Boot Room Before and After
Got bored, built a boot room! Thank you Ana White for the plans!
Community Brag Posts
Simple Play Kitchen
This is based on the simple play kitchen plan from Ana. The burners are 'upcycled' from an old oven and the handles/'pan rack' are simply 3/4" dowel drilled out using a forstner bit and glued. The one thing I did do is use shellac as the finish. This is for my 2-year old who will of course still pick up a snack from wherever he left it and keep going. Shellac is non-toxic when dry (it's used on jelly beans after all), and polishes nicely. Was able to save quite a bit on this project (even though the plywood used was cabinet grade) by getting all of the hinges from the local ReStore - $1 a pound for hinges.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Polished Shellac
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Comments
Mon, 11/28/2011 - 14:51
Nice project
Like the kitchen, and glad to see a fellow lover of amber shellac on here. Just a bit of advice, you don't want shellac as your top coat for a child's item. It tends to pick up dirt, and it's damaged by water.
Either an oil based or water borne polyurethane would be an ideal sealer coat. The water borne has the advantage of drying very quickly, especially if you wipe it on. Both finishes are non-toxic once dry (as are nearly all finishes). I recently had excellent luck with Varathane's products, which are available at Home Depot. It's sold as a floor finish (at which it excels), but it's generally useful. The floor finish has Aluminum Oxide added in, which is the grit on sand paper. Tough stuff, and it will stand up to whatever your kids do.
Tue, 11/29/2011 - 14:23
I found everything starting
I found everything starting on this page - http://ana-white.com/2010/11/inspiring-play-kitchens-and-a-smaller-frid…
Fireplace Insert
I almost jumped for joy when I ran across this pin on Ana's Pinterest board. Our fireplace is stained black and smells awful during low pressure weather. This project was actually one of my October Scrap Projects, but I felt it deserved it's own post. I had the left over wood and peg board, so all I had to buy was the foam insulation and bumpers.
We are still deciding if it needs stained or not, so let me know if any of you have an opinion. The darker pieces are 2x4 studs we salvaged when we took down our kitchen wall so they have a nice 40 year age to them.
Here is the link to the instructions: http://www.prettyhandygirl.com/2013/10/build-fireplace-insert-draft-sto…
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Comments
Mon, 10/28/2013 - 22:54
To Stain or Not To Stain
Hi Brittany,
Nice work! I think a rich stain color similar to the darker bricks would really tie everything together so that the insert and the white shelf don't compete with one another.
Val
artsybuildinglady.blogspot.ca
Bunk Bed with Stairs
Modified plan to accomodate lower bed and changed stair location. Used pallet wood as bed supports.
Built from Plan(s)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Outdoor Sectional
I followed the plans as written, It took me about 6 hours and that includes sanding and staining. Very simple yet offers a very wow finish. I think in total we spent about $300 for all supplies including cushions which was the most expensive part. I just finished it off with Teak Oil and an Americana theme for our covered patio. We love it.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Teak oil
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Barn Door Pantry Build
Using the Barn Door Pantry plan, I partially built this in my shop then took it apart and transported it to my son's house where we reconstructed it. This is a massive project and I recommend that you have enough room (and help) to build it and move it. The door is built with 1/2 inch plywood, framed with 1 by 4's with bead board inserts.
Built from Plan(s)
Comments
Sat, 03/18/2023 - 19:18
Great pantry project!
Very pretty and functional, what more can you ask for! Thanks for sharing:)
$10 Book Tower
When looking for floating shelf book storage, I couldn't quite find what I was looking for. So, I built a simple box out of 2x6's, and drilled them straight into studs. I used a 10" width to take advantage of the perfect little unused space in my laundry room. Each cube holds roughly 10 hardback books, and with 3 4" screws into studs I don't think they're going anywhere!
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$10 for 4 shelves
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
One coat of gloss black paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project
Comments
Thu, 12/01/2011 - 21:35
That is so cool! I'm totally
That is so cool! I'm totally gonna use this! Thank you for sharing!
Bench
Lot of fun just purchased a pocket jig and first project can't wait to make another. Thanks for the plans
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Semi gloss white paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Comments
Fri, 06/07/2019 - 10:52
Beautiful bench! Thank you…
Beautiful bench! Thank you for adding a brag post!
Large Cubby
My son moved into his first very small apartment and wanted a cubby array rather than a dresser. I made this following your plans and it came out great! It’s 4x4 cubbies as you can see. I used 1/2” plywood to keep the weight down. It was a little flimsy, so I put 1/8” tempered sheet on the back, which made it completely stable. He loves it! Thanks Ana!
