DIY Network

Rocked-Out Storage and Workspace Learn how to create a desk and seating from an old door. From "From Junky to Funky" episode DFJF-208

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Door-top Desk

A spacious desk is made out of old wood doors that have been cut and attached to discarded kitchen cabinets.

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Materials:

2 kitchen cabinets
1 narrow hollow door
scrap lumber
luan
shelf brackets
1/2" and 3/4" MDF
fabric
spray adhesive
satin ribbon
wood screws
carriage bolts
stain polyurethane

1. Measure the top and bottoms of the cabinets, and then cut four slabs of 1/2 inch MDF. This will allow the cabinet doors to open freely.

2. Use the width measurement of the cabinet, and then cut two slabs of 3/4 inch MDF twice as tall as the cabinets to act as back support for the cabinet and a backer board to mount the shelves.

3. Cut four shelves the width of the fronts of the backer boards.

4. Stain or paint the shelves and the door. If staining, apply polyurethane.

5. Use one inch wood screws to attach the 4-1/2 inch MDF pieces to the tops and bottoms of the cabinets.

6. Take the doors off the cabinets to attach the fabric.

Note: For this project, a thin sheer fabric was used.

7. Measure enough fabric to cover both sides of the doors and all of the edges. Give yourself a lot of overage.

8. Cut the fabric.

	Figure D
	Figure E

9. Lay the door top-side up on a drop cloth, and then apply spray adhesive (figure D). Let it set about 10 seconds and move up to the work surface where the fabric is already waiting—good side down.

10. Start with the edge of the door about 1/2 inch from the edge of the fabric, and then lay down from one side to another.

11. Flip the door up and see if any adjusting is necessary.

12. Cover all of the areas of the work table and fabric that you don't want glued. Spray the edge and back of the door. Uncover the fabric and continue to pull the fabric around, and then smooth down (figure E).

13. Trim around the remaining edges, pull back, cover and spray adhesive. Tip: Fold over the fabric like you're wrapping a package. Repeat the second door.

14. Repeat with the backer boards, only prop the board up to spray and bring the fabric to the board. It's only necessary to cover the half that will show. Try using tape on the back to finish because it will not be seen. Consider treating the four sides of the cabinets this way.

15. Another option is to cut four pieces of stained luan and appliqué them on with carriage bolts to help tie them in the wood and bring in more silver accents. Cover the back edge where the backer board meets the cabinet, and provide places to screw into the hollow door from the sides and not just the back.

Note: If the sides aren't luan, there will not be a strudy place to further attach the hollow door to the two cabinets except through the MDF in the back. The desktop might be a little floppy. If the desk is semi-permanent, some polyurethane glue could be used to tack down the door, but damage will result to the bottom of the door if it needs to be taken apart again.

16. Finish off the door and backer board edges using a 3/4 inch ribbon, spray adhesive and stapling the start and finished ends on the underside of the doors.

17. This will provide a clean edge to hide the fabric. Staple it tightly to ensure the ribbon will remain attached to the doors.

18. Attach the two backer boards to the back of the cabinets using wood screws.

19. Space out the two cabinets to the width of the hollow door, and then place on top.

20. Screw through the backer boards and side luan panels into the hollow door edge.

21. Attach the shelf brackets to the backer boards.

22. Attach the shelves to the brackets.

Project Expense:

Door, cabinets: $34
Fabric: $12
MDF, materials: $18

Total: $64

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