Building a Reception Desk for Local Art Gallery

Today, I’m excited to share my latest project—a custom reception desk for a local art gallery! This piece isn’t just functional; it’s designed to enhance the gallery’s aesthetic while keeping operations smooth. The desk features a hidden drawer for storing packing paper (to safely wrap sold artwork), display corners for featured pieces, and plenty of cabinets and cubbies to keep everything organized.

Step 1: Building the Cabinets

Since all the cabinets were the same height, I started by ripping the sides to width on the table saw and cutting them to length with a track saw. After referencing my cut list, I set up a stacked dado blade to cut all the shelf dados at once. Then, I adjusted the dado stack to cut rabbets for the backs, bottoms, and top braces.

Cabinet construction is straightforward, but ensuring everything stays square during assembly is crucial. I pre-sanded and pre-finished some parts that would be tricky to finish later. For assembly, I used wood glue and a few staples for reinforcement. Each cabinet was slightly customized—some were sized for a printer, while others accommodated shopping bags and other essentials.

To simplify installation, I built the toe kick separately. Using offcuts from the cabinets, I ripped them to width and constructed a base. Cleats stapled to the cabinet bottoms allowed them to clip into the toe kick, making alignment and on-site assembly much easier.

Step 2: Crafting the Legs

The legs taper from about 3.5 inches at the bottom to a few inches at the top. To achieve this, I laminated 8/4 material, planed it smooth, and carefully matched grain patterns to hide glue seams. After the glue dried, I cleaned up the joints and cut the legs to length.

A custom jig helped me cut the tapers on the bandsaw. Since the legs taper on multiple sides, I saved the first cutoff to use as a spacer for the remaining cuts.

Step 3: Decorative Panels & Frame Assembly

For the lower decorative panels, I book-matched 5/4 material, ensuring a seamless grain pattern. After glue-up, I ran them through the planer for a smooth finish.

The frame was built using 1/4 stock, with dados cut for the panels and a large rabbet for glass installation. I opted for two passes with a standard blade instead of a dado stack to avoid burning and ensure a cleaner cut.

Stopped dados on the legs were routed out, and I squared the ends with a chisel. The center dividers needed stopped rabbets for the glass gridwork, so I used a router with a plywood fence for stability.

Step 4: Hidden Drawer for Packing Paper

The hidden drawer was a fun challenge. I cut matching dados in two boards—one for the slide and one for the glide. The drawer front is secured with dowels for strength, and the extended back acts as a cantilever, preventing tipping when fully extended. A bit of paste wax ensured smooth operation.

Step 5: Glass Installation & Final Details

A local glass shop provided frosted glass panels, which I carefully measured and cut (though I did break one—always order extra!). Quarter-inch hardwood strips were pinned in place to hold the glass securely.

For the filing cabinet drawers, I used a Leigh dovetail jig for precision. Blum soft-close hardware was installed (ignoring the confusing instructions at first) with the help of a jig for accurate hole placement.

Step 6: The Desk Top & Final Assembly

The desk top was made from 1/4 stock with floating tenons for alignment. After glue-up, I sanded and finished it before installing LED strip lighting under the top and shelves.

Due to its size, I could only test-fit the desk in sections in my shop. The final piece now resides at the Hunter Wolfe Art Gallery in Old Colorado City—if you’re nearby, stop in and check it out!

Final Thoughts

This project was a great blend of functionality and craftsmanship. If you enjoyed this breakdown, consider subscribing to my channel for more builds, and a huge thanks to my Patreon supporters for making these projects possible!