Plans

Free DIY Furniture Plans to Build a Pottery Barn Kids Inspired Madeline Desk & Hutch

07.18.12 By //
Project Image

Free and Easy DIY Plans for the most fabulous and dainty desk!

Estimated Cost

$50-$75

Dimensions
Dimensions for This Project
Tools
  • Tape Measure
  • Saw – Jig, Circular, or Miter
  • Drill
  • Square
  • Sander
  • Kreg Jig
  • Brad Nailer
Lumber
  • 2 – 2×2 at 6’
  • 1 – 1×6 at 8’
  • 1 – 1×6 at 4’
  • 2 – 1×3 at 8’
  • 1 – 1×2 at 8’
  • 1 – 1×2 at 6’
  • Quarter sheet of ¾” plywood
  • Half sheet of ½” plywood
Materials
  • 1” pocket hole screws
  • 1-1/4” pocket hole screws
  • 2” pocket hole screws
  • 1-1/4” brad nails
  • 3 sets of 18” drawers slides
  • 3 drawer pulls
  • Wood filler
  • Sandpaper
  • Wood glue
  • Finishing Supplies
Cut List
  •  4 – 2×2 at 29-1/4” – Legs
  • 2 – 1×6 at 19”(ripped to 5-1/4” wide) – Side Panels
  • 1 – 1×6 at 41-1/2”(ripped to 5-1/4” wide) – Back
  • 2 – 1×2 at 41-1/2” – Stretchers
  • 2 – 1×2 at 3-3/4” – Dividers
  • 3 – 1×2 at 19” – Slide Supports & Top Support
  • 1 – ¾” plywood at 22-3/4” x 46” – Top
  • 1 – ½” plywood at 9” x 44-1/2” – Hutch Back
  • 2 – ½” plywood at 6-1/4” x 10-1/2” – Hutch Sides
  • 2 – ½” plywood at 4-1/2” x 9-1/2” – Hutch Center
  • 2 – ½” plywood at 9-1/2” x 11-1/2” – Hutch Top
  • 6 – 1×3 at 16-1/2” – Drawer Box Sides
  • 4 – 1×3 at 9” – Smaller Drawer Box Front & Back
  • 2 – 1×3 at 19” – Larger Drawer Box Front & Back
  • 2 – ¼” plywood at 9” x 18” – Smaller Drawer Bottom
  • 1 – ¼” plywood at 18” x 19” – Larger Drawer Bottom
  • 2 – 1×6 at 10-1/2” (ripped to 4-1/4” wide) – Smaller Drawer Fronts
  • 1 – 1×6 at 20-1/2” (ripped to 4-1/4” wide) – Larger Drawer Front
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
Step 1

Cut the pieces for the legs and the sides. Set the Kreg jig for ¾” material and drill pocket holes in each end of the side pieces. Attach to the legs with glue and 2” pocket hole screws. The back face of the side panel should be flush with the inside of the legs.

Step 2
Step 2

Cut the piece for the back. Drill pocket holes at each end and attach to the legs using glue and 2” pocket hole screws. The back face of the panel should be flush with the inside of the legs.

Step 3
Step 3
Step 3

Cut the pieces for the front stretchers. Drill pocket holes in each end and attach to the legs at the spacing indicated using glue and 2” pocket hole screws.

Cut the pieces for the dividers. Attach to the stretchers as shown using glue and 1-1/4” brad nails through the stretcher into the divider.

Step 4
Step 4

Cut the pieces for the drawer slide supports. Drill pocket holes in each end and attach to the dividers and to the back with glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws.

Step 5
Step 5

Cut the piece for the top support. Drill pocket holes in each end and attach to the upper stretcher and the back with glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws.

Step 6

Cut the piece for the top. The front and sides will overlap by ¾”. Secure the top using glue and 1-1/4” brad nails through the top into the stretchers, sides, and back.

Step 7
Step 7

Cut the piece for the back of the hutch. Draw a decorative curve on the back and cut out with a jigsaw. Set the Kreg jig for ½” material and drill pocket holes along the bottom edge only. Secure to the top with glue and 1” pocket hole screws.

Step 8
Step 8
Step 8
Step 8
Step 8

Cut the pieces for the hutch cubby side. The overall piece will be cut at 6-1/4” x 10-1/2”. Cut a decorative curve in the piece with a jigsaw maintaining 4-3/4” at the front edge of the piece. Drill pocket holes in the back edge as well as the bottom edge. Secure to the back piece and the desk top with glue and 1” pocket hole screws.

Cut the pieces for the hutch cubby center. Drill pocket holes in the back edge as well as the bottom edge. Secure to the back piece and the desk top with glue and 1” pocket hole screws.

Cut the pieces for the hutch cubby top. The overall piece will be cut at 9-1/2” x 11-1/2”. Cut a curve in the piece maintaining 9-1/2” at the front part of the top as shown. Attach to the center with glue and 1-1/4” brad nails through the top into the center piece. Secure to the sides and back with 1-1/4” brad nails through each piece into the top.

Step 9
Step 9
Step 9

Cut the pieces for the drawer boxes. Assemble as shown using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws.

Cut the pieces for the bottoms. Attach using glue and 1-1/4” brad nails. Attach drawer slide hardware according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make any necessary adjustments.

Step 10
Step 10

Cut the pieces for the drawer fronts. The fronts will overlap the openings by ¼” on each side. Pre-drill the holes for the handles. Drive screws through the holes for the handles to temporarily hold the front in place. Open the drawer and attach the front to the drawer box from the inside with 1-1/4” screws. Finish drilling out the holes for the handles.

Finishing Instructions

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

**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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