Community Brag Posts

Daybed- Our First Project

Submitted by chowie on Wed, 09/19/2012 - 13:52

This was my and my husband's first project and it was easier than expected. There were slight imperfections with the drawers, but they were hidden by the faces and trim. It was our first time using a Kreg jig and we LOVED it!! We will be building furniture for Christmas presents this year, we are hooked!! The project took one weekend to build, and we spent around 4-5 hours a day.... remember we are newbies so we had to refer to the plan ... a lot! We went with the plywood top and it is sturdy and we can't wait to paint it and get it looking like a finished product. My husband was testing the daybed sans mattress.

Estimated Cost
$150 including hardware
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Gloss Valspar paint in white, with minwax poly acrylic in semi-gloss.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

bhoppy

Mon, 09/24/2012 - 07:15

This looks great! I can't believe it was your first project!

Rustic X Coffee Table

Submitted by chulmer on Fri, 07/18/2014 - 11:33

Easy and fun plan for a great looking coffee table. I changed the top a bit by adding two 2x2's and a 1x3 in the center, the five 2x6's looked a little plain to me. I also added an X in the front, I don't know why but really I really like it, almost gives it an open storage feel. The strain is "weathered gray" by rust oleum.

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Sofa Table with Granite Top

Submitted by Redleg189 on Tue, 10/25/2016 - 11:49

Built using the Simple, Cheap znd Easy Console Table Plan. I utilized a scrap piece of granite for the top that I cut to size and polished and poplar wood that I had laying around the shop.

Estimated Cost
$40.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar red antique paint and finishing wax
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Tall Wedding Planters

Submitted by swhitead on Mon, 07/20/2020 - 10:14

Made the planters to hold flowers for a small garden wedding. Used 3-1/2" wide fence boards as my HD was out of standard 5-1/2" boards. Used 11 boards for finished height of 38" top was 18" wide, bottom 12-1/2" using a 4° angle. Ripped fence boards to size to use in place of 1x2/1x3 boards. Added center trim as on another brag post, as well as, framed the top to finish off the planter.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20 each
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Heavy Duty Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 06/08/2024 - 09:27

I wanted a heavy duty spare room bed but didn’t want to pay a mint… so I built one.

RosieOh

Built from Plan(s)

Cyndi Console Table

Submitted by handydaddy on Sun, 09/23/2012 - 18:41

Here is my version of the Cyndi Console Table. Made from poplar with oak backing. Took me about a week working on it in the evenings.

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Stained with a custom Sherwin Williams stain and a minwax poly on top.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

Rustic X Kitchen Island -modified

Submitted by MaryMurray on Sun, 07/20/2014 - 10:24

I made this rolling kitchen island out of pine using plans found on Ana White's website. For the top I wanted to do something different. I found a tub of wooden blocks in the storeroom; they belonged to my husband's grandfather.

The blocks were made out of all different kinds of wood. I used a plywood base and simply glued them on then added a pine edge. I love the way it looks!

The back is open halfway so that when it is pulled out it can be used as a desk or small table.

The stool is from Ana White as well.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Special walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Fancy hall tree

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/28/2016 - 11:06

This was the biggest project I had ever built at the time. I was so happy with how it turned out!! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Danielle's Tab-top Curtains

Submitted by zigmommy on Tue, 09/25/2012 - 22:24

I just swooned when Ana posted her Tab-top curtain tutorial! I decided right then and there I'd be tackling all of the window treatment-less windows in my new home using her instructions. I'm no whiz on the sewing machine but I couldn't be happier with the way my curtains turned out!! No joke, if I can do this, so can you!!

I made the green shelf in my living room all by myself a couple years ago from Ana's Painter's Ladder Shelf plans. :-) It used to be red but I refinished it to match the decorating scheme in my new house. I love how everywhere you look in my home you see some piece of furniture or project that came about as a direct result of finding and embracing Ana's DIY spirit!! My curtains are no exception. :-)

I've made the curtains for my living room and my bedroom, and I just started the set for my boys' bedroom tonight. I've gotten better with each set, and this third time around I'm pretty confident in what I'm doing. Lucky for my kids, they're going to get the best set, lol!

I'd already been agonizing over what to do for curtains in my bedroom and I fell instantly in love with the fabric Ana used for hers. I already had bedroom linens that would match perfectly so I went ahead and snagged a few yards. All three of the fabrics I've used have been in the Waverly Home Decor line. The patterns are fun and modern, the price is right, the quality is great and I've always been able to find the perfect design. I usually buy from Fabric.com as it tends to be cheaper once you search for readily available online coupons.

I've really enjoyed making my window treatments! I get to have exactly what I want, in a better quality for a better price than I would ever be able to find in a store. It takes me about a day to finish a set (or at least the first two did) and I have relished the excuse to watch girly movies or listen to music while I get these babies sewn. I've had my first two sets done for 4 & 6 months respectively and they still bring me such joy every day.....give it a try, you wont regret it!!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

marypoynter

Thu, 10/17/2013 - 01:14

Its better to have a window blinds than curtains when your window is made of glass but anyway its a nice bedroom of Danielle.

