Modern Coffee Table (Digital Plan)

Detailed digital plans for building a classic coffee table. If you love clean lines and the subtle beauty of handcrafted mid-century furniture, you’ll enjoy building your own Modern Coffee Table. And it’s easier than you think with this digital plan from Fine Woodworking magazine.

Inspired by mid-century Danish modern. Designed by furniture maker Jacques Breau, this sleek coffee table features graceful details like a floating top and pencil-roll edge - elements duplicated from some of his favorite modern pieces. To create flowing lines and natural movement, he angled the legs with a little flare at the bottom, working in yet another mid-century hallmark.

Timeless elegance that doesn’t overpower. The base is constructed of rift-sawn solid black walnut, creating a streamlined look with consistent straight grain. The tabletop is 3/4-in.-thick black walnut plywood with a pencil-roll edge of matching walnut for understated, but decidedly sophisticated styling.

Super-strong, angled joinery. To create the strongest possible table base, the legs are joined to the aprons with two slip tenons, doubling the glue surface for significant added strength. According to Jacques Breau, this table is so strong he “could sit on it.”

Build a stylish piece that stands the test of time. Working on this project, you will learn more about mid-century design and enjoy the satisfaction of creating a table of ageless beauty.

SKILL LEVEL:
Intermediate

FINISHED SIZE:
18 in. wide by 53 in. long by 15 3/4 in. tall

DIGITAL PLAN INCLUDES:

• Scale drawings
• Detailed cutlist
• SketchUp drawing

REQUIREMENTS
Google SketchUp (free download available here)