We needed a coffee table for the office’s front room, and it was up to me to design and make one, which I was more than happy to do! This table has all the components I love in a project: it involved material I never worked with before (a clear acrylic sheet), geometric shapes, and compartmentalized storage. I wanted it to have an organic, found-material vibe, accented with the sharpness of the acrylic and triangular legs. I stressed tight and sharp angles while letting the sander wear down the layers of plywood in some areas. I left measurement ticks and marks unerased – I wanted the process of the build to be a part of (and apparent in) the finished piece. This coffee table is one of my favorite things I’ve ever made. Let me show you how I did it.
Supplies:
-3/4″ hardwood plywood (I actually used a couple different types of material I had lying around the shop to get the look I wanted. I used poplar hardwood, plain ol’ sheathing plywood, some pine board, and 1/8″ ply for the bottom.)
-clear acrylic sheet (The piece I used was about 3/8″ thick, which was perfect.)
-paint/stain
-wood screws
-3/8″ dowel rod, pine
-wood glue
Tools:
-table saw
-miter saw
-sander
-Kreg pocket hole jig
-utility knife
-clamps
Step One: Since I was building this thing from an idea, I made some sketches with rough dimensions. Once I had a good idea of the direction I wanted to head, I just went for it. I ripped some 1.5″ pieces from a poplar plywood sheet and started forming the legs from those. Check out the diagram to see the dimension and angles I used. I pocket-hole screwed the pieces to each other. Once I had the pieces glued and screwed, I glued in 2″ pieces of 3/8″ dowel, which I trimmed off and sanded after the glue dried.
Step Two: After I had the legs built, it was time to create the braces. At this point, several components had to be taken into consideration. The braces for the legs were also going to serve as the ends of the box, which was going to house the compartments, and which the acyclic sheet would rest on top of (with a lip, so it would be flush with the outer wall). Check out the diagram if none of this makes sense. I basically designed the table around the dimension of the sheet I had to avoid cutting it, plus is was a good size and fit the space perfectly. So the brace was made from two pieces of ply. I traced the legs where I wanted them to fit and cut them so that the legs could notch in snugly.
Step Three: After the sides/leg support pieces are made, it was just a matter of building them into a simple box, nailing on the bottom plywood, and adding some pieces in to create the compartments. I decided to paint the box before adding the legs since I was planning to just put poly on the legs.
Step Four: After the paint dried, it was time to attach the legs. Since the legs and connecting wall were 3/4″ thick, I cut eight 1.25″ dowels. I measured to find the center and drilled two equidistant 3/8″ holes on either side. (I put tape on the bit at 1.25″ so I wouldn’t drill through.) Once I had all four holes drilled, I removed the legs and applied wood glue. Then I put the legs back on, tapped the dowels in, clamped everything together, and waited for the glue to dry. Once both legs were on and the glue was dry, I sanded down the dowels so they were flush. Then I flipped the table and put a couple coats of poly on, except for any surface that the acrylic would come into contact with. I wasn’t sure if it would stick.
The acrylic fit like a glove. One important, no-brainer note: I forgot to make the box square the first time and the acrylic, of course, didn’t fit. Fortunately, my brain kicked into gear before I got too far (only had to remove the bottom ply) and I employed the square. Easy fix, but could have been avoided. I built the table to fit the acrylic sheet so I didn’t have to cut it, but that stuff is pretty easy to trim down. You basically just score it with a razor blade or acrylic cutter against a straight edge, apply a bit of pressure, and it snaps nice and clean.
Using a 5/8″ paddle bit, I drilled a hole into a corner of the acrylic so it could be lifted easily.
I’m really proud of how this coffee table turned out—it’s one of my favorite projects I’ve made this year. Thanks for letting me share. -Josh
Credits // Author: Joshua Rhodes. Photography: Joshua Rhodes and Janae Hardy. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
44 Comments
I love your well-written Post,your article help me to get some ideas
Thanks for you Share This Amazing Post,
Click Here http://idealhomeinterior.com/
I love your well-written Post,your article help me to get some ideas
Thanks for you Share This Amazing Post,,
Love the table and would like to know how much it cost to build and where the piece of acrylic top came from. I have a coffee table I scored at a garage sale years ago that also had a clear (but glass) top with space below and at some point I chipped the corner of the glass. I’ve always wanted to replace the top but never knew where or how to go about doing it.
This is so cool! I love it!
This. Is. Amazing.
I can’t say that I’ll actually be able to follow your steps and make something as beautiful (I have a problem with straight lines), but dang… I sure wish I could.
So creative and fun! I love this idea. It will be a while before I have space to do projects like this.. so pinning for later!
Why did you say you made the table size fit your acrylic sheet to avoid cutting it? Is cutting an acrylic sheet difficult? How would someone do that?… For example if I wanted mine to be a different size to fit my table? Thanks!
Your work is amazing! I wish my apartment had a basement or some kind of space to store tools and start projects like yours.
It looks amazing! I love tables with clear tops!
Also, where did you get/how did you make the work smarter & harder sign? I love it!
Wow, by far my favourite table up here.
This is just awesome. I love these tables where you can put things into the top. I can imagine to try myself on this one, when I have more time and actually the space as well.
You guys should sell them to order. I would love to have one, but my bf is not going to build it himself.
Ohhh I think I like everything about this room!!! So colorful & vibrant! The table looks great too 🙂
Great project! Love that Handy sign – is that another Josh project?
Love this! http://meowemily.blogspot.com
love it!
xx nikki
www.dream-in-neon.com
This is super cool! Looks amazing, love how you have mixed the wood and paint finish!
www.sarahtheresadesign.com
Love this! So pretty! x
https://www.marjorievie.blogspot.com
Such a great project! Our little storage coffee table is from ikea….it looks a lot less chiq!
www.countrymouse.me
Beautiful yet impractical as daily storage. You should rethink to label it as a display table.
your tutorials are so well done! this one is a little bit beyond my technical scope, but it won’t stop me from dropping hints to handier family members. what a great project!
This is really cool Josh! Thanks for sharing such creative and inspiring projects.
What a beautiful coffee table! I also love the beautifully decorated space 🙂
Love the triangle legs..genius idea… the table is perfect!
xo
Hems
http://agoldentulip.blogspot.com/
The style of this room is definitely the ABM vibe yet totally different somehow. Like in a really fresh, amazing way. I love it!
Cool idea! This is a pretty hard core project, but I love the finished result.
Such a great table! Love your blog 🙂 x
http://abeautyromancee.blogspot.co.uk
http://abeautyromancee.blogspot.co.uk
Love the table, but can we talk about the couch?! Where is that from?
Nailed it. I want to turn this into an indoor sandbox. For adults.
Because yay.
The tones of your living room are so warm and friendly. I love the pops of color in the pillows and flowers too!
I love this! Do you mind sharing the source for that rad rug?
Wow. Beautiful. Love the obvious pride you take in your work (I realise that’s part and parcel of being a ‘woodworker’ (if that’s how you classify yourself, if you do classify yourself, that is) but it’s great to see you express it!! Twice!!!). I’m waiting to move house and when we have more space, I’ve made a commitment to myself that I’m going to build furniture myself (totally inspired by seeing you do it): it’s kind of a homage, as well, to my Grandad, who was a woodworker, always building things, pottering in his shed with his tools…he made the most amazing marquetry pieces [am wondering when marquetry is going to come back round in to fashion….]…every time I see a post of yours, it makes me think of him (another reason why I like your posts so much!)..
Josh, this is magnificent! Your projects have been blowing me away! And I love that you not only make them, but you design them too, and you are always pushing to try new things, please keep it coming!
Hannah.
Where would someone buy the acrylic sheet? I haven’t seen those at hardware stores.
turned out so gorgeous josh! love the wood reveal!
You have the kewel-est ideas!! Love it.
Wow, this is absolutely gorgeous, Josh! I love the natural wood look. It really reminds me mid-century modern, which totally goes with the decor of the room. Yet another awesome project there’s no way I can build, haha. Any chance I could buy this off you? 🙂
Cat
http://oddlylovely.com
Beautiful table! I enjoy your woodworking projects Josh but think that you should consider including actual plans/directions with measurements. Having a kind of sort of idea of how you built something but not the actual measures or a list of how much lumber you need for a project really isn’t very helpful.
You shoud start a brand 🙂
Love this! Looks awesome and I can’t get over how the sides are flush. Too good. Now I just need some skillz….
Thus is beautiful! ALSO Where is that beautiful rug from!?!?
This is wonderful!
How much did it cost to build? Also, is it difficult to remove the acrylic sheet in order to access the inside contents?
Josh–Usually I admire your projects, thinking to myself, “Oh, he is very impressive, I could never make something like that” and then that’s it. BUT after seeing this project, I think I am going to have to just dive in and try it. This looks amazing–it is beautiful and functional. Better go buy a drill!
Thank you for sharing!
Can I hire you to make this for me? Seriously.
Well done this is absolutely great! I like the way you painted it!