I saw a custom built-in desk in a Denver coffee shop that used zero visible fasteners.

It was a solid walnut top with floating shelves, and I couldn't spot a single screw or bracket from any angle. The barista said the owner built it himself. How do you even start a project like that without leaving any hardware showing?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_patricia15d ago

Honestly that sounds like a total pain for no real benefit. Hidden fasteners just mean the whole thing is a nightmare to take apart or fix later. What if a shelf sags or the wood moves with the seasons? You'd have to basically destroy it to get inside. Sometimes seeing how something is put together is good, it means you can actually maintain it.

the_wren15d ago

Patricia has a point about hidden fasteners being a pain. I used pocket holes on a recent project and they held up fine, but I made sure the design allowed for some wood movement. It's a trade-off between looks and easy fixes.