Do you know what a desk hutch is? Well, as far as I know it's a desk with a top on it. But this desk was too deep so I decided to cut it down.
Over the summer my friend Leann found these wonderful pieces set out to the garbage. Being the good friend that she is, she scooped them up for me and even stored them in her garage until I could get them from her.
Now it’s turned cold—too cold to paint, but not too cold to do a little demolition on a desk! Sure, I could paint it and sell it, but that’s no fun. I LOVE cutting up furniture and giving it a new look.
DIY Desk Hutch Modification
aka How to cut down a desk so it's not so deep
After some careful measuring and preparation, I got right to work with my circular saw. I LOVE this little baby. Big circular saws scare me, but this little baby is so easy to handle.
Cut Desk Hutch with Saw
I had to use my reciprocating saw to make my way around the bottom. The preparation consisted of removing any screws and hardware that would be coming in contact with the saw blades.
You can see that I’ve worked my way around (mostly) the entire desk. the only part that is currently holding it together is the top right—just barely hanging on until I take the reciprocating saw to it.
Now, it’s in two sections.
Reattach Original Feet
I removed the feet off of the back portion that I cut off and ready the desk for adding the feet back on. Then, I drilled a hole, added some Gorilla Wood Glue and screwed the feet back on.
Add Shelves
I ripped the original shelf in order to make 2 new shelves, using some scrap wood for cleats.
You can also see the new feet that I just added.
This desk was the perfect piece to saw in half because there was a shelf here and no drawers. I removed the one drawer over the knee hole and saved it for another project someday.
Here is the new desk with the backs replaced and the new shelves. The wooden piece in the back of the knee hole is a brace to make sure the desk is secure and stays squared.
In this picture you can see the difference in the depth of the desk—before and after.
I was thinking this piece might be great for a busy kitchen as a charging station or for an entry way as a console table. I added more shelving where the knee hole was.
A Happy Coincidence!
But then…. as the day was coming to a close I put this piece onto a furniture dolly to move it into the garage…..
….and I spotted the hutch top. I measured the “new” desk and realized that the hutch would actually fit perfectly on top.
This is how it is currently. Since I don’t need this piece, I wanted to ask what you think about how I should finish it off. I will be selling it, and I want to “purpose” it so that it will find a good home.
Do you have thoughts about how you would use it? I’m thinking maybe I should modify the hutch somehow?
Do you see it in a kitchen? How about one of those closet offices? Should I leave out the shelves in the knee hole, so it can be used as a desk for a laptop?
ohhh, and how about a color? I was thinking about the new Pantone color of the year, Marsala.
I can’t wait to hear your suggestions. Y’all never disappoint!
Please leave me thoughts below in a comment or on Facebook.
It's been completed! See how I finished this project off to be a kitchen hutch buffet! It offers so much storage, but the footprint is not very deep!
I'm so glad it's done!
gail
Teri
How wide is this and what state are you in. I need a custom made desk for my small RV, I am currently changing out the built-ins that were original to this RV. The desk has to fit around a wheel-well and some other things.(pics are on my blog) The space is 72" inches wide, but not very tall because of a window. If I had something similar to this, I would use it side by side and keep the knee-hole to use as a laptop desk.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
I'm in Louisville KY
Meari
A craft storage unit, of course!
janice stanton
i would make the bottom left a chothes hanger rod in it .and the right a pul out hamper. then in the top right i would take off the doors .on the left top take out the slots. make all the shelves the same all the way a cross.so you can up books and toys on them, i would use it in a kids room. i would paint it a light yellow green . i love to watch what you come up with next.i would like to do more of this my self. i love to reinvent old things to new . have a great night
janice
i would make the bottom left a clothes hanger rod in it ,and the right side a pull out hamper, then in the top right i would take off the doors,on the left top take out the slots, make all the shelves the same all the way acrossed.so you can put books and toy on then, use it in a kids room,paint it a light yellow green
Maggie
I like the idea of a beverage station or command center desk. I would make a few changes to the layout. I would decrease the width of the right side (when looking at the hutch) of the top portion so it matches the width of the bottom set of drawers. Then maybe add full length doors to reach the top of the desk but do them in glass, clear or frosted. Behind these doors, I would have only 2 shelves to make 3 larger height areas for tall items. If you make it into a beverage center add hooks to the top of the cubbies on the left for mugs to hang from and depending on space you could even decrease the height of the current cubbies slightly and add a second row of cubbies so it would hold 8 mugs. If you did the second row, I would think leaving the hooks off would be better. Then you can still add the shelves on the bottom left and either cover them with the same style of glass door as the top or with a fabric screen to cover. If you decide command station I would still do the same except leave the hooks out of the cubbies and leave the bottom left open so it could be used as a desk to sit at to pay bills or whatever. Then on the back recessed portion, under the cubbies I would add some sort of a dry erase/cork/ calendar board combo to really make it feel like a command center.
