Contemporary Furniture: 6 Projetcs to Build Your Skills

The six projects in this collection of contemporary furniture all have the clean lines and details that are hallmarks of the style. The term "contemporary," though, is a broad umbrella - these builds cover a wide range of forms and techniques.

In "City Sideboard," Mario Rodriguez shows you how to build a piece that has the feel of updated Shaker with a bit of James Krenov mixed in. Using plywood and a few construction tricks, Mario shows you how to save time and money on this and similar projects.

Steve Shanesy forgoes legs and visible hangers to create a floating effect for his "Wall-mounted Server." Find out how to use a torsion box to add strength, and you'll also learn must-know tips on pattern routing.

Matthew Teague and Megan Fitzpatrick show you two design approaches to wall-hung cabinets: Megan blends the organic look of a live-edge top with clean contemporary lines, while Matthew shows you how to build a classic Krenov cabinet.

Christopher Schwarz teaches you how to build a set of sturdy leaning bookshelves. And in a classic "I Can Do That" project, Megan outlines how you can build a set of contemporary shelves with dimensional lumber in just a few hours of work.

These articles first appeared in Popular Woodworking Magazine. Every issue gives you skill-building techniques for hand tools and power tools, shop tricks you can use right away, great looking projects with step-by-step instructions and more.