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This is the base module of a modular home bar: an open cabinet with a face frame, a small drawer, base moulding, and — the signature feature — a lattice of interlocking 1/4" plywood strips that forms a diamond wine-bottle grid. It's designed to be built one or several at a time (three bases come out of efficient plywood rips), and to pair with a matching hutch on top.
The carcass is 1x12 (or 3/4" plywood ripped to 11-3/4") sides, trimmed and face-framed with even 1/8" gaps around the front. Standard cabinet moves: build two sides, add a bottom shelf 5-1/2" up, build two face frames and attach them front and back through pre-drilled pocket holes, cap the top, add the back and base moulding. Pre-drilling all the pocket holes before assembly saves a lot of reaching.
The wine grid is the interesting part and the one that rewards a table saw. The grid is made of plywood strips that slot into each other via notches cut halfway through — the notches must be exactly the width of the plywood's thickness so the strips interlock snug. A table saw with a fence set to each mark is the clean way; without one, drill 1/4" holes at the ends of each mark (add 1/8" so the hole centers on the cut) and finish with a jigsaw or circular saw. The source's trick: mark one board of each size, clamp all same-size boards together aligned, and cut them as a stack — but touch up the bottom boards afterward, since a circular saw's round blade cuts the bottom board shorter than the top. Assembled, the grid interlocks tight and square with no glue, held by the base.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x12, 10 ftSides and shelves — or 3/4" plywood ripped to 11-3/4". | 1 each |
| Plywood, 1/4 in, 4x8 sheetWine grid, back, drawer bottom. | 1 each |
| 1x2, 8 ftTrim and face frame. | 2 each |
| 1x6, 4 ftTrim and drawer face. | 1 each |
| 2x2, 8 ftCorner supports. | 2 each |
| 1x3, 2 ft | 1 each |
| 1x4, 6 ftDrawer sides. | 1 each |
| Base moulding, 5-1/4 in (2 ft) | 1 each |
| Drawer slides, 12 in | 1 pair |
| Knob or handle | 1 each |
| Pocket-hole screws, 1-1/4 in | 1 box |
| Finish nails, 1-1/4 in | 1 box |
| Wood glue | 1 bottle |
| Finish or stain | 1 quart |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Side trim (1x2)1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 11 3/4" |
| Side trim (1x6)1x6 | 2 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 11 3/4" |
| Sides1x12 | 2 | 3/4" × 11 3/4" × 35 1/4" |
| Bottom shelf1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 3/4" × 14 3/4" |
| Corner supports2x2 | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 35 1/4" |
| Face frame rails (1x2)1x2 | 5 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 14 3/4" |
| Face frame rail (1x2, long)1x2 | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 17 3/4" |
| Top1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 3/4" × 17 3/4" |
| Drawer face rail (1x3)1x3 | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 17 3/4" |
| Drawer sides (1x4)1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 13 3/4" |
| Drawer front/back (1x4)1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 14 1/4" |
| Drawer bottom1/4 in plywood | 1 | 1/4" × 13 3/4" × 13 3/4" |
| Drawer face1x6 | 1 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 14 1/2" |
| Back1/4 in plywood | 1 | 1/4" × 17 3/4" × 36" |
| Base mouldingmoulding | 1 | 3/4" × 5 1/4" × 17 3/4" |
| Wine grid strips (short)1/4 in plywoodHalf-depth notches, exactly plywood-thickness wide. | 5 | 1/4" × 13 3/4" × 14 3/4" |
| Wine grid strips (long)1/4 in plywoodHalf-depth notches, exactly plywood-thickness wide. | 3 | 1/4" × 13 3/4" × 22 1/2" |
Buy 13 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
2 boards
1 board
Cut the 1x2s and 1x6s to the width of your 1x12 boards and attach them to the sides with glue and finish nails. Drill your pocket holes into the insides of these boards now — you'll need them on the outside edges (not top and bottom) to attach the front and back trim later. Build two side assemblies.
Measure 5-1/2" up from the bottom and attach the bottom shelf using pocket holes set for 3/4" stock and 1-1/4" pocket screws.
Build two face frames and attach them to the front and back using the pocket holes you pre-drilled in the sides (3/4" stock, 1-1/4" screws). Attach the front face frame with an even 1/8" gap on the top and both sides.
Attach the top with glue and 1-1/4" finish nails. Then attach the bottom trim with a 1/8" gap on the bottom, using pocket holes on the underside and glue.
Attach the back with glue and 1-1/4" finish nails. Nail the base moulding to the front — if you can't find stainable 5-1/4" moulding, use shorter moulding and fill with scrap 1x to make up the height.
Cut the grid notches half-depth into the plywood strips, each notch exactly the width of the plywood's thickness so the strips interlock snugly. A table saw with the fence set to each mark is cleanest. Without one, drill 1/4" holes at the end of each mark (add 1/8" so the hole centers on the cut) and finish with a jigsaw or circular saw. Mark one board of each size, clamp all same-size boards together aligned, and cut them as a stack — then touch up the bottom boards, since a circular saw's round blade cuts them shorter than the top.
Slot the grid strips together — once assembled they interlock tight and square with no glue, held in place by the cabinet. Build the drawer, hang it on the 12" slides, and fit the drawer face with an even gap. Add the knob, sand, and finish or stain.
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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 →