End tables featuring two drawers and a large open top shelf. Open base design. Square styling.
Preparation
1/2 – sheet of 3/4″ hardwood plywood (or MDF for paint grade) measuring 48″ x 48″ or larger
4 – 2×2 @ 8 feet long
2 – 1×6 @ 8 feet long
1 – 1×2 @ 8 feet long
Hardware
2 1/2″ screws, 1 1/4″ screws, or 2 5/8″ trim screws
wood glue, wood filler and finishing supplies
2 sets of 16″ Drawer Slides
2 – 3/4″ plywood or MDF @ 17″ x 17″ (Shelf and Top)
3 – 3/4″ plywood or MDF @ 17″ x 12 1/4″ (Sides)
2 – 3/4″ plywood or MDF @ 17″ x 14 1/2″ (Drawer Bottoms – note different than dimensions shown in plan)
4 – 2×2 @ 26″ (Legs)
12 – 2×2 @ 17″
5 – 1×2 @ 17″ (Drawer Slide Spacers and Drawer Trim)
4 – 1×6 @ 17″ (Drawer Sides)
2 – 1×6 @ 16″ (Drawer Backs – note different than shown in plans)
2 – 1×6 @ 16 3/4″ (Drawer Fronts)
Instructions
Step 1
Cut Plywood
I was just at The Home Depot the other day, and spotted these gorgeous 4×4 posts (been lusting after Crate and Barrel’s Big Sur Table for the longest time). An associate gladly cut the 4×4 to size for me, and the cuts were just perfect and only took a minute. So if your local store has a good staff, perhaps bring this cutting diagram in. Always remember that the saw blade takes up approximately 1/4″ and you cannot just mark out all the cuts and go – your pieces will not be accurately cut. My advice is to cut two strips that are 17″ wide, and then cut the strips into the 17″, 12 1/4″ and 14 1/4″ pieces. And then from the scrap cut your final back piece.
Step 2
Sides
Start building the sides by attaching 2x2s to the top and bottom. You will need to build 2 of these – well, actually, go ahead and build three of these.
Step 3
Side Drawer Slides
Okay, now only build two of these from the three that you build in step 2. Make sure that there are no screws sticking out here these are the drawer slide spacers.
Step 4
Legs
From the two pieces with the drawer slides, add legs as shown above.
Step 5
Step 6
Shelf/Top
Add the top and shelf as shown above.
Step 7
Back and Shelf Trim
Okay, here’s where you add that third piece you built in step 2 – to the back. Also trim out the shelves and the bottom with 2x2s as shown above.
Step 8
Drawer Trim
A little piece of trim for between the drawers . . .
Step 9
Drawers
You will need to build two drawers. It’s basically 1x6s surrounding the bottom plywood. You should always build your drawers to fit the opening in the end table, not to shown dimensions. Check the clearance on your drawer slides (normally 1/2") and adjust the door measurements to fit your endtable.
Step 10
Drawer Slides
The blue boards in the diagram above are for attaching the drawer slides to the drawers. This drawer is designed for a standard slide requiring 1/2″ clearance on each side of the drawer. Adjust so that there is an even fit around the drawers and the drawers slide smoot
Comments
Ana White (not verified)
Mon, 02/07/2011 - 17:36
Dear Aaron, I am so sorry for
Dear Aaron, I am so sorry for your trouble. I have fixed the error. This error resulted in building a very similar piece (the cabin collection) that did not use a drawer slide, thus would need an extra 1/8" gap. I take full responsibility for the error, and I am glad that you found the solution, shims on the drawers slides. Thank you for taking your time to let us all know. Ana
TheDabblingCrafter (not verified)
Wed, 02/09/2011 - 18:09
Thank you so much for the
Thank you so much for the plans Ana! I was just thinking I need a new end table (mine is currently a tv tray) and I wanted one with a drawer for all my computer cords since both my husband and I use our laptops in the living room. I think I may even have the materials for it....perhaps a weekend project.
I'm thinking I may somehow modify it to turn one of the drawers into a charging station for our phones and such.
elei (not verified)
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 22:49
Ana! Thank you for this!
Ana! Thank you for this! It's pretty amazing that though you had a tiny error on this one, you have taken your time to post for FREE, countless other steps for beautiful furniture. I'm so glad that you are willing to post even though you don't have a chance to build everything. I'm sure we'd have a lot less plans up here if that were the case. It's a shame that people can have such a rude tone after all that you've done right. Thank you for all your time and effort. Obviously, you have helped SO MANY PEOPLE for FREE!!!
tallmich (not verified)
Tue, 02/15/2011 - 18:20
I can't wait to make this!
I can't wait to make this! Two of these will be the PERFECT night stands. I appreciate you Ana!
Jackie Callahan (not verified)
Mon, 08/29/2011 - 09:00
Confusion about drawer sizes
Hi, Ana. I hope you or someone else can reply to this. I read through all the posts for this project and saw the post about the error in the sizes of the drawer pieces. And I also saw that the sizes had been corrected in the plan. I took the cut list and the diagram to my wood place and they ended up cutting it according to the diagram and not the cut list - so they cut it at 14 1/4 not 14 1/2 inches. I wasn't knowledgable enough in the moment to be able to tell them which was correct. I came home and re-read the posts and think that now i have wood in the wrong size. But I also notice that no one else who built the night stand seemed to have an issue. So my question is...now that I have pieces that are 14 1/4 and not 14 1/2, do I have a problem and need to go buy more wood? Or can I buy larger drawer slides or something to address the problem and avoid having to use shims to address the gap?
Medickep
Tue, 06/18/2013 - 06:41
How can it cost..,,,
I was getting ready to build two of these and heard someone mention approx. 80$. I went to price out wood at my local orange box and was getting close to 90-100 dollars for one!
I'm not sure if it was a typo or if I need help in froogle shopping!
Thanks for any useful tips!!
In reply to How can it cost..,,, by Medickep
Jake
Tue, 06/18/2013 - 08:10
Cost of Materials is Variable
You could easily build this for about $80 considering the shopping list. The expense will be in the kind of hardwood plywood you purchase. If you plan to paint then go with the cabinet grade with one smooth side and you will save tons of money and still have a really nice result. Even though they are more expensive go with the project 2x2s rather than what you find in the standard wood piles or fencing. Much nicer and much stronger. The real effort should be in preparation before painting or staining and in the painting or staining process. That will easily add another $25 to the process which is never brought up in the building plans.
Medickep
Tue, 06/18/2013 - 14:25
Thanks for your thoughts!
Well, I was able to save some money when I found 3/4" plywood in the scrap area for a total 3.03$
I did buy the nicer cedar 2x2's as they felt stronger to me. I think I'll check our local construction recycle store as the orange box want 19 dollars for one 2x6x8 in hemlock.
I'm sure I can build one for 80, but not two!
solanakv
Thu, 10/17/2013 - 14:49
Cut List VS Cut Diagram for Plywood
I have recently caught the building bug :-) I am in the process of building this table as a nightstand. When cutting my plywood I looked at the plywood cut diagram and not the cut list. I realized after reading an older post that the plans had been updated because there was an error in the width of the drawer bottoms (listed at 14 1/4" in diagram). As a result I cut the drawer bottoms to 14 1/4" rather than the corrected version which is showing in the cut list at 14 1/2". Is there anyway that I can still use the 14 1/4" drawer bottoms or should I get more plywood and re-cut? Suggestions? Thank you.
Medickep
Thu, 10/17/2013 - 15:19
This is why....
This is why I'm not a big fan of pre cutting everything ahead of time! Not a good idea with tiling or wood working!
If it were me I would stick with what you have and get some 1/8th plywood and stick it behind the hardware for the drawers!
Unless you're a professional, speed is irrelevant!!