Undercover mission: Side table with laptop compartment

A classic design updated for the age of the laptop

By Rick Campbell

Photo by Felix Wedgwood

While legendary Arts and Crafts furnituremakers would see their works reflected in this end table, it does have a few features that would leave them scratching their heads. The mortise-and-tenon joinery connecting beautiful quartersawn white oak speaks to the design elements used by craftsmen such as Gustav Stickley, Charles Limbert and the Greene brothers. These furnituremakers also would have appreciated the project’s fumed finish. But, they might be a little perplexed by the hinged lid at the front, covering a hidden compartment. This nook is vented so that a laptop can keep cool, and has holes through the back for power cords and cables. Although Stickley, Limbert and the Greenes never saw a microchip, I’m certain that the pioneers of the Mission furniture style would have approved of these practical innovations.

Skill
5

Instructions

Part Material Size (T x W x L*) Qty.

Legs white oak 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" x 23" 4
Upper side rails white oak 3/4" x 6 1/2" x 24 1/2" 2
Upper rear rail white oak 3/4" x 6 1/2" x 18 1/4" 1
Upper front rail white oak 3/4" x 4" x 18 1/4" 1
False drawer front white oak 3/4" x 6 1/2" x 17 1/8" 1
Lower side rails white oak 3/4" x 2 1/2" x 24 1/2" 2
Lower front/rear rails white oak 3/4" x 2 1/2" x 18 1/4" 2
Short narrow slats white oak 1/2" x 3/4" x 12 1/2" 8
Long narrow slats white oak 1/2" x 3/4" x 13 3/4" 8
Wide slats white oak 1/2" x 2 3/4" x 15" 4
Compartment back white oak 3/4" x 4" x 18 3/4" 1
Tabletop gussets white oak 3/4" x 2" x 18 3/4" 2
Front/rear compartment cleats white oak 3/4" x 1/2" x 18 3/4" 2
Side compartment cleats white oak 3/4" x 1/2" x 13 3/4" 2
Compartment bottom white oak 3/4" x 14 3/4" x 18 3/4" 1
Front/rear compartment trim white oak 1/2" x 1/2" x 17 3/4" 2
Side compartment trim white oak 1/2" x 1/2" x 14 3/4" 2
Magazine rack support cleats white oak 3/4" x 1 3/4" x 17 1/4" 2
Magazine rack slats white oak 3/4" x 1 1/2" x 25" 8
Tabletop slats white oak 3/4" x 2" x 18 1/2" 14
Rear breadboard ends white oak 3/4" x 2 1/4" x 12" 2
Front breadboard ends white oak 3/4" x 2 1/4" x 16" 2
Vent grill
(Lee Valley #00U0881 )
1
Mission drawer pull
(Lee Valley #01G6270)
1
Full-wrap hinges
(Lee Valley #01H3050 )
2
Plated restraint chain 24"-length 1



* Length indicates grain direction

Recommended Tools

jointer

planer

tablesaw

router table

biscuit joiner

jigsaw

drill

mortiser

hand plane

spring clamps

Plans

No comments

To leave a comment, please log in

Don't have an user account? Register for free

Poll

How do you heat your home?

Loading ... Loading ...

Recommendations