The home improvement enthusiast plans to construct a "built-in" bookshelf in an alcove off her living room. The shelves will serve as an entertainment center for her television, stereo, CDs, books, and miscellaneous collectibles. The base section will have four doors and drawers for out-of-sight storage, while the upper portion will have three sections of open adjustable shelves. We will assemble the base from ready-made cabinets.

Step
1

Draw a Plan
Draw a plan for the entertainment center design after taking measurements of the alcove. Purchase the base cabinetry in the desired dimensions and finish from ready-made stock at your home improvement store. Buying stock cabinets will save time, money, and labor.

Step
2

Set Base Cabinets in Place
Set the base cabinets in place and mark locations where electrical outlets must be accessible and where cables will pass through the cabinet walls.

Step
3

Cut out Openings for Power Outlets
Cut out the openings for each power outlet receptacle after first drilling the four corners of the rectangles. The corner holes will facilitate notching the corners out neatly and provide a starting point to insert the blade of the jigsaw.

Step
4

Cut a Hole/s for Cables and Other Wiring
Cut a hole (or holes, as necessary, for cables and other electric wiring for the television and stereo) in the sides of the cabinets, using an arbored hole saw drill bit on an electric drill.

Step
5

Clamp Stock Cabinets Together
Clamp the stock cabinets together and use a power drill and wood screws to secure them.

Step
6

Install a Filler Strip
Install a filler strip of the same type of wood at each end of the base to conceal any open space between the cabinets and the wall. Hold the strip in place with a clamp while screwing it to the base.

Step
7

Measure Length and Depth of Front Top Elevation
Measure the length and depth of the front top elevation of the base and both filler strips to determine the dimensions for the countertop.

Step
8

Transfer Measurements to Plywood
Transfer the countertop measurements to a sheet of 3/4-inch plywood.

Step
9

Cut Countertop
Cut the countertop from the plywood with a circular saw and a fence (clamp-on straight edge) to ensure a straight cut.

Step
10

Cut a 1x8 Piece of Poplar
Cut a piece of 1 x 8 poplar with a notch to fit around the corner and conceal the edge of the plywood.

Step
11

Attach Countertop to Cabinet Base
Use a pneumatic nail gun to attach the countertop and poplar edge to the cabinet base.

Step
12

Cut Shelving Sections
Cut the appropriate dimensions of each upper shelving sections - top, bottom, sides, back, and shelves from 3/4-inch birch-veneer plywood and lay out all pieces for a single section on a work surface.

Step
13

Drill Holes on Side Panels
Use a predrilled plastic hole-template and a self-centering bit to drill a row of identically spaced and positioned holes on the two side panels for each section. Be careful to align and clamp the template exactly on a baseline measured and drawn on each of the panels. A pair of holes on each opposing edge will hold the four pins to support the adjustable shelves--if they do not align exactly, the shelf will not be level.

Step
14

Conceal Front Edges of Plywood
Conceal the front edges of the plywood top, bottom, and sides for each section with edge banding made with a heat-activated adhesive backing. Align it on the edge and run over it with an iron, as directed by the manufacturer.

Step
15

Cut Off Excess Banding
Use a special trimmer to cut off the excess banding.

Step
16

Sand and Finish Edges
Sand and finish the edges so that the edges match the smooth birch veneer on the flat surfaces and make the construction look like solid wood.

Step
17

Attach 2 x 2 Lumber with Carpenter's Glue
Face the front edges of the shelves with a piece of solid 1 x 2 lumber by first attaching it with carpenter's glue.

Step
18

Nail the Edge to the Plywood
Nail through the front of the 1 x 2 edge into the plywood. Fill the holes with wood putty.

Step
19

Cut Slots for Biscuits
Use a plate joiner to cut slots for biscuits in the plywood top, bottom, and sides for each section.  Measure to ensure that the edges will be flush when the biscuits join the slots.

Step
20

Apply Glue
Apply glue to the slots and the edge of a side panel and insert the biscuits.

Step
21

Press Biscuit Firmly into Slot
Match the side with the top or bottom, as appropriate, and press the biscuit firmly into the corresponding slot. Continue this process until you have joined two sides, a top and a bottom as a 4-sided open box reinforced with glue and biscuits.

Step
22

Nail Through Top and Bottom
Nail through the top and bottom into each side to further-strengthen the construction.

Step
23

Glue and Nail the Back
Glue and nail the back to the 4-sided open box. The section will be rigid now.

Step
24

Secure Sections to Base Cabinets and Walls
Position each constructed section at the correct location in the alcove and secure them to the base cabinets and the walls with screws.

Step
25

Cut and Attach Trim Strips
Cut trim strips with a power miter saw and attach them to the front edges of the cabinets.

Step
26

Cut Molding/Casing for Perimeter
Cut the molding/casing for the perimeter of the entertainment center with mitered corners.

Step
27

Nail Moldings in Place
Nail them in place, matching the mitered corners, to give the project a built-in look.

Step
28

Mount Cabinet Doors
Mount the cabinet doors, attaching the hinges to the base, and the doors to the hinges.

Step
29

Install Drawers
Install the drawers.

Step
30

Set Shelves into Position
Set the shelves into position by inserting two pins on each vertical side at the desired elevation.