Balin Console Table

Build the four legs from boards A and B, keeping the assemblies identical.

Build the drawer box from boards C and D, leaving a 3/4" lip on the bottom edge of the C sides — board D sits up 3/4" from the bottom of C, not flush with it.

Fasten the drawer box to the legs, nailing through the fronts and sides of the legs into the drawer box. Keep the top edges flush.

Fasten board E, keeping top edges flush, using 1-1/4" nails into the front and back leg pieces.

Fasten boards F, keeping all top edges flush. On the top apron, nail through the back apron into the front apron with 1-1/4" nails; use 2" nails to fasten the lower trim piece to the drawer box.

Add the plywood back with 1-1/4" nails and glue, nailing all the way around. Check the whole assembly for square with a diagonal tape measurement before nailing — this back panel is what locks the case square permanently.

Add the center drawer guides (H) with 1-1/4" nails, measuring off the back to keep them in square — don't guess, or the drawers won't run true. Space the guides exactly 12" apart. The guides should sit flush with the back but stop short of the front trim pieces.

Add the outer drawer guides (I) flush with the legs on the front of the table.

Fasten the vertical trim (J), nailing into the drawer guides from under the console, and into the top outer trim above. Measure carefully — J needs to land exactly 12" apart top and bottom, lined up with the drawer guides underneath.

Fasten the top center piece (K) so its edges line up with the inner top trim (E), leaving a 2" overhang on the ends. Fasten boards L to the outsides of K, nailing through the edges of L into the edges of K.

Fasten the side stretchers M with 1-1/4" nails through the legs into the end edges. Fasten the back stretcher N with 1-1/4" nails through N into the legs, and 2" nails through the legs into N's end edges.

Measure your actual drawer openings and size each drawer 1/4" larger overall (about an 1/8" gap per side). Nail the back (P) to the bottom (O), inset as shown, then nail the sides (Q) into the end edges of the bottom and back. Fit each drawer box in its opening without a face attached, adjusting as needed, then set the face (R) on with an even gap around it (about 1/8") and nail through the face into the sides and bottom.

Sand every surface, then add knobs or hinges to the drawer fronts.