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The Handbuilt Home: 34 Simple Stylish and Budget-Friendly Woodworking Projects for Every Room
Create a Beautiful, Modern Home with One-of-a-Kind DIY Furniture
Beds, organizers, Adirondack chairs, a play table, and more! It's easy to build inexpensive, quality furnishings with this indispensible collection of woodworking projects from Ana White, the popular blogger who has inspired millions of homemakers with her stylish furniture plans and DIY spirit. As a young mom on a tight budget, Ana learned to make her own well-designed pieces inspired by the styles in her favorite stores—saving thousands of dollars in the process.
Now, in this reference for woodworkers of all skill levels, Ana shares everything she has learned along the way. Inside The Handbuilt Home you'll
• Plans for 34 versatile furniture projects for every room in your house—from beginner-friendly home accessories to sturdy tables, a media center, kids’ items, and storage solutions
• Comprehensive information on using off-the-shelf lumber and basic equipment—almost every project can be made with a drill, a saw, and some hand tools
• Easy-to-follow instructions, costs, and time estimates to guide even the most amateur of carpenters through any project
You don’t need to be physically tough or superstrong to make your own furniture, and it’s okay if you don’t know that a 2x4 doesn’t actually measure 2 by 4 inches. All you need is the determination to create a better home for yourself or your family and the confidence to say, “I can build that.”
Also available as an eBook
Beds, organizers, Adirondack chairs, a play table, and more! It's easy to build inexpensive, quality furnishings with this indispensible collection of woodworking projects from Ana White, the popular blogger who has inspired millions of homemakers with her stylish furniture plans and DIY spirit. As a young mom on a tight budget, Ana learned to make her own well-designed pieces inspired by the styles in her favorite stores—saving thousands of dollars in the process.
Now, in this reference for woodworkers of all skill levels, Ana shares everything she has learned along the way. Inside The Handbuilt Home you'll
• Plans for 34 versatile furniture projects for every room in your house—from beginner-friendly home accessories to sturdy tables, a media center, kids’ items, and storage solutions
• Comprehensive information on using off-the-shelf lumber and basic equipment—almost every project can be made with a drill, a saw, and some hand tools
• Easy-to-follow instructions, costs, and time estimates to guide even the most amateur of carpenters through any project
You don’t need to be physically tough or superstrong to make your own furniture, and it’s okay if you don’t know that a 2x4 doesn’t actually measure 2 by 4 inches. All you need is the determination to create a better home for yourself or your family and the confidence to say, “I can build that.”
Also available as an eBook
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 9, 2012
149 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
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October 14, 2019Projects that caught my eye:
Expandable sewing table
Storage daybed
Play table
Children's chair
Bunk bed
Expandable sewing table
Storage daybed
Play table
Children's chair
Bunk bed
September 19, 2020
The author writes clearly, encouraging the beginner to try these fairly sophisticated projects, and seems to speak to the woman crafter, which kinda bugged me. I hope it doesn't turn off the male/non-binary maker. The introduction to tools and techniques still assumes some knowledge of prior experience as there is language used that is not defined. That said, I'm an experienced remodeler and have never crafted an entire piece of furniture myself, and these pieces spoke directly to me. (I wish my home was bigger.) The projects are useful and well designed. Some of the diagrams don't seem to match up with the photos, though (Rustic Bench p. 64-65).
July 21, 2020
These projects are supposed to be for beginners but they definitely all seem above my skill level.
November 22, 2017
If you're already familiar with her website and plans there, you probably don't need this book. I saw it at the library and had to check it out just because it said "Ana White" on it. The information on her site is how I got into building furniture. So far, we've built three desks, a bed, a couch, storage shelves for the basement, raised garden boxes...not all of those were directly from her plans, but they all happened because of the experience garnered making her easily-laid-out-projects. It's been amazingly fun, personally rewarding, and we've saved a lot of money.
If you haven't started building anything, though, the information here is all neatly collected and nicely laid-out in an attractive book. I picked up a couple tips I didn't know about, and enjoyed looking at the projects. Though I need to finish the one I'm on before I dive into anything else...
If you haven't started building anything, though, the information here is all neatly collected and nicely laid-out in an attractive book. I picked up a couple tips I didn't know about, and enjoyed looking at the projects. Though I need to finish the one I'm on before I dive into anything else...
