Community Brag Posts

Farmhouse Queen Bed

Submitted by Amanda G on Fri, 10/18/2013 - 19:56

First building project ever! I wanted a new bed for our new mattress and got inspired when I came across this website. A compound mitre saw, orbital sander, nailer, and many more tools later, I am building furniture whenever I get a chance!

Modified the way I attached the frame to the head board and foot board a bit. I used joist hangers on the footboard, which the frame slid into perfectly, and secured it with a couple screws on each side. I attached the headboard with 2 large carriage bolts on each side through the posts and frame.

Overall, I loved the way it turned out. On to the next project!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Distressed white. I used a shade of white paint, sanded the edges and corners (mostly with an orbital sander) and used a stain pen (in Provincial shade) on the sanded spots. Sanded the entire project by hand using 220 grit sponge and finished with 3-4 coats of Minwax Polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

In reply to by Ana White

Amanda G

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 19:38

Your website really guided me through everything, from buying the wood to the finish. I credit you and tell people to visit this website whenever anyone asks me about my projects :)

Farmhouse Bedside Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/05/2016 - 07:51

Super easy project. Both tables matched almost identical. Buying wood from Home Cheapo/Nowes makes it a little tougher because they aren't as straight as they should be, but a little sanding never hurt. Plan on making a few more for the other rooms.

Estimated Cost
$50-$55 per table
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Jacobean and polyurethane on top with antique white spray paint on bottom.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

perrybarnett

Tue, 01/05/2016 - 09:17

I forgot to include in the description that the price is assuming you have the tools and screws, might be a little higher if you need to buy the hardware depending on what you buy.

Upholstered Farmhouse Bed - Modified Plans

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/20/2023 - 14:45

Apologies if the photos are upside down - they were rightside up when I uploaded, but flipped on me ????

I wanted an upholstered headboard, and my house is 121 yrs old, so a farmhouse vibe fits.

I modified Ana's Queen Farmhouse Bed Plan so that instead of mirroring the footboard design for the headboard, I created a foam-and-upholstery-covered plywood panel that inserts from the back, like a picture frame. It's held in place with storm door toggles, with a support cleat on the back, and and low-profile handles to make manhandling it easier. The insert comes out so it can be re-upholstered easily enough if ever desired. I made the entire unit 3" taller than Ana's plans so that when sitting up against the headboard, my skull is supported by foam instead of wood. It's also anchored to the wall with anti-tip hardware for safety.

The entire bed comes apart into 6 pieces for moving: Headboard frame, upholstered panel, footboard, center support, and the side pieces. The slats are screwed only to the side boards, and fit together like combs across the top of the center support beam. The sides are attached to headboard/footboard with standard bed frame hardware, and I had some joist-hangers from another project that I used as cleats for the center support beam to connect it to the head/footboard.

I designed the modifications in SketchUp, and my mum and I built it during our weekends over about a month using tools borrowed from other family members. Total cost, including the lumber, upholstery foam, fabric, hardware, etc, was about $350 in 2019.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Ana White Admin

Tue, 02/21/2023 - 08:52

Love this and the way you framed it out to easily change the look with the upholstery portion! Thank you for sharing, I got those photos fixed for you:)

Easy Build Wood King Headboard

Submitted by cookbs2 on Sat, 10/29/2011 - 17:52

I am in love with this project. My husband built this for my birthday this afternoon. It was an easy project for his first time. We haven't finished it yet. I would like for him to put a 2x6 on the top to give it some visual weight. The only problem i am having is I don't know how to finish it. What would you suggest? We like the beachy distressed look so I am thinking whitewash. Anyway, I love it! I told my husband that he was in trouble now because now I am going to give hime tons of projects to build for me.

Estimated Cost
135.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Unfinished at this point. We are undecided on finish. We might dark stain and then whitewash, or a turquoise wash, with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and then waxing.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

loniwolfe

Sun, 10/30/2011 - 08:48

Looks great! I love the beachy look too. You could also do a yellowish stain (golden pine? it might be called) and then distress it and rub over with a darker stain for a different beach look.

Rectangle Day Bed

This was my first ever experience working with wood, circular saw, and a drill (other than hanging pictures in my house). After catching my toddler trying to climb out of her crib on three separate occasion, I started looking around for daybeds. I found one I loved, but it was no longer for sale. Luckily, this plan is the exact replica of the daybed on West Elm! It was a fun (and educational) first experience, and I think I'm hooked! It took me several weekends to put this together and paint it. The paint alone took nearly seven hours with three coats of paint to get the right color of white. I didn't add the extra support as mentioned at the bottom, but this coming weekend I'm going to add it for additional support. My toddler LOVES it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Powdered Snow from Behr.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

AG doll couch

My very first Ana's project, I used the left over baseboards from our house remodel and the extra fabric from our tablecloth for the cushions. And first time using power tools and the kreg-jig I got for my birthday .

Estimated Cost
$0.00 all recycled materials
Finish Used
Semi-gloss white paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

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

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

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

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

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