Table Of ContentRidiculously Simple
Furniture Projects
Great Looking Furniture Anyone Can Build
by Spike Carlsen
with photography by Bill Zuehlke
©2011 Spike Carlsen
Published by Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary
Fresno, California 93721
559-233-6633 / 800-345-4447
To order another copy of this book, please call 1-800-345-4447.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.
135798642
Editor: Richard Sorsky
Cover design: James Goold Photography: Bill Zuehlke Design and layout: Maura J. Zimmer
ISBN 13: 978-1-933502-30-4
ISBN: 978-1-610351-75-1
Printed in China on acid-free paper.
Linden Publishing titles may be purchased in quantity at special discounts for educational,
business, or promotional use. To inquire about discount pricing, please refer to the contact
information above.
Woodworking is inherently dangerous. Your safety is your responsibility.
Neither Linden Publishing nor the author assume any responsibility for any injuries or accidents.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
For my father who taught me simplicity and
my mother who taught me tenacity
—Spike Carlsen
For my late brother Ken and
my loving wife Deb
—Bill Zuehlke
Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Living Room and Bedroom
Uncle Bob’s Craftsman Table
Tic-Tac-Toe Shelf
Technique: (Towards Being) Accident-Free
Triple-Tier Basket Stand
World’s Simplest Toy Chest
Frank Lloyd Wrong Chair & Ottoman
Whimsical Wall Shelf
Bifold Coffee Table
Oak Hallway Mirror
Technique: Make a Straight Cut Jig
Craftsman Footstool
Plant Pedestal
Technique: Some Simple Finishes
Stack-‘Em-Up Cubes
Chapter 2: Home Office and Media Storage
Television Console
Leaning Ladder Shelf
Technique: A Word on Woods
Magazine & Book Rack
Floating Wall Shelf
Entertainment Pantry
Nomad Laptop Desk
Technique: The Zen of Jigsawing
Which End’s Up? Bookshelves
Pyramid Bookshelf
Organization and Charging Station
Cheatin’ Corner Shelf
Chapter 3: Kitchen and Dining Room
Jigsaw Puzzle Chairs
Criss-Cross Plywood Table
Maggie’s Cookbook Stand
Technique: Understanding Plywood
Technique: Router Fundamentals 101
Wine Bottle Quartet
Houdini Bottle Holder
Crescent Moon Bottle Rack
Triple Bottle Cradle
Wine for Two
Kitchen Cart
Spice Drawer Organizer
Skinny Tower of Pizza
Chapter 4: Outdoors
Aldo Leopold Bench
Portable Outdoor Chair
Technique: Measuring and Marking Tips
Herb Bench
Simple Patio Planter
Bonsai Plant Stand
Technique: Mitersaw Heaven
Pedestal Picnic Table
Patio Side Table
Biographies
Introduction
One of my favorite pieces of furniture is a side table built by my Uncle Bob over
40 years ago. It’s no more than four 1x3s connected to a pair of plywood discs,
but it’s endured a dozen moves, the burden of a few thousand magazines, even a
cigarette burn from my reckless brother-in-law, Ray. It’s not fancy (the good part
of this, I guess, is that it’s never gone out of style), but it is solid, well designed
and easy to build—like the projects in this book. In fact, it inspired one of the
first projects in this book.
Sure you can buy a screw-together table from a Big Box store for $19.99—
but in the end, you wind up with a screw-together table from a Big Box store.
There’s no chance to tweak dimensions, shape, style or wood. And do you
REALLY feel a sense of accomplishment when you toss your screwdriver back
in the junk drawer when you’re done screwing it together?
Ridiculously Simple Furniture Projects provides you with plans and
instructions for building, well, just what the title says. It also provides you with
something harder to come by these days—the feeling of satisfaction in having
built something with your own two hands; something you can point to and tell
your grandkids “I built that 40 years ago.” And you’ll save money to boot.
We’ve also scattered information on safety, tools and skills throughout the
book. We didn’t lump it all at the beginning because you want to build furniture,
not read about it. But if you’re looking for more details on a certain technique or
tool, check the index and Table of Contents; there’s a good chance you’ll find the
information you need.
Before building any piece of furniture in this book (in fact, before building
anything) we encourage you to “grok” the project first. And just what does that
mean? In Robert Heinlein’s science fiction novel, Stranger in a Strange Land, he
coined the word “grok” to explain the notion of understanding someone or
something “so thoroughly that the observer becomes part of the observed—to
merge, blend, intermarry” ... well, let’s not get too touchy-feely here. But you get
the idea, right? Before rolling up your sleeves, you should have the big picture.
You should grok what you’re about to build, how it goes together and in what
order.
And here’s why: This is YOUR furniture, not ours. You know what color,
size and style you like, so embellish, improvise, scale down and scale up as you
see fit. For most projects we include illustrations, dimensions, even life-size
templates, but our hope is you’ll use this information as a starting point and
inspiration for building what you like and need.
There are a few projects that aren’t really and truly ridiculously simple—
maybe pretty simple would be a better label. But we included them because, after
you’ve gained confidence building some of the easier projects, our guess is
you’ll be itching to tackle something a little more difficult.
So whether you’re a woodworker who likes to dabble, a homeowner or
apartment dweller looking to furnish a few rooms or a complete rookie that’s
been tempted to give woodworking a shot, this book’s for you. Roll up your
sleeves. Enjoy.
