A friend contacted me about building a custom sized desk to coordinate with a set of dressers that she purchased used (I refinished them years before). We started with the Simple Modern desk (more in overall look), but made some changes away from "Modern" such as the bases, overhanging and routed top and trim on the side aprons. The legs of the desk aren't solid 4x4, but1x4s and 1x3 furring strips kreg jig'd and sanded till nearly seamless. The support under the desktop was redesigned to create a large, single drawer faced as two. The top is made from pine boards edge joined together. The two "bases" combined, have 96 pieces of trim to create this look. It was alot of work to get some tiny pieces just right, but well worth it in the end.
There are two comparison pictures uploaded. the photoshopped photo is the inspirational photo that came with the "Can you build me one of these?" and the second is the side by side with one of the dressers I was asked to compliment.
At 4 ft by 2 ft, she says its the perfect size for her home office laptop.
Overall, I was pretty surprised about how different of a turn this desk could take in style as I went from bare to adding the trim. Perhaps it can inspire others as well.
Comments
carongirls
Mon, 02/10/2014 - 15:59
Looks Great
It looks really great! One question, how did you attach the hutch to the bench?
misterwilbur
Mon, 02/10/2014 - 16:54
Thank you! I attached the
Thank you!
I attached the hutch to the drawer by drilling 4 pocket holes on the inside of the bookcase where the bottom meets the top of the drawer. I also used wood glue. I was concerned about the hutch moving around, and the possibility of it tipping over, so I decided to go ahead and build the two components as one piece, essentially.
Also, in order to add some additional strength and stability, I combined the frames on both components so that I would have vertical 1x2's going down the entire length of the backside of the piece. I also added horizontal 1x2's on the backside of each shelf. All these things combined really gave it a lot of extra strength.
carongirls
Mon, 02/10/2014 - 17:21
Thanks
I see it now in your pictures. Thanks!