Community Brag Posts

Outdoor Console Table

Submitted by scokenour on Wed, 05/01/2013 - 16:32

I have a small booth at a local Outdoor Market & a client asked if I had any outdoor tables - she needed some for an upcoming party. I tried convincing her that a potting bench would be perfect (since Ana already had plans for that), but she wanted something a little different. She shared a picture of a "Faraday" console table by Pottery Barn, so I used that as my inspiration. I opted for a counter-height table vs. a table height, but both can be easily achieved using the same size balusters, just cut accordingly. I did have a hard time finding "chunky" balusters with a "flat" section on both the top and bottom. I didn't want to use pre-made legs because they are too pricey. At both Orange and Blue they had "skinny" balusters, but at the Orange near my home I found 1 thicker baluster. I had to go to another store to find more in stock, so supplies may vary in your area. The balusters were less than $3 each. Ana was so kind to create plans and I hope you enjoy your table as much as my client enjoyed hers!

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
exterior grade semi-gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

spiceylg

Thu, 05/02/2013 - 07:31

Really like this and love how you used balusters for legs for added detail.

Storage Sofa / Convertible to Bed

Submitted by SRA16 on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 09:06

I used the plan for the base idea for my sofa. I decided I'd prefer arms to curl up in and also to add a convertible feature turning an ottoman using the same base plans into an extension option for using the set as a bed or lounge area. Twice the storage, twice the function!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400-$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used natural duck cloth for the fabric. Easy to clean and water resistant.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

sam5657

Fri, 07/23/2021 - 19:33

I was planning on building your storage sofa, but when I saw the one with the arms; I thought that I would rather build that one. In the spot where the plans should have been; it refers you to the storage sofa. The problem is; it doesn't tell you what you need for or how to build the arms. If they are somewhere else; could you tell me what heading that they are under.

Sandra Cahoon

[email protected]

Kitchen Island Trolley

Submitted by naomi on Fri, 06/23/2017 - 08:26

Kitchen Island Trolley.

Base was made from recycled timber and the top was made with new pine.

The rails were made from curtain rails. 

One end has wheels for easy moving.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Chalk Paint and Wipe on Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Narrow Farmhouse table - Triples!

Submitted by Bigherd on Tue, 09/28/2021 - 04:15

I built a couple of farmhouse tables per the plans. However, I had person who wanted three narrow, 15", display table for her craft store. I followed the plans but just changed the width to 15".

These are my triples!

Comments

My first DIY project!

Submitted by Celeste808 on Sun, 05/05/2013 - 10:30

Finally Completed!!! Thank you rainy Saturday! So I wanted a new entertainment center of sorts... couldn't find one that was just what I wanted..... so why not just build what I want! Just DIY it. ;)

I used the faux fireplace plan and modified it to have attached shelves on the sides. I also added an extra strip at the top of the fireplace opening so I could mount an LED bar light.

I used 1/4 plywood to make a tile base, penny tile, and 1/2 quarter round to finish out around the entire bottom.

Total project cost was less than $200 including the tile and light!

Best part is the whole thing is movable!

Thanks Anna White for such an awesome plan to start with!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
MDF & plywood
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

spkramer

Wed, 07/03/2013 - 10:24

This whole unit is great. My wife LOVES it, which means I will be building it! Did you purchase the two shelf units or build them yourself? Did you use a pattern or plan? Thanks!

Alisonwunderland

Wed, 07/31/2013 - 13:09

This is amazing! Exactly what I'm looking for! Did you change the depth of the mantel to make sure the shelves would be deep enough to hold things?

Celeste808

Sat, 08/03/2013 - 18:25

I did make the depth of the fireplace deeper so I could have room for the halves on the side. I just sketched out the dimensions I wanted the side shelves and built them along the same lines as the fireplace. Wasn't hard to figure out and just made it to fit the size I needed. The inset of the fireplace does not go all the way back to the wall either, that way the power strip can fit on the floor behind it. Glad you like it and thanks for the compliments!

