Richard Felt: The Lindsay Desk: A Simple Modern Desk with a Built-In Organizer

Hey there! It’s Jamison from Rogue Engineer again and this time I’ve designed a sweet modern desk for you. I’m calling it the Lindsay desk! It got that name because I was given the idea by one of my readers. I know when I have an inspirational block I can always turn to my readers for some great ideas. For these project plans be sure to follow the link below.

>> DIY Project Plans <<

Required Tools

Pocket Hole Jig
Drill
Miter Saw
Circular Saw
Jig Saw (Optional)
Brad Nailer
Tape Measure
Pencil
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection

Materials

Qty 1 – 3/4″ x 24″ x 48″
Qty 3 – 2 x 4 x 8′
Qty 1 – 1 x 10 x 4′
Qty 1 – 1 x 8 x 6′
Qty 1 – 1 x 6 x 6′
Qty 1 – 1 x 3 x 6′
2-1/2″ Kreg Pocket Hole Screws (Coarse)
1-1/4″ Kreg Pocket Hole Screws (Coarse)
1-1/4″ Brad Nails
2″ Wood Screws
3/4″ Iron-on Edge Banding

Cut List

How to Build a Modern Desk

After cutting the wood to the dimensions in the cut list. I then tapered the legs as defined in the plans.

Then I put the legs together by drilling pocket holes in the 8″ 2×4 and assembling the legs together using 2-1/2″ pocket screws.

Next, after drilling pocket holes the base gets assembled with 2-1/2″ pocket screws.

Then, after rounding the corners of the front and back boards, the desktop organizer gets glued and nailed together.

I was eager to see how it was going to look so I laid it all out and was happy with the results. Although, I then decided to round the front corners of the desktop before adding the edge banding.

I used the heat activated 3/4″ birch edge banding and was happy with how it turned out.

Then I had to finish each piece before final assembly. The desktop got summer oak wood stain, the legs got linen white chalked paint, and the organizer got a custom mix of serenity blue chalked paint and some other darker turquoise paint we had laying around (all products mentioned are by Rustoleum).

Then, I secured the base to the top with 2″ wood screws and started the 2-1/2″ pocket screws in the back.

Finally I set the organizer on and screwed it to the desktop using 1-1/4″ pocket screws and finished screwing the 2-1/2″ pocket screws up from the base into the desktop and organizer.