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Simple Adirondack Chair

Stuck to the plans exactly how Ana laid out for me and it was quite amazing how well and easily it comes together. If I learned one thing from this project it was to always stain the wood before you put a project together haha, what a pain it was to stain in between all those slates. I am planning on building a few more with some variations and some ottomans. Pictures to follow if it is a success.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$70
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Used a Redwood premixed stain from Lowes. When mixed with the pine it turned a little more orange than I was hoping.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Seasonal And Holiday

Diy mudroom entryway

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!

Estimated Cost
150-ish
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Generic white paint from Walmart, Gloss finish. Three coats. Minwax Dark Walnut stain for Bench. MInwax Polycrilic as a top coat for the bench.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

tommybo76

Wed, 01/29/2014 - 20:06

I love the details used. Especially the seating area color choice, buckets for storage and extra shelf...what do you plan on using the smaller shelves above the hooks to store? One small suggestion, you might consider adding extra hooks on the side panels. I did this on my project and I think we've used every hook we have LOL! Fantastic job!!

In reply to by tommybo76

Anna at Home-h…

Thu, 01/30/2014 - 16:20

Thank you so much! You are right, that is something I actually have plans to do. We can always use more hooks! The smaller slots are for school papers. My kids each have a section (I have four kids). They are to take out any papers that they need me to see and place them in the homework slot...I will then either return it to the slot or trash it, if need by. I also use it to put anything I find laying around the house that belongs in their bookbags or that needs to go to school in (library books, etc). You can see the whole tutorial, if you're interested, here: http://www.home-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com/2014/01/diy-mudroom-and-ent...

Anna at Home-h…

Thu, 01/30/2014 - 13:26

Thank you so much! You are right, that is something I actually have plans to do. We can always use more hooks! The smaller slots are for school papers. My kids each have a section (I have four kids). They are to take out any papers that they need me to see and place them in the homework slot...I will then either return it to the slot or trash it, if need by. I also use it to put anything I find laying around the house that belongs in their bookbags or that needs to go to school in (library books, etc). You can see the whole tutorial, if you're interested, here: http://www.home-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com/2014/01/diy-mudroom-and-en…

Sandbox with built in seats/lid

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.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Exterior Grade Paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

LEGO Play and Storage Table

Submitted by Bradnag on Sun, 01/19/2020 - 14:13

Used the plans for the Arts & Crafts Play Table, but ditched the angled legs (the squared off legs have no stability issues at all), and used a regular piece of 1/4" fiberboard instead of acrylic for the lid. On the lid I glued a 15x15 LEGO baseplate, and compartments underneath are for LEGO storage. The local REStore had an 8ft length of 3" laminated MDF trim for $2, which worked perfectly as the trim for the top of the table with no sanding or painting required.

I know the paint in the photo looks super-streaky, but I used some leftover Rust-Oleum cobalt blue metallic floor paint, so it's shimmery and glossy. Unfortunately the visual effect photographs poorly.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-Oleum metallic floor paint, cobalt blue
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Indoor Outdoor Side Table

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

Estimated Cost
50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain Chesnut English
Weather sealer
polycrilic
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Colonel (not verified)

Fri, 04/20/2012 - 18:53

How exactly did you get the logos on the table? They look carved or burnt...they are really awesome!

jcrabb

Tue, 04/24/2012 - 13:28

I was wondering the same thing as Colonel.....How did you get the team logos on the table top? I love this!

Antique Armoir

Submitted by George R S on Sat, 02/01/2014 - 19:11

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!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr primer and paint in one. Oil based walnut antique gel. Silver acrylic paint. Water based satin finish varethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Farmhouse X Coffee Table

Submitted by Loaded918 on Fri, 01/24/2020 - 17:09

This was my first woodworking project, and it turned out really well. I am going to have to make all of the matching furniture to go with it as well now. My wife has been pushing me to find a hobby (probably to get me out of her hair), and it looks like I have found the one. Did this one with just a circular saw and a drill, now it's time to get a Kreg Jig. Also need to find a way to make my cuts a tad bit straighter as well, but I hope this soon leads to me getting a miter saw.

Estimated Cost
$36
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Mission Oak by Miniwax
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Sylvie's coat tree

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.

Estimated Cost
about $8.00 if you don't have scraps
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Spray on varnish and acrylic paint for knobs and letter.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Crayon holder

Submitted by cookiecrab on Tue, 02/04/2014 - 18:56

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

Estimated Cost
$10
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
spray paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

4x4 Truss Table

Submitted by BojackH on Mon, 05/02/2016 - 20:08

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).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
~$200 for wood
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used the vinegar/ steel wool solution and then 6 coats of Minewax semi gloss polyurethene. Before applying polyurethene, I used a blow torch on the corners to make some neat burn marks.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Scrap Wood Barn

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 09/22/2023 - 08:11

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!

Laura Thompson

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

easiest daybed turned floating twin beds

we love ana's plans, and we love the way this one was executed by the bumper crop. check out more pics of our girl version and how we did it at http://www.iwantbdphotography.com/archives/2661

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$90 each
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
none :) gutsy for a kid's room. not sure how they will hold up, but we just love the raw unfinished look
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

End table made from pallets (plans included)

Submitted by mtairymd on Sat, 02/08/2014 - 14:58

Building an outside side table out of scrap pallets.

Video of the build:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVAYXVGiL_8

Drawing File
https://googledrive.com/host/0B21TbB8gGNQbX2dlNGdxR0NuOE0/end_table.pdf

Estimated Cost
$5 for stain and nails - free pallets
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Red Oak
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Purple chicken ark w/ retractable wheels

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/07/2016 - 16:59

We worked on this project on and off for a couple weeks.  60 degree angles were the hardest part.  Decided against adding upper coop floor to minimize cleaning.  Coop will only be used seasonally.  End coop is very heavy, so wheels were a must.  Scoured internet and found simple retractable lever design with bolts to adjust wheel height.  Very happy with project, thank you Ana!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Coffee Table

Submitted by cabinK on Wed, 02/05/2020 - 17:42

Had a great time building the Farmhouse Coffee Table plans from Ana! As with the Farmhouse Queen Bed, I used the old barn wood, ran it through the planer until I liked the look of the grains and then built away. I haven't decided on a finish yet but I'm more than likely going to epoxy the top only, so as to protect it from drink spills and water rings.  THANK YOU ANA!!

Estimated Cost
Screws and glue
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
None as of yet. Will probably use tabletop epoxy.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kentwood Bookcases

Submitted by tglife on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 09:30

When I started my blog This Girls Life ( t-g-life.blogspot.com ) I knew I wanted to makeover my office to give me more room and storage. These bookcases were perfect for that.

Estimated Cost
$120ish for both, $60ish per bookcase
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax English Chestnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
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