Glass-Topped COFFEE TABLE

Angles and splines combine for an airy design

-  Derek Richmond

For the last few years, the “table” between my couch and fireplace has been an old leather steamer trunk. A hold-over from my bachelor days, it was too bulky for our small parlor, and obscured our view of the fireplace. It was time for something new. In its stead, I designed and built this minimalist, mid-century inspired table.

The glass top shows off the elegant form of the curved legs, and minimizes the table’s profile. Three sets of splines secure the joints, holding the legs together and attaching them to the mitered frame which itself is splined together. A rabbet in the frame holds a shelf, handy for storing coasters, magazines, and the like. I used slate from a local quarry (they take phone orders, see pg. 60) which contrasts nicely with the black walnut I used for the rest of the structure, but a glass shelf or veneered plywood panel would also be suitable.

A study in splined joinery

The table's base consists of a rectangular frame with four legs angling out from the corners to give the table a stable stance. The frame is mitered and splined together and has a rabbet cut in its top edge to hold the shelf. Each leg is made from two pieces to prevent the short grain problems that would arise should it be cut from a single, wide piece. Splines in between the upper and lower leg parts reinforce the joints. After the upper and lower parts are glued together, the leg blanks are shaped at the router table using a template and an over-under flush trim bit. A third set of splines attaches the legs to the frame.

Order of Work

• Spline and shape legs

• Make the mitered frame

• Attach legs to frame

• Finish up and install glass and shelf

Make the legs