This project came about when a friend of mine needed a nice table to host her brand new espresso machine. She wanted a simple table, just big enough to hold her machine, that fits between her kitchen island and the wall. Since this was a piece that would live near the kitchen, I added a few perks to it. A nice bronze bar, in the front of the table, to allow quick access to towels and other handy coffee making tools. I also added a bottom shelf for extra storage (coffee beans, cookbooks, booze... ) . The bottom shelf also strengthens the table, which is a big help when the espresso machine alone weighs 72lb (32.65kg).
I consider myself a newbie at building these sorts of things, and I have a long way to go before I can justify calling myself a furniture designer. So forgive me for any rookie mistakes here and there.
Here are a few design challenges and lessons learned from this project:
- Always double check the actual size and specifications when buying materials. I put too much trust in label descriptions. I got all the wood I required only to realize that when the table says 2x4 inches, it actually means 1.75x3.80'ish. Luckily, I was able to adjust the design on the fly to fit the slight differences.
- Use the right tool (or materials) for the job. I depended on some leftover screws I had in my toolbox, that I thought were wood screws (rookie mistake). They were very stubborn to say the least, that slowed down the project which made me sad. A quick run to the hardware store made all the difference.
- Give yourself room to breath. Earlier in the design stages, this project seemed like a very quick and simple build. Although I planned it well, I still fell short of my deadline. While I can give you a pretty accurate estimate of how hold it would take me to design a logo, I'm still adjusting to how it translates for manual labor.
Thanks for reading. Please leave me a comment of any questions, suggestions, or just pain comments.
