (https://generalfinishes.com/retail-products/oil-base-top-coats/pre-stain-wood-conditioner#.VKRRmyvF9UM)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

traciw25

Fri, 08/12/2016 - 12:58

Your table looks great!  Love the farmhouse top and your revisions.

 

Would you mind sharing what dimensions you went for the table top and what width you went on the doubt pedestal length?

 

THanks so much!!! I hope I get to have one like yours someday soon :)

Farmhouse Storage Bed with Storage Drawers

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/29/2017 - 12:17

I accidentally found these plans on Anna's website when I was looking for deals on mattress sets.

 

After mulling it over a while, I decided to give it a try.  It just so happend that it was our anniversary coming up, and I thought hey, better than dinner and a movie.

 

I reviewed the plans, and upgraded the wood to entirely knotty pine. Even the posts.  Since I couldn't buy what the plans called for in knotty pine, I bought cheap pine shelving and milled the pine, then laminated for the posts, 2x4s, 2x6s and drawers.  Easier to work with than plywood.

 

About 35 hours later, I finished the pieces and parts with Polyshades Royal Walnut, and voila!!! 

My wife absolutely loves the bed, and now she even has a place to store more shoes!

 

 

Estimated Cost
Home Depot
$600 - Pine shelves
$50 - drawers slides
$20 - screws
$40 - stain
Grand Total $700
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Polyshades- Royal Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Outdoor Sectional

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/09/2021 - 18:00

Thanks Ana White, love the way my sectional turned out. Your plans are perfect for someone want to start building things around their house. You are an inspiration to women like me!!!❤️

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)

Clothesline Frame

When I saw this, I knew it would be perfect for our mantle. I need to add photos to it, but I love it! I plan on changing things out for each season... I can see autumn photos of the kids hanging beside pressed leaves in the fall, christmas cards hanging here during the holidays, etc. So many possibilities. Very simple to make. Love it!

Estimated Cost
$8
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project