This was the result of my first real furniture-making project in 2010. It is a sturdy coffee table that has stood up to heavy usage in our family room and has been very practical, with a shelf below for newspapers, kids books, toys, and the occasional shoe.

The table top is made of edge-glued cherry planks, with the most appealing flat-sawn pieces in the center. The apron rails are maple, and the legs are mahogany. The legs bear the weight of the table tops through mortise-like slots on the legs, into which the apron rails fit like tenons. Each corner on the top and bottom has a corner brace attached with pocket screws. I made flexble washers using clear vinyl tubing to accommodate wood movement. It appears to have worked, as I have not had problems with wood movement so far.

The table is finished with brush-on polyurethane rubbed out with 0000 steel wool, and then given a final rubbing with a Bounty paper towel. The durability of the poly has proved essential for this table.

Launch Gallery