Community Brag Posts

Grillin' and Chillin' - Outdoor Grill Food Prep Station

Needed a table for food prep with my grill and found your plans! I used treated lumber for the base and nice cedar planks for the top. The treated lumber had a whiter than usual color which made the base really pop out. I put a nice pecan stain on top and a few coats of poly so the BBQ sauce wouldn't stain it! This was so easy, literally took 2-3 hours to build, stain and poly was done over the next few days. Ready for my next ana-white project. Thanks for posting these plans.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Simple pecan stain and minwax poly. Brushed on the stain and kept brushing until I got the darkness I wanted
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

tr7dul

Wed, 07/09/2014 - 16:24

I was looking on Pinterest and found this table. It was exactly what I was looking for. You inspired me to go out and buy a miter saw and some wood and make the table. It turned out wonderful. It now has a permanent place on my patio and gets used when I grill mostly. I was hoping to be able to upload a photo but don't see the option to do so. Anyway, I want to say thanks for the great plans/instructions.

lawn and garden shed

Submitted by brittanyj on Wed, 08/19/2015 - 13:17

Needed a shed to store bikes and mowers, etc, so I'd have more room in the woodshop : )  I made a lot of modifications to the plan to fit my space and make it much larger.  The completed size is 7 foot tall at the peak, 6 feet deep and 5.5 feet wide.  I made it as a 3 sided shed, using the wall as the 4th to save on cost, increase air flow, and make the exterior house wall accessible.  I also made an egress in the back of the shed in order to get behind the shed if needed. 

Instead of roofing shingles, I opted for ribbed metal sheets and one clear sheet in the middle to make a skylight, so there would be light in the shed.  This is my favorite part of the project.  It was a huge pain to attach the roofing from a ladder with very limited access, but it looks great and I love the light coming in.  We have very little rain in CA, so I'll have to wait until winter/rainy season in order to test out its waterproofing. 

Since the shed sits between the house and the neighbors block wall fence, and I wanted to use as much of the space as I could, I decided to design the shed to have the side wall against the house rather than the back wall, as shown in the plan.  This took a large amount of modifications, but with careful planning and measuring, it can be done.  This also meant blocking off access to behind the shed, so I cut an egress in the back wall and added hinges so you can lift the back cut out panel, and rest it on a stop block attached to the fence behind it in order to have access.  That's what woodworking is about- problem solving.  Love it. 

As you can see by the full shed picture, it fits a large amount of stuff- 2 adult bikes, mower, edger, trimmer, chainsaw, hedge trimmer, garden tools, shovels, etc, with plenty of room for more.  I now have a free corner in my garage that I've already filled with a DIY rolling workbench and more pegboard space for tool hanging.  Woodshop increased space= happy Brittany. 

I should also mention that building the frame and adding the pickets was quite a quick and easy job.  The hardest and most time consuming part was the roof (I didn't have metal cutting tools), rolling each very heavy wall to the site (I was alone) and the previous 2 weeks in which I built the paver patio the shed sits on.  Hard work, but worth it.  I love it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$280
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

brittanyj

Mon, 01/25/2021 - 13:15

It has been incredibly useful for storing! One thing about the skylight- Over time the sun has warped it and there is now a hole and crack there. So I wouldn't plan on the clear roofing being a long term solution- I will be replacing it with either thicker clear roofing or 2 layers.

2x10 Step Stools

Submitted by msyoung22 on Tue, 08/16/2016 - 07:26

My kids needed a step stool and I had some scrap wood (2x10) left over from a previous project

Estimated Cost
20 dollars
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax (weathered oak stain)
Minwax polycrylic protective finish
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

kristyzed

Wed, 08/17/2016 - 20:40

These are great.  Can you share dimensions and if there are any angle cuts on the legs?

msyoung22

Thu, 08/18/2016 - 20:12

Thank you! The dimensions are the same as the Ana White "Simple 1x10 Single Step Stool" except I used 2x10's instead of 1x10's like the plans called for. I also used some scrap pallet wood to make a design on the top of the stool. 

