Large Desk Cabinet – Madison Avenue Collection

This large desk cabinet is one of the three simple pieces included in the Madison Avenue Collection.  Both desk cabinets are 28 3/4″ tall, which is a good general height for a desk.  Use an identical pair of base cabinets or use one of each, large and small desk cabinets, topped with a countertop, to create a stand alone desk.  (Which is the configuration shown below.)

Build a Madison Avenue Large Desk Cabinet

Materials:

• 1×2 poplar (for painted cabinet) other hardwood (for stained cabinet)
• 3/4″ plywood (cabinet case and top)
• 1/2″ plywood (back panel)
• 1 1/4″ pocket screws (for 3/4″ plywood)
• 1″ pocket screws (for 1/2″ plywood)
• Pocket hole jig

Step 1: Build Carcass

• Use 3/4″ plywood for the cabinet case.
• Use 1 1/4″ pocket screws with all screws on the inside of the case.
• Refer to how to build a cabinet using pocket hole screws for more details and help with this method if you are new to it.

Step 2: Secure Cabinet Back

• 1/2″ plywood back panel added INSIDE the cabinet box
• Secure with 1″ pocket screws — holes can be on back or front (if you plan on the back of the cabinet being visible while in use)

Step 3:  Build and Attach Faceframe

• Use 1×2 hardwood for the faceframe
• Poplar (not truly a hardwood but good choice for painted furniture)
• Hardwood that matches your plywood for stained furniture
• Use 1 1/4″ pocket screws to build and attach.
• Refer to How to Build and attach a Faceframe tutorial for more details and help with this step if you need it.

Step 4:  Build Drawers

• Use width and depth dimensions below to build drawers using my How to build a Drawer tutorial
• If you want to make a hanging file drawer here is a tutorial showing you  how.

Step 5:  Install Drawers

• Install 1/2″ cleats behind face frame where you plan to install drawer glides
• Use my How to install Drawers with Glides tutorial for more help
• You can install your drawers flush with the front of the face frame if  you plan on adding overlay drawer fronts or behind the face frame for inset drawers.
• I now almost exclusively use Blum cabinet hardware which require different sizing and drawer prep than the 1/2″ side mount glides do.

Step 6:  Build and Install Drawer fronts

• If doing inset drawers, you’ll want to leave yourself about 1/8″ clearance on all sides
• If doing overlay, decide how far you want the drawer front to “lay over” your face frame.  1/2″ is common but you can do the full width of your face frame or anything in between.
• Refer to my tutorials for more details and help
• How to Build a Drawer Front
• How to Attach Drawer Fronts

Step 7:  Add trim

• Use trim to cover raw plywood edges if you plan to stain. If painting, you can easily fill and paint plywood edges.

I used two cabinets this size with two large drawers in My IL House craft room.  I did a recessed toekick rather than one applied to the front.  If you want to do that too you can refer to my Cabinet and Built-in Building Basics tutorial.

This desk shows one large desk cabinet and one small desk cabinet topped with a countertop (which I have many tutorials for) but you can use two identical cabinets if you prefer. That’s the great thing about building your own furniture – you can make it however you want! You might also want to check out the bookcase that fits on top of the large desk cabinet in the Madison Avenue Collection.