How can I combine a dining table and bookcase into one piece of furniture?

Question

I'm making a dining table for friends and at one side of the table, I would like to make a bookcase between the legs. I have once seen a picture of a similar design but have lost it. Now, I'm looking for pictures or drawings to get inspiration and ideas on how to design it.

Answer 1

The only way I could picture that is if each of the 4 legs of the table were made of two pieces of wood, secured together at a 90 degree angle (sorry I don't know the best way to word this) and in the space produced by the two pieces that make each "leg", you put shelves in there and place books running up and down each corner, facing out, while the little shelves double as legs.

Answer 2

Great idea! Double utility!
How to do this depends on how the table is set in the room, and whether or not you need someone to be able to sit at the end.
Assuming you want people to be able to sit at any edge, then only the corners/legs can have bookshelves. One way is to build 4 narrow bookshelves the correct height of a table..and then put a board or something over the four book cases, angled they intersect in the middle pointing at each other.. wouldlook like an octagon with the bookshelf width being shorter, and the seating flat wider.
the other option is easier.. you just don't have one or both ends "sittable." you Just build bookcases at the end(s). and put a table surface on that. alternatively but in a similar way, find a table you like, with square wood legs without taper if possible.. and then frame in those exisiting wood legs with a back and front rib, shelves, and back. and whing bang boom you are done.

the only other way to do this would be a table at a wall, and a shelf on the way at back of table.

T

Answer 3

I would think the leg style would be the most difficult part to integrate into the book case. I can think of two ways to pull this off having never seen one personally.

I have changed my mind. I can offer only one way. The other would be nearly impossible for the novice. I would detach the legs from one end of the table and place the legless table top on the bookcase or with L brackets, attach the table top to the rear of the bookcase.

Answer 4

Make four small bookcases 12 inches wide by 12 inches deep by 33 inches tall. That would be the legs. then put a big sheet of the material ( Plywood, Plastic,etc.) to be the table top and attach .

Answer 5

I am not certain what you saw before, but you can put a book case as a carousel on each leg. The legs can be about 12x12, then the height of the leg of course, place a swivel base on the bottom and the top of each of the legs. The four legs will not make the table swivel, since they are all technically working off of a dead center basis.

Answer 6

i would make the table and then make the bookcase as a stand alone system on casters so that if they had more people at the table they could move it out of the way while they ate then move it back after

Answer 7

There were so many woodworking plans with this collection and you will not believe this but there are over thousands plans in the one package deal. Go here https://tr.im/GKvhY
This is really something to find that many all together. For someone like me who is just really starting to get involved with woodworking this was like letting me loose in a candy store and telling me I could have anything I wanted. That was my dream when I was a kid.

Answer 8

Make block style legs 4X4 or 6x6, depending how deep you want the bookshelf, then make the book shelf to fit in between the legs on each end, but keep in mind you also want to have enough leg room, so it will be tricky.

Answer 9

sounds awkward, breaking my brain trying to envision,