Behold the show notes for Episode #16 of Young House Love Has A Podcast. In this episode, we sit down with furniture designer and hands-on builder Ana White to talk about how she learned to build beds, bookcases, tiny houses, and full-time homes. We also share behind-the-scenes details from our recent teachers lounge makeover (including the one unexpected item that gave us the biggest challenge), and we weigh in—surprisingly undecided—on a trendy bathroom design direction. Plus, we react to Gwyneth Paltrow’s recently listed house using language you might not expect.
You can download this episode from iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio, or stream it on your preferred podcast platform. Use the notes below to find links, references, and images mentioned in the episode.
What’s New
- We recently completed a full teachers lounge makeover. If you haven’t seen the full project post, check out our detailed teachers lounge makeover write-up, which includes plenty of before-and-after photos and step-by-step notes from the project.
Ana White
Ana White is a self-taught furniture designer and builder who has inspired thousands of DIYers to take on projects big and small. Her site features free plans, clear how-to instructions, and resources for getting started with the right tools and materials. In this episode we discuss how she gained confidence in the workshop, resources for beginners, and the projects that helped her grow as a builder and designer.
- Ana’s website hosts dozens of free plans and project tutorials, plus a helpful overview for beginners covering essential tools and materials.
- Her book, The Handbuilt Home, compiles many favorite plans and offers guidance for people just getting started with woodworking and furniture building.
- Her YouTube channel includes build videos and a detailed series documenting the construction of her family’s new forever home—useful for builders who want to see projects from start to finish.
- Ana has also contributed guest posts with practical plans like floating shelves—plans we referenced and adapted in our own bonus room built-ins.
- We adapted several of her designs when we made the mega console table for our previous house, which still sits behind our sofa today.
- For those looking for a useful jig, we mentioned the Kreg Jig as a trusted pocket-hole system that makes joinery fast and straightforward for many projects.
- We also discussed cordless nailers—compact tools that speed up trim work and small builds. If you’re buying refurbished tools, remember to include any necessary chargers and spare batteries.
We’re Digging
Here are a few design bits we’re currently loving and testing in our own home projects:
- Shower curtains and bathroom textiles: Sherry has been collecting favorites with a vintage-meets-modern vibe—perfect for pairing with classic clawfoot tubs or contemporary freestanding tubs.
- SimpleDesktops wallpapers: A great source for clean, minimal desktop backgrounds that reduce visual clutter while keeping your desktop polished and personal.
- Designs and patterns that translate well from small details to full-room impact: look for items that feel cohesive and timeless rather than overly trendy.
Psst—Looking for something we featured in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to open? We keep a master list of everything we’ve “dug” across all past episodes for easy browsing.
*This page contains affiliate links and recommended resources. We only share tools and products we use or genuinely recommend.