Community Brag Posts

We used Ana's plans for simple bookcases and a larger but equally simple armoire to build a HUGE media center that could somehow manage to take some of the focus off of the television. We added doors everywhere that we could and lots of glass display shelving. The hubby is thrilled because his beloved flat-screen and infinite related electronic gadgets are within easy reach. And I smile every time I walk into our family room and don't have to see everything that is hiding behind closed doors!

I chose to laminate 1x2's together for legs, and then simply used a 1x2 as the brace between the legs. I also ran the top across my router to give it nice rounded edges around the top. Really was super easy and super cheap. I painted it to match my dog-kennel coffee table.

These tables were easy to build.  We ended up using paint and stain to give the tables a distressed look.  They will make a great addition to our guest bedroom.  

This is the second one of these I have made. I love the 1st one and I wanted to make one for my sisters birthday. Being on a pretty tight budget, the extra $40-$50 I needed for the materials was pretty illusive. While closing up our shop one day I noticed that our buildings dumpster was overflowing w/ perfectly good cabinet doors. I jumped rt in there and grabbed a few of them. I had them for a few days before I realized what I could use them for. I had to change the measurements a little but it worked out well. I used my kreg jig jr. To fasten them all together 1st (the plan says to attach the cleats 1st but because I was changing the measurements , I did it last). Instead of putting a back on it, I used scrap 1x 2 furring strips across the back of the cleats and it feels just as sturdy as the 1st one I built. To dress it up a bit, I painted the molding on the cabinet doors and the cleats a blueish grey and aged it for some character. Finishing w/ Johnson's paste wax.

My first build from your site. The plans are great!  I changed it and used half lap joints for the Xs to keep them as solid pieces. Only cheap lumber is available at the big box stores, so LOTS of sanding. 

This project started with our older girl wanting sleep in the same room as her younger sister once she was out of a crib. Since it meant no more sneaking into Mom & Dad's bed I was happy to comply. The only problem was all the plans I found were for one bed not two. Both girls love storytime in bed, so I had to make it strong enough for the whole family to be up in bed. To not turn her room into a construction zone, it was made in sections that could fit up the stairs & through the bedroom door. 

All together we have a twin bed, a crib-size bed, three removable railings (to let me put them in bed when they fall asleep elsewhere), a slide anyone can use, a secret tunnel to crawl through underneath (and strong enough for adults to use as a step-ladder), a spiral stair for the kids to climb, and enough room for adults to sit up underneath. There is a flag pole next to the slide, but neither my wife nor I have gotten around to making them a flag yet. 

Super easy and quick project! If you buy the select pine from home depot- it is a piece of cake to build. No sanding!

I built these floating shelves to put in my kiddo's bathroom.  They come together easily and add a ton of charm to his bathroom!  These are a great beginner project.

My husband and I took the Narrow Farmhouse Table and modified it for a school table for our children. We used two old doors we had left over from remodeling our 1925 craftsman home. One door is the top, and the rest is lumber culled from the other door. A fun, free, one-day project.

My husband tackled the Fancy Farmhouse Table and finished it in 1 weekend and it looks amazing! I could not be more thrilled with the outcome.

This was a pretty easy build!  I changed the plans a little bit by adding ventalation holes and the way the cubbies conntect.  I wanted to be able to easily take apart the bed if I need to so I built a track system that the middle support sits on and locks in place. 

I made this for a friend who has two little ones that are less than two years old. Although I enjoy the ease and convenience of the Kreg jig, I wanted to try something more difficult for this. So for the sides I used mortise and tenon joinery for the ladder rungs and top arches. The only screw I used we to place the hinges and attach the feet. I also didn’t like the gap in the platform that would have been caused by my 1x8 actually only being 7.5 in wide, so I made my own platform by joining the edges of two pieces of wood (one was 11 inches and the other was 6 inches wide). After clamping and lettting the glue dry, I trimmed up the platform to size. Due to the modifications the project took well over 20 hours, but was a fun challenge. 

I already made the stack-able chairs for my daughter, but she was using an end table for an art table and her chairs would not fit under it. I took the old legs and frame off of the table and built the clara table frame. I kept the original table top. I then spray painted the legs black and for the top I used chalkboard spray paint which I found at Michaels. She now has a fun table that can be used for art projects and she can draw right on it. The before photo below shows the original table. I took the spindle legs, painted them different colors, and I will be using them for a bench to go with a new dining table I am building.

I modified the plan by using a hardwood plywood 4X8 sheet cut down to a 72" by 28" size. I put hardwood trim around the edges for a smooth appearance. I stained the top with a Minwax poly shield oak finish and painted the base using a glossy enamel paint "Inkwell" from Sherwin Williams. The seamless top makes for a better writing surface.

This was my first build and I haven't stopped since!! Thank you Ana White for your inspiration, building plans and encouragement!!!