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The legs are the whole design idea: rather than a single 4x4 post, each leg is built as an "I" shape from layered 2x4s, and it's the repetition of that stacked pattern that gives the desk its presence — the source is right that "it's the stacking that makes these legs so beautiful." None of the individual joints are complicated; the visual payoff comes purely from doing the same simple lamination twice, identically.
The X brace between the two leg towers is the one place with real angle-cutting — mitered at 45° so the two diagonal pieces cross evenly in the middle. Build the two leg towers as identical, separate assemblies first and confirm they match before adding the brace or the top, the same principle behind any piece with mirrored end assemblies.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Pine, 2x4, 8 ft | 5 each |
| Pine, 1x4, 8 ft | 1 each |
| Pine, 2x12, 6 ft4 - 2x6 @ 6 ft also work as a substitute for the top. | 2 each |
| Self-tapping wood screws, 2-1/2", for countersinking | 1 box |
| Pocket hole screws, 2-1/2" | 1 box |
| Wood glue | 4 oz |
| Sandpaper, assorted grit | 4 sheet |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Leg tower center postsPine | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 20" |
| Leg tower end capsPine | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 18" |
| X brace, diagonal piecesPineLong point to long point, both ends cut not parallel at 45° off square. | 8 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 10 3/4" |
| X brace, longer diagonal piecesPineLong point to long point, both ends cut not parallel at 45° off square. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 21 3/4" |
| Leg tower stretchersPine | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 21" |
| Leg tower capsPine | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" |
| Cross stretchersPine | 3 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 59" |
| Cross brace, tapered endsPineLong point to short point, both ends cut parallel at 45° off square — cut to fit. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 30 3/4" |
| TabletopPine | 2 | 1 1/2" × 11 1/4" × 72" |
Buy 9 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
6 boards
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Start by building two "I"-shaped leg towers — a center post capped top and bottom with a wider board, so the tower reads as a stacked column. Build both towers identically.
Add the internal bracing to each leg tower, predrilling with a countersink bit so screw heads sit flush.
Attach the top and bottom caps to each leg tower, mitering the ends where called for.
Glue and screw the remaining 2x4 layers onto each tower — it's the repetition of this stacked pattern that gives the legs their look. Confirm both towers still match each other as you build them up.
Connect the two leg towers with the long cross stretchers, checking for square as you go.
Miter the X brace pieces at 45° and install them between the two towers, crossing evenly at the center.
If using pocket holes, build the tabletop as its own assembly first, then attach it to the base. A sheet of plywood works as a smoother writing-surface substitute for the 2x12 (or 2x6) boards if preferred.
Sand every surface and finish.
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