NotchLoading plan…
Loading plan…
Turned stair balusters do the same job here that purchased turned table legs do on a full-size piece — they let a beginner get a genuinely furniture-shop turned-leg look with zero lathe work. Buy the balusters before you build the base, since the base opening has to be sized to actually fit them; the plan's dimensions are a starting point, and you should adjust if your balusters come out a different diameter.
The drawer is the one place precision actually matters: build it to fit your specific slides and opening, not a generic dimension, and expect to trim for an even 1/8" gap around the drawer face once it's installed. The mirror-support corbels may need to be mounted at an angle rather than square, especially with a taller mirror — dry-fit the mirror before committing any screws.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Stair balusters, turnedBuy these first — the base opening is sized to fit them, and baluster diameter varies by style. | 4 each |
| Drawer slides, 14 in | 1 pair |
| Small mirror, 12"–16" wide | 1 each |
| Small corbelsMay need mounting at an angle for a taller mirror — dry-fit before attaching. | 2 each |
| Cabinet knob or handle | 1 each |
| Pine, 1x4, 10 ft | 1 each |
| Pine, 1x3, 6 ft | 1 each |
| Plywood or panel, 3/4"24" x 16" top. | 1 each |
| Plywood, 1/4"14" x 17-1/2" drawer bottom. | 1 each |
| Edge moulding, 3/4" thickOptional — trims out the plywood top edge. | 1 each |
| Nails and screws | 1 box |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Base long railsPine | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 14 1/2" |
| Base short railsPine | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 2 3/4" |
| Base front railPine | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 24" |
| TopPlywood or panel | 1 | 3/4" × 16" × 24" |
| Legs (balusters, cut to height)Turned baluster | 4 | 2" × 2" × 20 1/2" |
| Drawer sidesPine | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 14" |
| Drawer front/backPine | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 16" |
| Drawer bottomPlywood | 1 | 1/4" × 17 1/2" × 14" |
| Drawer facePine | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 18 1/4" |
Buy 5 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
1 board
2 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 →
Assemble the base frame from the 1x4 rails. Before you fasten anything permanently, dry-fit your actual balusters into the leg openings — if the plan's dimensions don't match your balusters' diameter, adjust the opening now rather than fighting it later.
Attach the top to the base. Finish nails and glue driven from the top is the simplest approach; 3/4" pocket holes from the underside also work well.
Set the baluster legs inside the base frame and nail or screw them to the base.
Build the drawer box to fit both your slides and the base opening — as a rule of thumb this is about 1" less than the opening's overall width (1/2" clearance per side is standard for most slides), but confirm against your actual slide hardware before cutting.
Mount the drawer slides to the base and drawer box per the hardware's instructions.
Trim out the plywood top edge with moulding for a more finished look — this also hides the plywood's raw edge.
Attach the drawer face to the drawer box, leaving an even 1/8" gap on each side against the opening.
Support the mirror as needed for its size and weight — the corbels may need to sit at an angle rather than square, especially with a taller mirror. Dry-fit everything before committing any screws.
No reviews yet
Sign in to review this plan or share your build.
No reviews yet. Be the first to build this.