Bookcase Plan - Build a Classic Bookcase

Knock-down hardware makes this large, formal bookcase suprisingly easy move from your shop to your living room, den. You'll construct the base, sides, and top as separate units. Once completed you just bolt them together.

Bookcase plan features adjustable shelves and two options for the top—a decorative gable (shown in photo) or a traditional flat-style top. We used a tight-grained cherry and cherry plywood for its subtle grain pattern. For the back we used 1/4" cherry plywood.

When it came time to apply a finish, we decided to use a cherry stain. I wanted the rich reddish-brown color without waiting for the aging process. And using stain would even out the color differences between the lighter sapwood and darker hardwood. Overall dimensions are 91" high x 43" wide x 14" deep. This project appeared in Woodsmith magazine No. 95.