Shelf Box
Here’s a new take on a small box project. Instead of a lid, two doors reveal the items inside. Arts and Crafts details make this a standout no matter where it’s placed.
This box takes a different approach in the design category. Most boxes open at the top with a hinged, lift-off, or pivoting lid. Here, the box has a pair of doors at the front — like a full-size cabinet. This twist changes the relationship with how you interact with the box. With both doors open, you still have full access to the contents. Though now, the items stored inside are organized in a different way. I see this box working really well on a mantle or on a shelf of a bookcase. These are places where you don’t need to pick up the box to access the contents. As for the styling, the details lean heavily on Arts & Crafts motifs: quartersawn white oak, tapered sides, simple arcs, and offset surfaces. Creating details like the frame and panel back and doors at a small scale is a delight. And it allows (even forces) you to focus on crisp results and tight-fitting joinery. Like any other box, this one lets you dive in and get it done in a short time and with a minimal investment in materials. I do, however, recommend going with high-quality hinges and knobs. The payoff is a great education and goodlooking box.
SELECT YOUR PLAN PACKAGE
What You Get:
- 6 pages of step-by-step instructions
- 21 full-color photos, illustrations, and exploded views
- Materials List & Project Supplies Sources
Product Recommendations
We don't have any links to project supplies and hardware for this particular project yet, but here are some other products that might be of interest to you. (We may receive commission when you use our affiliate links. However, this does not impact our recommendations.)
Similar Woodsmith Plans
Imperial Plans
The United States Customary System of Units (USCS or USC), more commonly referred to as the English or Imperial system, is the standard set of units for our plans. It uses inches and feet for measurement. This is the one you probably want if you are in the United States, and it is the one we have traditionally offered on this website.
Metric Plans
The International System of Units (SI), more commonly referred to as the metric system, is the alternative set of units that we have available for some of our plans. It uses millimeters, centimeters, and meters for measurement. This is the one you probably want if you are outside the United States. These plans are provided by our business partner, Australian Woodsmith, and are based on the original Woodsmith plan. However, dimensions and other elements of the plan may vary between the metric and standard versions. Be sure to double-check the plan before building.
Premium Plans
All of the information that you need to build our plans can be found in the standard plan. However, if you want even more granular detail to make your job easier, you should consider our premium plans. These come with additional shop diagrams that we drew when creating the prototypes. Shop drawings are not available for every plan.