I really need this! Thanks

Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.

Thank you so much Ana!!! Now to get my husband to help me build.

Love it! After I get our bedroom set finished (and maybe the rest of the schoolroom pieces) I'm planning to make this for my craft room. Thanks so much!

SWEET!! Thank you!!

Hey Ana, after seeing your corner desk it got me thinking. We are in need of new kitchen cabinets. How cost efficient would it be to make your own cabinets? Money is tight,I was just wondering if we could build our own?

OH MY GOSH!!!! I have been wanting that desk FOREVER! Now I can have it!! YOU ROCK, ANA!!
Erin

Yay!!!!!

I am so excited! We're planning on attacking our library/office next year and with these plans (and a few of your other plans too!) we'll be able to build everything we want and save thousands. Thanks so much!

Hello Ana!

I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you are doing here! I am so excited because we just came back from the store to buy the supplies for this desktop system. My husband is building this along with some other items on your site for my craftroom. He is going to make it into a huge "U" shape so I can have my different crafting stations. And the best part of it......it only cost us $23 because we used our points from our credit cards!!! And that was even with the tools that he needed.
I also wanted to share with you a very high compliment. My husband is a very handy and can do anything from electrical, plumbing, carpentry etc. I have been telling him for months about your site and he kept on blowing it off. Well after I told him about the big corporate company coming down on you he was outraged. I then printed out the plans for the items I wanted (here;s the compliment) and as he was reading them over he said outloud "WOW this girl is good!" Now my hubby NEVER EVER says that about anyone an won't even take advice from anyone.
Gotta go start our project. But I just had to stop on by and let you know how excited I am that I am getting my craftroom done in the way I have always wanted it. If it weren't for your site I wouldn't be able to have it because I just don't have thousands laying around!!

Big Hugs from Carlisle, PA!!! I can't wait to share the pictures with you when it's done!!

Exactly what I have been looking to build for my wife!

One comment: I need to put an under desk keyboard drawer into the table. So in step three it is important for me to have onsite my drawer assembly and confirm how it is going to attach underneath. If it doesn't fit the diagonal framing beam, this is the time to adjust design so it will fit.

I built one very similar desk many years ago, the only difference was that I added a very inexpensive pull out keyboard drawer for it...would be a nice addition to yours.

Very nice build. I love finding projects that give you very nice results that cost much lower than the originals. I've been looking to create a desk that'll fit into my office without having to spend an arm and a leg to do it.

I'm going to follow these plans and then report back on my finished creation.

I built something like this a while back for my sister. Instead of painting or varnishing the top I used self adhesive vinyl floor tiles. They come in one foot squares and are stocked, in all sorts of patterns, at most Home centers Lowe, Home depot etc. Most of the time they sell for about 1.00 to 1.50 each. They go on fast, look great, are impervious to spills, and will, I think, last indefinitely on a desk top.

I found your blog via Lifehacker, this desk is they perfect project I've been looking for!

The space between the cabinets that hold up the desk doesn't look like much. Can the dimensions be expanded to increase more room and still allow someone to lean on the middle safely I wonder?

Wow, This is a trash design. Please anyone one reading this don't build this desk. It lacks stability and the MDF will not hold up very long. Real carpenters all around the world are upset at you for posting this on the internet, please remove it. Some people might take you seriously. Thank you for your time.

All you need is an old door (fill the knob hole or use for computer cords, etc.) and two metal filing cabinets. So simple, even a caveman could do it. Have a nice day!! KISS

Working on this right now, sorry if this might upset "real" carpenters, Richard. I'll make sure not to jump on it, and pray that the paperwork sitting on it does not manage to break the fragile MDF.

I'm building this right now.

What type of wood and finish did Nancy use?

Are their any other reader photos out there? What do you folks do for the ends of the plywood? Just add trim? If so, what kind? Also, anyone who's built this, is the corner space sufficient for someone to move around in comfortably? Looks like the dimensions are the same as pb, but, the hubby is a little worried about it being large enough.

DeAndrea I recently measured the Pottery Barn Desk and the corner piece is actually 40"x40". Not that much of a difference though.

I've been wanting a smaller corner desk unit for our den. Thanks for these ideas, pictures, and plans! blessings on your day!

this is cool! wifes office is closing so she's working from home and needs a desk.
with a little modifying the size this will be perfect. im going to use her file cabinets for the base and instead of useing the 3 pieces together for the center leg cutting 2 six in pieces into a corner then installing it at corner.
thank you for the main idea

This was my first "Ana White" building project and I was hooked on this site from this project on! I started a new job in January which required me to work from home, so I needed to create a home office fast. I had space in a corner of my basement, so I found this corner desk plan.

I built it in a weekend (using the 'open base units' as my cabinets), painted it using some "overstock" paint from my local home improvement store, and have been using it daily ever since.

A couple of things I learned from this project:
- Take the time to put several coats of paint AND polyurethane on the desk. I did this and the finish has held up beautifully!
- I strongly recommend the use of a pocket-hole jig to assemble the base units. I use the Kreg jig
- Invest in clamps!! I've found that clamping everything before you attach it keeps corners square, tables level and your project looking professional.

I highly recommend this project!

Wayne
http://www.SimpleWoodworkProjects.com/blog

Any suggestions for turning this into a large two sided unit for hers and his use? Should I just build two? or do I need to do more? He's a real moose so it has to be strong.

This design is really flexible, so you could certainly extend it for use for two people. Just remember that it's a "corner" design so to extend it for two people, you'll just want to extend one of the sides.

Here's a photo of how another reader did just that... extended the corner design to accommodate another person.

http://ana-white.com/2011/08/family-computer-station

I used 1/2" plywood for my corner desk and it is very strong. If you stick to the plans above, you won't have any issues with breaking the desk.

Have fun with the design, that's part of the fun!

Wayne
http://www.SimpleWoodworkProjects.com/blog

Are there plans anywhere for either the corner or straight hutch (about 8" tall) that sit atop the desks in the similar line at PB? Thanks!

i think i would like to paint my desk instead of stain... could someone please suggest a base and sheen? I will be painting the desk white for sure but i want it to be highly durable. I have read that High gloss latex is durable but I dont really like the look of high gloss. I prefer semigloss. I'd also like to stay away from oil-based paints and polyurethane finishes, too smelly for someone who suffers from frequent migraines :-P

HI there! I know this is an older plan on your site - I cant seem to download the PDF version of the plan? Can you take a look and maybe send it to me? This corner plan is just what Ive been looking for to DIY myself a desk!
Thanks ana!

Not only do I like this desk but I LOVE Whatever that is holding the inks and punches on the wall above. I have been going insane trying to find a way to put mine on the wall where they would be easily reached. Please tell me that is one of your designs and how do I make it.

Hi Ana - Love love love this. I am wondering if you can direct me to a specific link that shows the plans for these particular bases shown in this pic (ones with big section on top, big on left and 3 little on right)? Thank you!

Dear Ana,
Thank you so much for this website. I'm a police officer by profession, but I've always loved woodworking and carpentry. I've recently taken carpentry up as a hobby to pass time through a work related injury and have plans to build several of your designs . I can't thank you enough for the inspiration and the groundwork which will allow me to put my downtime to good use and stretching my money, while providing quality furniture that I will enjoy for years to come.

I would like to build the exact same corner desk as in the picture. Do you have the cut list and plans for the base units with the open shelves? Thanks.

Hi, I'm considering starting this project. I'm wondering whether the seams between the three different desktop pieces are visible. I'm assuming so based on other DIY projects I've done with similar aspects. Has anyone had luck hiding them? Perhaps by filling the whole length of the seam with wood filler?

I recently found many useful information in your website especially this blog page. Among the lots of comments on your articles. Thanks for sharing.
Driving Lessons Dublin

Just read over your plans. I love your work by the way. Just curious, I see a Kreg jib is on the supply list. I don't see in the plan instructions when I would use this. I'm thinking when I attach the leg to the table if I insert the 3" screws through the trim? I also want to be clear that I need to make bases first to make sure they fit underneath within the trim areas.
Thank you

Hi Ana,

I only see the directions for the table top. I love the pottery barn inspired drawers. Do you have instructions to build these as well?

You rock and your website is awesome!!! I enjoy woodworking projects and your website has some awesome projects on it!
Thanks Anna!!!

I am just wondering how you secure your table top pieces together--can you use a kreg jig and screw them together? Or do you just glue them and rely on the trim pieces to hold them together? I can't wait to build this system for my husbands new office!

How could I make the depth of this top wider. Going from 231/2 to 30 in. My question is what size does the centre need to be if the sides are now 30 x 30.

Thanks Rod

Hello, Where can I find plans for the rights side of the table? The portion with the sewing machine cutout.