Fancy X Farmhouse Table

Submitted by disneynut on Tue, 07/22/2014 - 11:04

This was not my first build, but it was the first time I have done miter cuts. It was an easy to follow plan. The hardest part was trying to decide on the stain color! I am thrilled with the way it turned out. This table will easily seat 10 people which will be perfect for parties and dinners.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About $100 (including wood, sandpaper, stain, poly)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Jacobean and Helmsman Spar in satin finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Coffee Bar

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/31/2016 - 07:12

I modified this plan to fit a 27"x 25" chunk of butcher block that my mother-in-law gave me. The finished height is 36 & 1/2". I didn't have any special tools to make the notches for the shelves. I simply lowered the blade-stop on my 7&1/4" miter saw and fastened the screw with hair ties (or in other words, I jimmy-rigged it ;)). I practiced on scrap wood until I reached the depth I needed. There is a 9&1/4" clearance between both shelves, and the shelves have a 1" overhang off the sides. I mainly used pocket holes to connect the pieces. The shelves (3-2x6s each) were fastened together with wood glue and pocket holes, then I slid them into place and screwed them into the side aprons/supports from the top, then filled with wood filler. For the top, I added support from underneathe (2x2s that I had on-hand), then used 2&1/2" screws from underneathe through the 2x2s into the butcher block. At first I used zinc wood screws, but learned quickly that they strip extremely easily, so I switched to sheet rock screws. Fun project!!

Estimated Cost
$35 in lumber, not counting the butcher block top which I got for free from my mother-in-law.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
For the butcher block, I decided to stain it since it would not be coming into contact with food. I sanded the butcher block with 220 grit sandpaper with my orbital sander. For the rest of my project I first used 80 grit, then 220 grit. Then I applied pre-stain wood conditioners overall, then Minwax provencial stain (I left it on for about 3 minutes then wiped it off). Then I used two coats of polyeurethene, sanding with 400 grit between the coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Rustic x coffee table and rustic x console table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/24/2020 - 10:31

Made exactly as according to Ana Whites plans. Easy to build and very pretty once completed

Estimated Cost
180
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Espresso with varathane and lacquer on top and base is a light blue stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Upholstered Bed

This is my first big build. I did make a small twin sized headboard a few years ago. But this time we built the entire bed frame along with the headboard. It took a loooong time but was totally worth it!

Estimated Cost
$350 - $400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
fabric + batting + foam:)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Dream doll house

Submitted by JoseO1998 on Fri, 07/25/2014 - 01:51

I was browsing through the plans and came across the dream doll house and my sister-in-law absolutely fell in love with it on ana-white.com's site... My niece has her 5th birthday next month and my sister-in-law asked if I could build her the doll house... Showed it to my niece and she loved it saying she wanted one---how could I say no!!! A lot of time and effort went into this but here's the final outcome... My sister-in-law just saw it and loves it... Hope my niece does as well :) thx Ana White

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Medium oak minwax stain and minwax polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Custom Grandy sliding cabinet

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/03/2016 - 23:10

Built by Cunningham Custom

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$1000-$1200 used all premium material
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Sherman williams ovation paint for the body and minwax jacobean for the top
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

X Console Table

Submitted by MichelleC on Thu, 10/04/2012 - 13:53

I built this a couple feet shorter than in the plans because it is for my neighbor's fish tank! It was fun to build and I'm in love with the finished product. She's going to paint or stain it herself. The pics were taken in my messy, projects-everywhere carport right before the neighbor hauled it off! Her son-in-law wants one now, and I will be building one for MYSELF right away as well! Thank you Ana!!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
75
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Modified Simple Outdoor Dining Table

Submitted by Fred C on Mon, 07/28/2014 - 12:17

When I wanted to build a new outdoor dining set, I immediately turned to the Ana White website to browse the plans. I chose the simple outdoor dining table and this is my much modified version of that plan.

I liked the look of the table and the bench and the vertical slats but I needed to modify the plan to build a larger table that could seat as many as 10 if needed. I also wanted a curved bench top because of aesthetics and because it's so much more comfortable. I soon realized that I wouldn't be able to keep the vertical slats in the bench and get the curve I wanted. Once I went with horizontal lines in the bench I modified the table to match.

I finished building the tables and benches at 3 am on a Saturday morning, just in time for a family BBQ at 6 pm. There wasn't time to apply a finish, but I plan on using a golden pine stain and semi-gloss clear urethane sealer with UV protection.

Poplar was on sale when I went shopping for wood. It wasn't my first choice but the price made it hard to turn down. Because the legs sit directly on the ground I chose pressure treated 4X4 lumber for those.

Although the finished product is much different than the original plans for the simple outdoor table, I hope you enjoy seeing what I was able to build from that starting point.

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
As stated, the photos show the unfinished table and benches but they will be stained golden pine and weather sealed with a semi-gloss urethane finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

A little shorter, a little wider

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 11/07/2016 - 17:25

This is the first piece of furniture I've ever made.  Great plans.  I shortened mine 10 inches by reducing the height of the legs, filler pieces, and ladder.  My daughter loves it!

Estimated Cost
230
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Tall Planter

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/28/2020 - 15:51

Could not find cedar fence pickets that did not have dog ears. Used 1”x6”s instead. That also helped with strength. Followed your directions and then added a top “shelf” and stained the planter. Lots of fun.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Less than $35.00 including stain and brushes
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain color is called “ Gunstock”.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
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