EAnne

Wed, 07/23/2014 - 14:54

Hi Celeste 808, What a wonderful faux fireplace WITH the bookcases, especially. I'm hoping I can try this in our space challenged bedroom. Did you by any change reply to the chap who asked if you had some kind of dimensions or plans you could pass along to us? I would love to see if we can make it work in the space we have available.
Thanks again for the inspiration,
e

jrybolt26

Mon, 10/28/2013 - 18:25

I absolutely love what you did with this. I am going to have my fiance help me make this for our house. If you still have the dimensions and details of how you built the whole unit I would greatly appreciate it if you could post it.

mommyof2cuties

Sun, 04/13/2014 - 13:00

This is gorgeous & I can't believe it's your 1st project. I would love to build this too. Did you use any particular plans for the side units? If you have any tips or information to share, that would be great! I've actually been trying to make up my own plans using Sketch Up, but that's not working too good, lol. Again, great job & thank you.
Lynda

emswave

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 12:31

I'm dying to know the dimensions you added to the width. Also, the dimensions of the book shelf. I have been trying to draw up plans for the last week and I'm stuck with trying to figure it out by looking at your pictures.

PLEASE HELP!

Thanks!!

mrittgers1

Mon, 07/27/2015 - 09:15

Do you have the blue print of how you built the mantel and side book shelves? I am wanting to go buy supplies to build this tonight!!!

 

Thank you!

My Farm Table with Existing Iron Chairs

Submitted by kvheaton on Tue, 03/24/2015 - 19:28

I loved the look of the farm table that Anna has posted.  I created my own with a few small modifications.  I bought the legs of the table from my local Lowes store instead of ordering online.  It was more cost affective for building this table which was mostly for staging purposes, but I love the table so much, it will be going in my new house (if the real estate agent or the new home buyers don't talk me into selling it to them)!

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
A mixture of walnut and mahogony Minwax stain on the table top. Valspar semi-gloss paint on the legs with my all time favorite glaze - Rustoleum transformations. Love that stuff!!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

AndyH

Thu, 03/26/2015 - 04:52

looks great!! Did you apply the walnut first then magazine or mix them and apply as one application?

kvheaton

Wed, 04/01/2015 - 17:55

I wasn't sure if you received the email response regarding stain color, so I thought I'd repost here just in case.... The mix was 1/2 and 1/2 of the walnut and the mahogany stain done ant the same time. This is the same combination that we used on our home made walnut headboard with stacked stone. Love this color combination!

Studio82 Build: Farmhouse table with quartersawn white oak and walnut

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 06/25/2017 - 20:25

I love this design and I constantly get people requesting tour of the house just to see this table. Simple and beautiful. 

Estimated Cost
~$3000 of material (for benches and table)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
⅜ inch epoxy coat on top. Boiled linseed oil for base
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Counter Height Table and Chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 12:31

My husband and I made the table and chairs for our screened porch. We really like how the project turned out. Many more Ana White projects on the our list!

Comments

Flip Top Storage Bench

Submitted by DMax2010 on Tue, 05/07/2013 - 05:56

I made the entryway cubby from the book and finally couldn't stand the pile of shoes (3 year old) in the front entryway any longer! So I made the bench and my son is thrilled that he can open and close it and put things in it. I have a few touch-ups to do yet from the pocketholes and countersink holes, but I love it! It was really easy to do. I did modify the plans to fit my entryway, so it's about 36 inches long.

I love it!

Estimated Cost
40.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner (1 coat)
Rustoleum Dark Walnut Stain (3 coats)
Rustoleum Soft-touch matte polyurethane (2 coats)

I sanded in between coats of finish and in between polyurethane coats
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

a bench

I love how this bench turned out!  It's one of my favorite builds so far.  It's simple but really beautiful to look at.  I have a few pictures of the process and the stains I used to finish it up on my blog.  Thanks, Ana, for another great plan!

Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I used what I had on hand: watco danish oil in natural, general finishes gel stain in antique walnut, and general finishes outdoor oil
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Sideboard by KC

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/28/2017 - 14:20

This took me about a month to build.  Ana's plans were great.  Installing drawers was the toughest part. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modern Deck Chairs and Loveseat

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 12:54

Love, love, love your projects. I have made 3 of the modern 2 x 4 chairs, with a modification. I had purchased both seat and back cushions for my chairs and the back cushion had nothing to lean back on, so I added some height and personality to the chair.

Your plans are easy to follow and make very nice, heavy furniture that I know will not blow away and end up in the field next to my house. Keep those plans coming!

Cedar Planter - Mother's Day Gift

Submitted by MMTruncale on Thu, 05/09/2013 - 08:09

We made this for my husband's Granny who has a bright green thumb, campared to my slightly black one. It turned out great.