Built from Plan(s)
Comments
Sat, 03/25/2023 - 09:21
Great solution!
Very exciting for your son and this is a great addition! Thanks for sharing.
Farmhouse Table
Ive been wanting to make this table for at least a year, but our dining room was just too small for the full size table. I love customizing things and am overly confident sometimes so I decided to try and customize this. It turned out great, but required a bit more work. I really liked the Restoration Hardware table and the one posted by tsibiga (Farmhouse Table : Restoration Hardware Replica link below) so I followed those plans somewhat.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150 (including a new cheap skill saw)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
English Chestnut Minwax Stain and Minwax Semi-gloss polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Comments
Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:36
Inspirational
After seeing your pics and the plans that you used I really want to build this table. Just wondering about the setup of the frame to support the table top. Why have you put 2 lots of 2x4 and why are the pieces on the inside shorter?
In reply to Inspirational by Guest (not verified)
Thu, 12/15/2011 - 17:26
Questions
If I understand your question correctly the 2x4s (2 on each end) are notched out so that you can slide 2 2x2s in each end (not shown in pictures). These 2x2s are attached to leafs that are used to extend the tabletop. It is how the original restoration hardware table is extended. I have not made the leafs that slide into each end that is why it is not pictured. If you look here http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productI…
you will see what I am talking about.
The pieces on the inside (the 2x2s attached to the 2x4s) are shorter so that they do not block the 2x2s on the leaf from sliding in. I added these 2x2s so that I could attach the 2x12s (main table boards) from underneath. I did not have drill bits or screws long enough to go through the 2x4s and into the 2x12s.
I hope that made sense.
Here is another builder and his pictures, he has the same design: http://web.me.com/tomsibiga/Site/Home/Entries/2011/8/4_Farmhouse_Table_…
Please let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck with the project!
Jon
Wed, 12/21/2011 - 07:14
Wow! Your table is amazing!
Wow! Your table is amazing! We are about to start this and I really like the 4x4's for the legs. Where did you find yours? I found 4x4 Fir at Lowe's, but it says "green" which I think means fairly freshly cut so still has a higher moisture content. I'm worried this will be a problem (splitting, warping, etc) Any suggestions there? Thanks!
In reply to Wow! Your table is amazing! by Karl (not verified)
Wed, 12/21/2011 - 22:12
Green wood
Yes I noticed that the 4x4s were not as dry as the rest of the wood, but it would be very difficult and very expensive to find dried 4x4s. I got mine at lowes also. I am actually more worried about the shrinking and swelling of the table top its self and what cracks and voids will occur there. I have not heard anyone's experience here with this and am curious in the coming months and years what will occur. Come what may, I only paid $100 or so for the table and am pleased with it for now.
Good luck on your build, you will be very happy with the results.
Thu, 12/22/2011 - 09:14
Yay! Thank you! I think we
Yay! Thank you! I think we will go ahead with them. I talked to a few guys at Lumber Yards and they said although there is no guarantee there will be no warping, it most likely will be fine. And you are right - for only $100 it's worth a shot!
Thu, 12/22/2011 - 11:04
Douglas Fir
If you get Douglas Fir (sometimes called Doug Fir), your 4x4s should not have any significant problems. It's an amazingly stable wood. With pine, especially if the center of the tree is included, you should expect warping.
Thu, 12/22/2011 - 15:27
No significant problems
I agree that there will probably not be any significant problems. Especially with what we are all doing here. The majority of us are all novice wood workers (if you could even call us that) that arent expecting perfection with these "reclaimed" and "farmhouse" style tables/furniture. Many people will even go so far to add extra dents and scratches to try and make it look 100 years old. The best part about it is the description from restoration hardware for this $2000 table; "unsealed salvaged wood planks may be somewhat uneven, and may cup or bow slightly over time, further enhancing their rustic one-of-a-kind character; cracks may be present."
So yes, go with the 4x4s Karl and enjoy the imperfection!
Also, good luck notching out the top of those 4x4s!
Mon, 01/09/2012 - 08:04
Chairs?
This is an odd question but where did you get the chairs to go with the table... My husband is going to me this table for us (can't wait) but the thought of paying $100 a chair at a furniture store makes the project (making it to save money) seem like a waste.
