This
cabinet, built in two weekends is made from standard building materials
purchased at Home Depot. The whole project is made in two parts, the
bottom cabinet and the surround hutch.
The base
is an unfinished oak - wall hung cabinet - 12 inches deep. The sides
are unfinished pine bi-fold doors. Standard trim molding finishes
it off and makes it look like expensive furniture.
Additional
materials include- 3/4" birch veneer plywood, 1/4" birch
veneer (for inside top), 2X4s, 1X2s, 2X2s, 1X4s, wood glue, wood
putty,
trim nails and paint.
After
you make a sketch of your project and calculate the necessary
dimensions,
determined by your TV, you cut (or have cut) four pieces of the plywood
to make a bottom, and 2 tops, which will become the equipment
shelf
area that houses the VCR/DVD and cable box. The fourth piece will
make the shelf for the hutch. The wall hung cabinet was 6 inches
shy
of
the necessary
depth so the
plywood was cut to 18X54.
In the
back, 2X4s were cut to support the addtional depth of the top/bottom
pieces and positioned at both corners. This hidden space in the back
makes room for the wires.
The equipment
shelf is supported in the center and at both edges with 4-1X4s and
the trim work covers the edges.
In this
design, the small shelf is added at the top of the hutch, made with
the remaining plywood piece, to give additional strength to the
structure
as well as dimension.
When
the base is finished (minus the trim work) the hutch is built while
attached with four bolts to the base to make sure it all fits properly. After adding the trim work, sanding and prepping for paint,
remove the hutch to work on separately.
This cabinet was first painted
blue, allowed to dry and then glazed with brown stain and wiped
off to impart that antique look. Using satin latex for the first
coat
and
water-based
stain for the glaze, I decided not to go to the additional step
of polyurethane sealer. It's an option you might consider.
To install,
the base was brought in and the TV put in place and all the wires
connected. Then the hutch was put in place and bolted securely.
Finish
by adding styling elements to the top shelf and topping it off with
a basket of silk ivy. Pop some corn, stick in a movie -
Welcome
to Fields' Rialto.
Total
materials cost: $386
Tips:
An air
gun nailer cuts construction time in half.
