Built 2 of the workbenches for our garage. The plans made assembly very easy and quick. We had Home Depot cut the plywood to size.
I love my new outdoor sofa! Was a great quarantine project with my teenage children. Finished it off with a ton of cushions from Lowe’s.
I borrowed a few ideas from multiple plans to make this prep station for a kitchen with very few countertops. I really like the strong tie hardware and I purchased a bamboo benchtop from Home Depot to finish it off.
We made these beds for my daughters, who were ready to pass on the bunkbeds to their little sisters. We have 4 girls in one room, so use of space is crucial! I originally wanted the hutch as well, but as you can see in the picture, we had to work around a wall cut out, so we modified the corner unit to have a larger shelf area to fit the space. We also left the sides open to be able to slide containers in to store out of season clothes and blankets, though the ends have a backing.
"Here are some pictures of a pantry organizer that my friend Belinda built."
-Bubba
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!
We had a small deck with many rotted boards. The contractor who demoed it, knowing my interest in diy projects, sorted out any usable boards. I loved the idea of an outdoor sofa, so altered your beautiful pattern to accommodate decking boards - I literally only had to purchase 2 boards for the entire project! I’m so thrilled with how it turned out! Thank you!!
Camey Brown
Picnic table with slight modifications. Assembled with the help of our five grandsons. A day to remember.
Kerry Still
I built the one bench using the original plan with the storage and table top unit but needed two additional seating benches to go around the firepit without the bulk of the backside of the bench.
I modified the original plan as follows:
Shopping List:
(2) 2X6X8
(3) 2X4X8
(2) 1X6X8
Cutting List:
(2) 2X4X17" front legs, 15 degree cuts, parallel long to short
(2) 2X4X23" back support, 15 degree cuts, parallel long to short
(2) 2X4X20.75" back legs, 15 and 60 degree cuts, not parallel long to long
(2) 2X4X24.75" under seat, 15 degree cuts, not parallel long to long
(2) 2X4X30" bottom support, 15 degree cuts, not parallel long to long
(1) 2X4X42" bottom cross brace between leg sets, 90 degree cuts
(2) 2X6 cut equally in half, 3 for the seat and 1 for the top plate
(2) 1X6 cut equally in half, 3 for the back rest and 1 to be tucked under the seat overhang
Thu, 09/08/2022 - 11:23
Great work! Have you had any tipping issues with the benches without the table back? If you kneel on the bench backwards and lean on the back do you think it would tip? Ha I clearly have kids around to be asking such strangely specific questions... TIA!
Thu, 09/08/2022 - 14:26
Also, what size platform did you pour for reference?
Sat, 02/25/2023 - 08:57
The concrete pad they are sitting on is 14 foot diameter.
Sat, 02/25/2023 - 08:56
I built these for my daughter/son-in-law and their young family. I have grandkids that use them and have never tipped them. However a strong wind gust 100km/hr did flip one over but not the other. I would suggest adding a horizontal ground level ‘foot’ extension on one or both back legs to alleviate any concerns of tipping.
Am a big fan of Ana's work, and have used several of her plans in prior builds including the more traditional Adirondack chairs. Those stayed with my old house, and I wanted something different for my new house. Really liked her Modern Adirondack design with the floating arm rest. However, plans are like recipes to me--a guideline. I wanted the back boards to run up and down, and I am a bit more robust than the lovely and petite Ms. White, so they would need to be wider after I built the first one at 19 1/2" wide per plan. The next three I made 22" wide and that worked well without throwing off the geometry and angles of the other parts. Since I ran the backboards up and down, I needed some cross beams for stability and to give an attachment point for the middle of the boards. Cut some 2x4s at 15" wide, drilled pocket holes in both ends, and attached in between the back supports with the pockets facing up to be hidden by the back boards. All of the 2x4s were leftover cut-offs from the houses being built in my neighborhood. Since the frames were free, I splurged and went with cedar boards for the backs and bottoms. With the wider frames, I had to use 1x12s ripped down to 10 3/4" to get the right look (about a board's width in between). Needed some color, so I painted the frames Teal Seaglass from Menards. Cedar was stained with a natural deck stain from Sherwin Williams. I experimented with salt paint (mixing unsanded grout with the paint) to give a heavily textured and weathered finish but this was unecessary--the wood was distressed enough and I am a terrible painter. It also toned down the color so I skipped that step and just went with 2 coats of plain paint. It looks like outdoor furniture should up close. As always, am pleased with Ana's plans. Thank you for doing all the hard work!
Fri, 08/21/2020 - 16:59
I absolutely love how the back was done!! Thank you so much for sharing!
I started out several years ago building the Modern Adirondack Chairs using Ana White's plans. Customers loved the modern design and I was able to fulfill orders in any color or stain. Customers even asked if I could make a children's and adult size chair. These pans are available upon request.
As the trend towards outdoor living increased due to the pandemic, I expanded my product line to tables, benches and patio planters. I even created my own design for a fire pit rack and bench based upon Ana's designs.
Today, I have a thriving business for commercial and residential fire pit furniture and accessories.
I continue to follow Ana White for inspiration and ideas, George
My son chose to make a workbench for his high school theater for his Eagle Scout project, and selected the Ultimate Roll Away Workbench with Miter Saw Stand as the basis for the project. The theater teacher wanted pegboard for tool storage, so we extended the rear legs on each workbench and notched the top to allow them to pass through. We built two frames from 1x3s to fit inside the rear legs, then put a pegboard inside each one.
To secure the extended legs, we added a riser shelf from 1x8s. We put a storage station for drills at one end of the riser shelf.
We also made all the cart shelves adjustable and added an adjustable shelf under the miter saw, and added lighting and power strips.
We left out the panels at the end of the workbench to allow access to the shelves there without having to remove the carts. Once we had constructed it, we added a brace at each end of the workbench to better support the outside front legs.
This plan was the perfect one for the theater, giving a stable work area for the miter saw and allowing for tool and materials storage. The carts can be rolled around to where a work surface is needed. This will come in handy for years of set construction in the theater. So proud of my son and all the leadership and hard work he put into this project!
Mon, 10/18/2021 - 11:54
WOW, that is absolutely amazing, thank you so much for sharing this story!
Entire wall fireplace built-in!
Great set of outdoor chairs with foot rest!
RG Design & Build
Great project and super easy! Made such a difference in organizing our tool shed. I modified one of the handles because several of my tools would not fit over the 2x4. I also had a challenge hanging it in my shed due to the metal sheeting for walls, but the build itself was very easy. No more messy tool shed! :) As an organization freak, like Ana, this makes me so happy!!!!
Using the counter height planter plans from Janettx. Thanks!
Mon, 09/20/2021 - 13:24
Nice job!!! I'm still using mine. I ended up putting 12"x12" pavers under each leg to extend their life. After the 2nd year now we get bumper crop out of ours each season.
This picnic table was a quick build and turned out amazing. I modified the center base support by adding an extra table top support and seat support board to the opposite side of the center legs to give the table symmetry to accommodate an umbrella hole. I also shortened both cross supports by an inch to make sure the base wouldn’t be longer than the top boards. The space between the center table support boards and seat support boards is the perfect size to fit a standard umbrella. I used a 1 3/4” hole saw to make the umbrella hole. The build and stain/paint took me about 5 hours but additional time is needed to properly seal the table. I used untreated pine. Treated pine may give the table longevity but it would also add a lot of weight to an already heavy table. This was a relatively easy and quick build and is a great size to fit my whole family plus a couple guests! I’m happy with how it turned out and would recommend this build to anyone looking for a budget friendly and simple patio table.
Sat, 07/18/2020 - 13:17
Thank you Abby!!! Your picnic table turned out amazing, I love the added umbrella modification!
This rustic modern version of a pub table has multiple uses - it can rest along a wall to make a 16 foot long bar, or rolled together to form an 8 foot long pub table. It is standard counter height 36" and will accomodate seating for 8-10 counter stools. If you don't have live edge wood slabs, you can also use construction lumber (2x8s or 2x12s) to achieve similar dimensions and versatile use in a more cost effective way.
Fri, 07/31/2015 - 04:10
Awesome idea! I think I will have to try for a dining table version of this table. Do you happen to have a way to lock the 2 pieces together?
I wanted to build a small shower bench. I used the Providence Bench Plans and just made it a bit smaller with a few adjustments. This bench is 35" long and 18" tall. I did not use the cross supports on the bottom because it was so short. Also, you will see that I turned the bottom stretcher and side supports flat/horizontal. I put the screws for the seat boards through the top down just because this was the easiest way for me to do it. The plans did not show in detail how to attach the seat boards from the underside. It just said "finally, the seat boards." I guess they probably used a pocket jig. I bought a pocket jig and used it in the couple of places, but this was my first time using it. I used brown, coated decking screws in the places I did not use the pocket screws. This was my first attempt at building anything and my first time to use a pocket jig. I used a natural wood stain and Behr Weather-Proofing since it will be in a wet area.
Started off with the original design but enlarged it to fit an oversize single mattress. The mattress cost me $35 from a local faith farm, while the materials came in around $200. I decided to hang under my backyard pergola. Fun and easy project.
Tue, 01/28/2014 - 21:10
Wow this looks so inviting I might just have to make one too! Nice work-- it looks great!
Mon, 04/07/2014 - 22:49
Really lovely! Great job! This will be one of your favorites spots all summer long.
Mon, 07/27/2015 - 22:45
I want this! I just made a couple of plant stands for my front porch. My husband asked me what my next project was, why, a swing bed. (This was only my second project!) I want to put cup holders in those big ole arms! We have a house at the beach in South Alabama, so, you gotta "hydrate." This is an awesome swing. I can't wait to do mine...pillows to rest on, one foot on the concrete pushing me in a slow swing. Cold beverage in my hand or in my cup holder. Yep, southern girl has a new project. Love it!
I loved the Rustic Adirondack Chair so much I felt I needed to make a bench in the same style. I had to be a little creative with the chair plans and modify them to make my bench work. I am absolutely thrilled with how it came out! I already have a friend who has requested a chair and bench (love seat) for his son's wedding gift!
Mon, 08/16/2021 - 10:51
Can someone tell me the dimensions of the wood (1x10) for the bench and the dimensions for the frame (2x4)
Please
Thank you
Fri, 08/20/2021 - 16:37
You can make the 1x10 in any length you want. I’m planning on making a loveseat too and The measurements I chose for the seating area will be 48” long (which is the size for 2 seat cushions).
The Step 1 in Ana’s plan, all measurements will be the same.
Step 2: The two 2x4 horizontal supports will be cut at 48”.
Step 3: the two 1x10 seat panels will be 3 inches longer than the horizontal supports. So you will cut the 1x10 seat panels at 51”.
Step 4: Instead of two, you will need THREE seat supports. So cut three 2x4’s @ 32 3/4”. The third seat support will go in the middle of the other seat supports, drilled to the horizontal back support.
Step 5: Attach your back bottom horizontal support which will be a 2x4 at 48”.
Step 6: Attach the 1x10 seat back panels. You will cut (3) 1x10 @ 48”.
Here is the cut list for the loveseat version of Ana’s Adirondack plan. These are the lengths I chose. So with this cut list your loveseat should be big enough for two 24x24” seat cushions. I plan to add cushions for extra comfort.
My cut list:
(2) 2x4 @ 31 3/4”
(2) 2x4 @ 19 1/2”
(2) 2x4 @ 33 1/4” Cut at 20 degrees as per Ana’s plan.
(3) 2x4 @ 48” Horizontal supports. One goes behind your calves.
The other connects the end frames/arm rests at the back.
(2) 1x10 @ 51” Seat panels.
(3) 2x4 @ 32 3/4” Vertical supports for the back panels.
(3) 1x10 @ 48” The back panels.
Fri, 08/20/2021 - 17:32
P.S.
You will also need an extra support attached underneath the seat panels in the middle for extra support and keep the long seat panels from bowing.
Comments
Ana White Admin
Tue, 02/22/2022 - 14:06
So smart!
Wow, that's awesome!