In reply to Chairs? by Guest (not verified)
Mon, 01/09/2012 - 09:30
Chairs
Yes the chair problem does plague a few people. Fortunately for me I was able to use the existing chairs from our old table that matched pretty well. Here is a link to our old table we got I think from target: http://www.target.com/p/Dolce-5-pc-Dining-Set/-/A-522699#?lnk=sc_qi_det…
Like you said though this would obviously defeat the purpose of saving money by building your own table. There are a couple of chairs on Ana's site, but I am not particularly fond of them. You could try what claydowling suggests below and either buy a lathe or build your own to make some very nice custom chairs, but the store bought lathes will run you $500 on up. The build-your-own lathes (while pretty cool) will require more work/time/space than I think you or your husband is looking for. You will find that the majority of people here that are building these tables do one of two things: use their existing chairs, or build benches to use. Some people like me will do a combination of these and build a bench and use their old chairs. Here is a link to the bench I built: http://ana-white.com/2011/12/rustic-x-bench These are actually very simple and look quite good with the tables because you can stain and finish them together.
There are a few different styles of these benches to choose from on the site, but after building a table you may have the ability to design your own and make it look how you want - dont be afraid to modify plans!
Good luck with the build and let me know if you have any other questions.
Jon
Mon, 01/09/2012 - 12:29
Thanks for the ideas. Yeah,
Thanks for the ideas. Yeah, my husband is already grumbling about the table so lathing chairs is NOT something i think i could get him to do (*grin*). I wish i could find a local "Bare Wood" store. When we were stationed in Hawaii they had one and i bought a dresser from them for $65 -- just had to stain and finish it myself... as it saved me $300 from ones i would have purchased from furniture stores it was a steal.
Thanks again for the ideas!
Mon, 01/09/2012 - 12:32
Lathes and addiction
The first time you or your husband tried turning on a lathe, the grumbling would end and you'd be trying to cram another chair in there. Turning is easily the most addictive of woodworking activities.
In reply to Lathes and addiction by claydowling
Mon, 01/09/2012 - 12:36
Lathe
I agree! If I had the time and/or the money for a lathe I would be addicted too!
Sat, 03/31/2012 - 06:40
how to notch 2x4?
can someone explain how to get to the "how to section" so i can see how to notch out the 2x4's?
In reply to how to notch 2x4? by Guest (not verified)
Sat, 03/31/2012 - 08:08
Notching boards
Not sure where Ana's How-To section went, but here is Ana White herself notching out boards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8LP0jQfQls
Be sure to read the two comments below the video as far as safety goes!
Good luck!
Thu, 05/10/2012 - 19:46
In the first of the build
In the first of the build pictures I see the base of your table and it looks like you are using 4x4s rather than 2 2/4 screwed together. How did you create the hole to rest the 2x4 side boards? Did you use a router or a chisel or something else?
DIY Farmhouse Table with Extensions
We built this farmhouse table a few months ago and absolutely love it. We modified the plans a bit based on another brag post and went with a replica of the Restoration Hardware table. I also built the chairs for the table based on the Parsons chair plans
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300+
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Provincial
Minwax Polycrylic in Satin
Minwax Polycrylic in Satin
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Comments
Tue, 11/05/2013 - 17:59
Impressed!
Really nice job! This was quite an accomplishment, especially given that you guys did additional chairs (that look fantastic). Also, great job documenting on your blog.
Handmade pedestal farmhouse table
Modified slightly to include just two legs and excluded the decorative pieces for a more streamined look.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
English chestnut stain with a flat poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
6 Drawer Coffee Table
The green one was the original built 3 years ago. The red is a recent makeover. I have loved this table since it was built and I love it even more now. This was my first project and I am so happy with it.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$180
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint and steal wool in Vinegar and black tea
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Comments
Wed, 06/19/2019 - 10:43
Very beautiful! Thank you…
Very beautiful! Thank you for adding a brag post!
Painted Side Board and Hutch
This floor to ceiling Buffet and Hutch was to house a large crockery collection. The upper hutch portion had to have open shelving to display some larger pieces of crockery.
I also wanted a section to convert to a coffee and tea station/ Wine/ Dessert serving section as part of the hutch, when I had parties
Glass shelves and lights were added to give this massive unit a lighter look. To give it a truly unique look, handmade door knobs, pewter accents and a textured backdrop was added.
Built from Plan(s)
Comments
Fri, 03/31/2023 - 10:34
Fabulous piece!
All the details and lighting are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.
