Community Brag Posts

Colorful Custom Bedford Corner Desk with Live Edge Desktop

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/28/2019 - 20:41

I followed the plans pretty closely. I added dividers to make 3 drawer units but I didn't find it necessary to have the top shelf go all the way to the back since it would never function as a shelf. I used scrap pieces for that and they weren't big enough to be full shelves.

I used 1/2" MDF for the bottom, sides, and backs of the drawers to cut down on weight, cost, and general bulkiness. I used this free app called Cut List to figure out the easiest way to have the guys at Home Depot cut all the drawer panels after I learned I'm not that good with a circular saw. I used a hack saw to cut aluminum bars for hanging files and used scrap wood to make the little brackets to hold the bars upright in the drawer. The full extension drawer slides are functionally and asthetically better but it would have been so much easier to put in basic bottom mount slides. 

I wanted a wood grain top and ended up with common pine boards over more expensive poplar or oak and I would use pine again without hesitation. I used Google SketchUp to figure out the widths of boards I needed to make the top with minimal cuts. Then joined them with glue and mending plates and sanded the hell out of them. I altered the dimensions slightly to make it the same size desktop as the Bedford desk. My two wing sections are 23" x 23" but I should have made them 23" deep by more like 24" or 25" long. I had to hack the bottom bracing to make a spot for the drawer units to slide into. If you alter the dimensions make sure you can secure a brace between the main body and the wing of the desktop and still have room for the brace at the edge of the wing. 

My cost includes things like a Kreg jig, saw blade, clamps, paint brushes etc. so you may be able to do this for less. I could have gone with a middle of the line paint I think. This project was a beast for me because a) I'm not a furniture maker b) I don't own a table saw which would have been amazing c) I picked the hardest way to make the desktop and d) I modified some of the dimensions from the basic plans. I worked on this thing for weeks (granted sometimes I didn't touch it for several days or a week). But it was a fun and rewarding project. 

Estimated Cost
$500-$600
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr Marquee, Minwax wood conditioner, stain (honey) and stain poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Perfect Lounge Chairs

Submitted by BJ D on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 08:24

This was a very straightforward and easy build. As soon as they were compled, I wanted a dining table and chairs to coordinate. These chairs were intended to be used without cushins (is there anything better than laying out on a warm lounge chair when stepping out of the pool?) so I recessed the hinge completely below the deck. They were cut adn assembled in two evenings after the little one went to sleep. As you can see, my daughter and her friend approve.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Deck sealant.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

BJ D

Fri, 08/03/2012 - 06:04

I ended up adding some additional support under the outsides of the corners. I glued and nailed a small block to the front and back and pocket screwed it to the inside boards for additional strength.

Seasonal And Holiday

Garage Shelves + Work Bench

I used Ana’s plans for the garage shelves, but modified them to include a work bench. A lot of you tubers have done this, built a combination work bench and shelving, but I built nearly everything according to Ana’s plans. 12 feet long, 24 inches deep. I got some LED lights (two 1600 lumen strip lights) from menards that really brighten up my entire garage and make the work bench more useful. The one thing I really wanted was to not have a supporting pillar on the work bench to keep it open, and I loved how it turned out. I went for 3/4 plywood, mostly to have a stronger work surface, and I’m glad I did. I have since added a supporting 2x6 off of the study to support the top shelf above the bench and its strong enough to do pull-ups off of, and I have reinforced the support leg under the bench with a cross bar. Thanks for the great plans!!

Estimated Cost
~$200 (lumber prices have gone up recently due to supply issues with covid)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Ryan's Washer/Dryer Pedestal

Submitted by zoolander on Fri, 12/05/2014 - 17:25

I loved this design.  I couldn't believe that they wanted to charge me almost $600 for the pedestals for the washer/dryer set that I bought on black friday, so I decided to give this project a go.  I basically used the same construction plans from Sausha's project, but I dressed mine up a bit.  First, I chose a bit larger trim for the tops and bottoms of the posts.  Then, I bought some 2" baseboards and did the top and bottom with baseboards.  On the bottom, I had to use my tablesaw to trim off about 1/2" because I used 1x1" boards on the bottom so that I could have more space for baskets.  Then, on the top, I inverted the baseboard and allowed it to overlap a bit so that if it were to vibrate, the washer/dryer could not fall off the edge.  I also added some fabric on the top (stuff that I use to cover the bunk boards on my boat trailer...kind of like a very thick and durable felt material) to cut down on vibration and also keep the units in place.  Finally, I added sides by using wedge trusses on the inside of my side posts and then I put a 1/8" piece of plywood over top and nailed/glued it to the trusses.

It turned out great.  Thanks for the plans Sausha!

Estimated Cost
$125
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Zlk200

Mon, 12/21/2015 - 17:38

Did you use sanded plywood? Did you use any veneers for the exposed 2x4's to get a smooth finish or did you paint right on it?

lastly, what is the name of the trim you put on the 4x4s? I've hard a hard time finding it. Thank you!

