Community Brag Posts

Simple 2x4 Desk

Submitted by ncderemer on Sat, 11/08/2014 - 16:29

I built this desk relatively quickly and it required very few tools. I discovered quickly how difficult it is to cut 2x4's with a handsaw so I would recommend having a circular saw or having them cut the wood at the store but it can be done. I did use a kreg jig for connecting everything and that is what made it so easy. 

I painted the bottom half and then stained the top. I think it turned out beautifully. I also added some metal to the edges not for strength but for style. This desk is VERY sturdy and I really like the massive amounts of space. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25-35 for all of the supplies.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Base- 1 coat rustoleum primer, 1 coat of glidden interior paint with some touch ups
Top- 1 coat minwax wood primer, 1 coat minwax american chestnut
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Rustic X Table

Submitted by tidefever on Tue, 02/14/2017 - 18:09

Table came out great. I still have to throw the hardware on but couldn't wait to get it inside. I used an Espresso stain for the shelves and legs and an Ebony stain for the 2x2 trim and X's. 

Estimated Cost
$65
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Espresso and Minwax Ebony
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Tall planters (yay!)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 10:55

Made the tall planters to her exact measurements. Used fence pickets but stained them with an orange cedar stain. Put 'em near the fire bowl (and near a quickly made set of AW's Adirondack side tables). Took me a full day to measure, cut, nail and stain. I'm a novice so, this project challenged and pleased me! #speedsquareangles

Estimated Cost
40.00

Comments

Entertainment Center

Submitted by Millerx4 on Tue, 01/15/2013 - 13:37

We used kristenlotz plans and AZCA33 style.

Estimated Cost
$1,000
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Creamy white with a stain distress
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

kristenlotz

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 15:58

I love looking at the brag posts and seeing similar entertainment centers to the one we built! I am so glad people like our plans. It looks way good in white. I think we are going to re-do our doors and add the rope trim. I love how it looks. Just wondering, do you use the plans we posted at our woodworking blog at http://www.jrlwoodworking.com/2012/12/furniture-plans-custom-entertainm… ? I am so glad you built this. We love ours!

Millerx4

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 21:41

Yes! We used your plans. You did such a good job with them...my husband is a beginner and I think he did an amazing job by following your plans. Thank you!!

Vintage Step Stool

Submitted by jlrd13 on Tue, 11/11/2014 - 12:36

I am so thankful, Ana, for your website.  I would have never attempted this without such detailed plans and instructions.  This is the first thing I have ever built.  I even had to watch your video on how to use a Kreg Jig, but I was able to build a solid piece with absolutely no prior knowledge in woodworking using your site!  My grandson absolutely LOVES the step stool.  His new favorite past time is to play at the sink since he can now reach it.  wink  I will be building more as we are in the process of building a house.  I keep telling the men in my life that they are going to build the kitchen cabinets.  They keep telling me no.  While my skillset is not yet to the point I am capable of building my kitchen cabinets, with such a wonderful site available I feel confident to get there.  Thanks again!!!!!  smiley  

Jo Lynn

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Indoor Garden Boxes for Science Class

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/16/2017 - 19:12

After doing some string art with the Kindergarteners in my class, the were anxious to pound some nails in "all the way." I remembered seeing this plan before on Ana's website, and earlier in the week our science teacher had been talking to the Kindergarteners about how the seeds they had planted were starting to get too big for their containers. The students themselves suggested a bigger box to put them in, and just like that... our next project was born!

 

The students did every part of this build, except for the cutting of the boards. They loved it, and couldn't believe how quickly they put it together. Here are a couple of tweets to show these little #elemakers at work!

https://twitter.com/JimTiffinJr/status/830163344057327617

https://twitter.com/JimTiffinJr/status/830164086847655936

https://twitter.com/JimTiffinJr/status/830164527304077313

 

Thanks for sharing some very simple projects and plans that even the littlest of builders can do!

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Daybed with Storage

Submitted by Bemof13 on Sun, 01/20/2013 - 17:54

This is my first Ana White project. It was so fun to do and turned out really well. Thanks so much Ana for your great plans and help with building them. the Kreg jig is great!

Estimated Cost
$125 +/-
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Polyshades Bombay Mahoganey
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rocket Ship Bookcase

Submitted by JoeP on Thu, 11/13/2014 - 16:56

My son loves rocketships so this was a nobrainer.  I made it a bit taller than the plans called for, it's about 6 1/2 feet tall.  It should hold all of my son's books and then some!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Red, white and blue paint and 2 coats of gloss poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Chairs I've made

I came across this plan and decided to make a chair for our patio from some wood that I happened to have in the garage. Well, people saw the chair and just had to have one.  I've made 10 so far. 

 

People passing on the street would see me working on them and stop to ask of they could order one!   

Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Exterior semi-gloss paint & primer.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Outdoor Loveseat & Table

Submitted by 3G1B on Fri, 11/27/2020 - 07:41

Tired of cheap store bought chair getting blown around in the Texas winds. If these piece get blown off the patio I’ll be looking for the Wizard of Oz.

