EASY STEPS TO YOUR NEW WORKSPACE

Give an old table a new top and add wall shelving – here hiding a blocked-up window – to make a creative station.

Gather your supplies

• Recycled timber dining table

• 2200 x 600 x 26mm laminated beech panel

• 110 x 18mm dressed Tasmanian oak

• 1220 x 915 x 4.8mm masonite

You’ll also need 180-grit sandpaper; undercoat; painting gear; black interior paint; circular saw; clear varnish; PVA glue; drill; countersinking bit; 40 and 50mm wood screws; tape measure; mitre saw; hammer; 20mm flat head nails; spirit level

For you to note

For a better finish with clear varnish, remove excess glue with a damp cloth as you go.

Here’s how

STEP 1 Sand tabletop to roughen surface. Remove dust and undercoat. When dry, use roller to paint edges in 2 coats black paint.

STEP 2 Use circular saw to cut laminated panel to size to suit table. Make flush at back of table and overhang front and sides by 30mm and 150mm respectively.

STEP 3 Sand cut edges to make smooth. Remove dust, then apply 2 coats varnish to laminated panel. Allow to dry, sanding it

lightly after the first coat. STEP 4 Spread glue over tabletop and sit panel on top. Make sure all edges overhang correctly then predrill up through underside of tabletop and into panel with countersinking bit. Screw together using 40mm wood screws. STEP 5 Measure reveal on inside of old window to work out overall dimension of shelving unit to fill it. Use mitre saw to cut Tassie oak to make frame for shelving unit. Make frame sides the full height of your unit and the top, bottom and shelves 36mm less than full width as they butt into frame sides. STEP 6 Glue ends of top and bottom and butt into sides. Predrill through sides into them; screw together with 50mm screws. Glue ends of shelves, position between sides, spaced evenly, predrill and screw through sides into shelves to secure. Also cut an oak length to go between shelves vertically and fix in place with 40mm screws.

STEP 7 Cut masonite backing to suit overall unit dimensions. Spread glue over back edges of shelf frame and sit masonite on top. Nail through masonite into frame and shelves using 20mm nails.

STEP 8 With brush and roller, apply 2 coats varnish to unit sides and interior. Let dry and sand lightly after first coat.

STEP 9 Sit unit on inside of window and make front edges plumb. Predrill through sides and screw into window reveal with 50mm screws.