Clara Table and chair
So these were the first things I built from the site. Will say the table took me around 2-2.5 hours and it felt like the chair took alot longer. I think the pocket hole way for the table was much faster IMO then all the screws for the chair. Anyways, just wanted to say thank you Ana for the plans and the wonderfull site! I feel like I could knock these tables out without blinking an eye now, great step by step process.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
30 including lumber and screws. Jig set was one I found at Home Depot for 40 bucks, well worth the price.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Used some left over gloss white trim paint,did not take the time to fill in screw holes on chair, and on the table the pocket screws are all inside so not visable.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Comments
Thu, 12/15/2011 - 08:49
Looks great!
Looks so awesome! Can't beat $30 for a kid table and chair especially since it's made out of great wood and handmade!
Reclaimed headboard
Made from leftover antique heart pine flooring. I used a biscuit jointer for tight joints. Glue up takes some time, but I think the results justify it.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Self mixed
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Fancy Baby Doll Crib and Hi Chair Set
This was a Christmas gift for my youngest grandniece. The doll crib is made from the Fancy Doll Crib plans, slightly modified to be taller and longer. The high chair is made according to plan, except I substituted a 1" x 6" board for the back.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Purchased a 1" x 12" x 48" project board for the bottom and sides for about $10.00; the remainder of the wood was scrap, and I had the paint on hand. To make the set similar to the others I built for my grandnieces and granddaughter, I ordered a water-slide decal from Etsy - $13.00 including shipping, but there are several more decals on the sheet for future projects. The finials are from Hobby Lobby; need two pks at $1.99 each . I marked this as a weekend project just because I needed time to sand and dry time for the paint.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar "Ultra White" interior paint; spray a clear finish over paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Outdoor day bed
Loved making this. Used old sun curtains and a sheet for extra splendor.
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
None.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Comments
Wed, 07/03/2019 - 11:19
This is beautiful! Thank…
This is beautiful! Thank you for sending in a brag post, we very much appreciate it!
Compost Bin
In my endeavor to be more green and self-providing, I started a backyard garden this past Spring. Thanks to the Texas heat, it was not as fruitful as I would have liked. I won't just blame the weather, but my novice status. I kept thinking I should have done more to amend the soil. So, I have been tossing around idea of composting to make my own nutrient rich soil and have a better experience with my garden next year. So, I found these plans online and I modified them down to a single 2'x2' sized bin. It also had to be mobile in that I could move it around my yard if I need to find a better place for it.
From Plan: Build A Compost Bin www.lowescreativeideas.com
http://lowescreativeideas.com/idea-library/projects/Building-a-Compost-…
Estimated Cost: $20 for Lumber $13 for Hardware Cloth $14 for Galvanized Hinges
Estimated Time Investment: 3 hours
Required Skill Level: Intermediate
Type of Wood: Cedar and Pine
Finish Used: Natural/Matt Finish
I was able to use some left over wood for my project, but the estimate above would represent all wood being purchased. I was not really happy on the price of the galvanized hinges and I used two of them at $7 each.
The plans also called for 2x6's for the bottom, but that sized plank would have made it very very heavy and to me the whole point of having a bottom to your compost is so that you can move it if need be... so I use 1x4's
Since I didn't want my compost to come into contact with pre-treating chemicals, I did not use pretreated wood. Instead, I put a light coating of a matte finish on only the wood that would stay in contact with moisture. Otherwise, I want the cedar to mellow and age.
My final cost was about $40 using some left over wood. In one case, I actually used my Kreg Jig to create a 2x4 of appropriate length with some of my scraps. Worked beautifully. Also used it on the lid, as you can see in the picture.
Baby Doll Bunk Bed
We made the doll bunk bed for our daughter's Christmas gift. We didn't modify the plan at all and the bed is a great way to use scraps since many of the wood pieces are pretty short. If I made another bunk bed I think I would paint the boards before assembling the bed because I think we spent twice as much time painting as we did building!
Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$10-15
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
2 coats of Behr Refreshing pool
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Comments
Mon, 12/19/2011 - 10:03
Painting
I totally agree with you. I made several of these for my nieces for Christmas. They went together so fast....until the painting. I will definitely pre-paint next time. I have enjoyed many of your brag posts. You do excellent work!
Merry Christmas!
Comments
Ana White Admin
Fri, 03/10/2023 - 13:31
Perfect Shelf Help Project!
Love the before and after, thanks for using Shelf Help!