April 27, 2020
Minor complaints...
A few things could have been better, but over all I enjoyed this book. In a few areas, the pictures didn’t match the description. For example it referenced drilling pocket holes for the screws, but didn’t show the pocket holes in the pictures. Also there were a couple of pictures where you couldn’t tell where the pocket holes were supposed to be drilled. Fortunately my hubby is pretty good with wood and will be able to fill in my knowledge gaps.
Over all I’m excited about attempting some of these projects.
A few things could have been better, but over all I enjoyed this book. In a few areas, the pictures didn’t match the description. For example it referenced drilling pocket holes for the screws, but didn’t show the pocket holes in the pictures. Also there were a couple of pictures where you couldn’t tell where the pocket holes were supposed to be drilled. Fortunately my hubby is pretty good with wood and will be able to fill in my knowledge gaps.
Over all I’m excited about attempting some of these projects.
March 4, 2019
Specifically written for the lady woodshop worker, this volume is chock-full of projects taken from women's blogs, written in very encouraging tones. I didn't find any projects here that I would truly rate as "beginner" or "very easy" but all of this handsome furniture and the step-by-step instructions to make it was very inspiring.
November 22, 2019
The Handbuilt Home gave me a ton of ideas for how to upgrade my home with simple DIY woodworking projects. It's a non-intimidating book with projects for all ability-levels, even for a beginner like me. Also, the pictures were gorgeous. I am seriously considering making the sewing table. The author made it look pretty easy!
Our library has this book available in hard copy.
Our library has this book available in hard copy.
April 4, 2021
It’s not bad. The directions are good, though it could do with more pictures. It is not aimed at someone who has never irked up a hammer, but I think beginners could manage. It’s only two stars for me because I didn’t see any projects I really wanted to build. Maybe the farmhouse table, but there are lots of plans for those and this one wasn’t exceptional.
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November 5, 2022Projects I liked in this:
1. Storage Shelf with Coat Hooks
2. Console Table
3. Lego Coffee Table
4. Wall Frames
5. Farmhouse Table and Bench
6. Hutch
7. Recycling Console
8. Storage Daybed
9. Armoire
10. Play Table and Chair
11. Play Kitchen
12. Adult/Children's Adirondack Chair
13. Picnic Table and bench
1. Storage Shelf with Coat Hooks
2. Console Table
3. Lego Coffee Table
4. Wall Frames
5. Farmhouse Table and Bench
6. Hutch
7. Recycling Console
8. Storage Daybed
9. Armoire
10. Play Table and Chair
11. Play Kitchen
12. Adult/Children's Adirondack Chair
13. Picnic Table and bench
June 16, 2025
The projects aren’t really my style but that’s fine. For some reason I had hoped/expected this to be more like a 101 lesson. I loved that she started by describing different tools and what they’re for, but telling me HOW to use them would have helped a lot. Like describing what a pocket jig is for, but then says “use it” without telling me how kinda skips a beat I guess?
February 12, 2019
Good Read
Clear, concise, and a decent amount of project ideas. Even of you don't build these specific projects, the author's methods will give you the groundwork for bringing your own ideas to life.
Clear, concise, and a decent amount of project ideas. Even of you don't build these specific projects, the author's methods will give you the groundwork for bringing your own ideas to life.
July 21, 2020
Good book for intermediate woodworking
I was hoping for more beginner projects. Most are intermediate or advanced but gives a great explanation of how to get started and what you will need.
I was hoping for more beginner projects. Most are intermediate or advanced but gives a great explanation of how to get started and what you will need.
November 6, 2020
Awesome book
I made and sold so many things from this book I was new at woodworking I watched YouTube and had no good ideas I saw this at Barnes and nobles and I bought the book their and on kindle this help me out in so many ways
I made and sold so many things from this book I was new at woodworking I watched YouTube and had no good ideas I saw this at Barnes and nobles and I bought the book their and on kindle this help me out in so many ways
December 29, 2018
Not a bad book
It was ok ,for what I have read. Will give some of the projects a try.
Never have done some thing like this, well here is for trying.
It was ok ,for what I have read. Will give some of the projects a try.
Never have done some thing like this, well here is for trying.
September 22, 2019
Super ideas that a dedicated [and careful] beginner would be able to make, along with ideas for finishes and tidy-making pieces of furniture.
