We used birch plywood for the sides and shelves and basswood for the face frame and door. Both are close-grained woods that make an excellent base for paint. For stain, choose wood with a more pronounced grain, such as oak. To give our piece a relaxed, informal look, we used ordinary chicken wire over the three upper compartments. However, glass is an option.
Construction is relatively simple.
The basic plywood box, consisting of the sides and shelves, is dadoed together for strength. We custom-cut a simple molding for the top of the piece, but any stock molding could be substituted. We finished the inside with a natural stain and painted the exterior with black latex. Well-buffed wax yields a lustrous sheen on the outside of the cabinet. P.O. Box 523, Birmingham, AL 35201 .