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The base unit of a modular playroom storage wall: a low, 52"-wide media console with open cubbies flanking a center bay, built from a deep 21"-wide plywood carcass and dressed with base moulding and nosing so it reads as furniture rather than a plywood box. It's designed to sit under upper cabinets or a hutch in the modular system, but works fine on its own as a TV base or toy storage.
Everything is pocket-holed. Rip your sheet into 21"-wide strips (a table saw is the right tool for a clean, straight rip on cabinet plywood), crosscut to length, and if you're staining rather than painting, iron edge banding onto the exposed front plies. Assembly goes best upside down — build the shelf-and-divider assembly, attach it to the underside of the top, then bring the sides and bottom in.
The two finishing touches that sell it: a square, glued-and-nailed 1/4" back that keeps the whole carcass from racking, and the base moulding plus nosing wrapping the bottom for that built-in look. Cut those to fit rather than to the drawing, since the finished carcass sets the real length.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Plywood, 3/4", 4x8 sheet (hardwood ply or MDF)Ripped into 21"-wide strips. | 1 each |
| 1x2, 6 ftCubby top trim. | 1 each |
| Plywood, 1/4", for the back | 1 each |
| Base moulding, 2-1/4", 52"+ | 5 foot |
| Nosing, 3/4", 52"+ | 5 foot |
| Edge bandingIf staining. | 12 foot |
| Pocket-hole screws, 1-1/4" | 40 each |
| Brad nails, 3/4" and 1-1/4" | 80 each |
| Wood glue | 8 oz |
| Wood filler and finish | 1 each |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Center shelf3/4" plywood | 1 | 3/4" × 21" × 23" |
| Vertical cubby dividers3/4" plywood | 2 | 3/4" × 21" × 12 1/4" |
| Top3/4" plywood | 1 | 3/4" × 21" × 52" |
| Sides3/4" plywood | 2 | 3/4" × 21" × 14 3/4" |
| Bottom shelf3/4" plywood | 1 | 3/4" × 21" × 50 1/2" |
| Back1/4" plywood | 1 | 1/4" × 15 1/2" × 52" |
| Cubby top trim1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 13" |
| Center top trim1x2 | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 23" |
| Base mouldingBase mouldingCut to fit. | 1 | 1/2" × 2 1/4" × 52" |
Buy 5 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
1 board
1 board
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Drill 3/4" pocket holes on each end of the 23" center shelf, three per 21" side, on the bottom. Drill three 3/4" pocket holes facing upward on the vertical divider pieces for attaching to the top. Assemble the shelf and dividers.
Attach the shelf-and-divider assembly to the underside of the top with 1-1/4" pocket screws, measuring carefully for a 13-3/4" space at each end. This is best done upside down.
Drill three 3/4" pocket holes on the top edges of each side. Tack them in place with brad nails first so they don't slip, then screw together with 1-1/4" pocket screws.
Drill pocket holes on each end of the bottom shelf and attach it to the sides with 1-1/4" pocket screws. Nail and screw it to the vertical dividers as well.
Use 1-1/4" brad nails to attach the 1x2 trim pieces to the insides of the cubbies.
Carefully cut the back piece dead square. Apply glue to the back edges of the cabinet and attach the 1/4" back with 3/4" brad nails, keeping all outside edges perfectly aligned — the back is what squares the carcass.
Measure and cut the base moulding and nosing to fit, and attach with glue and brad nails for the built-in look. Fill, sand, and finish — paint or stain (edge-band first if staining).
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