Estimated Cost
400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Drawer Organizer

Submitted by mseely02 on Tue, 01/22/2013 - 13:19

Organization is a constant struggle in our house and our junk drawer became more of a place to stick things when you didn't want them on the countertop than an actual funtional part of the kitchen. That won't change with the addition of the organizer, but it was nice to have it cleaned out.

In total, this only cost about $12 (for 3 drawers) and that was only because I used the S4S wood. My HD didn't carry 1x3 in anything else. May have been for the best because now I didn't have to sand anything.

The lesson learned from this project was that I should have cut everything to size instead of relying on the measurements of the drawer. The silverware drawer wasn't perfect and I will likely redo a little of it because the junk drawer turned out great.

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Toy box with upholstered seat

Submitted by Jarvo388 on Mon, 11/17/2014 - 13:16

This was my first project using designs from Ana White, and I am really pleased with how it's turned out. My son loves it! There were a few small errors but it was always going to be a learning curve and the good thing with wood is you can hide most errors. Using the pocket hole system was new to me, as it's not that big over here in the U.K but its a great system if joining wood. Also over here we tend to use different measurements and we pay a lot more for wood. I am looking forward to building more projects if the wife lets me ;) 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
£65
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White gloss. Next I would try a nicer or different finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Alexander Penn

Thu, 01/22/2015 - 19:41

Hello,
I am also a first timer and am just about to finish up the final coat of finish. I was wondering what you did to make the cushion on top? my girlfriend really wants to make a cushion for it but does no know where to start. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated! Your box looks amazing by the way. i like the lettters on the front.
Thanks
Alexander

Rustic X Coffee and End Table

Great project we did for a local customer. Super happy with the way it came out, and the contrast between the brown top and white base. Making the inset shelf a different color provided an additional later of difficulty, but the result is worth it.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Toffee and Rustoleum Gloss White
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Christmas Tree/ 12 Days of Xmas

We saw this project a few months ago and I knew I had to add it to our holiday decor. Once it was built, it took a few weeks to figure out home to decorate it and came up with the 12 Days of Christmas using a Chalk Couture design. Still learning, had a few mishaps with the brad nailer, but I'm super happy how it came out!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Special Walnut, and then sanded most of it off. The blocks were painted with Waverly Ink and distressed. The design is from a Chalk Couture transfer.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Full Size Bed Frame

This is one of the first furniture projects ive done in 2 years. A finished picture will be up later on. I painted this project because the customer wanted it painted not a big fan of paint but what they want the get.

Estimated Cost
30 to 35
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Satin paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Leaning Bookshelf from The Handbuilt Home

Submitted by Shorty on Wed, 11/19/2014 - 18:24

As my husband and I were slowly piecing this shelf together, I began to worry if it was going to end up rather unattractive. Turns out I had no need to worry and the completed project was better than I had imagined! It's extremely sturdy and a good size (I actually brought down the width a notch). I painted the shelves and supports separately which turned out to be an excellent idea.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Glidden Spanish Olive
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

A nice place for the living room "stuff"

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/24/2017 - 19:14

I followed the plans exactly except I made the legs 5 inches taller to allow more room on the bottom shelf. this was my first project with doors and drawers and my third big project after building a chicken coop and the Ana White triple pedestal table. I couldn't find 2x2s so I stripped 2x4s (the dimensions aren't exactly the same but close enough). Took me longer to build than it would most people because I'm not that experienced.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About $130 for everything.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Thalo green satin latex by Valspar. Then I watered down some black latex and wiped it on with a crumpled paper towel and wiped it off with another crumpled paper towel. I had some tintable glaze but I didn't like it as much as my watered-down paint method.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Farmhouse Console Table - Modified

Submitted by mpjacob08 on Thu, 12/10/2020 - 05:35

I Modified the plan to eliminate the middle shelf and shortened the length to fit as an entryway table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$68
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White alkyd for bottom then conditioned the top before staining with special walnut then once dry used weathered oak. Sealed with oil based polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Our Big Boy Fort Bed!

Submitted by Kabarie on Fri, 01/25/2013 - 18:03

This was sooo easy for a first timer like myself. Followed Anna's plan. Learned as I went. Customized a little...started with the end panel..could only fit it cut in sections in car from store, so decided to separate the sections and open it up a little with a peek a boo window. Used a little unsanded grout in my paint choice so that my son can doodle some art on the panels with his chalk. Added some support boards on lower corners for extra support...also used the Long L brackets as bed rails to support the slats. Make sure you get enough wood to cut the vertical side of ladder as the plans didn't include it. Cost about $100 without the mattress. Very happy with it. Thanks Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Sanded, wiped down with wet rag and applied one coat of Minwax Ipswich Pine 221 to wood.

For painting the panels I mixed 2tbs of unsanded grout with 1 cup of my choice of paint so that chalk could be used on it.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

5 years in the making

first project ever, made a few alterations to both plans and came up with this.

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

Comments

The Full Farmhouse with a 15.5" clearance for under-the-bed storage

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/27/2017 - 08:42

For our small 1960's Master bedroom, I needed more storage for under-the-bed totes. When we were all done, I made a bedskirt with the needed drop-length to hide all of the totes.

Estimated Cost
$140
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Sherwin Williams Ovation extra-white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner