Ava’s Makeup Vanity Desk
My daughter Ava has been asking me to build a vanity for a long time now. I waited a few years until she was tall enough to enjoy a full size vanity that would be something she could use for her entire life. In addition to Ava's specific requests, my wife requested the piece also serve as a desk where she could do her homework. In reality, she's only 8 years old and doesn't actually wear makeup yet, but she does enjoy painting her face with play makeup. This vanity evokes a clean and modern styling but features classic hand-cut dovetail joinery and wooden drawer slides. The door in the hutch, by request, is lighted via a touch sensitive mirror though I've yet to come up with a good solution for routing the power cable. A simple mirror would substitute nicely. The video series and plans will walk you through every step of the build process so you can either build your own or adapt your newfound skills to another project entirely.
Dimensions: 42" Wide x 30" High (Desktop) 55" High (with Hutch), 18" Deep
Dimensions for the Desk: 30"H x 18" D x 42" W
Dimension with Hutch: 25" H x 6" D x 40" W
- 19 lessons
- 443 min
-
$79.00
Here's what you'll learn how to build:
What's included:
- Detailed cut list and plans including a PDF and a SketchUp file (Metric and Imperial).
- Hours of detailed video instruction showing every step of the build.
- All videos and plans are digital and will be available for download upon purchase.
What you'll learn:
- Grain selection for best appearance
- Making a continuous grain apron and drawer fronts
- Dowel Joinery using the DowelMax (though other dowel jigs will work too)
- Cutting tapered legs
- Hand-cut dovetails (through and half-blind)
- How to fix dovetail mistakes
- Fitting a wooden drawer
- Making a table top
- Making rabbets and grooves at the router table
- Mortising for hinges
- Door construction
- Repurposing a lighted mirror and installing in a door
- Making a mitered door frame
- Using a shooting board for miters
- Various assembly strategies
- Applying Osmo hardwax oil
What you'll need:
Materials & Hardware
- 4/4 Hardwood (Includes 20% overages) - 31 BF
- 8/4 Hardwood (Includes 20% overages) - 5 BF
- 3/8” Dowels - 2” Long
- 3/8” Dowels - 1 1/2” Long
- 1/4” dowels 1 1/2” Long
- 2 x 1 1/2” Butt Hinges
- Lighted Mirror (Optional)
- Izzy Skirt Washers
- 3/8” Rare Earth Magnets
- 1/4-20 threaded inserts
- 1 1/2” connector bolts
- Truss Head Break Away Screws
Tools
- Table saw, Dado Stack for Table Saw, Miter Saw, Bandsaw, Jointer, Planer, Drill, Router, Router Table
- DowelMax Jig (3/8” and 1/4”)
- Cost-Effective Alternative to DowelMax
- For Hand-Cut Dovetails - Dovetail Saw, Cutting Gauge, dovetail layout square, chisels, Half-blind dovetail kerfing tool (https://amzn.to/4eeJ16H), marking knife, coping saw or fret saw, dividers, chisels
- Dowel Center Pins (3/8” and 1/4”)
Bits
- 1/8” Roundover Bit
- Self-Centering Bit
- 3/8” Forster bit
- 5/8” Forstner bit
- Countersink Bit Set
- 3/8" Straight Router Bit
- 1/4" Undersized Plywood Bit
Nice to Have
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Be the first to leave a reviewAbout Your Instructor:
Marc is a podcaster, video producer, woodworking enthusiast, and author of Hybrid Woodworking and Essential Joinery. He has contributed articles and video content to FineWoodworking.com, Popular Woodworking Magazine, WOOD Magazine, and Woodcraft Magazine. He is also the host of The Wood Whisperer, an instructional woodworking video series that’s been going strong since 2006. He is also one of the hosts of the Wood Talk podcast. He has taught classes at the William Ng School, Marc Adams School, Weekend with Wood, Fine Woodworking Live, as well as at various Rockler and Woodcraft stores. He also speaks periodically at woodworking events like AWFS and IWF.