Community Brag Posts

Easy Three Cube Benches

These Easy Three Cube Benches were my first project from Ana White's plans!  I love how the plans are broken down, making them easy to read and understand and I learned so much from the concepts!  The "build the box" concept is how I gained the confidence to build all of the furniture in my craft room myself!  I started with these Three Cube Benches, then designed and built a printer stand using the concepts I learned and, after that, finally finished an corner office/crafting desk.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar Furniture Paint in Ultra White
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Adirondack chairs UK style

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/25/2023 - 01:47

Used your original plans for these. I'm very pleased with the result. Carpentry is not really my thing, but I'm inspired to do more now.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Thread Holder and Photo Scrapbook Holder

Submitted by VelvetSky on Fri, 11/04/2011 - 23:06

I love this even though I did not take the time to cut the dowels properly. I needed something for my sewing thread. Just a plain board and some dowels thin enough for the spools. Drill some holes in the board and glue in the dowels. I also made the picture holder for scrapbooking. I got the idea from the Ruler Clip Art Rails on this site. Thanks!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Chalkboard Shelves!

Submitted by jamie_C on Thu, 10/24/2013 - 20:15

My husband and I built these chalkboard shelves today. We are very happy with the way they turned out! We are donating them to our son's cooperative preschool to be used in their upcoming auction, which is a big money maker for the school. Hopefully they make good money! We added some artistic touches to the tops of the shelves (polka dots and chevron stripes). A fun, easy build!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
chalkboard spray paint, and the chevron and polka dot design was applied with acrylic paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Entertainment Center

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/07/2016 - 21:05

We had an oak armoire for our television and we needed to find something that fit our new 50" tv, an unexpected gift from my brother in law. This was perfect for the size we needed and the small space we had to put the tv.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$140
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain and polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Roller Vertical Pantry

Submitted by MikeW on Mon, 05/06/2019 - 08:49

Made my wife happy!

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

Comments

Dog kennel

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 06:54

In January, I came across your plans for the farmhouse, coffee table. I made it, and loved it! I had been wanting a new spin on kennels for our dogs. And thought your coffee table transformed into a dog kennel would be perfect, and they are!!

Comments

Modified Simple Cheap Console Table

This was my first project from Ana's web site. I modified the table by expanding the trim of the stretcher to the outsides and adding a shelf. I also added an additional shelf in the middle. I cut the apron for the top down to two inches, and an inch a half for the lower two shelves. I distressed each piece of wood individually by hitting it with a bag of nails and various other things.

Estimated Cost
$40.00 - I had the stain and sand paper and polyurethane.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used two coats of dark walnut minwax and two coats of satin polyurethane. If anyone has any tips for their "best" finishing techniques, I'm all ears.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

shea chappell

Sat, 11/12/2011 - 07:31

I am literally I the middle of buildig the sectional and all of a sudden it says I
am not authorized to get into that page. Any information?

beckiedecker

Sat, 11/12/2011 - 20:03

And what a fun project, whacking it with nails and such to distress. Did you feel de-stressed afterward?

It looks great.

T-Town DIYer

Tue, 11/15/2011 - 09:25

I could have given the table a little bit more of my stress. Unfortunately I couldnt swing the bag too hard, because the nails would rip right through it and fly all over the place. Maybe next time i'll use a pillow cause and swing a little harder.

T-Town DIYer

Thu, 11/17/2011 - 10:14

This has become me new favorite site to visit. My to do list is a mile long and covers almost every room in the house. My wife thanks you!

Your chair plans , my chairs to go with my table?

Submitted by Mike Cook on Sat, 10/26/2013 - 20:24

Used the parsons chair plans and finished it with a wood seat and back. Made them out of an old cedar hot tub and reclaimed wood from a house.
Mad a set of 6 chairs, holding up great over a year! Took me about 40 hours including milling the wood.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
All recycled wood $10 for glue
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Penofin stain and water based poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Garage mushroom with hidden storage

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/10/2016 - 19:33

this was my first project this big took me about 15hours and I'm extremely happy at how it turned out 

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Kona sealer ,min wax
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Small Flower Planter

Submitted by JamieLynn on Sun, 05/19/2019 - 04:45

This is my first project in years. It turned out exactly as I wanted. I decided to paint it after with some white paint That I had laying around. This whole project cost about $15 and 2 hours.

Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Bar stool

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/10/2023 - 13:10

Hi Ana,

Using the bar stool plan and I built two bar stools for my man cave in Australia. Thank you so much. Cheers
Ricky

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

toy box #4

Kids toy box with personalization.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
1. One coat primer
2. Two coats semi-gloss white
3. Acrylic for personalization
4. clear acrylic spray
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic X Bench

Submitted by LiMa87 on Mon, 10/28/2013 - 14:26

This was my first build with minimal help from my husband. I'm unsure how long it took to build since I worked on it periodically and forget how much I spent on the wood since this took place several months ago. When I started this project, I did not have a pocket hole jig and since then have learned how invaluable that tool is. It's not perfectly square but it's not as noticeable sitting on carpet as it would be on hard flooring.

Probably a harder first-time project to start with but overall I'm happy with the outcome and looking forward to my next project.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax in Cherry topped with Minwax in Dark Walnut. Painted the base white and distressed with the Cherry stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Tryde Coffee Table

Wife showed me a picture and I found instructions from the projects already on here and did it less than a week. I had the wood part done in about 5 hours and with two coats of staining and a couple of the clear coat and me trying to find some time to do it while working a lot you could probably have this done in a weekend if you were free for the whole weekend. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75. This includes brushes and stain. Hardware. Wood. If you need to buy saws or tools, etc. this doesn't include that.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Mission Oak and Clear Satin Finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

2x4 patio couches

Submitted by Sner77 on Mon, 05/27/2019 - 10:49

I built 2 of the 2x4 couches with slight modifications.  I didn’t like the straight bar across the back so changed it to a leaning high back.

I also added a square box that can be used for a dividing table on the couch or side table when additional seating is needed.  

Plan on scaling down for a love-seat and chair.

Kreg jig for pocket holes was time consuming but well worth it! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Urathane.
Not pleased with the urathane finish after 2 years. I have begun sanding them down to try a linseed oil finish instead.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

High Patio Chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 03/18/2023 - 12:12

Made from reclaimed materials. Made it easier to standup with my bad knees

Comments

Pine Coffee Table = Success

Tryde Coffee Table

Used: Pine wood, 2 coats Kona stain, 3 coats gloss poly, 2.5" silver screws.

Lessons Learned: Forgot to use wood glue on joints, use 10" circular saw or table saw for 4x4 posts (I used a 7.25" circular and had to cut all sides and then sand down uneven parts)

This is a heavy duty coffee table, and can easily support up to two people stacked on top of it... which was my main concern. :)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$70
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Kona Stain, Gloss Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

FARMHOUSE BEDSIDE TABLE

I have been working on this set of farmhouse nightstands for well over a month now. I have three kids and so I typically did a little here and there whenever I could find some free time. I love them now that they are finished!

I stained the top before I did any painting and then covered it with newspaper while I was painting the bottom. I'm not exactly sure why I choose to do it this way, other than I was just excited to see how it looked.

The knob I purchased from Hobby lobby.

This is the third project I've built from Ana. So I'm just getting started. But I will tell you right now that building anything with drawers is TOUGH!

Thanks Ana!

Here's a link to the plans:
http://ana-white.com/2011/01/farmhouse-bedside-table

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/17/2016 - 20:29

Square instead of rectangular.  Top is oak and poplar stained Jacobean.  Drawer front is poplar.  Interior of drawer is cedar.  Pine for everything else.

Built from Plan(s)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Outdoor Sectional

Submitted by KristenP on Thu, 06/06/2019 - 18:00

We built Ana’s outdoor sectional in a few hours and it’s made a huge impact on our deck! It saved us so much money but looks like a high end piece! Thank you for the simple and structured plans!

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Cedar Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments