Free Plans to Build a Crate and Barrel Inspired Brey Desk

An Attractive (and EASY to Build) Desk

This is a super-neat and ultra-modern desk with a glass top and full pullout tray. The plans to build the Brey Desk (inspired by Crate and barrel) feature three cubbies on the desk top itself, as well as smaller cubbies on the pullout. This should definitely be the answer to any storage challenges while keeping a clean look!

Materials:

• 1″ pocket hole screws
• 1-1/2” pocket hole screws
• 2” pocket hole screws
• 1-1/2” screws
• 1-1/4” brad nails
• 1 – piece of 3/8” Plexiglass at 12-1/4” x 47-1/4”
• One set of 18″ ball bearing drawer slides
• Wood filler
• Sandpaper
• Wood glue
• Finishing Supplies

Lumber:

• 1 – 2×2 at 8’
• 2 – 2×2 at 6’
• 1 – 2×3 at 8’
• 2 – 1×6 at 6’
• 1 – 1×3 at 4’
• 1 sheet of ½” plywood

Cut List:

• 4 – 2×2 at 27-1/2” – Legs
• 2 – 2×3 at 23” – Leg Frames
• 2 – 2×2 at 23”- Leg Frames
• 1 – 2×3 at 45” – Back Stretcher
• 1 – 2×2 at 45” – Back Stretcher
• 2 – 1×6 (ripped to 5” wide) at 5” x 26” – Sides
• 1 – 1×6 (ripped to 5” wide)at  5” x 46-1/2” – Back
• 1 – 2×2 at 46-1/2” – Shelf Support
• 1 – ½” plywood at 13” x 46-1/2” – Shelf
• 2 – ½” plywood at 2-1/2” x 10-3/4” – Dividers
• 1 – ½” plywood at 6-3/4” x 46-1/2” – Cubby Top
• 2 – 1×3 (ripped to 2” wide) at 19” – Drawer Frame Sides
• 2 – ½” plywood at 2-1/2” x 44-3/4” – Drawer Frame Front & Back
• 1 – ½” plywood at 2-1/2” x 42-1/2” – Drawer Center
• 2 – ½” plywood at 1-1/8” x 19” – Drawer Trim
• 1 – ½” plywood at 9-1/2” x 42-1/2” – Drawer Divider Bottom
• 2 – ½” plywood at 2” x 4-1/2” – Drawer Dividers
• 5 – ½” plywood at 2” x 9-1/2” – Drawer Dividers
• 5 – ½” plywood at 2” x 9” – Keyboard Tray Supports
• 1 – ½” plywood 9” x 42-1/2” – Keyboard Tray

 

Step One

Cut the pieces for the legs and side frames. Drill pocket holes in each end of the side frame pieces. Attach to the legs as shown using glue and 2” pocket hole screws.

Step Two

Cut the pieces for the stretchers. Drill pocket holes in each end. Secure to the legs using glue and pocket hole screws.

Step Three

Cut the pieces for the sides. It may be easier to drill the pocket holes in one long edge first, then cut the dado (groove for the glass) with a router. The dado will be ½” deep and 3/8” wide. Cut the angle in the pieces as shown. Keep in mind there will be a right side piece and a left side piece.

Attach to the side frames as shown using glue and 1-1/2” pocket hole screws. The outside face of the sides will be flush with the outside face of the side frames.

 

Step Four

Cut the piece for the back. Drill pocket holes in each end, as well as one long edge. Attach as shown using glue and pocket hole screws. The outside face will be flush with the outside face of the back stretchers.

Step Five

Cut the pieces for the shelf support. Attach to the sides as shown using glue and countersunk screws from the outside.

Step Six

Cut the piece for the shelf. Drill pocket holes along one long edge and the two shorter edges on the underside of the shelf. Secure the shelf to the sides and back using glue and 1″ pocket hole screws. Attach the front part of the shelf to the support using glue and 1-1/4” brad nails or countersunk 1-1/4″ screws. The shelf will rest on about half of the support. The remaining half of the support creates a lip for the plexiglass to rest on.

Step Seven

Cut the pieces for the dividers as shown. Attach the dividers to the shelf by using glue and brad nails from the underside into the dividers, or by drilling pocket holes into the bottom edge of the dividers and fastening with 1” pocket hole screws.

Step Eight

Cut the piece for the cubby top. Drill pocket holes in one long edge and each shorter edges of the cubby top. Attach to the sides and back using glue and 1″ pocket hole screws. Place a few brad nails through the top into the dividers, also.

Step Nine

Cut the pieces for the drawer frame. The sides of the frame will be ¾” material while the front and back will be ½” material. The sides are positioned 3/8” in from the edge of the front to accommodate the drawer slides, and are 1/2″ shorter than the front and back to allow for the trim. Drill pocket holes in each end of the side pieces, and assemble the drawer frame using glue and pocket hole screws.

Cut the piece for the drawer center. Drill pocket holes in each end. Attach to the sides using glue and pocket hole screws. The bottom of the center will be flush with the bottom of the frame.

Cut the pieces for the drawer trim. Secure to the top of the sides using glue and brad nails. These pieces will conceal the drawer slides so they are not visible from the top of the drawer.

Step Ten

Cut the piece for the divider bottom. Drill pocket holes in all four edges and attach to the back part of the drawer frame using glue and pocket hole screws. The bottom will be flush with the bottom of the frame.

Cut the pieces for the dividers. Drill pocket holes in each end of each piece, and assemble as shown using glue and pocket hole screws. Secure in the back part of the drawer frame as shown using glue and pocket hole screws.

Step Eleven

Cut the pieces for the keyboard supports. Drill pocket holes in each end, and secure using glue and pocket hole screws. The bottom of the supports will be flush with the bottom of the drawer frame. The center support is off center so that it can be fastened in place without the screws from the dividers interfering.

Cut the piece for the keyboard tray. The keyboard tray will rest on the supports and be flush with the front and trim. Secure to the supports with glue and brad nails.

Install the drawer slides at the sides under the trim, behind the front. Make any necessary adjustments.

Fill all holes and finish as desired. The plexiglass piece will slide into the dadoes and rest on the lip created by the shelf support.

Have a question about the free plans to build a Brey Desk? Leave a comment below!

Originally posted 2012-10-17 08:00:40.