The Handbuilt Home

Ana White’s only woodworking book, and it delivers exactly what you need to get started. The Handbuilt Home contains 34 furniture projects for every room in the house, from beginner-friendly accessories to tables, beds, storage solutions, and a media center. Every project uses standard lumber and basic tools.

Why Start Here

White wrote this book from lived experience. As a young mother in Alaska with an empty house and no budget, she figured out how to build her own furniture by studying designs in stores and working backwards. The result is a collection of projects that are genuinely practical: they look good, they hold up, and they do not require a garage full of expensive equipment.

The instructions follow a cookbook-style format. Each project includes a materials list, a cut list, and clear step-by-step directions with diagrams and photographs. Many of the designs rely on pocket hole joinery, which is one of the fastest and most forgiving methods for beginners. Most projects result in painted finishes, which means small imperfections disappear under a coat of paint.

What to Expect

A paperback packed with projects that range from a simple leaning bookshelf to a farmhouse dining table. The designs are inspired by high-end store pieces but built with hardware store lumber. White’s tone is encouraging and unpretentious. If you can use a drill and a saw, you can build from this book. No woodworking background needed.