The idea here is a redo many years in the making. The top of this coffee table was the first piece the maker ever designed and built alone, back in 2010. The original base did not turn out well, and the top spent years stored under a bed until a build from another woodworker sparked the decision to rebuild it. Drawing on roughly fifty designs made before that first attempt, this remake doubles as a way to measure progress over time.
The new base came together from scrap cherry lumber, squared up on a jointer, planer, and cabinet saw before shaping. The result reads as mid-century modern, with a rectangular top, splayed legs, and a central stretcher beneath. The leg bevels and tapers were cut at 30 degrees on a tapering sled, and the legs were joined with half-laps cut on a dado stack. For the angled joints, the maker secured everything with custom-mitered loose tenons and glue, cutting the mortises with a Domino joiner. Rounded floating tenons then attach the fresh base to the original top, and a test fit came before the finish was wiped on with a sponge.
A few details stand out to me. After glue-up, the legs were contoured flush on an edge sander, which should make the transitions look seamless. The redesign also made the leg taper more subtle and nudged the feet slightly inward. That foot placement is the trade-off I would flag: the maker notes the feet remain kickable, so the silhouette wins at the cost of some toe clearance.
One question stays open for me: the maker figures the loose tenon joint is not highly stressed unless someone stands on the table. I would still love to know how it holds up to daily use.
Project by Foureyes Furniture. Watch it on their YouTube channel: