Step Stool
I was able to make this with some leftover wood from other projects.
I was able to make this with some leftover wood from other projects.
Built these for my boys room- these headboards are for highrisers so I did not use legs- they end at the bottom of the slats. I used 1x3 furring strips for the slats to keep the costs down, I believe I used 10 slats. In order to mount the headboards, they are completely mounted on the wall and not attached to the bed at all. I used 3-2'' Z clips, at the top, tried to get them drilled into wall studs. To keep the headboards even more secure, I used corner braces on the bottom- 2'' braces, drilled into the wall with anchorless screws and then drilled into the bottom of the headboard frame.
I also did not cut the wood at the hardware store- I purchased a circular saw and was very happy with the decision. Was MUCH better to cut as I built.
Wanted to try something different for my Secret Santa gift. Didn’t have the exact plans I needed so I based it off others. Built this to fit in and out of an RV entry door. It also has a drain valve underneath. This was my first without a plan project
In reply to Sweet side table! by Ana White Admin
Mon, 01/10/2022 - 10:07
Thanks, this was fun and the giftee loved it
I used the Rhyan end table plan (with a few alterations) to make my nightstands. I changed the dimensions so mine turned out to be 20”D, 25”W, 27”H, I extended the side and back panels all the way to the top to close in the shelf and I made the bottom drawer larger. I decided to use under mount drawer slides but I think I will try out the side mount slides in the future though.
I wanted them to match the headboard and bench that I made for my bed so I added the same molding that I used on those pieces to finish it off.
I pre cut every piece for the main body of the nightstand and predrilled all of the Kreg holes which made it a really quick piece to put together! I purchased the Mini Kreg jig for this project and am so glad I did. Totally worth the money!
It was time for potty training and when it came time to wash her hands her arms were a little too short. So I threw this step stool together over a few hours and with the little one being a Minnie Mouse fan I had to add the Mickey head. Great project for those wanting something easy and quick.
Thu, 07/09/2015 - 11:31
Is there any instructions or measurements anyone can provide me with for this project?
I created this sofa from 2x6s that were left over from a pergola we built. I got the cushions at Lowes for $57 per set (3 sets). This is the first thing I ever built and I did it all by myself including cutting the boards to length. In total it took about 4 hours. I am so proud!!! Thank you Ana White for giving me the confidence to build this furniture. I will never, ever, ever pay outrageous retail prices for wood furniture again.
Fri, 06/26/2015 - 09:27
I love the way your couch turned out in 2x6s! I, too, plan to build this soon. I really like the cushions you chose, too. I ordered mine from Amazon for about the same cost (a little more $, but without exorbitant WA state tax!). Thanks for sharing!
Mon, 07/25/2016 - 21:02
Can't see the plan for this sofa. Where can I get it from? Thanks
I needed a project to keep me together during 2017, as I took maternity leave after the birth of my second son. I wanted something that both boys could grow into, and enjoy, for many years to come. I also wanted to challenge myself to go big.
Our garden is tiny, so I was really attracted to the idea of raising a playhouse up and gaining the space underneath too. This corner was taken up by a big wooden raised pond, which wasn't wildlife friendly because of the high sides - and that meant you couldn't see the water unless you walked right up to it, either, so it seemed like a bit of a waste of space.
First of all I took out the old pond, and dug up tons of invasive bamboo that was growing around it. Then I lifted and relaid the concrete paving slabs underneath, leaving a smaller pit for a sandpit in the middle. With that all in place, I was ready to start building.
Wood tends to be expensive in the UK, and given the amount of rain we get I wanted to get the roof thoroughly waterproof and the windows covered. I also included a layer of polystyrene insulation behind a additional plywood inner walls, and I painted the whole thing in rot-proof garden paint. Everything added up, and the materials cost was probably £1k or more.
If I'd been able to work continuously, I reckon I would have completed the whole project in a week or so. However, I was mostly only able to get out in the garden when both my sons were napping (about 2 hours a day) or at the weekends when my husband could watch them. Given the time constraints, I was expecting this to be a long project. I started in April 2017 and completed the build late in October.
The deck was finished in June, and the sandpit in the shady space underneath was a great resource on the hotter days of summer.
The old garden shed we inherited when we moved in here is rotting away, but it had power and lighting which the electrician told us was sound. I transferred the circuit into the playhouse, securing it behind the inner wall and installing a plug socket and a ceiling light. Having the power socket means that we can take a little electrical heater out there, and (under supervision) the three year old has been able to play in his little house throughout the winter.
One issue has been that water tends to pool on the deck in front of the house, and then seep under and into the house. When a big furry throw got left out there for a couple of weeks it acted as a wick and sucked the water up and into some of the plywood at the back, making it a bit manky and mouldy. We've learned our lesson and I've now run a bead of general purpose sealant along the front of the house, preventing water running in. The decking boards came with grooves for added grip, which helped channel the water along, and this was worse by the doors because I kept the doors a centimetre or so above the floor, leaving a gap. I've added a thin strip of wood for a lintel and sealed that too.
Now that we're on top of the damp issue I'm planning to paint the interior, add some old water-resistant flooring boards that I found in the shed when we moved into the house, and generally spruce things up. I hope this will be a comfortable den for the boys for years to come.
Thanks, Ana!
I made this slightly smaller version of Ana’s Hall Tree to fit smaller spaces. I added beadboard to the back to put an added farmhouse touch. Finished in Golden Oak and white.
I built my first daybed in May of 2010, and my second one in August of 2010. I've since moved one of the daybeds to my new nursery I'm creating. These beds are so versitle, so sturdy, and can be moved anywhere and 'go' with whatever decor. I love both of them!
This was my husband and my first DIY project and we were thrilled at the outcome! It took us a day to build and then a couple days to stain and paint.
What do you do when you want to upgrade to a king size bed but cant find one you like at any store? You build one yourself.
I actually built this before the king size plans were available by using the queen size plans and bumping up the measurements accordingly. We both loved the farmhouse bed so we only made a couple little changes. One obvious change is to the posts at teh footboard...i cut those to about 48" high so I would still have a place to hang my PJ's. I also took the router to the tops of the posts to round off the edges just a bit.
It came out great and my wife and I love it. She likes to show off pictures every chance she gets.
Built the greenhouse from Ana Whites plan
She did the plan really well..
Mon, 01/03/2022 - 12:26
Thank you for sharing, it looks perfect, love the happy face!
My first project! A friend of my husband's came to visit for a weekend and was nice enough to show me how to use my handy dandy new air nailer. We had the bench put together in 15 minutes! And so began a beautiful friendship with furniture building...
Last winter, our friend's boss built our kitchen cabinets. We've had cuts of plywood leftover, sitting in our garage since then.
Our home needed a media console, so I thought to give building one a shot now that I own a circular saw and am only slightly afraid of it. I didn't follow a plan, honestly, but I did look at Ana's Classic Storage Wall, Extra Wide Media Unit as inspiration.
The console is actually a slate-indigo-black, called Napoleon. The top is made of reclaimed 1x6s that I mixed and matched with scrap 1x6s and gave one coat of Dark Walnut. We ordered handles for the doors and it needs another coat of paint (we ran out of the quart we had on hand), but we love it!
Tue, 07/09/2013 - 16:30
Love this! The reclaimed wood top is fab, and the color looks perfect. I checked out your blog - your apartment is looking awesome!
Wed, 07/10/2013 - 02:18
Thank you for your kind words. :) Our apartment wouldn't be furnished today if not for ana-white.com. The motivation I've gained by learning and sharing back here has been key to keep me building the things we need, the way we want them. =D You've built so many things; I'm so impressed!
I built this table and two simple benches, inspired by the farmhouse table plans. I modified the plan slightly, in that I didn't add the center 2x4 on the bottom, or the two 2x4's between the legs. I also added a second "bread end board," and customized the corners with some "L" bracket accessories. It took me a week to build everything, then add the finish. It would have gone quicker, had I had time to do it all at the same time, but I had to make time after work to do everything. All, in all, this is probably a weekend job, at most.
Our master bedroom unfortunately had no closet, so for almost 2 years we had been using 4 store bought (cheap) racks that would break under the weight of the clothes and keep having to be replaced. There was however, a big nook in one wall of the room that could definitely be some kind of closet. I sat down and drew up a plan of what I thought would fit, but then had no idea how to go about building it. The plan sat in a drawer for months until after asking a friend about a shelf her husband built she sent me a link to this site and told me that's where she got the plans. I found the closet system plans and they were so close to what I had drawn up I was blown away! IT was no problem modifying the measurements to fit our space. I am SO happy with the results, all I need to do now is wait for some dry weather so we can paint!
Modified back to match my adult chairs. Armrests are also cut out like adult chairs you just cant tell in picture. Also put an arc on faceplate. Then i couldn't resist routing her name into it. Enjoy!
This console is perfect as is or it can be customized to your needs. Very sturdy.
This table was inspired by the pocket screw table. only I did not use pocket screws. it is constructed using loose tenon construction and dowels. Notice the middle stretcher and the wooden nut and bolt that holds it together
After seeing your knee wall project I decided I could modify it to work for me. first I insulated the angular wall to provide a conditioned environment. (wife wanted to store Christmas decorations. Then removed existing sheetrock, removed every other vertical 2x4 and had the opening size I wanted . Currently working on sheet rocking the interior and will then begin to work on the doors. Waiting on hinges. I think my wife likes it so far. I'll upgrade with photos when done. thanks
the small bed was from one of your plans (american girl bed) and then we just changed dimensions and made our master bed (Queen). That was a fun project.
Thanks for sending plans, we look forward to them.
George, Mechanicsville, Virginia