Sleek shelves with humble beginnings

Sunset, Oct, 1991

THESE SLEEK, WEDGE-shaped shelves belie their humble beginnings in sheets of 1/2-inch plywood.

To build similar shelves, you'll need a table saw for cutting the plywood to dimensions shown. For the back and the three-part mounting rail, cut two strips 5 inches wide and as long as you want (less 1 inch for the ends, or 1/2 inch if your shelf will abut one wall, as in the photograph).

With the saw blade set at 45[degrees], rip the rail strip into thirds. Glue and clamp the top and bottom strips to the shelf back, positioned as shown in the diagram; the center strip will mount to the wall. Once dry, rip the bottom edge at a 70[degrees] angle.

Next rip a top 14 inches wide and a bottom 15 inches wide. Then rip the bottom at a 20[degrees] angle at one end and a 70[degrees] angle at the other. Glue and clamp the three parts together. When dry, use the end profile as a template to mark and cut the triangular ends. Glue and clamp the ends on, then fill, sand, and prime. These were given two coats of gloss enamel.

Screw the mounting strip to the wall studs with two 2-inch-long woodscrews into each stud, then slip the shelf over it.

Design by Joseph Terrell, Los Angeles.