For the past few months I’ve been increasingly acquiring new clients….which is great, but requires more time sitting at the computer. Normally that wouldn’t be a problem (actually an answer to prayers) but without a desk it means working from the kitchen counter…
At our last house I built my first built-in desk after being inspired from a blog I follow that created a coffee table that resembled the tables at the Apple Store. At that point it was my biggest project so I decided against drawers or shelves and to keep it simple.
With an achy back and a room full of boxes that was just asking for a desk, I started dreaming up solutions. I had an idea what I wanted to build, but (like most projects) I had no idea what I was doing when I started 🙂
I called my cousin because a few months ago he showed me plans of a closet build out that he was working on. When he showed me the plan, he was telling me how a program allowed him to spec the entire project out before he lifted a hammer. He introduced me to the Google app called “Sketchup“. After 10 minutes of talking with him I was convinced this was the best thing to do to help cut down on wasted material and an excuse to learn something new. After watching a 7 minute video I was able to get started on my project!
I also utilized Cut List Pro to minimize the waste in materials. Cut List allows you to input all of your cuts (exported from Sketchup) and gives you a shopping list of materials you need. It also shows you the most efficient way to rip your boards from your material and if you know the cost of things, you can create an estimate for the project. They also have an ipad app.
Now that I had my desk designed, cut list in hand and in project mode….I needed to clean up the room so I would have somewhere to put the desk.
Next up, making the cuts, building the components, pulling back the carpet and piecing this thing together!