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The "patchwork" look comes entirely from the drawer face widths — a mix of 1x4 and 1x8 boards rather than five identical faces — which means this isn't a simpler build than a matched-face dresser, just a different-looking one. Every joint underneath is the same precise plywood carcass work any Euro-slide dresser needs.
Euro slides are unforgiving of an out-of-square drawer box, and this design compounds that by inseting every drawer box 3/4" behind the case front to leave room for the applied drawer faces — so there are two things that both have to be right: the box itself square, and the inset consistent across all five drawers, or the faces won't sit in a flush, even plane once attached. Build and test-fit the drawer boxes in their openings *before* committing to faces, and don't skip the diagonal-measurement square check on the main case — everything downstream depends on it.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Plywood, 3/4", 4x8 sheet | 1 each |
| Plywood, 1/4", 4x8 sheetHalf sheet — drawer bottoms and backs. | 1 each |
| Pine, 1x6, 8 ft | 1 each |
| Pine, 1x6, 10 ft | 1 each |
| Pine, 1x3, 8 ft | 1 each |
| Pine, 1x4, 4 ft, 3-1/2" actual width | 1 each |
| Pine, 1x8, 6 ft, 7-1/4" actual width | 1 each |
| Euro-style bottom-mount drawer slides, 14" | 5 pair |
| Caster wheels | 4 each |
| Full-inset concealed hinges | 1 pair |
| Edge bandingOptional, for plywood edges. | 1 roll |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 1 box |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" | 1 box |
| Wood glue | 6 oz |
| Sandpaper, assorted grit | 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Case partitionsPlywood | 3 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 24 3/4" |
| Case topPlywood | 1 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 29 3/4" |
| Small dividerPlywood | 1 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 8 1/4" |
| SidesPlywood | 2 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 48" |
| Trim boardsPine | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 21 1/2" |
| Trim boardsPine | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 29 3/4" |
| Drawer box sidesPineCut to fit slides and measured openings. | 6 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 14" |
| Drawer box sides (small)Pine | 2 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 5" |
| Drawer box fronts/backs (wide)Pine | 4 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 27 1/4" |
| Drawer box fronts/backs (narrow)Pine | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 14" |
| Drawer box fronts/backs (narrow, tall)Pine | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 19" |
| Drawer bottoms, small1/4" plywood | 2 | 1/4" × 14" × 20 1/2" |
| Drawer bottoms, wide1/4" plywood | 2 | 1/4" × 14" × 28 3/4" |
| Drawer bottom, top1/4" plywood | 1 | 1/4" × 14" × 6 1/2" |
| Drawer faces, narrowPine | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 21 1/4" |
| Drawer face, topPine | 1 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 8" |
| Drawer faces, widePine | 2 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 29 1/2" |
| Cabinet doorPlywood | 1 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 24 1/2" |
| Cabinet back1/4" plywood | 1 | 1/4" × 48" × 26 1/4" |
Buy 14 boards at 8 ft.
3 boards
1 board
This drawer slide (and every other one in this build) must be mounted inset 3/4" from the case front to leave room for the drawer faces you'll add later. Attach the shelf between partitions with 3/4" pocket holes, 1-1/4" pocket hole screws, and glue. This is a dresser — be precise. Square every joint as you go, or the drawers will run cockeyed once the slides are in.
Drill pocket holes on the top and bottom edges of the divider now, ahead of the next assembly step.
Attach the remaining drawer slide cabinet member to the small divider, then attach that assembly to the shelf with 3/4" pocket holes and glue.
Attach the top and bottom to the partition assemblies and the two side panels, using 3/4" pocket holes, 1-1/4" pocket hole screws, and glue throughout.
Attach the 1x2 trim boards to the case with 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket hole screws.
Build five drawer boxes sized to their actual openings and slide hardware. Install each drawer box with its Euro slide so the box sits inset 3/4" from the case front — this gap is what lets the applied drawer face sit flush later.
Attach each drawer face to its drawer box with an even 1/8" gap on all sides. Hang the cabinet door with the full-inset concealed hinges the same way — inset hinges keep the hardware hidden, matching the drawers' flush look.
Attach the back with glue and brad nails. Doing this after the drawers and door are fitted makes it easier to reach in and make final adjustments to the slides and hinges.
Attach caster wheels to the base. Sand every surface, apply edge banding to any visible plywood edges if you're using it, and finish.
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3 boards
1 board
1 board
2 boards
1 board
2 boards
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 →