Build a Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk

An Easy to Build Desk with Lots of Storage

This chunky-style desk is perfect… not overly large but with plenty of storage! The plans to build a Joss & Main inspired Carole desk is another quick and easy build. Finished with a dark stain (or whatever color you’d like), it should fit anywhere!

Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk

Materials:

  • 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws
  • 2″ pocket hole screws
  • 1-1/4″ screws
  • 2-1/2″ screws
  • 1-1/4″ brad nails
  • Edge banding for plywood
  • 2 – sets of 20″ drawer slides
  • 4 drawer pulls
  • Finishing supplies

Lumber:

  • 2 – 2×2 at 6′
  • 4 – 1×2 at 8′
  • 1 – 2×6 at 6′
  • One sheet of 3/4″ plywood

Cut List:

  • 4 – 2×2 at 29-1/4″ – Legs
  • 6 – 1×2 at 21″ – Side Frames
  • 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 2-3/4″ x 21″ – Side Panels
  • 5 – 1×2 at 39″ – Back Frame, Front & Back Stretchers
  • 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 2-3/4″ x 39″ – Back Panel
  • 2 – 1×2 at 21″ – Drawer Supports
  • 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 2-3/4″ x 21″ – Center Divider
  • 1 – 3/4″plywood at 24″ x 42″ – Top
  • 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 17-3/8″ x 19-1/4″ – Drawer Bottoms
  • 4 – 3/4″ plywood at 2-1/2″ x 19-1/4″ – Drawer Sides
  • 4 – 3/4″ plywood at 2-1/2″ x 18-7/8″ – Drawer Front & Back
  • 2 – 2×6 at 7-1/4″ – Hutch Sides
  • 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 7-1/4″ x 38″ – Hutch Back
  • 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 4-3/4″ x 38″ – Hutch Shelf
  • 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 3-1/4″ x 4-3/4″ – Hutch Dividers
  • 1- 2×6 at 41″ – Hutch Top
  • 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 3-1/4″ x 8-1/4″ – Hutch Drawer Bottoms
  • 4 – 3/4″ plywood at 3″ x 3-1/4″ – Hutch Drawer Sides
  • 4 – 3/4″ plywood at 3″ x 9-3/4″ – Hutch Drawer Front & Back

 

Notes About the Project:

Edge banding will be applied to the exposed edges of the plywood before assembly!

Step One

Cut the pieces for the side frames. Drill pocket holes in the pieces as shown. Attach the frame pieces to the panels using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws with the lower frame piece on its side (orient the pocket holes at each end so they face down). The front face of the panel will be flush with the front edges of the frame pieces. Attach to the legs as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. The stretcher will be centered on the legs.
Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Desk Side Panels & Frames

Step Two

Cut the pieces for the back panel and stretcher, and drill pocket holes as shown. Attach to the legs in the same manner as the side panels using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. The stretcher will be centered on the legs.
Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Desk Back Panel & Stretcher

Step Three

Cut the pieces for the front stretchers and drill pocket holes in each end. Position as shown and attach using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.
Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Desk Front Stretchers

Step Four

Cut the pieces for the drawer supports and the divider. Drill pocket holes in the divider and secure as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Attach the drawer supports using glue and countersunk 1-1/4″ screws.
Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Desk Supports & Divider

Step Five

Cut the piece for the top. Secure to the frame using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails through the top into the side frames, back frame, front stretcher, and divider.
Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Desk Top

Step Six

Cut the pieces for the desk drawers. Drill pocket holes in each end of the side pieces as well as all four edges of the bottom. Assemble as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. The fronts will overlap the drawer box by 3/8″ on each side. Install the drawer slides according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This easy tutorial on installing drawer slides will be a huge help! Make any necessary adjustments.

Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Desk Drawers BS

Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Desk Drawers FB

Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Desk Drawers

Step Seven

Cut the pieces for the hutch sides. Drill pocket holes in one of the shorter edges of each piece. The pieces will be positioned so they are flush with the back but 1/2″ in from the side edges. Attach to the desk top using glue and 2″ pocket hole screws.

Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Hutch Sides

Step Eight

Cut the piece for the hutch back and drill pocket holes as shown. Secure using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Hutch Back

Step Nine

Cut the piece for the shelf and drill pocket holes in each end as well as one long edge. Position as shown, then secure using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Hutch Shelf

Step Ten

Cut the pieces for the dividers and drill pocket holes in one edge only as shown. Secure using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Hutch Dividers

Step Eleven

Cut the piece for the top. Secure using glue and countersunk 2-1/2″ screws through the top into the back, sides, and dividers.

Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Hutch Top

Step Twelve

Cut the pieces for the drawers. Assemble as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails.

Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Drawers BS

Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Drawers FB

Joss & Main Inspired Carole Desk_Drawers

Finish as desired!

Have questions about the free plans to build a Joss & Main inspired Carole Desk? Leave a comment below!

5 Comments

  • Michael Betterman says:

    Hello, I like the plans of the desk and have started to build 2 of them for my kids. Question on the leg dimensions, they say 2″ x 2″ but the overall don’t add up with that leg width. It looks like they should be 1 1/2″‘s wide. If that is the case then the width of the back frame and side frame that is turned sideways should be 1 1/2″s also. Any help would be welcome. Thanks
    Michael

    • CherTexter says:

      Hi, Michael! That is awesome that you are building the desks for your kids – they will love them! In the lumber world, lumber is sized by the actual cut dimensions and after planing, drying, etc. the pieces sort of “shrink” in size. For example, a 2×2 actually measures 1-1/2″ x 1-1/2″ and a 1×10 will actually measure 3/4″ x 9-1/4″. Does that make sense? Here is a link to a chart that lists all of the actual sizes of dimensional lumber: http://www.howelumber.com/faq_dimensional_lumber.php. The plan won’t have to be altered in any way because it is actually drawn to accommodate a 1-1/2″ square 2×2. Hope this helps, if not please reach out again! Good luck with the projects!

  • Matthew Welford says:

    I have 1 fix on this build. The center divider needs to be a little longer.

  • […] free building plan.Build this desk with great storage from these free woodworking plans. Finished piece measures 43 inches long and 24 […]

  • […] Build this desk with great storage from these free woodworking plans. Finished piece measures 43 inches long and 24 inches deep. […]

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