Community Brag Posts

Cabin in the woods!! We added Phillips Hue lighting so we can control all the lights from our phone.

Unfortunately, I just finished building this console table two weeks before Ana and Jim's plans went up on the web site! What I wouldn't have given for the plans! Without the plans, my dad helped me modify the Tryde Console Table to look more like Pottery Barn's Benchwright Console Table, but it was definitely a labor of love (and took me three months to complete, primarily due to lack of motivation and bad weather in Chicago). But I am so pleased with the final result! Because my console table is based off the Tryde project plan, I used 4x4s for the legs, and 2x2s/2x4s for the top. Some of the wood came from other projects, including the loft bed my dad built for me nearly 15 years ago! The bottom shelf is a 1x12 that has been cut with a jigsaw to "perfectly" fit around the posts. I say "perfectly" because I definitely had to use some wood filler around three of the posts! The drawers were the hardest part, and where I really could have used a plan! They are much smaller than they appear from the outside - I used 1x2s for the sides, then attached a 1x6 face to match the sides and back of the console table. Both drawers are firmly held in place by metal drawer slides, which means I don't have to worry about the drawer falling out because it's been overloaded with glassware (as you can see, the console was a late holiday present for my partner, who is using it as his bar). I should have used a thicker piece of plywood on the bottom, because as you can see, the screws attached to the drawer slides protrude. It's nothing we can't live with though! We really wanted the piece to look older than it is (hence why we purposely chose knotty boards), and with some many reclaimed boards, I knew the stain would have to be dark. We chose a Red Oak Minwax stain and applied it once to the legs (pine) and twice to everything else (mostly whitewood). Two coats of Deft later, and we love the result. It looks exactly the way we hoped it would and we love the mix of dark and light shades.

Less than $40 and fun with a Kreg jig.

I built this book rack using scrap wood and modified plans from the Full Length Plate Rack. It was a really straightforward build, and functions very well as vertical storage that takes up little space. I predrilled, screwed and glued all of the joints, vs. stapling.

I needed to clear out a shelf in my cabinet and add a spice rack so I could actually see everything. This came out perfect! Made of Oak and stained with classic oak. Very simple to build and hung with pocket screws

This was my very first building project. I needed a place for my kids to store their things as they went in and out of the house. I happened to have a perfect place to add built ins just inside my front door. Our house is pretty small and there wasn't much room anywhere else. It took me quite awhile, but I was able to learn from reading several Ana White plans and then I designed this myself. I learned how to use Google sketch-up in order to design it. I hope you enjoy checking it out!

6'x6' with 12'' Treated Sides, 1x4 and 1x6 SPF tops/seats and 2x4 Brace under Seats to accommodate the 6 foot span. Sanded and Painted.

Completed in 2 days, couple hours each day, sanded/painted all boards before assembly.

Used the table and cutout logo's and put back into the table using luan scraps. ;0)

This is the first furniture project I have built from a plan found on-line - at Ana's Website. The plan was very easy to follow and I thoroughly enjoyed building this piece of furniture. I made some alterations to the upper cabinet as per shelving. I used an antique finish to match my bed. The match and design is perfect!

I built my daughter a coat tree from Ana's plans and it looks basically just like Ana's-even the same color. My daughter-in-law saw it and wanted one for my granddaughter's room to hold her dressup clothes but she wanted a natural look, instead of painted and her room is basically natural wood, red and white so this is what I came up with. I would never have even known I could build a coat tree if I hadn't tried Ana's first!! This one was super easy and cheap, made mostly with scraps and some varnish I already had. I had to buy the balls, dowel and letter S.

I would encourage anyone to build one of these if they have need of a coat tree. You could even make it adult size if you combined Ana's plans with these plans and screwed in some hooks.

Had left over 2x3's so I used those. The kids love them!! Easy to make. Cost $10 due to stickers and paint.

We needed a sturdy table but didn't want to spend a fortune buying one so decided to take a stab at building one.  Our space isn't too large but also wanted the ability to expand the table with leaves if we have a large crowd.  I built leaves by cutting notches in the horizontal leg 4x4 and then sliding in/out with 2x2's attached (see pic).

I will say it makes life a whole lot easier learning how to use Sketchup or some other design software.  That way you can visualize what it will look like, cuts you need to make especially if you will be deviating from the original post design and don't want to do math in your head (like me).

My daughter watched me do another build project and wanted something for herself. We built the Toy Barn from Ana White's plans using only scraps around the garage!