Community Brag Posts

Pallet Coffee Table

Submitted by Emscan on Mon, 10/17/2011 - 20:09

We love our new coffee table! Thanks for the idea!!

Built from Plan(s)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Hanging Bunk Beds

Submitted by janarae13 on Sun, 10/13/2013 - 18:01

I saw these beds featured in a Sherwin Williams paint mini magazine, fell in love w the idea, and customized them to work for my daughter's room. She loves them! Thx Ana White!!

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

Comments

joseph.ribecca

Wed, 10/16/2013 - 18:08

What kid of wood did you us for the bed base, and you just ancored them in the wall studs, With screw hooks?

Wvchanger

Fri, 10/21/2016 - 20:39

How did you tie your rope? I made the beds but having a difficult time finding a secure way to tie the rope so it's study and won't slide

First time building anything like this

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 03/16/2019 - 12:04

I love how the 2 tone turned out!!!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

End of the Bed storage ottoman

This was my first project. I already had a large ottoman, but it didn't hold anything. So I broke it apart for the box frame, added a bottom and hinged the lid. I was able to reuse the padding and upholster the pieces with sale fabric from Joann Fab ( love that store). Than I attached the fabric with a staple gun. Since it's in my bedroom, I like to keep wedding photos and such inside. Plus my 2 year old cannot open it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50, since I had the frame and padding already
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Tabletop Chalkboard Easel

Submitted by spiceylg on Thu, 10/17/2013 - 01:47

First project for upcoming annual craft show. Guessed on cost as we bought 2x6s and 2x12s on clearance and ripped them down ourselves for a cost savings. Used beadboard for the chalkboard because I got a slightly damaged 4'x8' sheet for just $3.95. Have to say that it's not the smoothest so I'd definitely go with something like luann next time. Still cute!

That last picture shows the second batch I made for the following year. I modified the plan to simplify it for me and use less materials by making it just one-sided.

Estimated Cost
$8-10
Finish Used
Olympic paint (not a huge fan). Sorry don't have color names. Purple color from oops paint at Lowes, Valspar, I believe.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kentwood Nightstand

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/03/2016 - 12:36

I made this nightstand and one other for my bedroom. I used 1x2's for the door and diamond willow for the handles. :)

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None yet :)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Coffee Table and Side Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 03/23/2019 - 08:53

I absolutely love how this coffee and end table set have completed my living room. Each one took me about a day to complete and $80 or less!! Excellent, detailed plans resulting in a gorgeous piece. Thank you! 

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
The top is stained with Minwax Jacobean finish, then whitewashed with watered down Dover White From Sherwin Williams. Base is painted Sherwin Williams Dover White in semi-gloss finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

ladder shelf build

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 09:02

Thanks for the plans had to go with something like this to avoid putting cabinets in and risk hitting a water line in the wall.

Comments

My first build - storage daybed!

Submitted by lbadger on Tue, 10/25/2011 - 06:50

I finally did it! I purchased mattresses for our two girls (2 & 4) which have been just sitting on the floor for a while. Wanting to build some simple frames just to get them off the floor I ran across Ana's site. Oh boy! This site is amazing! We have a small house with very little storage so when I saw the storage daybeds I was smitten! The extent of my power tool comfort zone is dimensional lumber and a compound miter saw. Not plywood and definitely not the table saw, so I was a little leery about starting this project. In the end, I tackled it and am so glad I did! Even used the circular saw! Full disclosure, there's probably nothing square about the thing (see additional photos), but like mulch in your garden, trim covers a multitude of sins! I learned a lot and will take my time measuring and squaring for the next one. Also, as some readers commented, I would prime and do at least one coat of paint prior to assembly (that part was definitely time consuming). I also wanted the storage to go all the way back to the wall so I didn't include the center piece of plywood but instead trimmed down a 2x4 to a ~2.5" width and glue/screwed in into the plywood at the top center under the top piece. So far so good! On the finish, I wanted a distressed finish and started using a dark walnut stain but did not like how much it adhered to the paint as well as the sanded down edges. When I picked my daughter up from pre-school that day they had been doing flower rub pictures. I saw that the centers of the black-eyed susan’s and cone flowers came out a beautiful brown color. So when I got home my daughter and I went out and cut some old flower stems and we finished the other two cubby cubes that way. I think it turned out really well! I didn't end up top coating it with anything, I liked the scuffed up paint look. A big THANK YOU to Ana for doing all this work so we can too!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$135
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Benjamin Moore Smoke and Dark Walnut stain for distressed finish on one cube which was replaced with the centers from our black-eyed susans and cone flowers.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Bedside Table

Submitted by Amanda G on Sat, 10/19/2013 - 07:39

After finishing the farmhouse queen bed, I was eager to start another project. I needed bedside tables and I came across plans for the mini farmhouse bedside tables. After the building the first one, the second one went much quicker. Very happy with the results :)

Estimated Cost
$50.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White paint, top and bottom shelf are stained with Minwax Special Walnut and sanded edges and corners to look a bit aged. Finished with 3 coats of Minwax polycrylic, sanding between coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

mom of 4

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 09:21

Really nice work on the bed and the tables. I love the look with white legs and stained top/shelf.