This is also the project I learned how to use a Kreg Jig. Amazing. My husband is hooked.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
We used what was left of our SPRAY stain. I think it turned out well. Still has a bit of that cedar to it. We really did it so the Pine wouldn't stick out tremendously.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Work bench with wheels

Built this over a week because the table top needed to dry and harden. I decided to paint the whole thing to make it look decent. I Kreg jigged four 2x6's together and added wood hardener to the table top. It was pretty weak because the wood was still wet so I had to dry it out for a few days. I also filled in the gaps with wood filler and then used a belt sander to smooth everything out. Everything else were just 2x4's. I knew it would be heavy so I added wheels to move it around and as a final touch I am adding 90 degree iron accent brackets to the table corners but I haven't got those delivered yet. I also added rubber screw-in feet so that the bottom doesn't chip when you move it around. Got those from Home Depot for $3

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100 for wood and paint and sandpaper
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Kona stain, Golden pecan stain, polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Truss beam table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/30/2017 - 07:59

I wanted to try attempt the beam table and my son's wedding rehearsal dinner was the perfect reason. My wife liked the table so much, she asked me to make three more. Because they will be used in our new wedding venue business, I wanted them to to withstand the weather. The materials were quite a bit more expensive as I used 10 ft x 3 ft  x 2 3/8" thick redwood butcher block planks for the tops and cedar 4 x 4's for the bases. Stained and sealed with Cabot sealant. What do you think?

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$700 per table
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Cabot outdoor sealant
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Children’s Stool

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 13:19

This was a gift for my goddaughter along with a keyboard for her third birthday! I love the way it turned out, and it fits perfectly in with the animal theme in their playroom!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Outdoor Canopy Daybed

This is made from cedar, but I painted it anyway. Used a standard single mattress. I highly recommend painting everything first before you put the project together. Full plans are here.

Estimated Cost
$225 for lumber
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Primed the entire piece with Kilz and then used Rustoleum Spray Paint (Espresso).

The canopy is made from Ikea curtains (19.95/2). I purchased 2 packages, each containing 2 panels. I then sewed the 2 panels together from each package, now having 2 extra long panels. To secure to the bed, I hand-stitched velcro fasteners to the curtains and wrapped around the top part of the canopy.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

Farm House Dining Room Table (Modified with Breadboard Extensions)

Submitted by jvanhorn on Fri, 05/10/2013 - 07:56

This is a modified plan for Ana White's Farm House Table.

I shortened the table to about 72 inches with breadboards on the ends and added removable breadboard extensions for a total of about 100 inches of table for a 12x11 room. I also built the Farm House bench but shortened it to 48 inches.

The wood is white pine and Douglas Fir 4x4 legs. The total cost was $198 for the wood/screws and about $30 for the stain and sand paper. I bought an additional set of countersink bits for holes.

I used the following tools:

  • Hand Saw
  • Table Saw
  • Compound Miter Saw
  • Hand Drill with various bits and countersinks
  • Square, pencil and straight edges
  • Tape measure
  • Clamps
  • Wood Chisel Set
  • Sharpening Stone
  • Level
  • It took about 35 hours of work.

    The stain is English Chestnut and we pretreated the wood to accept the stain by using wood conditioner. This made a dramatic difference in leveling out the stain between the white pine and Douglas Fir. I used 3 coats of clear polyurethane and 2 coats of satin on the top with gentle sanding in between coats.

Estimated Cost
$230
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Prepped the wood with wood conditioner before applying stain. English Chestnut stain with 3-clear polyurethane coats followed by 2-satin coats. Light sanding in between coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Pottery Barn Logan Knock Off Media Build

Submitted by anb80 on Tue, 03/31/2015 - 12:37

This was one of our early builds.  I"ve learned a new way to do doors since then so hope to replace these before we move.  I love all the storage on this unit!  The finish on the tops is a metallic glaze I made.

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

Outdoor sectional

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/04/2017 - 06:52

Our version of the outdoor sectional.  We couldn't find 24" wide pillows so we modified the design to accommodate 22"x24" ones.  We also added a 1x8 held on with pocket screws to provide some additional support on the back and help keep the pillows from falling through.

Estimated Cost
$110 in wood
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Farm House Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 13:45

Needed a new table and found Ana’s plans. They made making furniture simple to so. I love how it turned out.

Comments