Build a McKinley Entryway Shelf

An Easy to Build Wall Mounted Shelf, Inspired by Grandin Road

This easy to build piece, inspired by a catalog retailer, will look at home in any entryway! The DIY furniture plans to build a McKinley Entryway Shelf feature a large frame (that would look like a built-in with a bench placed under it!) and a narrow ledge shelf with coat hooks below. Templates are included in this post for the curvy shelf brackets: a pocket hole jig, a jigsaw and a router with a 1/4″ rabbeting bit will be required.  This inexpensive build uses off-the-shelf lumber and is the perfect first project for those new to furniture building!

Here are a couple of other cool shelving pieces to build:

• Open Chunky Shelving
• Scrap Plywood Hook Organizer

 

Materials:

• 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws (<– affiliate link!)
• 1-1/2″ screws
• Shelf Bracket Template (<– affiliate link!)
• Coat hooks (<– affiliate link!)
• Wood glue
• Sandpaper (80, 120, 220 grits)
• Finishing supplies

Lumber:

• 3 – 1×6 at 8′
• Scrap pieces of 2×6 at 4-1/2″
• 1 – 2′ x 2′ sheet of 1/4″ plywood
• 1 – 2′ x 4′ sheet of 1/4″ plywood

Cut List:

• 2 – 1×6 at 28-1/2″ – Frame
• 2 – 1×6 at 51″ – Frame
• 1 – 1×6 at 17-1/2″ – Frame
• 1 – 1/4″ plywood at 6-3/4″ x 18″ – Upper Insert
• 1 – 1/4″ plywood at 18″ x 28-3/4″ – Lower Insert
• 2 – 2×6 at 4-1/2″ – Brackets
• 1 – 1×6 at 28-1/2″ – Shelf

Step One

Cut the pieces for the frame. Cut 45° misters in each end of the frame pieces. With the pocket hole jig set for 3/4″ material, drill pocket holes in the mitered edges as shown. Assemble the frame using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Cut the piece for the upper insert divider and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure the divider to the inside edgess of the frame using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Cut a 1/4″ deep x 1/4″ wide rabbet with the router along the inside edges of the back of the frame. Square the corners using a hammer and chisel.

Step Two

Cut the pieces of 1/4″ plywood for the upper and lower inserts. Apply a bead of glue along the rabbets and place the plywood in the openings. Clamp the pieces until the glue is dry.

Step Three

Cut the pieces for the brackets. Download and print two copies of the template, and cut around the template with scissors. Apply the template to the 2×6 pieces with temporary adhesive, aligning the straight edges with the straight edges of the boards. Cut the curve with a jigsaw and sand any rough spots.

Secure the brackets to the frame as shown using glue and countersunk 1-1/2″ screws from the back side of the frame.

Step Four

Cut the piece for the shelf. Secure the shelf to the brackets using glue and countersunk 1-1/2″ screws from the top of the shelf.

Finish the shelf as desired. Install the coat hooks under the shelf.

Have questions about the DIY Furniture Plans to Build a McKinley Entryway Shelf? Leave a comment below!

Originally posted 2019-03-13 08:00:56.