Squared2 Dining Table, Patterned Glass Support

August 09, 2017

On Wednesday, I prepared myself for an afternoon of dining table top building. I measured my first two boards twice, clamped them on the miter saw, and turned to the left to see my husband, who said, "We just lost power." It seems a power pole was on fire in front of our city mall, and our power consoles were registering 80 instead of the usual 120. Some fans turned extra slowly, while other things would not turn on at all, like my saw.
Now, 6 days later than planned, we finally traded our deteriorating particle board computer desk for our own dining table! I still have to fill and paint the inside frame and the underside of the pattern, but otherwise, it's ready to use. =D

I added glazier points in the corners due to the large areas without 2x2 support.

Katja, of Shift Ctrl Art, set a word for August, which happened to be my Kitchen Basics month. That word is:

This dining table was inspired by several sources. The legs were inspired by the spur of the moment furniture I've built for our house: our Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table and our Modern Scrap Wood End Tables. I just found on Katja's blog that she made the exact same table leg design before our design came into fruition, although I had no idea! (How interesting!) The table top was made to coordinate with our Squared2 Dining Chairs, which is based on a design by west elm, and brought to life via plans by Ana White. Inspiration, I find, allows for our own unique perspective to shine through, while "standing on the shoulders of giants."

I must heartily thank my good friend Joanne for patiently encouraging me, for sharing ideas for building in kind, and for even checking my measurements so that this process went smoother than it could have gone otherwise. Joanne is an amazing builder. Since I've known her, she's been working on building or planning to build something nearly everyday with a consistency that can only underlie passion. I've absolutely been inspired by you, Joanne!

	2x2 @ 6 - 4ft. boards ($18, Home Depot $16, City Mill, $2) 1 sheet acrylic, 30" x 60" @ 1/8" thickness ($50, City Mill)
	Ryobi 7.5" Miter Saw (already owned) Hitachi cordless drill (already owned) Kreg Jig Jr. Pocket Hole Jig and Drill bit (already owned) 1-1/4" Kreg pocket hole screws (already owned) 2-1/2" Kreg pocket hole screws ($5, Lowes) Measuring tape, pen (already owned)

The dining table top and acrylic top cost me $73. Including the $15 leg frame, this table cost $88, $50 of which was for the acrylic sheet.

Designing the dining table

Here are the measurements I made and followed for our dining table:

Below is my original plan for our dining table, although the one thing that has changed is my choice of glass. The annealed and tempered glass cut locally would have cost upward of $250. We honestly can not afford that glass, so we plunkered down $50 for 1/8" acrylic instead. It may be more durable and safer while our daughter is still young (and mommy who hammers at things everywhere.) :)

Making the patterned table top

Cutting plexiglass for the top

I surely hope this thin plexiglass will work as our table top, at least for a few years. :)

We've decided to leave the wood in a natural state for now, although I will paint the underside of the pattern and the inside of the table frame either black, white, purple, or teal, since those are colors we have present in our kitchen already.

Any suggestions? :)