Community Brag Posts

Upholstery Bench

This is my second build and i really like it. I used pine and Waverly Cross Section Green to cover the foam. The plan is realy easy to follow and i used killer B method for the upholstery part. http://ana-white.com/2011/03/upholstered-bench. With two kiddos, it took me a couple of weeks to finish it but its a day project if your have more time than me! The only problem i had was to find high density foam. I finally find it at an upholstery shop but it cost me more for the foam then for the rest of the project. I used varathan oil base stain in light wallnut. I will finish it with a coat of vanish soon. Sorry for my bad english, my first language is french! Genevieve alias MadameG

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
120$ (85$ for foam only!)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Pam the Goatherd

Wed, 06/06/2012 - 09:32

Genevieve, I always enjoy your posts. Your English is good - better than some people who grew up speaking it here in the US!
I have a daughter named Genevieve. Her father thought Genevieve Bujold was beautiful and wanted to name his little girl for her.

Counter Height Kitchen Stools

Submitted by hawaiitara on Tue, 04/01/2014 - 20:08

I needed 3 stools for my kids to eat breakfast at the counter. These were perfect.

I already owned the fabric so I only needed to purchase the wood and the foam. I made it entirely out of furring strips so it was really inexpensive.

I took me a couple of hours to build and sand all 3.

Estimated Cost
$50 for all 3. (the foam was the most expensive part)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
valspar signature paint in mystified. I used outdoor fabric over upholstery foam and scotch guarded it.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

The Bucher Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 06/25/2016 - 17:14

Modified version of the Ana White Triple Pedestal Farmhouse Table. Table top is made of 1in alder while the base is made of construction grade 2x4 and 2x6 lumber. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut Stain and Annie Sloan chalk paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Simple Step Stool

Simple Step stool. My husband suggested we needed one of these for our pantry, so I whipped one up for us! The plan was so easy to follow, it took me about 20 mins to make this stool.

Estimated Cost
$7 CAD
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Stain in Espresso
Chalk Paint in Tidal Pond, "distressed" then stained over in Espresso
Sealed with Minwax polyacrylic

Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Wainscoated Hallway Upgrade

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/04/2023 - 08:41

We moved into our new home. The hallway looked dark and gloomy. I decided wainscot the hallway. I brought 2x6 and 2x8 for hallway. Started installing on the wall and framed out the wall after completing the wainscot still didn’t look to my satisfaction. I then changed the carpet and installed laminate flooring. Everyone who comes to our home loves the look.

 

Twin Farmhouse bed

Took a couple of weeks to complete but, hubby only worked on it in the evenings after he got off work. He had trouble finding untreated 4x4s so he glued untreated 2x4s together (which took extra time waiting for the glue to set up and dry). He used paint grade pine wood so our cost was a little higher than what was estimated. We ended up having around $350 in it after buying paint and everything. Overall, he said it was a fairly easy project.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Primed and used Benjamin Moore Sea Pearl to finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Outdoor Garbage Can Shed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 12/08/2023 - 08:45

Chose the small firewood shed project as a "template" if you will .. built this to house our garbage cans and eventually put a gate on it to "help deter" the Florida black bears (we do multiple things to keep them at bay) but this will also just be a nicer looking way to keep the cans outside.

I modified the floor since the firewood shed had a floor that was suitable for, well, firewood but not so much for rolling garbage cans. Had to leave the one slat off the back for the depth of the can which I didn't completely account for in the beginning. Overall, still need to paint it and water seal it but happy with how it turned out.

Built from Plan(s)

Rustic Table

Submitted by SusieK on Sun, 04/06/2014 - 10:16

This Rustic Table was built by my just-turned-15-year-old, Joey. He is amazing!

Joey is a Kreg Jig pro (and an engineering marvel) and this table is rock solid. The only change he made was the direction of the table legs (per my request) and he tapered the legs as well.

I finished the table using Ana's directions: http://ana-white.com/2013/05/staining-and-finishing-tabletops As a stain and poly novice, these directions were a life saver!!

Learning lesson: When I applied the stain (in several coats to match my cabinetry), I was nervous and patient. Then, I built up my confidence and decided to apply a very thick coat of stain. Don't do that; it was a sticky mess! I searched online and lots of people said that I would have to start over. Don't do that, either. One person (thanks to him!) said to be patient and wait it out. Fwew! So, I moved it onto the screened porch (and turned on the overhead fans) each day so that the warm Florida air could help dry it out (alternatively I imagine you could leave it in the house with some fans blowing across it). It took about a week of waiting (ugh), but it dried (yay!) so that I could apply the Spar Urethane.

Must do: Ana suggests using Minwax® Water Based Helmsman® Spar Urethane for a top that will tolerate water condensation, milk spills, etc. I did this and have no worries that my son's project will be ruined. This table is going to last!

The bench was also an Ana design. It was a really quick project.

Thanks so much to Ana for having these accessible, free plans. I could never have afforded a table of this substance and we are SO proud to tell visitors about Joey's Table when they ask.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Water-Based Wood Conditioner, Minwax Wood Finish Cherry 235, Helmsman Spar Urethan Clear Semi-Gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Potting bench -> coffee bqr

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 20:34

My husband and I decided to turn this potting bench into an indoor coffee bar. Great project for first timers, like myself. 😊

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Adirondack Chair, Fountain and Bench

Ana, I want to say how inspirational you have been to me over some years. I think my first project found on your website was a chicken coop. More recently I have built the large garage workbench system with 2 rollout workbench/storage units (still in progress). In the past few weeks I have built the Adirondack chairs. The Adirondack chairs spurred me to continue building a “park like” setting in my small backyard. This includes a park bench (to match the Adirondack chairs), a park style grill, and a water fall. The waterfall is fairly simple (now that I have done it once - ha).

Ken Moody - Babcock Ranch, Florida

Seasonal And Holiday

Tryde Coffee Table

My first project! Luci looks like a demon.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Jacobean stain and polycrylic by Minwax
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Garden Boxes

Submitted by brittanyeg on Tue, 04/08/2014 - 14:00

Made 4 of these garden boxes for the side of the house. I love how they turned out and it was easy to change the size of boxes just by changing the side lengths. I love the trim on the top. It makes them look so much more finished. Can't wait to fill them.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I didn't bother with the wood glue step but am sure they'll be fine. Also I couldn't find any 1" screws. But the 1.75" screws worked fine.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Seasonal And Holiday

Little smaller and no X's

Submitted by JulieJabs on Tue, 07/05/2016 - 19:20

I loved this table but I knew I wasn't going to get the X right so I skipped em ;-)  wish I knew before I had to shorten all the dimensions what a pain putting those 2x4 supports in would be!!! Used 1x10 for shelves and was quite a process trying to secure those! 

 

I used a watered down white latex paint all over then 1 coat of weathered oak stain 

Estimated Cost
40
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Bed DIY

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/26/2023 - 12:21

After realizing how much solid bed frames were selling online, I started googling. Thankfully I came across the farmhouse design! It was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Total for wood and paint etc was approximately $400.

kategelineaurealestate

First Try, Picnic Table

I had to take 2 redwood trees down last year so I learned to mill my own lumber. This picnic table is my first attempt at furniture. The dimensions of the wood is beyond "full" so a cutlist would be meaningless. For reference the table top boards are 2.25"x9.25"x7'.

The inspiration is from the Fancy X Farmhouse Table project on this site.

I don't know how you would price or time this because I started from logs 8^)

This site is awesome!

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

Comments

spiceylg

Tue, 06/19/2012 - 06:03

Wow, that is beautiful and I'm thoroughly impressed that you started from logs and this is your first attempt. This site is awesome indeed! Looking forward to seeing more of your projects!

First project Nicest thing in my house

Submitted by chomuth on Fri, 04/11/2014 - 17:33

Well this is my first project and it took me a long time. I have to think way to long before I actually do something. I redrew the drawings to fit my garbage can but it still didn't fit.
Oh well, it was a good idea at the time.
I used a biscuit joiner and glue to put everything together. For the door I used rail and stile bits. The panels are made of MDF, I used a bit made just for raised panel doors on the router table to make them, Oh by the way MDF makes a very big dusty mess, Please wear a mask it has to be really bad to breath.
I also added a slow close piece that is mainly used on kitchen cabinets, I just had to do that and it works very well.
Thanks Ana for such a helpful website

Chuck

Estimated Cost
$100 or so
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Primed and spray painted all the pieces. I also sanded between the coats of paint
Some pieces needed to be painted before assembly. The top is pine that was stained and varnished.
Spray painting in a basement really make the house smell bad, Ok Ok I am not always the smartest person.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

JoanneS

Sat, 04/12/2014 - 07:01

You did a beautiful job on this! The finishing is lovely, and those raised panels are impressive!

chomuth

Thu, 04/17/2014 - 15:51

Thank You JoanneS
I am on my next project now. I need a place to hang my coats and not see all of the shoes, lost almost everything in a divorce including almost all my tools.
LOL
A small price to pay for serenity.

Kitchen table and bench

Submitted by Corky2321 on Mon, 05/04/2020 - 14:55

Super fun and easy project! I had to cut down the length of the table to 6 ft to fit the space in the house. I also did 2x8 tops on the bench for more surface area. I will def be building an ana white project again!

Estimated Cost
$100 for all supplies for table and bench
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Back