Building an interesting coffee table?

Question

For her birthday my fiance wants a coffee table that looks almost like an aquarium, except instead of fish she wants it to hold sand and those little land hermit crabs. Any ideas on how i can build one and where i can find the supplies. It's kinda different and I sort of like the idea too.

Answer 1

Below is a picture of the easiest way. Purchase a shelf from Home Depot. Fit with the aquarium or terrarium on the bottom. Add a glass shelf :) Voila :) And it looks great!

Answer 2

Barb's table looks cool. I was thinking something along the lines of a shadowbox, but deeper - use a too low coffee table and build a 1 x 10 frame with a glass top, or find a set of legs you like an build the box with a plywood bottom and 1 x 10 sides and a glass top.

I tried googling some images for "shadowbox table", here's some of what I came up with:

rustic look: http://www.rusticranch.ca/product_details.php?id=1068

antique look: http://cottageandbungalow.com/dec-715502-.html

another all glass or acrylic design: http://www.prosperityfountain.com/675.html

metal end table: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_refurbish_furniture/article/0,1793,HGTV_3487_1399598,00.html

You can probably find even more for inspiration - and there's lots of materials and looks to choose from.

If you want a more open look, use plexiglass instead of wood for the sides.

Answer 3

Sounds like a very fun idea! I've thought of building something like this myself.

The above posts were pretty good, but I have a few things to add. This is going to be heavy! Make sure you put it somewhere you really like it because it will be hard to move.

Generally coffee tables are towards the center of the room. Make sure your floor will support the weight. Also, make sure it is positioned perpendicular, not parallel to the floor joists.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

Too low if the tanks going to be, like
under the table. it will get kicked, stuff dropped on it, kids bangging on it, hard to relax an watch fish, tops brokin, light gettin knocked in the water. My friend tried that and all this stuff happened, he raised it up, after
60-90 days.