Community Brag Posts

Treehouse bed with slide

Submitted by ritchsam on Fri, 02/10/2017 - 19:56

I built this for my daughter Keila.  She loves it and her friends do too!  Took me one day.  I painted the entire bed in deck paint.  It completely eliminated all
Splinters!!! I added the slide, a USB plug, cup holder, and fan.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
350.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Deck paint to cover all splinters. Slide was 75.00 extra found at a discount overstock supply house. I had to cut off two feet for it to fit in a 11x11 room
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Laundry Station

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 11/07/2020 - 10:17

My first project, something I took on with my kids. Lots of fun, errors, and lessons learned. Used an hvlp for stain and poly, so much faster and easier than brush or rag staining.

Thanks for the inspiration and instructions.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Special Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Laundry Basket Organizer

Submitted by mseely02 on Thu, 01/10/2013 - 09:02

We have a laundry problem in our house. It piles up in un-organized piles and takes days to sort through and actually get in the washer. Honestly, we could do laundry every single day of the week and still fall behind. I guess that comes with the territory when you have 3 small boys in the house.

This organinzer is going to be great. We currently use it for whites, colors and "grown-up clothes". This keeps us from accidentally washing some of Mommy's more delicate items in the general colors wash which saves me money when we don't ruin her clothes.

The plans call for the 1 x 16's, but I had extra 2 x 4's laying around so I just built a frame using my kreg jig. The most expensive part was the beadboard for the sides and I used some S4S 1 x 4's for the top. Overall the project tooks me months, but that was more a product of my "shop" time coming after 8 pm and general apathy.

I definitely have the bug and have already starting a new project!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Semi Gloss Interior White, Minwax Dark Walnut Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

novice

Submitted by ramorit on Wed, 11/05/2014 - 17:35

Handmade by novice

Estimated Cost
$100.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
stained the base then painted with off-white semi-gloss... sanded corners and spots for a worn look... then a coat of poly to seal. The top has three stain colors... special walnut... Sedona red... and Jacobean and 4 coats of poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Console X Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/12/2017 - 14:44

My husband bought me a Kreg jig for Christmas since I've been wanted to make some Ana White projects. Love how the first one turned out. Team project with hubby for our entry way. 

Estimated Cost
$300. We spent extra for high quality oak with saw marks and that had been skip planed.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Jacobean stain with briwax dark brown wax
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Wooden chaise lounges

Submitted by CarolinaL on Wed, 11/11/2020 - 13:44

I didn't realize how expensive pool loungers were. Thank goodness for Ana White! I modified the size to 73 inches long and 22 inches wide so they would be a good fit for the cushions I got from lowes. Something to take into account is that the 2x4 won't be able to rest on the back legs when you use the 2x6 on the sides. There is no way to get it in. I didn't realize until I had built them but I just cut two pieces of 2x4 at 3 1/2 inches and placed it on top so I can rest the back all the way down. Love the end result!

Estimated Cost
$160 including stain and screws.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Provincial
Waterbased sealer-- will redo next time with oil based.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Over-sized 2x4 Letters

Submitted by efmolly on Sat, 01/12/2013 - 09:04

I've done a dozen or more of these letters now. Each letter has to be cut differently, but they are all made from 2x4s and pocket holed together using my Kreg Jig. I have also made some letters with curves (such as R, B, J, etc). I cut the curve out of a 2x10, left over stair stringer and then join it with some 2x4 for the rest of the piece. To make the base plates, I cut small blocks of 1x3 and rounded the edges with a palm sander. I used glue and finish nails to attach them. I have more projects like this on my blog http://pneumaticaddict.blogspot.com .

Estimated Cost
$4
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I wanted them to look very rustic, so I purposely didn't sand or use wood filler. First I painted them with 1 coat of acrylic paint a little brighter than my desired shade. I then glazed each letter with a dark brown glaze. Next, I white washed selected areas to add highlights. I distressed the edges with 100 grit sandpaper and sealed the whole thing with 2 coats of Polyacrylic in Satin.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Console as microwave cart

Added a shelf and made the console a microwave cart for my mom.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Min wax poly stain and baldpate paint in Spanish Tile.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Large beam cot rack

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/14/2017 - 23:39

For a few years, we used a normal wooden wall hanger (a normal wood wall hanger means a piece of pinewood plank screwed on the wall, which had 7 double hooks on it), we decided to find some new ideas. We found a nice idea, a pine beam that looks like it’s part of the structure, passing through the wall, on which a lot of wooden hooks are fitted.

