Community Brag Posts

Rolling Tote Workbench

Submitted by Reader Submission (not verified) on Mon, 04/21/2025 - 10:10

Thank you Ana for the storage tote generator. Last night I spent an hour salvaging materials from my scraps and salvaged materials. Worked on it today and it’s all finished. Everything is stuff I had on hand. I have been storing a bed I made my son and I finally dismantled it. So even the screws were salvaged. Top was from a sheet that’s been behind the stairs in my shop since I moved in. It was so dirty and rough looking I was going to toss it. But it sanded up just fine. - Angie Williams

My first project!

Submitted by J_Weeks13 on Sat, 03/07/2015 - 10:26

Thanks for the awesome, easy to follow plans!! All that's left to do is stain it and build another one- I'm going to have 2 on my back patio! A successful first project! Thanks!!

Estimated Cost
$130.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

thecityalaskan

Sat, 03/07/2015 - 12:27

So awesome!!! Especially for your first project! Super inspiring for those of us who would like to attempt a project like this! Thank you for sharing!

Boys room with Hanging Beds

This is a room that we redid so that our two boys that shared the room could have a room that felt more age appropriate and allowed for better function. They have always had to share a room but have never had the space to have desks or much seating. So we hung both their beds from the wall and the ceiling allowing them to have some space under the beds for storage and a small desk. Having the beds up high keeps the area under the bed much cleaner. We also built a window seat for storage and used pallet wood to create a feature wall. The stairs between the beds also have storage accessible from both sides for books and toys. We did the same basic thing in the other boys room but had to do two sets of stairs because of the layout of the room. The stairs were built from a modified version of the Sweet Pea Garden Bunk Bed Stairs. http://ana-white.com/woodworking-projects/sweet-pea-bunk-bed. The beds we just basically took the legs off the beds we had and added braces in the corners.

Estimated Cost
300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Just plain paint on the finish. We might have gone with a lighter color on the stairs next time as it is hard to see them in the dark. The boys wanted a manly paint scheme so we stuck with the darker colors they wanted.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Trash / Recycling Cabinet

Submitted by Reader Submission (not verified) on Tue, 07/27/2021 - 11:21

This was a build I was able to check off my Honey-do List. We use it as a Trash / Recycling Cabinet. Basic cabinet build with tray drawers for the trash cans.

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

Comments

wooden cooler stand

Submitted by stealth517 on Sat, 04/18/2015 - 20:48

This is the cooler stand presented by Jenny from Birdsandsaoap. Very easy to build and always ends up with someone asking to buy it or have you make them one.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$120.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax gloss polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

6'x6' Box

Submitted by Reader Submission (not verified) on Wed, 04/20/2016 - 19:22

I found these plans online and was just waiting for the kids' grandpa to come out and build it. Could be built in one afternoon (depending on how many trips to your local Home Depot, and availability of the correct tools)
Modifications from original plan:
6x6 instead of 4x4
Brackets to hold patio umbrella for shade
Added seat gussets for additional support
Added "wooden flange" around bottom of box to run lawnmower on
One additional center back support on each bench
One centered handle (instead of a handle on each end)
Stapled landscape weed barrier fabric onto the bottom
Sanded all exposed edges

Materials:
4@2x10x8'
12@1x6x6'
2@2x6x12'
8 hinges
2 handles
3 1/2" decking screws (for attaching 2"x boards)
1 5/8" decking screws (for attaching 1"x boards)
2+ 1 1/4" 2-hole straps for metal conduit (for attaching patio umbrella*)
*Our patio umbrella pole was 1 1/2" diameter, but 1 1/2" straps had too much play, so we used 1 1/4" straps and misc flat washers to adjust the snugness to the pole
Cut lengths:
2@2x10 cut to 72" (long sides of the box)
2@2x10 cut to 69" (short sides of the box)
Cut one each of the following out of a 12 footer:
2@2x6 cut to 75" (long side "flange")
2@2x6 cut to 64" (short side "flange")
No cuts were made to the 12 1x6's
Used one leftover 2' from the 2x8x10's ripped in half cut to 11.5" for arm rests
Used two leftover 2' sections from the 2x8x10's ripped in half cut to 21" for back supports
Used the last 2' cutoff to make two seat gussets (cut about 9 1/2" off and then ripped it at 45 degrees)
Used the remaining piece (ripped in half length-ways) to attach to the center of the backrest for additional support and as the attachment point for our handles
We decided to do one handle in the center of the backrest so one reasonably strong adult could open the lid
The bottom "flange" was assembled with the box upside down. Basically a 2x6 screwed to the bottom edge of the box allowing 1 1/2" overhang all the way around
After making cuts, but before assembly, we recommend using a quarter-sheet pad sander (or similar) with 60 grit paper to break all of the edges and round over any ends or corners that will be in contact with sandbox users
Followed other general assembly instructions

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300 with umbrella and sand
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
We live in a very arid climate (Utah) so we chose not to varnish or paint this project
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kitchen Pantry

I made this pantry to match some new kitchen cabinets that my friend ordered from lowes. He wanted me to make all of his cabinets but unfortunately I didn't have enough time, it was kind of one of those things hey I'm redoing my kitchen can you make this. This was all built and designed from a picture his wife found on pinterest with just the measurements for the space it needed to fit in.

Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Latex paint and polycrlic
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

alpinecwt

Tue, 02/11/2014 - 09:18

You should definitely get with Ana to make plans for this pantry!! Looks superb,job well done.

OurHome

Fri, 06/17/2016 - 18:39

HI - 

My husband and I have been trying to find a DIY Pantry for our kitchen. We've looked everywhere and finally came across this! We love it and would like to try and build it. Do you have the plans available to share? I look forward to hearing back from you.

suziewelker

Fri, 11/27/2020 - 21:33

I tried the link for crafted perfection in attempt to get the plans for this. It led me back to this website. Is there ANY chance of getting the plans for this pantry PLEASE?

watkinswd

Wed, 09/01/2021 - 13:59

Okay, Ana, where are the Plans? You're killing me with this teaser! I'm not smart enough make something this great without serious plans like you usually produce. Help this old guy, please.

farrellp

Thu, 08/11/2022 - 18:08

Hi Ana! Do you have plans? My daughter is moving and could always use more kitchen cabinets. She loves kitchen gadget everything!

John's Washer/Dryer Pedestal

Submitted by coveyjt on Sun, 06/12/2016 - 10:59

The wife has a hard time bending down so she wanted pedestals for the washer and dryer.  The metal ones with a drawer were too tall.  I showed her Sausha's and she really loved that design.  I basically used the same construction plans idea from Sausha's project and some tips from Ryan's brag post.  But, I wanted to beef it up some.  I didn't like the L-bracket to attach the top and 4X4 legs.  It didn't seem sturdy enough for me.  I used my table saw to square the edges on the 4X4 posts and the 2X6 rails.  Then I used my Kreg jig and glued and screwed everything together.  I liked Ryan's trim ideas, so I used baseboard trim for the bottom and flipped it for the top trim.  I made a 1/2" lip so if it were to vibrate, the washer/dryer would not fall.  I put the trim on the bottom of the legs and was considering putting on the top but I put some different trim all the way around the bottom of the 2X6 rails.  The wife liked that.  I also added some carpet on the top to cut down on vibration and to help keep the units in place. I also put some 4X4 pieces of carpet on the bottom to keep the noise down and to help in moving it. I primed and used an gravity sprayer to paint it.  Then I put 3 coats of polyacrylic to help in cleaning and to cut down on scratches from the laundry baskets. 

laundry pedestals diy

Estimated Cost
150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

zoolander

Wed, 06/29/2016 - 14:31

I think you could probably drive a truck on top of yours.  :)  I was a bit concerned about the strength of the construction when I first decided to build it, but I decided that since it would be stationary once I have it in place and the only force would be straight down, it would be fine.  Once I got it put together, it was actually sturdier than I thought it was going to be...from a horizontal force perspective.  Virtically, that thing could hold 100 washer/dryer pairs...the plywould would give out before the 2x4s and 4x4s would even budge.

Anyway, nice work!  I love the Kreg Jig...I need one of those. 

From Logs to Famhouse Table

Submitted by Reader Submission (not verified) on Sun, 10/13/2019 - 18:45

So this DIY Farmhouse Style Table has been on my “make it” list for a while now. And what better time to make it than now, since we just got a saw mill. Check out the blog link below to read all about it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Early American Stain
Minwax Polycrylic Clear Sealer
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

Modified Miter Saw Cart

Submitted by DavidH on Fri, 01/19/2018 - 20:56

I started with the basic plans and dimensions, then made it my own from there. I added a center shelf, used regular (cheap) hinges and a removable brace instead of the shelf brackets, with stop blocks on the brace cleats to help easily center them. Added 2x4s on the sides to mount the hinges and let the wings fall flush, 2x4s on the bottom to mount 4” casters, 1/4” plywood backing, and 1x3 trim on the front for aesthetics and as a lip to hold items in place. The backing completely covers the lower shelf, and I left a gap to run cables through in the upper shelf backing. Velcro strips on the back hold the wing braces when they’re not in use.  Even though it’s plywood, I sanded everything thoroughly to reduce splinters and snags. 

 

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100-$125
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Unfinished
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

nzmitchell11

Sat, 02/03/2018 - 08:22

Hi there. I’m planning to use Ana White’s plan to build this miter saw cart but I like some of your alterations like with adding the 2x4s to allow the leaves to fall flush and the 2x4s at the bottom to attach the casters. How did you attach the casters? I have ones similar to yours- plate casters with 4 holes. Did you use bolts or screws? 

DIY Farmhouse TV Console

This was the second piece of furniture that my husband and I ever made. We had built a coffee table that had a lift up top so that we could eat dinner on the couch and store all of our board games. Once we tackled that, I thought we could conquer the world (even though the table was pretty basic). So when my now-husband was about to move into his first apartment without a roommate and I saw it as an opportunity to decorate my own place (even though I wasn’t living there). Luckily,he agreed it was time to get rid of his tiny Ikea TV stand that was probably 2ft off the ground and not a great height for a TV, and agreed to build this awesome TV console with me. To this day, it’s still my favorite piece of furniture in our house.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
500
Finish Used
dark walnut

Comments

Outdoor Sofa and Chair with Slanted Back

Submitted by Reader Submission (not verified) on Sun, 07/16/2023 - 10:22

OK, I think this build may be my biggest project yet! It is definitely the heaviest. With the strong winds we can get here in Florida we needed substantial outdoor furniture.
I did make some modifications along the way measurement-wise so the sofa would fit my front porch better. All in all, this took 2 full days. I built the sofa first, stained it the next day and then decided (due to trying to get stain in all the nooks and crannies) to stain the chair pieces first before putting it together.
I am so happy with the results and so far, almost a year later, this furniture looks great and hasn't moved an inch in any of the thunderstorms we've had! Thank you Ana!!

I used the corrugated polycarbonate to cover the greenhouse I made from a chalet style Sun Country Greenhouse Plans. Thanks for the idea.

Submitted by Reader Submission (not verified) on Sat, 03/09/2019 - 06:34

I saw the barn shaped greenhouse plan but preferred a regular roof pitch. I did however incorporate the corrugated polycarbionate as a covering. I find it odd that you guys installed the polycarbonate horizonitally instead of vertically.

Anyway thanks for the info on polycarbonate.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Using cedar framing... 9 x 16' @ $3000 +/-
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

hauxy

Tue, 09/01/2020 - 17:47

Love this! I really prefer the roofline on your greenhouse. Did you modify Ana's design, or did you get plans from another site? Would love to replicate your design if possible-very elegant.

Seasonal And Holiday

DIY Breakfast Nook with Storage

Submitted by jfelker on Wed, 10/23/2013 - 08:54

DIY Breakfast Nook

I completed this project in a weekend, over 2 days. The space was an empty void in the corner of our kitchen, so I decided to fill with a functional seating and eating space.

I first removed the trim from the wall, so I could reuse it on the front of the box later, to make the bench match the rest of the kitchen. One challenge I came across was rerouting the a/c vent through the front of the box so we didn't lose that circulation.

My sister-in-law chipped in to make the cushions and pillows to soften it up. I added the DIY table, and further defined the space with wainscoting and trim.

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Semi-gloss trim paint was use, to have the ability to clean later after meals, etc.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

homeideas5099

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 10:10

Looks fantastic. Love how you reused the trim to have the whole unit blend in with the rest of the kitchen. Well done.

PDubs74

Sun, 01/09/2022 - 16:45

Hey there,
Absolutely love your DIY breakfast nook. Unfortunately the additional blog/info link is no longer working as I'm trying to gather more information. Would anyone be able to send the instructions and/or new link?
Thank you

nestikos

Tue, 06/24/2025 - 14:21

I was scrolling through a UK football forum when a lad posted about winning a cheeky sum playing slots. Couldn’t resist having a nosey. Landed on Betti Casino and instantly got dragged in by the mad variety of games. Been smashing the blackjack tables and those reels ever since. Can’t say it’s made me rich, but damn, it's proper entertaining when I’m bored at home.

Reclaimed Wood Queen Size Headboard

The plans for this headboard are great. Very easy to follow and the cut list is spot on. I used some choice pine from Lowe’s ($63) and then used the vinegar with steel wool mixture to age the wood.  That’s where this piece is at right now. Trying to decide if I want to leave it or put a light satin clear coat. 

Thank you for the plans!!

OK.....I added 2 more pics.  I added 1 coat of Satin Clear Poly witch gave it a richer look. 

Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
1 Sheet of 0000 Steel Wool torn apart and left in a mason jar of vinegar over night
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Beginner Coffee Table

Just finished this farmhouse coffee table for my in-laws who live in Nova Scotia, Canada! This was my first try with the coffee table, but I have used plans from Ana for other projects and genuinely appreciate the simplicity as I am far from a master carpenter. As I started this project, I was determined to use pocket hole joinery (and glue) wherever I could. It took a little more thought, but the goal was accomplished! I finished the wood with BEHR water-based stain & poly, golden oak, and high gloss. I added crates, finished with a natural stain, for storage of small blankets; I also added the felt pads to protect their laminate floors. Thanks again for the plans, Ana!

Folding Workbench

Submitted by MrsCordz on Fri, 10/11/2019 - 07:47

We chose this project because we have a small garage and space is at a premium.  The dimensions of this build fit well in our limited space and allowed us to organize items such as paint, stain, screws and nails into one central location. I chose 2x4's on the sides to give it a more stable feel. Our garage and parking lot are all sloped and with the 2x4's this prevented the twisting. It feels solid and the wheels are smooth. We picked everything up at Home Depot. The screws that came with the hinges are to long and my husband used the Dremel to grind them down. You could just buy shorter screws.  This is one of my firsts builds and I've definitely learned a lot of lessons along the way. Measure, measure, then measure again before you cut a piece and use a level surface to make level pieces. Overall, everyone in my family played a part in helping me build this piece and so I love it and will cherish this piece and the memories always. Thanks Ana for all your fun videos, sharing your life with your family, and providing resources like this plan to us for free. I'm thankful for my son who bought me a compound miter saw for Mother's Day and other family for buying me a Ryobi circular saw. I'm truly blessed and loved. Thanks

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
120
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I'm leaving it in the raw due to the nature of the piece. I may put a clear coat on it later.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments