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A game cabinet in the family room gets converted to a home office workstation. |
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Design notes. The main challenge of this project was building the carcase and its three drawers. Once I had that constructed to the right dimensions, I was able to remove the game cabinet doors, cut away the old facing, and slide the carcase into place. To the left of the drawer assembly is the other half of the game cabinet which I left in place.
Final steps were to build a ledge to place the computer CPU, and to panel the side of the carcase and the interior under-desk area to give it a finished look. I was able to do this without removing the countertop, which extends across one wall of the family room. I used a french cleat (see photo below) to mount the flat-panel monitor snug to the wall. The keyboard and mouse are wireless, and tuck away underneath to keep them out of sight when not in use. At that point, with a family-photo screensaver activated, the flat-panel monitor looks like another photo hanging on the wall. (Okay, a phosphorescent, plastic-framed photo with an on-off switch. But close enough!) SWMBO is much pleased. Materials. Hardware. | |
Build carcase and drawers.The carcase is built with 3/4 plywood. Prior to assembly I edge-banded the front edge of the sides, top and bottom with 1/2" oak. I cut the edging oversize, glued it on proud, and then routed it flush.
As the photo shows, to route it flush I clamped two sides together, with a spacer in between. This gives the router a stable surface to ride on when trimming the edging flush. | |
Carcase installation. I sized the carcase so it fits into the space below the counter.
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Prep the hardwood. With the carcase installed, I installed hardboard paneling on the exposed (right) side of the carcase, and throughout the open area under the counter. I found hardboard paneling with a grain pattern that approximated that of the drawer fronts.
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Drawer assembly. Drawers are made from 1/2" plywood, with 1/4" base. They're installed with full-extending drawer slides.Once those were installed I tacked trim around the carcase (using wood removed from game cabinet), and made drawer fronts also using re-used wood from the game cabinet. | |
Hang the monitor. This is a side view of the flat-panel monitor, which rests on a french cleat on the wall.
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Computer setup. I built up a base for the CPU and covered it with paneling. Cord clutter is minimized somewhat by: (1) using wireless keyboard and mouse; and (2) securing other cords to twist-ties stapled to the underside of the counter.
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