In reply to by mom of 4

Amanda G

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 19:34

I was very happy with the way they turned out. I just finished a storage bench with the white bottom and stained top, I'll post pictures when I get a chance :)

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.

Reclaimed Wood Headboard (air quotes)

Submitted by AlexWS on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 11:07

OK, first off this is not in any way, shape or form the Ana White plan for the Reclaimed Wood Headboard. However, I had to include a plan link and it IS a headboard made with reclaimed wood. So yea, air quotes. Second, I apologize for the poor quality photos of my recent brag posts. The digital camera is gone so these are iPhone specials. On with it now. This is my quick and dirty way of making a headboard, and kind of cheating. All you're looking at in these photos is some 2X3s and 2X4s around an old door to the root cellar in my basement. That's right, for once my main source of building material was not a pallet. As I took the door off the old rusty hinges and cleaned off the dust and cobwebs it occurred to me that this was probably original to the house from 1920. With that kind of history in mind the only thing I could do was take a saw to it and hack off 18 inches, oops. The 2X3 posts on the side were actually supports for a shelf that was made from a door(more on that to come). That shelf was actually found in the root cellar the door was for, this house has been pretty beneficial to me so far. The 2X4 top is from a pallet and aside from a 2X6 at the bottom to attach it to the bed, that's it. After that it was simply a matter of some oops paint on the trim(that would be the red) and a bit of sanding once it dried. The white is simply the condition the door was in.

Estimated Cost
Free
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Oops paint and a quick sanding for the trim, years of aging for the main portion.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

debandtom25

Thu, 11/10/2011 - 06:53

Totally attaching this to my Pinterst acct. I love when items are re-purposed and you did a fab job here!

Small Table

I made this little table for my sister-in-law. She needed a specific size to fit in between some bookshelves. She is going to put a lovely fish bowl on top. It cost me about $10 for the wood and paint. I modified Ana's plans for the "simple, cheap and easy console table" to fit the space.

Estimated Cost
$5 for lumber, about $10 total with other materials.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Rustoleum Gloss Black paint/primer in one. Then I used minwax polycrylic.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

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

Modular Corner Office and Craft Desk

I started creating the furniture for my new craft room by making the Easy Three Cube Benches I found here.  I modified them so that my cats could lay on top and look out the windows.  The cube benches gave me the confidence to design a printer stand.  Using Ana White's technique of "build the box" and then add the rest, I designed a custom printer stand I am so very proud of!  After the printer stand, I moved on to the final piece that would complete my craft room, a modular desk with plenty of workspace to complete any craft I want.  I modified each module a little to keep with the theme design of the room.  I created three modules.  The last one being a bookcase that is a modification of the Modern Craft Table bases.  I used better quality Oak plywood for the desk top, and good pine and whiteboard plywood for the modules.

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
For the modules I used Valspar Furniture Paint in ultra white. For the desk top I used Minwax Simply White stain and then Minwax Dark Walnut over that to create the "driftwood" style look. I sealed the desktop with about 5 coats of Minwax wipe-on poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

melkaye

Wed, 02/19/2020 - 13:53

Could you tell me the measurements for the top? I absolutely love your table! 

sukheeso

Wed, 04/07/2021 - 14:07

Hi! This is very similar to what I'm hoping to make. I was wondering what the length of the left side of the desk was?
Thank you!

Rustic Desk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/24/2023 - 11:04

This was an easy project t to build. Decided to go out of my comfort zone and burn all of the wood before adding the finish. I loved the design of these plans and my aunt wants me to build one for her.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Benjamin's Deck Chair

Built this for my 2 yr old son. It's adorable!
The only trouble we have is that when he climbs in it wants to tip forward, a weight or stake into the ground on the back cross brace would probably solve it.

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

A Lovely Pair of Planters with Finials

Submitted by Shelly2215 on Fri, 10/25/2013 - 05:46

I wanted a fairly simple project to get started with, something I could make use of around my home and to help me get familiar with my new power tools - well, this project did the job nicely!
I'm extremely happy with the way the planters turned out and have already had other people asking me about them as they would like some too.
These planters worked out fairly expensive for me as the materials were extremely good quality and very heavy duty in size, I think I could get away with using slightly less robust materials to bring the costs down next time.
I had difficulty finding finials for the planters so I used some wooden turned eggs that I already had from my collection of pyrography blanks.
I can't wait for my next project now which will be a little more ambitious. I absolutely love Ana's website and can't wait to see what else I can make.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
£80 a pair (UK)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Black Ash exterior wood paint from Culprinol.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

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