Free Woodworking Plans to Build a PotteryBarn Inspired Hudson Desk

06|29|11

Submitted by RyTurner / The Design Confidential

This desk is gorgeous and will have an accompanying hutch to go with it! stay tuned for this plan to come! We are so fortunate to have Loren’s wonderful work and I am so grateful to her! I have been hard on some big, big projects for the site, coming soon!

Estimated Cost

$100-$150

Dimensions

Tools

Tape Measure

Sander

Drill

Kreg Jig – this is optional but will make some of your connections much much easier…recommended.

Saw - Optional if you have your local lumber supply cut your boards.

Miter Saw – can also use a Table Saw, Circular Saw, Hand Saw or Jig Saw to cut at an angle.

Lumber

2 - 2x2 at 10’ or 4 – 2x2 at 6’

10 – 1x2 at 10’

1 – 1x2 at 6’

3 – 1x6 at 8’

1 – 1x6 at 6’

1 – 1x4 at 8’

2 – 1x3 at 8’

1 Sheet of 3/4” Plywood

1/2 Sheet of 3/4” Plywood

**1 Sheet of 1/4” Plywood (you will need a piece that is 2’x6’ if your store will sell you something like this)

Materials

**3” Wood Screws – not needed if using Kreg Jig Pocket Hole System

**2” Wood Screws – not needed if using Kreg Jig Pocket Hole System

1 1/4” Pocket Hole Screws

7/8” Finish Nails or Brad Nails

1 1/4” Finish Nails

2” Finish Nails

Wood Glue

Wood Filler

Sanding Supplies

Finishing Supplies

Cut List

4 – 2x2 at 29 1/2” Legs

2 – 1x2 at 12 5/8” Center Panel Trim

8 – 1x2 at 19 1/2” Drawer Supports (blue)

14 – 1x2 at 21” Drawer Supports and Rails (green)

3 – 1x2 at 24 1/2” Drawer Supports and Rails (red)

4 – 1x2 at 21 1/4” Side Panel Trim

4 – 1x2 at 13 3/8” Side Panel Trim

8 – 1x2 at 19 3/8” Outside Drawer Trim

8 – 1x2 at 5 1/2” Outside Drawer Trim

2 – 1x2 at 24 3/8” Center Drawer Trim

2 – 1x2 at 3 1/2” Center Drawer Trim

2 – 1x2 at 71” Top Trim

2 – 1x2 at 27” Top Trim

8 – 1x6 at 22 1/2” Outside Drawer Sides

4 – 1x6 at 17 7/8” Outside Drawer Backs

4 – 1x6 at 19 3/8” Outside Drawer Fronts

2 – 1x4 at 22 1/2” Center Drawer Sides

1 – 1x4 at 22 7/8” Center Drawer Back

1 – 1x4 at 24 3/8” Center Drawer Front

4 – 1x3 at 20 1/2” Top Frame

2 – 1x3 at 69 1/2” Top Frame

4 – 3/4” Ply at 21 1/4” x 13 3/8” Side and Center Panels

4 – 3/4” Ply at 17 7/8” x 21 3/4” Outside Drawer Bottoms

1 – 3/4” Ply at 22 7/8” x 21 3/4”

1 – 3/4” Ply at 69 1/2” x 25 1/2” Top

1 – 1/4” ply at 65 x 13 3/8” Back

Instructions

Before beginning to build, always check in on my site to make sure you have the most up to date set of plans, I occasionally update and change the plans to make the building process easier or to allow for less expensive purchasing of materials!

Read through the entire set of instructions and all comments before beginning this project. If you print out or save plans, be sure to check in on my site to be sure you have the most up to date set of plans, as I occasionally update things for ease of building or buying. If you are new to building, read through the GETTING STARTED section and other articles found under the BUILD tab in the menu on my site, it has valuable information about how to get started, tools and techniques. If you are unfamiliar with the finishing process, visit my Finishing school for some tips and tricks for painting like a pro and for special finishing practices.

Use glue to secure your joints and Consider Painting or Staining individual sections prior to assembling. This makes the paint application virtually flawless. Coat with a spray on Poly or Wipe on Poly to protect your finish and your piece and it will last for ages. Adhere to all safety standards and guidelines, and be sure you follow safety protocol throughout your build. If you are unsure about whether you are building safely, run a quick online search for the tool or technique you are using, or contact me via email or post to the forum before you move ahead. My contact info can be found in the menu of my site.

Step 1

Build your Side and Center Panels: Miter your legs at an angle from the 4” mark down on both the inside edges of each leg (2 of the 4 sides of the leg), leaving a 3/4”-1” square at the bottom. Secure the Panels using your pocket hole system set for 3/4” stock with 1 1/4” pocket hole screws and glue. The Panels will sit flush with the inside edges and the tops of the legs for the outside panels and for the center panels the center panel trim (1x2) will be flush with the bottom of the panel leaving the panel to overhang the height of the 1x2 by 3/4”. If you aren’t using a pocket hole system, you can fasten the Panels to the Legs using your 3” screws and glue. Be sure to countersink.

Step 2

Connect the Rails, trim and drawer supports: Connect the Drawer Supports (green and blue rectangles) to each other using your pocket hole system set for 3/4” stock and your 1 1/4” pocket hole screws and glue. Then move on to connect them to the side panels and center panels along with any of the other rails and trim that aren’t part of the drawer supports. If you aren’t using a pocket hole system you will need to use 3” screws to fasten the rails in place and 2” screws to fasten the Bottom in place. Be sure to countersink and use glue.

All pieces on the back side (rail, supports, and bottom) will sit in 1/4” from the back edge of the legs to allow for attaching the back panel later. The back side is the one we are facing in the image below, so we are talking about the drawer supports and the single red rail in the middle that isn’t part of a drawer support needing to sit back by a 1/4”.

Step 3

Fasten the Side Trim and Back Panel in Place. Miter the corners of the Trim for the most professional appearance (not required) and tack on using 1 1/4” finish nails on the sides, and use 7/8” finish nails or brad nails on the back panel. Use glue.

Step 4

Build the Drawers. The Drawer bottom will sit inset and the drawer sides and front/back will be cut from 1x6’s for the outside drawers and 1x4’s for the center drawer. Use your pocket hole system to fasten the drawer bottom to the sides, front, and back, and to fasten the back to the sides, and the sides to the front. You will set it for 3/4” stock and use 1 1/4” pocket hole screws and glue. Tack on the trim using 1 1/4” finish nails and glue. You will build 5 drawers total, 4 of the larger outside drawer style and 1 center drawer.

Step 5

Build and Top Frame. The top frame will be built using your pocket hole system set for 3/4” stock and your 1 1/4” pocket hole screws and glue. Fasten the rails (green) to the stiles (yellow), so to speak, and fasten the Frame to the Unit using 2” Finish nails and glue.

Step 6

Add your Top. Miter the corners of the trim and attach using 2” finish nails and glue.

Finishing Instructions

Fill and Screw, Nail or Pocket Holes, Sand and Finish as Desired. For Finishing Tips and Tricks visit my Finishing School

Disclaimer

**Disclaimer: Some rights reserved. Private use only. Feel Free to link to any of my plans so long as you provide an adequate link back to the appropriate post! Plans from this page are not to be used for commercial purposes or republished without the express written consent of Rayan Turner, The Design Confidential I hope to provide accurate plans, however, I cannot guarantee each plan for accuracy. Not every plan that I post has been built and tested, so you are building at your own risk. It is recommended that you have a clear understanding of how the project works before beginning any project. Please contact me if you find an error or inaccuracy so that I might fix it.

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