July 18, 2020
Love Ana! Quick read. Inspiring and encouraging.
November 3, 2013
Originally posted on Sarahsbookshelf.com:
My husband and I are in the process of purchasing a home where I will (hopefully) have a place to build stuff. One of the projects that I had toyed around with building was a table for the dining room. What I found online turned out to be a goldmine of information. The author of this book, Ana White, is the creator of an incredible DIY resource. Her blog champions viewers to try her plans to create their own furniture, then post “brag” posts about their creations. This book is the companion to the blog and it is fantastic!
There are two things that I really appreciate about Ana White. First, her plans are definitely written more for women than other woodworking plans that I’ve read in the past. She writes them more like cooking directions, with very clearly laid out “ingredients” (materials), equipment, skill level, and price. The second thing that I love about this site is that many of the posts, and almost all of the contributors in the book) are done by women.
Besides the fact that this book is extremely empowering to the budding DIY-er, female or not, the plans will make your home look like a Pottery Barn catalog on the cheap. I cannot wait to try these plans out. Just get me that space and I’ll have a Farmhouse Table in no time!
My husband and I are in the process of purchasing a home where I will (hopefully) have a place to build stuff. One of the projects that I had toyed around with building was a table for the dining room. What I found online turned out to be a goldmine of information. The author of this book, Ana White, is the creator of an incredible DIY resource. Her blog champions viewers to try her plans to create their own furniture, then post “brag” posts about their creations. This book is the companion to the blog and it is fantastic!
There are two things that I really appreciate about Ana White. First, her plans are definitely written more for women than other woodworking plans that I’ve read in the past. She writes them more like cooking directions, with very clearly laid out “ingredients” (materials), equipment, skill level, and price. The second thing that I love about this site is that many of the posts, and almost all of the contributors in the book) are done by women.
Besides the fact that this book is extremely empowering to the budding DIY-er, female or not, the plans will make your home look like a Pottery Barn catalog on the cheap. I cannot wait to try these plans out. Just get me that space and I’ll have a Farmhouse Table in no time!
June 25, 2015
I am not at all skilled at building things for my house but I'd like to be. This book starts out with a fairly extensive section about tools and basic techniques, I find that lots of books of this type skip over this assuming that you already have some idea what you're doing so I really appreciated finding it here. The rest of the book is broken down into sections based on what room of the house you would expect to find the finished projects in. Each project has a rating for suggested skill level, projected cost, and time estimate to complete the project.
The projects cover a fairly wide variety; everything from a simple picture ledge up to bunk beds for the kids or a recycling center with pull out trash can. I don't really have enough tools to try anything out yet but the steps are explained in language that seems easy to follow and there are pictures of nearly every step. I would probably have to work up to it a bit but I'd really like to make the extendable sewing table it shows as well as some benches to go outside with our patio table.
Age Recommendations: Obviously with the use of power tools involved this book is for more adult audiences but older kids could probably assist with building.
The projects cover a fairly wide variety; everything from a simple picture ledge up to bunk beds for the kids or a recycling center with pull out trash can. I don't really have enough tools to try anything out yet but the steps are explained in language that seems easy to follow and there are pictures of nearly every step. I would probably have to work up to it a bit but I'd really like to make the extendable sewing table it shows as well as some benches to go outside with our patio table.
Age Recommendations: Obviously with the use of power tools involved this book is for more adult audiences but older kids could probably assist with building.
February 6, 2013
Non-Fiction; Home Improvement
5 stars
I love Ana's blog and patterns so much. She has a unique way of empowering woman to create/build things to enhance and beautifully decorate our homes.
The Handbuilt Home includes woodworking tips, patterns and step by step instructions for all kinds of great pieces. Each project has a guide to let you know the skill level, cost and approximate time investment to make it. The projects contain a bit of rustic flair that would be a great addition to most decorating styles. The best part is that if you're building it--- you can customize it to fit your home.
I am waiting (impatiently, I might add) for the weather to warm up so I can get started on some of my many bookmarked pages...
Highly recommended.
5 stars
I love Ana's blog and patterns so much. She has a unique way of empowering woman to create/build things to enhance and beautifully decorate our homes.
The Handbuilt Home includes woodworking tips, patterns and step by step instructions for all kinds of great pieces. Each project has a guide to let you know the skill level, cost and approximate time investment to make it. The projects contain a bit of rustic flair that would be a great addition to most decorating styles. The best part is that if you're building it--- you can customize it to fit your home.
I am waiting (impatiently, I might add) for the weather to warm up so I can get started on some of my many bookmarked pages...
Highly recommended.
April 19, 2017
I'd never built anything before, and I followed the instructions in this book to make the hutch. The instructions were clear and easy to follow; not intimidating at all! I couldn't really do it entirely by myself because I didn't buy the pocket-hole jig that she so highly recommends (it was $40, which included a little starter set of screws, but refill pocket-hole screws are more expensive than regular screws. I don't really see myself building a ton of furniture anytime soon)
The subtitle for this book is accurate as the designs are indeed "simple stylish and budget friendly" Well.... "budget friendly" depending on your budget, obviously. For my budget, it was more unaggressive than friendly, at about $120 including the paint and stain.
The subtitle for this book is accurate as the designs are indeed "simple stylish and budget friendly" Well.... "budget friendly" depending on your budget, obviously. For my budget, it was more unaggressive than friendly, at about $120 including the paint and stain.
October 14, 2012
Been wanting to try some DIY projects and learn how to make furniture pieces for the home. I know my Dad would love to team up with me and he has every tool ever made, so I am one step ahead. Stumbled on Ana White's blog recently and heard about her new book. Just arrived today. Love it. So inspiring and well presented. Looking forward to my first project. Once I try some projects, I will update my review on ease of instruction.
October 15, 2012
I follow Ana'a blog so of course when a book came out, I had to run out and get a copy! Absolutely amazing. I feel like I can build anything. I haven't built anything out of the book yet, but I'm currently working on building the Simple Outdoor Table and Benches before moving on to Farmhouse Table for my dining room.
Ana's instructions are easy to follow so that even a novice woodworker, like myself, can create beautiful furniture.
Ana's instructions are easy to follow so that even a novice woodworker, like myself, can create beautiful furniture.
December 19, 2012
I loved this book! Ana White is very talented and inspirational! One of my favorite features was that she included other women that Have made the projects themselves. She starts the book with simple explanations and instructions and the projects get progressively more complicated as the book goes on. She does have many more projects online but I loved seeing plans in a book format. I can't wait to try a few projects!
October 25, 2012
Why, yes, I am inspired to build a craft desk and bench and a few other pieces of furniture now. Really, I have had a desire to build furniture for a few months now. With the help of my dad who has every tool I would ever need and the instruction/inspiration/encouragement from this book - I can do it!
March 4, 2013
I have followed Ana White's blog for years & have to say that she is seriously talented! She not only builds amazing furniture (& looks good doing it!), but shows others how to do the same with the plans she provides. This book has some gorgeous pieces of furniture & projects range from rank novice to experienced builder!
July 5, 2013
Not sure why this didn't really appeal, though have to say the budget suspect seems dubious to me - keeping an eye out for second hand finds would have to be cheaper in almost all cases. I guess I also found myself wondering why I wanted to spend all that time and effort to essentially copy prevailing popular styles.
April 26, 2015
Great book, easy to follow plans and lists of tools and materials. The only bad thing I have to say about the book is not everything is explained, for example I had to youtube pocket hole joints to figure out what Ana was talking about. Other then that I am ready to start on some plans and start building!
October 13, 2022
4* A great book, easy on the eyes! The project instructions look so clear and written for beginners, just like Ana White's website which I have often browsed. The styles are classic farmhouse, simple and functional. I'm not into woodworking but I would like to own this book just in case I find the time to build something someday:)
December 4, 2012
Ana White's blog is amazing so I was excited to see she had put a book out, too. I want to remember this for when I have the tools, money, and time to make my own furniture...which is something I would love to do eventually.
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June 16, 2020Great ideas!!!
This is a wonderful book that gives very simple instructions for everyday people who Mabry haven't done a lot of woodworking previously. I would recommend this book to anyone. I can't wait to start on some of these projects when the weather breaks.
This is a wonderful book that gives very simple instructions for everyday people who Mabry haven't done a lot of woodworking previously. I would recommend this book to anyone. I can't wait to start on some of these projects when the weather breaks.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews