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A parsons-style desk with chunky built-up legs and two soft-close-ready drawers, made from 1-by lumber and a project panel — a knockoff of a pricey retail table.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leg centers (A) Three laminated per leg. | 12 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 29 1/4" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Front/back leg trim (B) | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 25 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Side leg trim (C) | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 25 1/2" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Side aprons (D) | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 22 1/2" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Back apron (E) | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 48" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Front aprons (F) | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 6" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Tabletop (G) | 1 | 3/4" × 24" × 48" | Project panel / MDF | ☐ |
| Drawer framing back (H) | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 46 1/2" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Drawer framing sides/middle (I) | 3 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 17 1/4" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Drawer sides (J) | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 16 3/4" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Drawer front/back (K) | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 15 1/8" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Drawer bottoms (L) | 2 | 1/4" × 16 5/8" × 16 3/4" | 1/4" plywood | ☐ |
| Drawer faces (M) | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 18" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 24" x 48" project panel or 3/4" MDF Tabletop. A quarter of an MDF sheet. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1x3 board, 8 ft (Pine) | 6 each | ☐ |
| 1x4 board, 8 ft (Pine) | 4 each | ☐ |
| 1/4" plywood, quarter sheet Drawer bottoms. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 15" drawer slides | 2 pair | ☐ |
| Finish nails, 1-1/4" and 2" | 100 each | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 6 oz | ☐ |
| Drawer knobs or pulls | 2 each | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: 1x3 board, 8 ft, Finish nails, 1-1/4" and 2", Wood glue
Build all four leg cores by nailing two A boards together flat-face to flat-face with 1-1/4" nails and glue, then a third A board on with 2" nails, keeping all outside edges flush. This makes the solid post the trim wraps around.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: 1x3 board, 8 ft, 1x4 board, 8 ft, Finish nails, 1-1/4" and 2", Wood glue
Add trim board B to each core, flush at the outside and bottom, then board C over it fastening into all the sandwiched 1x3s. Build all four legs the same way: the 1x3 trim (B) faces front and back, the 1x4 trim (C) faces the sides. Consistency here is what keeps the desk looking square.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Tape Measure. Materials: 1x4 board, 8 ft, Finish nails, 1-1/4" and 2", Wood glue
Attach the side aprons (D) into the leg cores, keeping them flush with the outside edge of the leg centers so the desk is 24" wide. Then nail the front aprons (F) in, fastening into both the side aprons and the leg cores.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: 24" x 48" project panel or 3/4" MDF, Finish nails, 1-1/4" and 2"
Set the project-panel or MDF top on the base, outside edges flush, and nail into all the side aprons, the back apron, and the leg pieces so it's fully anchored.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver, Speed Square. Materials: 1x4 board, 8 ft, Finish nails, 1-1/4" and 2", Wood glue
Add the drawer housing boards H and I, driving a screw down through the tabletop into the top edge of the middle I board, and cross-nailing with plenty of glue — these carry the drawers. Get the housing exactly square; an out-of-square housing means drawers that bind forever.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver, Speed Square. Materials: 1x3 board, 8 ft, 1x4 board, 8 ft, 1/4" plywood, quarter sheet, 15" drawer slides, Wood glue, Drawer knobs or pulls
Nail the drawer sides (J) into the fronts/backs (K), checking each box for square, and add the squarely-cut 1/4" plywood bottoms (L) — a racked box won't slide. Mount the drawers on the slides and into the housing, then position the faces (M) with the intended uneven overhang (7/8" inside, 1/2" outside) before fixing them and adding pulls.