- Stool height: 7 1/2" for legs, 1 1/2" for top, and 1/2" for scrap pallet wood; which gives a total height of 9"

- Stool width: 9 1/4" x 16"

- 5 degree angle cuts were made on the legs

Headboard and nightstands

Submitted by kabm99 on Sun, 06/01/2014 - 14:33

I made this headboard a year ago and it was my first Ana White project. I finally got around to making the nightstands last weekend and I just adore them. My guest room is finally complete!

Estimated Cost
Unsure since part of it was built last year
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut with Polyurethane (satin)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Dining room sideboard

Submitted by dougw on Fri, 12/19/2014 - 09:12

I made a few modifications from the original plans as I wanted to have some visibility into the cabinets. I used natural pine and finished with a tea, vinegar/steel wool solution to give it the reclaimed wood look.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Tea then Vinegar/Steel Wool. Protected with wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Jessica b

Wed, 08/17/2016 - 23:42

Would you have plans available for the modifications that you made? This is beautiful!!

Outdoor Modern Sofa

Submitted by kazy on Sat, 07/31/2021 - 11:11

This was my first woodworking project. Ana made it look doable and I didn’t like any of the outdoor furniture offerings I could afford so I thought “why not”? I couldn’t find wood at any of the big box stores due to a severe wood shortage. Good timing on my part. As a result of the shortage the cost of the wood was higher (around $550 Canadian) but I did save around $200 by ordering from a local producer. And the wood I got was spectacular! I don’t think I’ll ever go big box again as there is no comparison. I ordered freshly milled pine which was air dried, from local Scierie Carson (Carson sawmill). I further air dried the planks in our barn, oiled them with boiled linseed oil and cut. I modified the plan slightly to add some posts in the arms and to lower the seat backs as the cushions I found were not as tall as Ana’s. I managed to find them on sale at Christmas time at a local Reno Depot (Quebec’s version of Rona, Lowe’s or Home Depot). The cushions cost $500 Canadian for 10 sets and believe me that was a deal. Over all it was not hard to do and I’m thrilled with the results. I have a gorgeous patio set that will adorn our farm deck for many years to come.

Estimated Cost
$1,000
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Boiled linseed oil - easy to apply with rags. Repels water beautifully. Natural so not incredibly harmful to the environment. Brings out yellow tones in wood. Brings out fresh wood smell.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Ana White Admin

Sun, 08/01/2021 - 11:20

Impressive to say the least, well done! Love your can do attitude and I know you are enjoying the fruits of your labor with this amazing set up!

Cabin loft bunk bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/02/2019 - 08:49

Elevated loft bed for my two boys! Easy build with the plans from Ana White! I modified this version and elevated it so I could fit my youngest underneath. It was my first time using a Kreg Jig and I’m obsessed now. I would recommend buying top quality wood and increasing all numbers by 2-3 inches to make getting the mattress in easier. I would also recommend a lower profile mattress than I used. Happy Building!

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used SW marshmellow and stained the roof walnut. Ladder is made out of steel piping that I spray painted (with primer) black.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Mimi's Faux Mantle

Submitted by adriannew on Fri, 12/07/2012 - 22:06

Our home (like many) does not have a fireplace or mantle. So, I decided to build one. Thank goodness for Lowes. They pre-cut all wood for me. I was afraid to use a drill (I'm a rookie), so I nailed all pieces of wood with 1 1/2 inch nails. Wood glue was fabulous prior to using the hammer. I omitted decorative molding too. I think I used too much antique paint, but I can always re-paint it next year. I don't think I'll have the mantle up all year long, but it's great for a Christmas decoration. I hope this gives hope to anyone out there considering this project. If I can do it, YOU can totally do it! Thank you SO much for helping a novice builder like me add something to our home.

Estimated Cost
$80.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
antique paint and clear finishing spray
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Great Plan for Garage Shelf!

Submitted by edapina on Wed, 11/26/2014 - 07:35

This was an easy project to complete in an afternoon that does not require any advance woodworking skills

Estimated Cost
About a $120 bucks considering that I had to buy all the wood and a box of 2 1/2 In screws!
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
No finish used.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

edapina

Wed, 12/10/2014 - 09:41

This is my second completed project with plans and ideas from your website. Thanks for your good work!

Barn Door Entertainment Center

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/16/2017 - 20:09

My husband and I built this together.  It was a fun project!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Annie Sloan Dark Wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

16' x 16' Storage Shed

Thanks to the tips and tricks we picked up from Ana here, we were able to build our very own storage shed. We use it for storing our kayaking, sailing and camping gear for our company down here in the Bahamas (which is still a bit unorganized in the photo). It works so much better than what we had before in multiple kit sheds. We even have a loft up top for extra storage, electricity in there with a fan, fridge and lights... MAJOR UPGRADE :) We still need to paint it and finish a few things, but we are very thankful to have it up and being used.

My favorite thing is the door handle (a boat cleat) sliding barn door and the herringbone design for 'eye candy' :)

Thanks go out to Ana and her wonderful site! I would have never attempted this without the foundation I built here!

Estimated Cost
$4,000 (living on an island in the Bahams so it's a bit higher here)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Still need to paint it!
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

jbayer80

Sun, 04/14/2013 - 20:37

What did you use to make the sliding door? Can you upload pics? I really want to make one for my bathroom but all the hardware I find is really expensive.

spiceylg

Mon, 04/15/2013 - 11:30

Great job and love that you also incorporated her laundry basket dressers!

mistievn

Sun, 05/05/2013 - 11:19

It looks amazing! Would you happen to have plans to share? We are in need we do not even have a garage. This would be perfect.

In reply to by mistievn

exuma_momma

Sun, 05/05/2013 - 13:58

Not really any plans that would help. We just drew some rough sketches up some paper and kind of went from there. Between Ana's site here and this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Building-Shed-Build-Like-Pro/dp/1561586196 we just pieced things together with the space and money we had. The book just helped me a lot to plan it out, and then all of the building techniques Ana has taught me on here came in handy. It's a group effort :) Hope this helps!

Patio couch

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/03/2023 - 08:09

I have been looking at your blog and always been interested in making my own furniture. However, I was scared to try. Your diagrams and measurements were awesome. Thank you! Gave me the encouragement to try!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Roll Away Workbench with Miter Saw Insert

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/11/2024 - 10:43

Modified these plans slightly for my needs. I kept the table saw open for easier dust collection and only had one side of shelving on the other bench to allow for storing larger items. I can’t get over how much storage in a small space you get with these and how multi functional they are.

DIY Modern Chicken Coop

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/20/2024 - 12:00

Almost 5 years after we moved into the country onto our Hamstead of 3 acres, I finally committed to building our chicken coop. Last year, my husband brought home a ton of lumber used for shipping. I started tearing it down and slowly, over the past few months, I built this perfect coop for our 6 little chicks. It required a ton of sketching and planning, adjustments, and do overs, but it has come together so well. Thanks and shout out to the plan from Ana White and the brag post by @blackgirlbythesea

Seasonal And Holiday

Restoration Hardware Inspired 4x4 Truss Beam Outdoor Table

Submitted by susanshamp on Fri, 04/10/2015 - 23:48

Hi! I was truly inspired by the plans I found at this site and the many brags that I saw! I have now built this table set a few times (first for myself, then for friends & family) and learned a lot each time. The things I have modifiied include...

 

1) Length = make it longer or shorter as space allows (I've done tables from 84" to 108" long)

2) Outdoor table top = because these are being used outdoors, I use screws as spacers between boards so that they have a 1/8 to 1/4 gap to allow for water to run through

3) Breadboard end support = I found that with just the pocket hole screws, my breadboards were a little 'wobbly' so I added Simpson Stong Tie metal plates underneath to reinforce the ends.

4) End length = in order to provide a little more legroom to those sitting at the end of the table, I recently changed the plan so that I would have at least 15" from the table base to the end of the table top (although this pic shows the regular plan with the ~8" overhang)

I really appreciate all of the plans and brags which have been shared by users of this site. Thank you!!!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I picked cedar boards that had some color variation in order to add interest. To get an even more rustic & weathered look, you could consider using a steel wool & vinegar mixture.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

spiceylg

Mon, 04/13/2015 - 09:38

Beautiful build! I was just curious what your cost was. I want to build this for outdoor use as well and also want to use Cedar. I priced it at a local lumber yard and they said it would be around $400.

In reply to by spiceylg

susanshamp

Thu, 04/30/2015 - 21:38

Thank you!!! That sounds about right for the cost - I spent about $425 on my lumber and hardware. Cedar is more expensive, but I was happy with the results. And it still seems like a good 'deal' when you consider what you would get for that price from a store.

Seasonal And Holiday

WALL-MOUNTED WINE RACK

Submitted by crowner123 on Mon, 06/24/2013 - 14:54

This was a rack I helped my dad make so he could give it as a wedding gift. This is an attempt to build from plans that Ana posted here:

http://ana-white.com/2011/11/wall-mounted-wine-rack-dont-forget-erase-y…

We took 2 long long cherry boards with bark still on the sides, and ran them through the planer. Then we ripped them down the center to be able to use bark ends on each side and book-matched the cherry colors, but most people wont have to worry about that since they wont be using "found" cherry.

The back board is made up of four 1x7s cuts at 28.5 inches long. You can use whatever width you want, we just wound up with 7inch pieces. Then we used a Kreg Jig to screw those together flush (see picture of back). Once those 4 pieces were together we sanded the edges down to make the backboard smooth and flush.

The 8 mini shelves were 1x3.5s cut at 10 inches long. The middle and bottom shelves were 1x5s cut at 24.75 inches long. Again, we were using limited wood and had to adjust our measurements to make it work.

We spaced the bottom shelf flush with the bottom of the backboard and then would space 4.5 inches between the top of that and the bottom of the next shelf. Make sure there is still room for your wine bottle to fit between the floating shelves. ALSO, MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THE FLOATING SHELVES ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER LEVEL WITH ONE ANOTHER. You don't want your shelves to look lazily placed.

The way we placed the shelves on backboard was...involved.
- Clamp the shelves in place on the front of the board and trace them with pencil.
- Remove the shelves.
- Marke holes to drill within center of the trace.
- Drill those holes from the front of the board to the back.
- Reclamp the shelves back on and use the holes in the board to mark the clamped on shelves from the back.
- Unclamp the shelves and fully drill the shelves by themselves while they were not attached. (BE CAREFUL TO DRILL STRAIGHT and never come through the top or bottom of the shelf)
- Sand off your pencil marks after your drilling.
- Re-clamp the shelves to the backboard.
- Use 3" screws straight from the back into the shelves.
- Use 8 screws per big shelf and 3 screws per little shelf.

Then it was just slow and steadily clamping, tracing, drilling, re-clamping, drilling, sanding, re-clamping, and screwing the shelves on... You have to follow that pattern for each shelf or you risk ruining your shelf and if you have limited wood (like we did) that is not an option.

We also put very small pieces of wood to keep the bottles from rolling off their shelves. These were just scraps we had lying around and tapped them in with small finishing nails.

Good luck!

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
These photos were taken pre-finish. That is just how beautiful the cherry looks! We will be spraying on a high gloss clear finish and we'll be done.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Pool supplies storage shed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 06/25/2023 - 18:50

I was looking for a shed to keep pool towels and other deck and pool items. This shed hit every feature I was looking
for. My husband loved the plans. He's always saying he can build anything with a measured drawing and a
cut list. The only thing we changed was the roofing material. we were given some metal roofing by a friend.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Fireplace Mantle with Milled Wood

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/04/2023 - 11:16

Your plans were so helpful.  I used rough cut lumber from a white pine we harvested and milled ourselves, so had to do a bit of figuring, and also increased the height to 48”. I just love it and your plans made it so much easier.  

love.amandamarie on Instagram

 

Seasonal And Holiday