 

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Water based matte varnish
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

2x4 Essential Adirondack Chair

Submitted by mricks1960 on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 11:31

I used Western red cedar to build my chairs. The build was a little more expensive but well worth it. The chairs were stained with Cabot’s Australian Timber Oil ( Jarrah Brown). Thanks for the plans Ana, your site is awesome and you do a great job! Mark

 

 

 

Comments

Work Bench

This was my first project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Jake

Wed, 01/16/2013 - 17:47

Great work and result for your first project. Something as simple as this bench/table still results in a thing of beauty, especially if it is square and level when you are all done.

Balin Console Table

Submitted by allchrome on Wed, 11/12/2014 - 07:55

So happy with the way my Balin Console Table turned out.  I altered Ana’s plan just a bit by adding 1x2’s to the sides at the top and bottom to recess the side panels and I added drawer slides for easy opening as well as trimming out the front of the drawers to recess the drawer fronts.  Thank you Ana for great plans!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$180.00 - $200.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Primed, lightly sanded and finished with 2 coats of Valspar Semi Gloss in Mountain Smoke.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Cubby desk

Submitted by Isabellev on Fri, 02/17/2017 - 00:43

I got the plans from the Cubby desk and made it for my son who started school this year.

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

Pet feeding and storage station

Modified plans for the modern patchwork dresser so part of the top opens for access to pet food storage bins.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Planked Wood Sideboard

Planked wood sideboard without drawers, used as a media console table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Finish Used
Minwax wood conditioner, pre-stain
Minwax Pearl Gray Wood Stain
White paint for "antique" look
another coat of Pearl Gray Wood Stain
Minwax Polyurethane coat over finished project
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

DianeHibbs

Sat, 01/26/2013 - 13:47

I'm thinking of making this for a media console as well. How big is the TV in the photo? Did you change any of the dimensions?

Adirondack Minnie Mouse

Submitted by vangy04 on Fri, 11/14/2014 - 08:29

My daughter is into everything Minnie Mouse right now so I figured, why not!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used stickers for the white details, but my daughter promptly peeled them all off. I suggest paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

pr22joyce

Thu, 09/08/2016 - 12:08

I have looked, clicked all over this site to download the plans for the Minnie Mouse Adirondack chair.  Can someone please help?

KelHad

Sun, 02/19/2017 - 13:28

Has anyone been able to locate the plans for the Minnie Mouse chair yet?

I still can't find them.

My take on the brandy sliding door console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/19/2017 - 16:37

Built the top out of reclaimed wood reclaimed from buildings in/around Chicago. Stained top and insides shelves with minwax hickory gel stain. Outside painted in chalky finish Dutch boy antiquainted lace. Custom made rail and hangers for sliding apparatus. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax hickory gel stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

American Girl doll house

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 11/27/2020 - 19:20

Such a fun surprise for my 8-year-old daughter for Christmas! It took my 10-year-old and I several days to finish it, but we are so proud of the final product!

Estimated Cost
$60 (but we used some materials we already had)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Mantel Headboard with a Twist

Submitted by Linz on Tue, 01/22/2013 - 18:44

We followed the instructions for the most part. However, we did add 6 inches in height and the center of the headboard was larger. We completed a tufted upholstered insert that we added. It only took us about three days and we are very please with the results.

Only recommendation: After you sand, fill holes and other dents/dings in the wood use wood putty. Sand again. Prime. After priming, more "flaws" can appear. Take the time do fill again with wood putty and a light sanding. It is hard to do when all you want to do is paint...but the time will be worth it in the long run.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Latex Semi-Gloss Paint in Glidden Dove White
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse King Head and Footboard

This was my very first woodworking project. It came out great! My wife did the distressed corners. Amazing how easy it was. Pardon the puppy posing for his dad.

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Antique White applied with sprayer
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

buffet/sideboard with expanded metal

Submitted by lworthy on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 14:40

I really loved this plan of Ana's so I decided to build it for myself. I love the stain color on the one Mid Atlantic Rustic built and they were so kind to tell me the color and it turned out perfect! I will say if I ever built another I will make some adjustments with the doors and drawers and have them sitting on the outside of the facing. Those things were the devil for me!! I have only been building on my own for 6 months, so it was tricky for me. THE PIECE IS HUGE!!! I also added 2  2x4 supports under the bottom,

Happy Building

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax stain 2 step process
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments