Shelter blogs often lead you from one great find to another. At some point I discovered Knock-Off Wood, run by Ana White, and it’s worth sharing.
Ana is a stay-at-home mom living in rural Alaska with her young daughter. Because many mainstream furnishings aren’t easily shipped to her area, she started building her own versions of popular furniture—“knock-offs”—using basic lumber and simple tools. Her goal is to reproduce attractive, functional pieces at a fraction of the retail cost.
What makes her work especially compelling is that Ana had no formal carpentry or contracting background. She learned by doing, steadily improving her skills and documenting the process. When she finishes a project she’s satisfied with, she posts free, step-by-step plans so others can build the same pieces. She also curates a Flickr pool she calls her “bragging board,” where readers share photos of items they’ve completed using her plans.
Her plans cover nearly every room in the house: beds, dining tables, hutches, outdoor furniture, children’s storage, chairs, wall art, shelving, side tables, and more—the outdoor daybed shown above is one example. The instructions are written so that beginners can follow them, and the materials are generally straightforward and inexpensive. In return for the free plans, she simply asks that builders leave a comment about their experience and, if possible, upload pictures of the finished piece.
I haven’t tackled a full project yet, mostly because of limited workspace and other life circumstances, not because the plans seem beyond reach. My husband already keeps an email folder of designs I send him for approval, and I expect that one day soon we’ll pick a project and build something memorable—thanks to Ana’s clear guidance and inspiration.
If you’re looking for a weekend DIY idea and want to be genuinely inspired, visit Knock-Off Wood and browse the many plans available. If you know of any lesser-known DIY blogs that deserve more attention, please share them in the comments below.
Photo: Ana White/Knock-Off Wood