In reply to by Zlk200

zoolander

Wed, 06/29/2016 - 13:59

Sorry for the super delayed response.  I didn't realize this question was here.  I did not plane anything.  I did sand the surfaces a bit, but I didn't get too crazy.  I put 3 thick coats of paint on it which made it pretty smooth.  If you look very closely in person, you can still see a bit of wood grain, but it is only noticable if you really get down and look.  I did use a lot of wood putty to fill all of the gaps and crevaces and then I sanded those parts pretty well.  

 

With regard to the trim, the top literally just standard baseboard material turned upside down, and then the little trim on the tops and bottoms of the 4x4s is just another standard strip of moulding that I got from Lowes.  I think they call it "Chair Rail" moulding.  Its the stuff that you put down if you are doing some sort of paint separation or wainscoting.

http://www.lowes.com/pd/1-625-in-x-12-ft-Mdf-Chair-Rail/3403018

I used woodglue on all of the moulding and tacked it on with a nail gun.  Then I filled all of the nail holes with wood putty and also use the putty to fill gaps where the corners came together to make that look smooth.

I hope that helps...you are probably already done with your project by now, but I figured that I would answer anyway.  :)

Farmer's Potting Bench

Submitted by TBMJ on Thu, 05/29/2025 - 11:35

I made this Farmer's Potting Bench at the request of my middle school granddaughter, who has become fascinated with agriculture. The bench is shown here staged, just prior to delivering it. The underside shows how the bench top and lower storage shelf topside pieces were attached. After applying 6 coats of Total Boat Halcyon varnish to each of those pieces...I was not about to use topside fasteners.

Built from Plan(s)

Wedding Arbour

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 13:43

Hi, I built this wedding Arbour for my daughters wedding a while ago and unfortunately, I have no plans as I built from my head. It now sits in pride of place within thier garden as arch for thier garden.
I built this with a drop saw, hand saw, router, drill and hammer only.
I follow Ana's plans every release and save her plans for when I retire in two years to build for our house as well as try to run a small business from my shed.
Thank you Ana for you continued plans and wonderful advice.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

King Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by jhavinga on Thu, 05/22/2014 - 16:31

Second project ive completed from Ana White, and I am very happy with how this bed turned out! The only thing I would fix would be the finish, I wanted it a bit whiter. not so creamy. Otherwise very quick and easy fun project to do. =)

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
1 coat of a basic latex white paint.
Then I sanded down just so raised grains would become exposed.
1 coat of dark walnut stain (wipe on with cloth)
Done.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

jhavinga

Thu, 05/22/2014 - 16:34

Thank you for sharing all of these awesome projects. I was always hesitant when it came to wood, but now I cant seem to stop!

jhavinga

Wed, 06/11/2014 - 13:43

(You can do all this before or after your project is put together or not.)
Be sure to do a test piece before hand so you can see exactly what your getting :)

The first step I did once the head board and foot board were put together, was to sand any sharp edges or corners. I liked mine rounded and worn looking. I did not sand anything else.

Second step is to paint 1 even coat of a basic white latex paint.

Third step is to sand away some white paint. because we didnt sand it before hand the grains in the wood will be very bumpy. so the paint on the grains will sand off while the paint lower than the grain will remain. makes sense? hopefully i explained that right!

Fourth step is to now wipe on the stain of your choice. I went with Dark walnut. It stains the paint a bit bringing the white to a gray/brown tone. and stains the wood dark walnut so the grain patterns show up dark.

Let me know if you have any other questions and good luck!

jbogan15

Thu, 01/29/2015 - 07:49

What grit of sand paper did you use to sand off the white paint? and did you sand it by hand? Also, for the dark walnut stain, did you wipe off immediately or leave it on for a bit before wiping? Beautiful bed, I want to achieve this look!

In reply to by jbogan15

jhavinga

Fri, 02/06/2015 - 09:15

Hi jbogan15, thank you!
For sanding I used a palm sander with 120 grit to get the job done a bit quicker, than went over lightly with 220. When staining I actually just dipped a rag in the stain and would wipe the stain on. =)

Good luck!
Justin

kosborn

Fri, 01/27/2017 - 11:05

Love this look! Exactly what I am trying to achieve...A few questions about the side rails. How high did you connect them to the 4x4 posts and exactly how did you connect them? Did you use brackets or screw right into the posts? Thank You!

barkleyl

Thu, 09/05/2019 - 15:07

I have seen several beds from Anna White. I was wondering if the frame require a box spring mattress or not. If not, are the beds lower than what a traditional mattress and box springs are. Thanks ! 

Farmhouse Bunkbeds with Stairs

Submitted by Yodannos on Sun, 06/09/2013 - 13:19

We have a rental unit and decided to fill one room with 2 sets of bunk beds. One is a twin over a full. The other is a full over full. Due to a duct running through one corner, and limited amount of space, I decided to build a set of stairs on the 17" gap. I used the simple bunk bed plans, but modified it to the style of the farmhouse. Also, I changed several of the heights of the foot/head boards. The full over full will have a ladder coming off the end and is in progress.

Estimated Cost
$450
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Ebony Stain. Satin Polyeurethene.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

King Shiplap Headboard.

The Beauty Queen described a headboard with shiplap and sort of cottage style. I modified the Ana White plan to fit my needs and the wife’s taste. I used the preprimed shiplap and 1x material from the big box store so it was a little more expensive but still very reasonable. Then I made side tables. 

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Marquee Semi-gloss enamel in antique white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Ultimate Workbench/Miter Station

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/06/2023 - 15:32

This plan is exactly what I needed for my workspace. I ended up adding some slat wall pieces and cabinets above from cubicles in an old office nearby that closed down for a tool wall and storage. I left the right opening empty due to how unlevel my floors are. I may close it in later with drawers or cabinets, but it will be my sitting workspace for now. I trimmed out the edge with 1x2s and painted and stained everything for aesthetics.

Comments

Miter saw cart modified

I have enjoyed my miter saw cart for years. My sweet hubby gifted me with a table saw but I was nervous to use it without support for large pieces of wood and needed better storage. So... I modified my cart by adding a back leaf and making the shelf adjustable with two sets of cleats for the height of both saws.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Discounted paint from the oops cart at Home depot.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Our first project

Submitted by Delilah on Tue, 02/14/2012 - 18:53

I was looking for plans to build a table like this and found Ana's site.

Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Early American and Satin Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Delilah

Fri, 02/17/2012 - 19:26

I would make the bench first if I could do it again--good practice. You can't fit a lot of people around it but it is good for a small space.

anandereson (not verified)

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 04:55

How did you fasten the tabletop to the base? Did you screw it from under and attach along every cross beam? Or screw from the top and fill the holes with putty? All the way across or just on the ends...this step in the directions is very vague...

Glass Top Display Side Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/19/2023 - 10:58

I made two of these side tables for my niece and her new husband as a house warming gift. I dropped the top down 1.25 inch and added a glass top so she could display items. They are going to be a surprise, so I left them bare. She can stain or paint them whatever color she wishes.

Donna Cox

Comments

Cedar Planters made from Reclaimed Fence Pickets

I built Ana's under $20 cedar planters for free. Or, almost free! I had to buy some more wood glue, but I had some of the wood on hand and took some from a friend's pile of old fence wood. It took me about five hours to build both planters from start to finish. See the blog link below for more info.

 

Pin For Later!

Cedar Planters made from Reclaimed Fence Pickets

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Free
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Oxidized the new cedar 2x4s with steel wool/vinegar (http://thefriendlyhome.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-oxidize-wood.html). Other than that, no finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Simple Console Table

Submitted by GR82BNTX on Sun, 07/13/2014 - 19:51

This project was very simple but an excellent experience. With a lot of patience on the finishing, it turned out absolutely beautiful too! The wood cost was higher because Home Depot was out of several of the size boards in the cheap pine and I didn't want to wait till I found them to start. I began the project with our trusty circular saw, but was quickly frustrated trying to get nice square cuts (and even lengths) so back to Home Depot we went. We came home with more wood, a 12" Sliding Compound Miter Saw and a Kreg Jig, which increased my cost just a tiny bit. But boy was I a happy girl! Especially since they are all mine (maybe I'll share w/the hubby and kiddo)! :o) After that, it went together very quickly. I added a 1" apron on the bottom shelf which hid the bracer - just tapped it in with the finishing nails. I also added screw-in padded feet, which means it sits nice and even and I don't have to worry about it scratching the floor (or the bottom of the table getting damaged). The only thing I did not enjoy was filling in all the pocket holes from the Kreg, which took forever. I definitely learned how important pocket hole placement is, as I ended up having to paint the legs instead of staining them (as originally planned) so I could hide all the huge holes. But it turned out better than expected so I'm happy this happened. I also recommend attaching the top, the top bracers and the bottom shelf after sanding and filling all the holes if using a Kreg. I actually attached both the top and the bottom shelf after I'd stained and painted. This allowed me to get in all the crevices and kept the stain out of the paint and the paint out of the stain! A few touch ups once I attached the top and put in the bottom shelf and voila! Sealed it with the wax and am thrilled with the finished product. And the best part is, my son is finally interested in building and even started his own table! Thanks to Ana's site, our build list is growing every day! There are just not enough (cool) hours in the day to build during our 100 degree Central Texas summer!

Estimated Cost
$50 +/- $700
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Miniwax water based stain in Onyx
Latex flat paint in Buttercream (had on hand from a room paint - would've preferred a satin or maybe a semi-gloss
Miniwax paste finishing wax
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Milled Wood Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/22/2024 - 11:04

We built this using the Traditional Farm Style Bed plans. We used scrap cypress lumber that was cut and milled from and by family. We had to make some modifications because of differences in the milling sizes but I was so happy with the final outcome.

Ellen Girod

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