Mindi
I love this idea of cutting it in half!! I saw a desk the other day and thought it would be perfect if it was cut in half...and here you are doing just that! I really like the idea of a charging station or an entry table, If you "lightened" up the hutch it would work on the top, right now it seems a little too top heavy, not sure why...maybe because the drawers and cabinets are on the same side? There are lots of great idea in your comments too. I also liked Bliss's idea for a rustic top on the desk, you know I like the white and wood tones, lol! I think if you go for the color of the year it would be great on the desk alone, it might be too much if you did the hutch too. Can't wait to see how it turns out!
Melissa
I see it in my family room/playroom. I have a toddler and a pre teen so the shelves and drawers below would be great for keeping the baby's books and toys. The upper part would be great to keep my older girl's things that she doesn't want the baby getting into. Specific situation I know but it would be perfect that way for us!
Terri Hughes
I would use the cabinet/hutch in the kitchen to sit my coffee maker on and other odds and ends. Or it would be great as a desk. Either way I know it will be beautiful. Thanks!
Bridget
There are numerous ways to use this combination desk/hutch. I think it would be a great office desk, if so, I would remove the piece of wood that comes down, so that you had room all the way across the desk area for a laptop and writing room. Maybe possibly remove the bottom shelf underneath those two door cabinets. You could probably fit a printer in that space then.
Holly
I like what you've done with it. I would put the shelves in the knee hole and put a door on it (window if it fit) and then I'd put a new top on the base that was a little bit bigger than what's there (right over the top so the two pieces still go) but gives the top a little more room to sit on. I'd add cork to the back of the top so it could be used as a message center too. As far as color, I'd go with black with a little sanding to show the white. Can't wait to see what you do!
Bliss
Hmmm.... my first thought when I saw it was cut down in size was how great that would be for a little girls room where space was limited. Then with the hutch on top, well I still had the same thought! I like white, but then I would want a barn board desk top to rustic it up. After, you can drive it up for my grand daughters room.
kirby carespodi
What a great idea! The reddish-purple is a BRAVE choice--I wonder how many folks'll actually use it. Benjamin Moore's is a little more workable: Breath of Fresh Air. Or maybe it's because I like pastels.
Denae Spiering
I love the new bottom, but not the original top, the cabinet doors look cheap, perhaps take out everything on the top and put in shelves and old windows for doors, like a China cabinet up top.
megan
I would do something with the hutch to make it align with the bottom. It looks kind of like an after thought.
Kris Holsti
I would love to see this as a beverage station in the kitchen or dining area.. Cabinets for the "good stuff" 😉 plenty of space for coffee maker, cups, teas... anxious to see the Final Re-purpose! Love it !
Catherine
I second the beverage station. My coffee maker is too big to fit under the cabinets on the counter, so it has its own place in the kitchen and is next to the command station. I also have a drawer that is dedicated to odds and ends, like measuring cups and light tools. Imagine if all of those things - coffee accessories, office supplies, dishtowels, and odds and ends, could be organized in a single place. LOVE this!
Catherine
Just one more thing that I would add. If this were me, I'd have a hole in the back. Since my coffee station doubles as a command station, I also charge phones and devices there. The right side of the desk would be plenty of space to lay down each device. The left side would also need a hole for the coffee maker wire. The hutch is a great way to hide wires.