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Build a curious bookshelf
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Styled after European row houses, this bookcase is a playful way to organize your kids' room
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By Art Mulder, photos by Roger Yip, illustration by Len Churchill
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The skirt also uses hinges to add even more storage and another secret space.
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These two roof assemblies contain secret compartments, hidden behind hinged roof sections. The hinges I used must be mounted at a 90º angle to the roof. Therefore, hinge mounting strips need to be added inside the top section of the roof compartments. Mount a scrap 3"x 9" piece of plywood between the tops of the two gables. Choose which roof section is going on the left and which is going on the right side of the bookcase, as the two need to be mirror images of each other.
Now, cut out the remaining parts of the left and right roof sections and attach them to the gables. The roofs should overhang the gables by 1/4" at the front and the back.
The side roof sections need to have two of their sides sawn 17º from square to match the gable angles. The two swinging-roof sections must be slightly shorter than their fixed counterparts to allow clearance for opening.
Mount the hinges for the two roof-top secret compartments. It may take some trial and error to find the optimum position for the hinges to get lids that close flush. A test roof section may come in handy at this stage. Experiment on it, then transfer the positions to the two roof sections.
Fasten the two side roof assemblies to the top of the bookcase. I brought them together with glue and clamps.
The peaked, centre roof section is your final challenge. It requires some careful measuring. Use a piece of 1/8"-thick hardboard to make a pattern. It's much easier to work with a thin panel to get the measurements right before trying to get the 1/2"-thick plywood to fit.
Again, use an angle 17º from-square, this time for the sides of the roof (forming a 73º bevel). The top and bottom need about a 30º angle, but take measurements from your actual project. The centre roof back section is a mirror of the front, with the top 1/2" cut off, so it can fit in under the centre roof front. Glue and nail the two roof segments into place. Fill any slight imperfections before you paint the project.
Keep a Secret
The last construction step is to make the skirt that wraps around the base of the bookcase. This conceals the third secret compartment. First, cut out the two side skirt pieces. Trace the foot cut-out from the bookcase, make the cuts with a bandsaw or jigsaw, then sand smooth. Use a hand plane to make a chamfer along the tops of these pieces. Finally, glue and clamp them into place on the sides of the bookcase.
Cut out the front skirt piece next, and give it a foot cutout similar to the side pieces. Mark the locations for the Euro-style hinges, 22.5 mm from the top, then drill 35-mm-diameter holes for the hinge cups. Wait until after final painting before installing the hinges.
Painting: Round Two
As I mentioned before, the paint detail is a large part of this project. It adds to the charm, and also the challenge. Take your time, don't rush and you will be rewarded at the end.
My paint pattern included a grey stripe in the place I marked off earlier to create the illusion of walls between the houses. You can also add paint to create two fake windows on the fronts of the two gables.
I recommend waiting a few days for the paint to dry fully, then apply two coats of clear urethane over the entire project for an extra layer of protection.
Now that you have flexed your imagination with this project, let your kids do the same as they fill it with their treasures.
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