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Boardwalk Shoe Bench

I love the legs on Crate&Barrel's Boardwalk Bench, but I was on a tight budget (under $10), so I needed to make many modifications so that I could use the random pieces of wood I had accumulated from my local deconstruction warehouse, including free wood louvers for the slatted shoe shelves. If you'd like to make your own, more photos of my process are on my little blog: http://sunnysideup-stairs.blogspot.com/2014/05/boardwalk-shoe-bench.html

Blog Link
Sunnyside Up-stairs
Estimated Cost
$5
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None applied, yet. :)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JoanneS

Tue, 06/10/2014 - 17:06

Great use of materials! The lines are elegant, it's a wonderful build! (Also, I love the floor!)
:)
Joanne

yurra-bazain

Tue, 06/10/2014 - 22:00

Thank you, Joanne. :) I really like the floor too. I expect lots of patterns will be appearing in our home this year or next. :)

Connie's coop

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 09/10/2016 - 23:45

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/connies-coop

 

I built this and posted it on 6/8/15 on backyardchickens.com and it has been "pinned" a few thousand times since then... 

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

2x4 Outdoor Sectional

Submitted by Iraida on Wed, 06/24/2020 - 22:57

Have been wanting to spruce up my little outdoor patio with an outdoor sectional, but couldn't bear to purchase one due to the high cost. Made the decision to build the outdoor sectional, but purchased the cushions first in order to commit myself to the project. While I worked on the outdoor sectional, my younger sister built herself a bed frame from Ana's plans. I purchased the pre-drill screws, but my dad suggested I pre-drill the wood with his horizontal table drill (made the screws go straight in). Extremely happy and proud of the final product. Super affordable and it was a great project to work alongside my parents.

You do need to add an additional 28.5" 2x4 Outdoor Sofa /One Arm 2x4 Outdoor Sofa (missing from the plans). I can't remember which one was missing the piece.

~$350 ("grey" cushions were a little less than ~$200 from Big Lots (used 15% discount during Memorial Day Sale). Wood, stain, screws, wood putty, and glue ~$150.

Originally used Valspar Tintable Neutral Base Semi-Transparent Exterior Stain and Sealer (1 quart) in the color "Dutch Licorice". The color was more of a blue-grey, which was not what I was going for. Had some leftover Varathane Carbon Gray Interior Wood Stain (less than 1 quart) from a ladder blanket project and painted over the Valspar Stain/Sealer.

Built from Plan(s)
One Arm 2x4 Outdoor Sofa - Sectional Piece
2x4 Outdoor Sofa
Estimated Cost
~$350 ("grey" cushions were a little less than ~$200 from Big Lots (used 15% discount during Memorial Day Sale). Wood and stain ~$150.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Originally used Valspar Tintable Neutral Base Semi-Transparent Exterior Stain and Sealer (1 quart) in the color "Dutch Licorice". The color was more of a blue-grey, which was not what I was going for. Had some leftover Varathane Carbon Gray Interior Wood Stain (less than 1 quart) from a ladder blanket project and painted over the Valspar Stain/Sealer.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Standing Console for Teaching

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/10/2024 - 07:48

I am a teacher and constantly bending over lower desks and I did not have a table to teach off of in the front of the room. So, I built one with Ana’s ideas of a console table with two shelves. I found a link to Kreg from her site and here was this table. I changed the height and width to give proper support of my back (counter hight) and a width that would hold a teacher book. I liked the A-Frame loom and had not built anything like this before, so I learned. I burned the wood for a fun mix of light and dark wood tones. My dad gave me some router bits and I used one to curve the edges of the top, ropy under frame, and shelves. That way all edges are curved for myself and students. I finished it with a coat of poly and a light sanding in between. Thank you Ana for the skills, confidence, and now a love for creating something useful and fun! My students and parents were shocked !! Plus it adds so much warmth to the classroom. Blessings, Jennifer

Lego Table

Submitted by jwerne2 on Thu, 08/23/2012 - 10:33

Our two boys are really starting to get into Legos so we knew we needed a place for them to play (especially after repeatedly stepping on Legos--ouch!). My husband designed this simple plan after looking at some expensive designs online. He cut a small notch out of the top so legos can be pushed into the storage container. We just used a simple under bed storage box, which is great because it is large and holds a ton of legos.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Hailey Wall Magazine Rack

Submitted by dave_83 on Sat, 06/14/2014 - 23:03

This was my first ever project. I initially intended to use it for office storage but it ended up taking its place in the kitchen - and proving most useful for storage there too!

Built from Plan(s)
Simple Wall Shelf for Books or Magazines
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Colron wood dye - American Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Channing Bookcase

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/13/2016 - 09:47

Stained with Minwax Jacobean. Thank you for the plans!

Built from Plan(s)
Channing Bookcase
Estimated Cost
$200 per bookcase
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Jacobean and Semi-gloss Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Desk for a 9-year old

Submitted by b25pilot on Mon, 06/29/2020 - 02:59

With all my recent prowess in woodworking my 9-yo daughter asked me to build a desk for her room. She drew something up, something simple with a shelf for her “phone and tablet”.
I complied and built a 18”x36”x30”desk, just the right size to fit at the end of her bed. I formed the legs using 2x4s and used my circular saw and my multi-tool to create an embedded 3/4x4 “design feature” to hold the shelf up. The top is 3/4” plywood that I had sitting around with wood filler and a lot of sanding (60 grit and 220 grit). Would have preferred a hardwood top but was shooting for $30 total materials cost. My wife and daughter have chosen a color and they will paint the desk tomorrow.

Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
White Satin Paint

Comments

4 Drawer Entry Way Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/15/2024 - 10:49

I had an empty space next to my stair case and desparately needed a place for my kids to hand their back packs and put their shoes that wasn't all over the place! I adjusted Ana's plans for 4 drawers since there are 4 of us and added board and batten. I also was placing the bench over an outlet which I didn't want to lose so I got an extension piece and cut a space out for it on top with a jig saw. Love the way it came out!

Built from Plan(s)
Mudroom Bench with Easy Drawers

Mom's fancy California King

Submitted by danaxboo on Sat, 08/25/2012 - 08:58

Mom's Fancy Farmhouse in California King, Glazed.

I used the headboard measurements from the original plan, and the width/length measurements from the California King plan. My first plan was to distress (above picture) and I loved it, but when I brought it downstairs it didnt really match... So I repainted and Glazed :) Not to bad for buying my first "power tool" less than a month ago!!

Built from Plan(s)
Farmhouse Bed (California King Size)
Estimated Cost
Under $250 (paint, stain, hardware, wood, everything!!)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Antiqued white, glazed with Jacobean
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse dining table with straight legs

Submitted by isti799 on Wed, 06/18/2014 - 22:12

I'm homemade woodworker. This is my first job!

Built from Plan(s)
Classic Wood Coffee Table with Two Drawers and Shelf
Estimated Cost
100 $
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
2 coat waterbased stain ( trilak vekonylazur)
3 coat+1 coat tabletop waterbased furniture varnish (Trilak vizes butorlakk)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Garden Enclosure with Raised Beds

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/20/2024 - 07:39

I finished my first project. Although there are some cosmetic errors, I think overall it’s amazing. We had a lot of wood left behind by the builder of our log home. So, I was able to use a lot of that. I made some adjustments to the height of the boxes to help the back!

Michelle M - Jefferson, NC

Built from Plan(s)
Garden Enclosure
Seasonal And Holiday
Spring
Summer

Outdoor end table

Submitted by spiceylg on Mon, 08/27/2012 - 14:38

I didn't use any plans but the Outdoor Ottoman comes really close. Needed an end table to go with our Outdoor Sectional that my husband and I built. While he was at a ballgame I whipped this up. Still have to sand and stain this as well as the sectional, but will probably do it as a winter project. We bought the 1x4s a while ago when we bought the 2x4s for the sectional so I wasn't exactly sure of the cost. I think I used 2 1/2 pieces of 8' lengths. Who would have thought a couple of years ago that so many of us would have attempted to build furniture and then even without a plan now and then?! Ana rocks! :)

Blog Link
Outdoor ottoman
Built from Plan(s)
Ottoman or Accent Table for Simple Modern Outdoor Sectional
Estimated Cost
Approx $5
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Not sure what brand, but spray painted Apple Green for a pop of color against the back cushions.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Our first build!

Submitted by helenc on Sun, 06/22/2014 - 04:05

This is our first build. Instructions were easy to follow but we didn't go much on the bottom center drawer runners!
I love the second layer of slide out drawers we use for the printer , paper and electronic gadgets!

Built from Plan(s)
3 Drawer Open Shelf Simple Entryway Console
Estimated Cost
not sure
Finish Used
birch plywood painted white and top stained walnut and all coated with poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

spiceylg

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 05:37

Love this. What great mods and you even tackled drawers for a first build?! I'm too chicken and still haven't tried. Especially love how you used slide outs in the middle. Clever!

Fold down laptop desk

Submitted by Taa-daa on Wed, 09/21/2016 - 21:42

Inspired by Ana's Flip down wall art desk. It has different dimentions since wall space was limited. I used a magnet as a lock, added upholstered back, dowel for storage and extended the bottom part to add some strength. It is very handy!

 

Built from Plan(s)
Flip Down Wall Art Desk
Estimated Cost
30$
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
spray paint and home made chalk paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

DIY Pantry Shelving

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/26/2024 - 13:56

We have a small pantry as well, so we used the shelving featured on your website to help!
I absolutely love it. They’re not as beautiful as yours but I’m happy with what I made :)

Alison

Built from Plan(s)
Built-In Pantry Shelving

Coffe Table

Submitted by tmunds on Tue, 08/28/2012 - 22:16

After the high of finishing my first build (http://ana-white.com/2012/08/farmhouse-table-rustic-table), I was quick to find my next fix. My mom was so impressed with the table, she trusted me to build her another piece of furniture for our very empty new home. She liked the look of this coffee table, so I adjusted the dimensions to meet her needs and away I went. It was pretty fun and not too difficult. It was a little more time consuming that I had anticipated, but that was mostly due to the two different finishes on the legs/apron and the top.

Built from Plan(s)
Tryde Coffee Table
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
For the legs and skirt/apron: Sanded 120 grit then 220, painted with Rust-Oleum heirloom white (spray paint, one coat), then sanded down on the edges to get the distressed look.

Table top: Minwax Dark Walnut (One Coat brushed on pretty heavy, then wiped off the excess after 15 minutes).

Finished with three coats of Minwax Water Based Clear Gloss Polyurethane (Brushed), sanding with 220 grip sandpaper between coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Pottery Barn Inspired Table

I cannot believe how easy and inexpensive it was to get the Pottery Barn look for SO MUCH less!

Blog Link
making it in the mountains
Built from Plan(s)
Fancy X Farmhouse Table
$15 DIY Farmhouse Bench by Happier Homemaker
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax stain in Special Walnut and Minwax exterior finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
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