Community Brag Posts

Doll bed factory

Submitted by sgilly on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 15:22

I fell in love with the darling bunk bed built by so many of Ana's readers. Since seeing it I've made several for my granddaughter, neighbors, and friends. What I've learned is that although they're cute, they take almost as much time as a full sized bed!

Estimated Cost
$20-30 (less if I used scraps!), another $10 for bedding materials
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I left most of the bunks natural. Filled, sanded and sprayed with 2 coats of clear poly. Others were painted white (after filling and sanding).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Nora E. McClure (not verified)

Mon, 02/20/2012 - 18:54

I love the beds. My child wants one so badly. I like yours better then the one American Girl makes.

sgilly02 (not verified)

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 20:48

That's a sweet thing to say. Evidently, others feel the same; I can't make enough of them! They're really pretty easy to make, I hope you try your hand at it!

Andrea Franklin (not verified)

Mon, 05/28/2012 - 17:27

Hi, I see you've made the Ana-White doll cradle from this post. The link to the pattern for the doll cradle appears to be missing as it is a dead link now. Do you know how I might obtain the pattern? Thanks so much

Rustic Kitchen Island with Maple Cutting Board Top!

Submitted by bcanoel on Thu, 12/26/2013 - 14:54

We constructed the Rustic Kitchen Island with a few modifications. My dad, president of the Norm Abrams fan club, built fantastic drawers using rabbet joints and fashioned a maple cutting board top. We also chamferred the edge of the top and the leg ends, very easy and adds a beautiful touch. We finished the cutting board top with "Salad Bowl Finish" which facilitates food prep.

This was a Christmas present for my boyfriend, he is in love with it! I watched him play with it like a little kid for hours after opening it. Thank you, Ana, for your great plans! (Also, Santa brought me your book for Christmas so I will be sharing many more completed projects!)

This was my very first project in the workshop. I was able to complete most of it on my own, which is why I rated it a "beginner" project. However, construction of the drawers using rabbet joints and prepping the maple for the top were considerably more difficult.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Bottom & Drawers: Golden Pecan, Minwax (2 coats on pine)
Top: Salad Bowl Finish, General Finishers (3 coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Park Bench

Submitted by TaylorMade on Tue, 03/08/2016 - 18:42

HI Ana! Just wanted to tell you thank you for sharing all your knowledge. I really got inspired reading your book and looking through your website. I was quite intimidated but I finally completed my first build. It feels amazing and I am so grateful for your help! XO Sarah Taylor

Built from Plan(s)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Modified loft bed from cabin bed

Submitted by Stewart77 on Sat, 10/19/2019 - 12:00

We modified the cabin bed plans to a loft bed. This created a space for little man to have all his own area. We also made the roof on a hinge so that we could open up the roof for easy bedding changes. Also used Jen's modifications so we can take the bed apart and move it easier.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White flat paint, dark walnut roof
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Magazine Boxes

Submitted by AshleyC on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 20:48

This project took us about a day. We made 15. Other then an incident where my boyfriend almost shot my father in the foot with a nail gun (accidently of course lol) it went pretty well. Way better then the paper and mismatched ones that I had before!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About $30
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

American Girl Doll Horse Stable

My two dauirlghters wanted a stable to protect their beloved American Girl Doll Horses.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

tazmama

Sun, 10/18/2015 - 19:55

Hello Scott, 

The links provided for the AG horse stable does not work or exist. I probablly cannot create one like you did because I don't have wood working tools but if you have the pics available somewhere I may be able to do a rough version for my daughter. It pains me to buy a horse she wants knowing she won't use it much but it's on her xmas list! :) 

Christina

Modified clubhouse bed

My daughter wanted to remodel her room with a peacock farm theme. These plans worked perfectly. I decided to just enclose the bottom, add 3 drawers and a barn door to give it functionality and add to the "farm" theme. Enclosing the bottom mad for way more storage in her room. I'm going to add a cubby on the head board side. It's going to mimic a "lean to" shead to further add to the rustic farm look.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic X Coffee Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/25/2019 - 07:06

Used construction pine 2x4s. I was lucky to be able to use a family members planer and table saw to cut my pieces.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Miniwax PolyShades
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Outdoor Sectional

Submitted by Boogiemy on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 05:54

We built this sectional for approximately $700. The wood and supplies cost about $200. The cushions were the most expensive, about $500. We wanted 24 inch wide and 5 inch thick cushions that were well made. I ended up ordering them online from Wal-Mart. The project could have taken about one day, but due to work and kids, it took us about a week.

Estimated Cost
$700
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Cabot Australian Timber oil in honey teak
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Corona Coffee Table

I first saw this table on the Shanty 2 Chic website and when I saw that it was based on a plan from Ana, I knew we had to build it. I asked my husband David to get started on it right away.

It turned out perfectly!!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
To finish the table, we started with Minwax Pre-Stain Conditioner, and followed it with Minwax Golden Pecan, Minwax in Golden Oak and finally Minwax Polyacrylic.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic Entryway Table

Submitted by LN2014 on Mon, 03/14/2016 - 22:54

Made from Canadian white pine just made from 2x6s that where ripped down to the top,legs, sides and the X's. Sanded 3/4in plywood was used for both shelves instead of solid 1x12 pine board to cut down on cost of the build. 15in wide x 4ft long x 30in high

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane Ash Stain
Varathane Polyurethane Satin
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Saw Horse Leg Desk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/28/2019 - 16:33

This was a nice easy project that i built for my son for his christmas present! A few pieces of lumber, a blow torch and clear coat.....Done. I recomment this for a starter project!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Dresser

I originally wanted the Hudson Dresser from Pottery Barn but I wanted it a little more feminine. I also really liked the Madison Dresser plans posted on this website so I combined the two and this is what I got. It took me a weekend to build and a week to stain (a layer of stain after work a day). I got the drawer pulls from World Market and I got the bunn feet on ebay. I'm overall very pleased with it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$225
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Polyshades 2-in-1 Bombay Mahogany (three coats with sanding with 220 grit sandpaper in between coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

debandtom25

Thu, 03/08/2012 - 10:03

I need to redo my whole living room and I want to have a nice piece to put the TV on top. I LOVE the feet and drawers of this piece and I might just have to steal some inspiration.

Mario Castle Bunk

Submitted by jlholmes80 on Wed, 01/01/2014 - 00:30

So my son needed a bunk bed and we came upon the sweet pea bed. It was too girly for him so we decided to go with a theme that would be timeless, something he wouldn't mind having when he is 18 (or older, he is 10 now). What is better than Mario! (We are a house full of gamers, my 17 year old is super jealous of this bed lol). The build was fairly easy and the plans were straight forward enough, the time consuming part was the painting (without all the painting we could have probably build this in a long weekend). We changed a few things, like not arching the top windows, adding the 4 inch 2x4 squares to the top to give the castle look and stairs are made to look like stairs from the side so we stepped out the banister instead of angling it.

Estimated Cost
500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint colors were all Behr paint+ primer (mostly eggshell or flat):
New Brick, Black, Polar Bear White, Green Crush, Green Acres, Lemon Zest, Windjammer, and French Silver. Some of the colors (like pinkish tone on the stairs) we created on our own mixing the New Brick and the Polar Bear.

Polyurethane. I mixed regular oil based polyurethane (gloss) with mineral spirits (50/50) and wiped it on. It was remarkably simple and gave it a nice seal/finish. Last coat I used Satin Polyurethane because I didn't want the gloss finish. I opted not to sand between coats because this is a kids bed and I wasn't looking for that "perfect" finish, just wanted some added protection.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Mrswhetstone1

Wed, 01/01/2014 - 06:11

This is the coolest bed I have ever seen! I wish I could make this for my youngest. I could probably build it, but I 'm pretty sure it would go downhill when I started painting it. You did an amazing job and your son is a very lucky boy!

jlholmes80

Wed, 01/01/2014 - 16:10

You can totally do it! I am a horrible painter (I'm too impatient) and you can't tell with this because of how forgiving the design ends up being. There is so much going on it's hard to pinpoint the mistakes. :)

jlholmes80

Wed, 01/01/2014 - 16:07

Thanks so much! This was the first thing we ever built (although my husband did a lot of building stuff in his youth we have never done anything together and I was a total beginner) so we are very happy with it. :D I appreciate all the kind words.

amercpina

Fri, 05/03/2019 - 22:00

We are super excited to build this for our 9 year old son. To make this a Full size bed am I correct in thinking that I only need to alter the side panels by adding 15inches? I am paranoid about building it and the mattress not fitting. Thanks so much!

Paneled TV Console Table

I wanted a TV console table but didn't need all the bells and whistles of cabinets and drawers. I actually couldn't quite figure out the "Rustic X" design so I decided on side panels instead. Plus, I didn't really want to see all our stuff from the side anyway. 

I used 1x6s for the top, 1x12s for the middle and bottom shelf, 1x3s and 1x2s for the side panels, and 1x3s and 1x2s for the trim. I used 1/4' plywood for back support and to hide cables. 

This thing is solid! I live in CA and I'm not fearful of my TV falling with "The Big One" coming. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$70
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Penetrating Stain and Minwax Polyurethane
White Cabinet paint by Sherwin Williams
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Baby boy misunderstands the concept of the 'Man Crate'

Submitted by aclohesy on Thu, 01/02/2014 - 08:43

Men come in crates - who knew?

My crate is a gift for a friend, to be filled with manly foodstuffs, but in the mean time, the little 'un loved trying it out.

I didn't follow the plans rigidly, but I absolutely loved the idea and was inspired by all the great photos on this site. Mine looks the same from above and below, but the front and back side slats are attached to the lid while the left and right ones are attached to the box. Also, everything uses the same 18mm ply (what I had available!) which means you can easily lift it using the side slats, but lift the lid off with the front and back slats.

Enjoyed this project - will more than likely make others in the future. Maybe even spend a bit of time on the finish next time - the 'rough 'n' ready' look works well enough for this kind of project though, so it plays to my strengths!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
15 GBP (approx 25 USD)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
None on the wood. Briefly sanded, but no power tools used other than drill driver.

'Man Crate' lettering added with a sharpie and a template.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JoanneS

Thu, 01/02/2014 - 11:04

Your man crate looks great! You can definitely say your little guy has "man tested" it as well! (super cute pictures with him, by the way) The idea of using the top side trims for handles is super! Thanks for sharing this build! :)
Joanne

BeaxBuilt

Tue, 02/04/2014 - 21:37

I love the boy :) I love this idea too. Will have to build it for my dads next gift.

Handmade by Frank

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/20/2016 - 14:31

Handmade by Frank. He saw a pic on CL and figured it out without any plans.

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Outdoor Pool Cabana

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 10/31/2019 - 20:21

I wanted a huge cabana for my outdoor pool area to have a place guests could kick back and relax if they weren’t swimming. I took the plans from the one arm and armless outdoor sofas and modified the plan to include posts and a lattice top for shade. This inspired plan was finished off with cushions from at home and features seating comfortably for 9. Everyone loves this area in the backyard to kick back! At night we have solar lights twinkle at the top and they complete the project perfectly with a soft twinkle.

Estimated Cost
$250 before cushions
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Nothing yet. Needed to wait for the pretreated wood to finish drying out.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday