Plans

Free Woodworking Plans for Building a Martha Stewart Inspired 8 Drawer Flat File

01.23.11 By //
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This collection gets more exciting by the day! I know you will love this fabulous storage piece regardless of how genius you think Martha Stewart is, or not? Inspired by her Craft Space Collection sold by Home Decorator’s. This piece retails for over $400 once you include the special handling cost, and that isn’t even including the cost of shipping in general! You can build this similar piece for far less, and completely customize it however you like!

Estimated Cost

$200-$300

Tools
  • Tape Measure
  • Drill
  • Kreg Jig – optional but definitely recommended
  • Saw
Lumber
  • 2 sheet of 3/4″ Plywood or MDF
  • 2 sheet of 1/2″ Plywood
  • 4 – 1×2 at 10′ (2 at 39″ and 1 at 25″ per board when cutting)
  • 1 – 1×2 at 6′ (1 at 39″ and 1 at 25″ when cutting)
  • 2 – 1×4 at 8′
  • 2 – 2×2 at 8′
  • 4 – 1/4×3/4 Trim (Lattice Board) at 10′
  • 1 – 1/4×3/4 Trim at 3′
Materials
  • 24″ Full Extension Side Mount Drawer Slides with 1/2″ clearance – 8 pair
  • 12 Drawer Pulls
  • 1 1/4″ Pocket hole screws
  • 1″ Pocket hole screws
  • 3″ Wood Screws – if not using a pocket hole system
  • 2 1/2″ Wood screws – if not using a pocket hole system
  • 1″ Wood Screws
  • 2″ Finish nails
  • 3/4″ Finish nails
  • Wood Glue
  • Wood Filler
  • Sanding Supplies
  • Finishing Supplies
Cut List
  • 4 – 2×2 at 35 1/4″ Legs
  • 1 -3/4″ Stock at 39″x 30 3/4″ Back Panel
  • 2 -3/4″ Stock at 25″x30 3/4″ Side Panels
  • 1 -3/4″ Stock at 25″x39″ Bottom Panel Bottom Shelf
  • 1 -3/4″ Stock at 28″x42″ Top
  • 1 -3/4″ Stock at 25″x12 3/4″ Center Divider
  • 4 – 3/4″ Ply at 5 3/4″ x 19 3/8″ Large Drawer False Front
  • 5 – 1×2 at 25″ Rails
  • 9 – 1×2 at 39″ Rails
  • 4 – 1×4 at 38 3/4″ Shallow Drawer False Front
  • 8 – 1/2″ Ply at 3″ x 23″ Shallow Drawer Sides
  • 4 – 1/2″ Ply at 3″ x 36 1/2″” Shallow Drawer Back
  • 4 – 1/2″ Ply at 3″ x 37 1/2″ Shallow Drawer Front
  • 4 – 1/2″ Ply at 23″ x 36 1/2″ Shallow Drawer Bottoms
  • 8 – 1/2″ Ply at 5 1/2″ x 23″ Large Drawer Sides
  • 8 – 1/2″ Ply at 5 1/2″ x 17 7/8″” Large Drawer Front and Back
  • 4 – 1/2″ Ply at 23″ x 16 7/8″ Large Drawer Bottoms
  • 8 – 1/4×3/4″ Trim at 37 1/4″ Top and Bottom Shallow Drawer Trim
  • 8 – 1/4×3/4″ Trim at 3 1/2″ Shallow Drawer Side Trim
  • 8 – 1/4×3/4″ Trim at 17 7/8″ Top and Bottom Large Drawer Trim
  • 8 – 1/4×3/4″ Trim at 5 3/4″ Large Drawer Side Trim
Instructions

Before beginning to build, always check in on my site to make sure you have the most up to date set of plans, I occasionally update and change the plans to make the building process easier or to allow for less expensive purchasing of materials! Read through the entire set of instructions and all comments before beginning this project. If you print out or save plans, be sure to check in on my site to be sure you have the most up to date set of plans, as I occasionally update things for ease of building or buying. If you are new to building, read through the GETTING STARTED section and other articles found under the BUILD tab in the menu on my site, it has valuable information about how to get started, tools and techniques. If you are unfamiliar with the finishing process, visit my Finishing school for some tips and tricks for painting like a pro and for special finishing practices. Use glue to secure your joints and Consider Painting or Staining individual sections prior to assembling. This makes the paint application virtually flawless. Coat with a spray on Poly or Wipe on Poly to protect your finish and your piece and it will last for ages. Adhere to all safety standards and guidelines, and be sure you follow safety protocol throughout your build. If you are unsure about whether you are building safely, run a quick online search for the tool or technique you are using, or contact me via email or post to the forum before you move ahead. My contact info can be found in the menu of my site.

Step 1
Step 1

Create your Plywood or MDF Panels by fastening them to the 1×2’s (rails) sitting flush with the inside edge of the 1×2’s and using your pocket hole system set for 3/4″ stock or 2 1/2″ Screws, use glue. Then fasten your panels (attached to the rails) to the legs using 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and glue. If you aren’t using a pocket hole system, use your 3″ screws to fasten the panels to the legs, and be sure to countersink and use glue.

Step 2
Step 2

Flip your unit over and fasten the rails and panels in place using your pocket hole system set for 3/4″ stock and your 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and glue. If you aren’t using a pocket hole system, use your 2 1/2″ screws to fasten the panels to the rails and then use 3″ screws to fasten the rails (with panels) to the legs, and be sure to countersink.

Step 3
Step 3

Attach your Divider and the Rail above it. Use your pocket hole system set for 3/4″ stock and your 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and glue. If you aren’t using a pocket hole system, use your 2 1/2″ screws to fasten the panel to the rails and the back and bottom. Be sure to countersink and use glue.

Step 4

Attach your drawer slides. Doing this now, will make it much easier. You will have 16, so pull up a stool or chair and get comfy!

Step 5
Step 5

Build 4 Shallow Drawers as indicated below. The bottom is inset and the drawer is constructed of 1/2″ plywood with a 1×4 false front that sits flush with the bottom of the drawer and is trimmed out. The Drawer front overlaps the sides while the back is inset from the sides. Fasten the False Front to the drawer front using glue and 1″ screws. Use finish nails and glue to fasten the trim in place.

Step 6
Step 6

Build the Larger Bottom Drawers. Note**: The inside edge of each drawer False Front will overhang farther than the outside edge. You will not be fastening your False Front centered! On the left 2 drawers the overhang will be 1″ on the right side of the drawer false front, and on the right 2 drawers the overhang will be 1″ on the left side! Be sure to make the 2 drawers on the left, opposite of the 2 drawers on the right in terms of which side has the false front overhang. If you are looking at your unit, the portion of the drawers that covers the lower center divider is where the wider overhang will be. This is due to the center divider needing to be there for proper sliding mechanisms and yet still having to work around the typical 1/2″ clearance of the drawer slides. The bottom is inset and the drawer is constructed of 1/2″ plywood with a false front constructed from 3/4″ ply or mdf, that sits flush with the bottom of the drawer and is trimmed out. The Drawer front overlaps the sides while the back is inset from the sides. Fasten the False Front to the drawer front using glue and 1″ screws. Use finish nails and glue to fasten the trim in place.

Step 7
Step 7

Insert the drawers and Fasten the top in place. Use finish nails and glue.

Finishing Instructions

Fill any Screw, Nail or Pocket Holes, Sand and Finish as Desired. For Finishing Tips and Tricks visit my Finishing School

**Disclaimer: Some rights reserved. Private use only. Feel Free to link to any of my plans so long as you ONLY use 1 image and provide an ADEQUATE link back to the original source and appropriate plan! Plans from this page are not to be used for commercial purposes or republished without the express written consent of Rayan Turner, The Design Confidential I hope to provide accurate plans, however, I cannot guarantee each plan for accuracy. Not every plan that I post has been built and tested, so you are building at your own risk. It is recommended that you have a clear understanding of how the project works before beginning any project. Please contact me if you find an error or inaccuracy so that I might fix it.

2 comments on “Free Woodworking Plans for Building a Martha Stewart Inspired 8 Drawer Flat File”

  1. Nice plans. Gave me a starting point, however small for my requirements. I am looking for plans for an internal dimensions of 37 deep by 48 wide flat file drawers, no more then 2 inches deep. Any idea where I can find something like that or should I just wing it?

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