A beautiful craft table is simply a tabletop supported by bookshelves. Special thanks to Cherish for sharing her beautiful inspiring photos with us.
And I'm so sad that the sun went down before I could snap some photos of some of my projects from this weekend. You must stop back by and check them out later this week - I know you are going to love them as much as I do! In the meantime, I wanted to finish plans for the Mod Modular Office Collection Project Desk.

Preparation
1 – Sheet of 3/4″ Plywood or MDF (Can use 1/2 sheet, tabletop will be 6″ narrower)
3- 8′ 1×12 (Tops and Small Shelves/Two Large Shelves and One Bottom)
1 – 12′ 1×12 (Ends, Dividers)
1 – 12′ 1×10 (Small Bookshelf Sides)
7 – 8′ 1×2
2 – 8′ 2×2
2″ Finish Nails
2″ Screws or 1 1/4″ Pocket Hole Screws
Wood Glue
Finishing Supplies
Cut List for Project Table (Two Bookshelf Bases and One Top)
2 – 1×12 @ 37 1/4″ (Bookshelf Tops)
2 – 1×12 @ 33 1/2″ (Bookshelf Ends)
2 – 1×12 @ 32″ (Bookshelf Divider)
2 – 1×12 @ 36 1/2″ (Bookshelf Bottom)
4 – 1×12 @ 27″ (Large Shelves)
4 – 1×10 @ 34 1/4″ (Small Bookshelf Sides)
4 – 1×12 @ 8 3/4″ (Small Shelves)
8 – 1×2 @ 27 3/4″ (Large Shelf Side Trim)
8 – 1×2 @ 31 1/4″ (End Trim)
4 – 1×2 @ 13″ (Small Shelf Top and Bottom Trim)
4 – 2×2 @ 36 1/2″ (Floating Base Sides)
4 – 2×2 @ 8 1/2″ (Floating Base Ends)
1 – 3/4″ Plywood or MDF @ 38″ x 54″ (Top) (For 1/2 sheet of plywood, top is 38″ x 48″)
4 – 2×2 @ 10″ (Floating Base Ends)
4 – 1×2 @ 36 1/2″ (Floating Base Sides)
Instructions
Step 1
Begin by measuring and cutting all your boards. Mark out all joints before any assembly. If you are using pocket holes, drill all pocket holes. If you are using screws, drill pilot holes. Attach the pieces with 2″ screws and glue or 1 1/4″ pocket holes screws and glue. Keep outside edges flush. You can optionally attach the shelves (orange) with shelf pins to create adjustable shelves
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Attach the large shelf trim to the sides, keeping top edges flush, with 2″ finish nails and glue. If you are using a Kreg Jig™, build a face frame separately, then attach with 2″ finish nails and glue.
Comments
Liz (not verified)
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 10:30
I love this project and need
I love this project and need a table like this.
I was wondering if there's a way to have a see-thru top?
so I could shine a light up to make tracing patterns easier.
any suggestions?
In reply to I love this project and need by Liz (not verified)
dan-k
Fri, 04/08/2011 - 16:24
tracing table idea
I have three options for ya:
Buy a large smooth glass cutting board and jigsaw out a hole in the desktop to allow the cutting board to sit flush with the top. You'll have to build a ledges around the inside of the hole to support the cutting board at the right height.
A local glass company can sell you piece of 1/4" glass to cover the whole desktop. They will cut it to fit and polish the edges. You could then have a movable piece of the desktop that would allow you to shine a light up from underneath. Think trapdoor on hinges.
Order a small piece of 1/4" tempered glass to use to build a stand alone lightbox.
Yes you could use plexiglass, but it will get scratched and cloudy over time.
JoyofBaking
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 07:34
The New Ana-White.com is AMAZING
I LOVE THE NEW SITE AND I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU TOOK CHARGE AND DID THIS ALL YOURSELF!!!
Seriously, I love this. I finally joined and am now putting together my to-do list. Thank you SO MUCH for providing this wonderful resource. It means so much.
Guest (not verified)
Fri, 04/08/2011 - 15:01
Shelving space
Does anyone know if the fabric drawers that you see at Target, etc. will fit on these shelves?
Guest (not verified)
Mon, 06/06/2011 - 06:05
My New Craft Table!!
Just went to Home Depot yesterday, bought all the materials needed & cut all the boards, can't wait to put it together today! Will post pictures of it later! :) Though we may be making a few modifications on a table I had seen that looks just like it, but with a few different ideas!
CourtsRae (not verified)
Thu, 08/02/2012 - 17:41
Home Depot loves us!!
I see your post was from a year ago. We just went to Home Depot today and bought all the supplies!! Can't wait to get this started. Anyone have ideas of where to get a cute chair like those shown?
townsean
Sun, 08/28/2011 - 17:51
Great craft table plan
I think this is going to be the first project I try to build. I'm super excited, yet very nervous @_@
Guest (not verified)
Wed, 12/21/2011 - 13:56
Craft table
Can you people give me an idea of the cost of all materials to get table finished? my craft room looks like a mess and I think this table and some shelf are going to be the solution to my headaches :)
thx
Margaret Kubiszyn (not verified)
Wed, 01/25/2012 - 16:43
You can take the materials
You can take the materials list and go to lowes.com and price it out pretty quickly!
sewserious
Wed, 01/25/2012 - 13:41
Craft Table -- could I easily make it 30" wide?
Would this be easy to modify to make it 30" wide instead of 38"? I'll be using it for a cutting table, and don't really need it to be 38".