Build a River Crest Media Chest

DIY Furniture Plans – A Rustically Industrial Media Chest

Need a media stand with plenty of storage for lots of media equipment? You’ve come to the right place! The DIY plans to build a River Crest Media Chest feature two shelves and three drawers which equal tons of storage! Plus, the entire stand is on casters which makes moving it a breeze! The media chest is an easy build and is very inexpensive!

Materials:

• 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws (<– affiliate link!)
• 1-1/4″ brad nails
• Edge banding, optional
• 3 sets of 14″ Drawer slides
• Cabinet pulls
• 4 – 4″ casters (two should be locking casters)
• Wood glue
• Sandpaper (100, 150, 220 grits)
• Finishing supplies (primer & paint, or stain, sealer)

Lumber:

• 2 – 1×2 at 6′
• 2 – 1×6 at 6′
• 3 – 1×8 at 6′
• 1 – 1×10 at 8′
• 2 – 2×2 at 6′
• 2 – 4′ x 8′ sheets of 3/4″ plywood

Cut List:

• 4 – 3/4″ plywood at 18″ x 46″ – Shelves
• 4 – 2×2 at 33-1/4″ – Legs
• 2 – 1×2 at 15″ – Side Stretchers
• 2 – 1×2 at 43″ – Front & Back Stretchers
• 2 – 1×10 at 15″ – Lower Sides
• 1 – 1×10 at 43″ – Lower Back
• 2 – 1×8 at 15″ – Upper Sides
• 1 – 1×8 at 43″ – Upper Back
• 1 – 1×10 (ripped to 8-1/4″ wide) at 16-1/2″ – Divider
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 18″ x 46″ – Top
• 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 12-1/2″ x 18-5/8″ – Small Drawer Box Bottoms
• 4 – 1×6 at 12-1/2″ – Small Drawer Box Sides
• 4 – 1×6 at 20-1/8″ – Small Drawer Box Front & Back
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 12-1/2″ x 40-1/2″ – Larger Drawer Box Bottom
• 2 – 1×8 at 12-1/2″ – Large Drawer Box Sides
• 2 – 1×8 at 42″ – Large Drawer Box Front & Back
• 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 7-1/4″ x 20-7/8″ – Small Drawer Fronts
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 9″ x 42-3/4″ – Large Drawer Front

Click on the drawings for a larger view!

Step One

Edge banding will be applied to the exposed edges of the plywood prior to assembly.

Cut the pieces for the shelves. Cut the notches using a jigsaw. With a portable pocket hole jig set for 3/4″ material, drill pocket holes in the notches of each shelf as shown except two.

Step Two

Cut the pieces for the legs. Secure one of the shelves to the bottom end of each leg using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Three

Cut the pieces for the stretchers and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure the stretchers to the legs using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Set the remaining long stretcher off to the side.

Step Four

Cut the pieces for the lower sides and back. Drill pocket holes in the side edges as well as one long edge of each piece. Secure the pieces to the legs and the bottom as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. The back face of these pieces will be flush with the inside faces of the legs.

Step Five

Insert the shelf without pocket holes. Secure the shelf to the lower sides and back using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails.

Step Six

Insert the middle shelf securing to the legs using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Seven

Insert the upper shelf and rest it on the middle shelf. Do not secure it to the legs yet!

Cut the pieces for the upper sides and back. Drill pocket holes in all four edges. Secure the pieces to the stretchers and legs using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. The inside faces of the sides and back will be flush with the inside faces of the legs.

Step Eight

Move the upper shelf into position under the upper sides and back. Secure in place using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Nine

Install the remaining long stretcher using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Cut the piece for the divider and cut the notch using a jigsaw. Drill pocket holes in the back and lower edges. Secure the divider to the upper back and upper shelf using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Place a few brad nails through the stretcher into the divider.

Step Ten

Cut the piece for the top. Secure to the stretchers and divider using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails.

Step Eleven

Cut the pieces for the small drawer boxes. Drill pocket holes in all four edges of the bottom as well as each end of the sides. Assemble the drawer boxes as shown using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws. Install the drawer slides according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions, locating them ¾” back from the front edge of the sides and the divider. This easy tutorial on installing drawer slides will be helpful. Make any necessary adjustments.

Step Twelve

Cut the pieces for the larger drawer box. Drill pocket holes in all four edges of the bottom as well as each end of the sides. Assemble the drawer boxes as shown using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws. Install the drawer slides according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions, locating them ¾” back from the front edge of the sides. Make any necessary adjustments.

Step Thirteen

Cut the pieces for the drawer fronts. Cut the pieces for the drawer fronts. Mark the position for the drawer pulls and drill the holes. Shim the drawer front in the opening – there will be a 1/8” gap around all sides – then drive screws through the holes for the drawer pulls into the drawer box. Open the drawer, and secure the drawer front using countersunk 1-1/4” screws from the inside. Remove the screws from the holes for the drawer pull then finish drilling the holes. Install the drawer pull. Take a look at this easy tutorial on installing drawer fronts.

Step Fourteen

Finish as desired. Install the casters according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

The media console would also make a great dresser  or even a sideboard in the entryway or dining room! Have any questions about the DIY plans to build a River Crest Media Chest? Leave a comment below or contact me at cher {at} designsbystudioc {dot} com!

Originally posted 2014-10-10 08:00:40.