Community Brag Posts

Bedside Stand

Submitted by Dlwj27 on Thu, 05/12/2016 - 17:04

This project was easy & fun to make.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Waverly White Chalk Paint and distressed using Americana Decor Timeless Chalk Paint. Finished with Dark Brown wax and Miniwax Dark Walnut Stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Loft Bed

Modified to a twin xl from the loft bed plan. Wood has not been finished. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Tilt Out Trash Cabinet with Shutter Door

My trash situation was pretty dire once my dogs figured out how to pop off the lid and dig into everything. Trash was everywhere! So to keep out prying paws, I built Ana's tilt-out trash cabinet to keep the can safe. But I didn't read the plan through before going shopping, and didn't get any plywood to make the door! So I used part of an old bifold door that looks like a shutter and cut it to fit. I also added a cabinet clasp inside the top so it can securely shut. Now we don't have any trouble with my dogs dragging trash through the house!

Estimated Cost
15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Three coats of semi-gloss white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Alex's Book Shelf

This design came from Ana's website. My daughter Alex asked me for a shelf to hold all her "stuff". She's a typical girl... lots of "stuff". I was able to snap a picture before she started to fill it all up!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Fancy Hall Tree

Submitted by jkassel78 on Sat, 05/14/2016 - 18:03

I needed a place for everyone to throw their bags instead of the kitchen table! I used the box plans from the fancy hall tree and modified the top, adding a shelf, and changed the design to accommodate the piece of plywood I already had and wanted to use for the back. I made it in two pieces for easier transport and assembled it inside the house. I used off the shelf pine and plain plywood for this. I found the cute numbered hooks on etsy :) I took my time building it and worked on it about an hour a day while my husband watched the kids. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
150-200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used a quart of calypso blue from Benjamin Moore and Old American stain by Minwax. And I used a couple of coats of polycrylic to finish it.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic hall tree with alterations

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/19/2020 - 11:36

A few alterations I made to your original design plans:
1. I went with 1/2” plywood and bead board for the back. This gave it a little more stability and a complimentary design element to match other pieces I’ve built.
2. I used 2x3’s instead of 2x2’s since the selection was much better at the lumber store.
3. For the bench top I used a black walnut slab cut to size finished with a danish oil and satin poly top coat.
4. Instead of the X, I enclosed the sides and used a pair of parallel 2x3’s backed with poplar boards cut to size.

Thanks! I hope you enjoy.
Chad Cote

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Watco walnut danish oil
General Finishes satin top coat
General Finishes Antique White milk paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Sandbox with Benches

For the last year we have been kicking around making a sandbox. We really needed a cover and really wanted seats. So this worked out perfect. We did modify the plan a little to make it just a little bigger. It is 4' x 5' instead of the 4'x4' called for in the plans. Very easy to build...we have very little building experience and pulled it off. We did dig out the grass where the box was going to sit and stapled 2 layers of landscaping fabric to the bottom of the box frame. We also sealed the main box frame with a little silicone to minimize sand leakage.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Miniwax Polystain (Stain and Urethane in one) in Pecan color
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Lady Goats

Sun, 05/06/2012 - 21:06

Widening that had a HUGE impact! Did that mean you had to double the 1x4s you bought? Very nice!

queenmooshie

Mon, 05/07/2012 - 05:32

Thanks. There are the same number of 1x4s on the top they are just longer. I was worried about the benches sagging because of the increased length and was prepared with scrap 2x4s to add support under the first two boards if needed but it doesn't seem to be a problem. We only widened it to 5' though...I think at some point that extra support would be needed.

Headboard

Submitted by meg_odom on Tue, 02/18/2014 - 14:47

2nd project - added some additional supports on the back with scraps & fixed a bowing issue. We've had it in the bedroom since October 2013 & love it (especially the price tag)!

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

Motorcycle Jacket and Helmet Rack

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/19/2016 - 10:52

Built from left over Rough Cut Maple.  Jaket, Helmet and Key Rack

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Stain and Polyurithane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Small Balustrade Coffee Table

Submitted by mmadden20 on Sat, 02/22/2020 - 12:33

This might be my favorite build yet! We made some minor modifications to the plan since we only needed a 2’ x 3’ table. The legs were ordered from Osborne Wood - delivery was super quick and they make the table! The plan was easy to follow. I still can’t get over how much I love the final product!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
1 coat of special walnut and 1 coat of weathered grey. I used a wipe on poly for the legs and water based triple thick satin finish poly for the surfaces.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Sliding Barn Door Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/16/2023 - 09:30

I was remodeling my house. I couldn't find anything that I liked in my price range. I decided to try my hand at making some furniture. I'm wasn't sure if this was something I could tackle, but I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

Comments

Large rustic bench

Submitted by qfiffle on Wed, 05/09/2012 - 06:28

This is the first woodworking project I have done since high school (16 years ago!) and it's more ambitious than anything I attempted then!

It was easier than I thought on the whole, although I got a bit baffled by Australian standard timber sizes being totally different from USA ones. (The guy at the timber yard was all "One WHAT by two WHAT?") And because I couldn't find a 1x12 longer than 47 inches, I had to make the bench slightly shorter. I didn't anticipate how incredibly hard that would make it to calculate the cross support angles. (It's not just trigonometry, because there are multiple possible solutions).

It was the first time I've tried to upholster anything, too, so it's a bit wrinkly at the corners, but I'm happy with it.

I think the painting took the longest. I built the bench in one afternoon, but I had to do four coats of paint (and one of primer), each of which took nearly 24 hours to dry, so it took forever to finish.

Estimated Cost
$70 ($30 for the wood; $25 for fabric and batting; $10 for paint; $5 for screws and sandpaper)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Black acrylic "enamel" paint. Four coats over one coat of water-based primer. Upholstered top with upholstery fabric and batting, using a stapler gun.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Rustic Twin Bed with Upholstered Headboard (Matching Nightstand & Dresser)

I started my son's bedroom set back at the beginning of January and have finally finished! I began by building the matching dresser (http://ana-white.com/2014/02/rustic-dresser-and-bedroom-set) and then started the bed only a week ago. The night table was taken from http://ana-white.com/2011/06/mini-farmhouse-bedside-table-0 - I had built it over the summer, but I couldn't get my pocket holes on the inside of the table because my drill wouldn't fit, so I wasn't going to use it.. until I realized it was the perfect little bedside table for a two year old who might destroy it anyways!

Back to the bed... I just had this vision of what I wanted my son's room to look like after seeing the rustic rolling dresser plan, and I stumbled on the Emme Twin bed plan. It was kind of perfect, but I didn't like the whole "window" look on the headboard. I still may add a divider on the foot board, but haven't decided yet. Regardless, so I envisioned something else with the same concept of the Emme twin bed. Building it exactly the same way without the dividers, I ordered the clearance shams from pottery barn that matched his new quilt and bought another piece of half inch plywood. I cut it in half and left about a quarter inch on each side of each piece of plywood to accommodate the fabric in between the 2 by 4s. I added one inch of foam and a couple layers of batting, matched up the two shams side by side, folded them each around the batting and foam, and stapled them. They fit perfectly into the headboard with some 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 inch screws (There is a gap from the fabric on the back, so your screw needs to account for that. You could put like a 1x4 onto each panel to screw through, but I placed the back plywoood attached to the 2x4s too far in, so it would have made the panels "float" and I wanted the fabric of the panels flush to the back plywood) holding them to the back plywood attached to the 2x4s. I wanted the padding on the back of the headboard because I always hear my son slam his head into the wall when he's sleeping and i just wanted to make sure he wasn't hitting the dividers that were on the EMME twin bed.

The bed was so easy to build, stain and finish. It turned out exactly how I had envisioned it. I had to lower the side rail 2x4s because I bought a ten inch memory foam mattress (You can see the foam mattress and pillow rising in the picture!) and didn't want it coming above the headboard, but now I don't think I'll need a guard rail since he is so close to the floor! The 2x4s sit 5.5 inches up from the bottom of each leg. I also added quite a bit of length to the foot board legs because I wanted the footboard to come above the mattress. I wish I had realized that there was much nicer plywood at Lowes, but when I asked, they told me "this is all of the plywood we have" and I got stuck with the ugly stuff.. I will fix the footboard with some nicer looking plywood, but it's good enough for now!

Estimated Cost
$50 for wood, added $30-$40 for the upholstered part, including the shams
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Early American
Minwax Plyurethane, one coat and sanded, one coat of light wood minwax furniture wax to follow
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Custom X Console

Submitted by RobA on Mon, 05/23/2016 - 06:36

Thanks for the plans Ana! Here's what I came up with.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100 CAD
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
The top has Mini wax walnut gel stain with 3 coats of Miniwax water base polycyclic semi gloss. The bottom has 2 coats of Classic black polyshades.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kentwood Bookshelf, kid version

Submitted by craw4dz on Thu, 02/27/2020 - 11:42

I have built three of these so far: one for my daughter, one for her best friend, and one for my cousin's son for their baby shower (books instead of cards).  I've modified it and tweaked it a little each time but the overall finished product is basically the same.  It's about 36" tall but the same width and depth as the Kentwood plan.  I put the one shelf tall enough so that the biggest books can live on the bottom.  I used beadboard for the backing but I think the next time I'll use either 1/4" plywood or common boards and Kreg them together.  This takes less than a day to build and less than $40 in lumber.  Easy to make, easy to assemble, and endless possibilities to finish.

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Whatever your heart desires
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Custom Craft Room!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/20/2023 - 07:58

My daughter asked for a corner desk for art, sewing and work. She wanted storage drawers on each end and also a mobile island to use as a place to lay out and pin sewing patterns. She also wanted her art side of the desk to have an easel that laid flat or raised up at different angles. I’m very proud of this and still can’t believe I built it. My son drew the plans on sketch up and then I cut and assembled.

Karla Stevens

Comments

Farmhouse Table

Farmhouse table from plans. Shortened length to 6.5 feet to fit our area. Good plans.

Estimated Cost
$90
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax oil-based Dark Walnut with two coats of brush-on poly all around. One additional coat of brush-on poly on the top followed by one coat of wipe-on poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

lipstickandsawdust

Mon, 05/14/2012 - 07:39

Very nice, nice stain work as well. I also really love the "filled" screw holes. I think it gives it so much character. I too have made this table and wanted the markings to show through. Thumbs up!

Debi_G (not verified)

Sun, 06/10/2012 - 16:30

Love it. Planning to make one for our new house once we get settled.

Joyous_Jems

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:40

Just go to the blue bar above Ana's picture at the top of the page where it says "plans" and type in the kind of table you're interested in. Prepare to drool over all the gorgeous furniture and projects!

Farmhouse King Bed

Submitted by pde00311 on Mon, 02/24/2014 - 23:05

My wife has always wanted a king sized bed. While my hobbyist woodworking skills are not (yet) to the point where I can create the mahogany sleigh bed she has always dreamed of, I think she has enjoyed the farmhouse bed that I built for her X-mas present. We bought a new gel mattress for the bed, which sits on a few sheets of plywood over a frame of 2x4s. While we have no current plans to move anytime soon, using some of the advice of commenters/posters, I constructed our bed and frame with bed rail brackets and hanger joists that will allow us the option to disassemble/reassemble it in the future.

Estimated Cost
250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr off-white #1873 paint distressed with Minwax Special Walnut stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JanieMR

Sat, 04/22/2017 - 13:35

    What did you ue to connect the bed rails to the Headboard and Foorboard.

     I am at a loss.

We love our playhouse!!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/26/2016 - 15:38

We used the free plans. I bought the materials and my son-in-law built it and it only took a day!  My grandkids love the playroom now. We have a nice pool in the back yard but when the weather is not good for swimming, the kids were easily bored. Now, the weather doesn't matter!  Thanks, Ana White, for inventing and sharing!

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
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