Today’s project

Distinctive for its emphasis on functionality and forthright design, Craftsman-style furniture embodies an elegant simplicity that’s at home in any decor.

That’s what gives this Craftsman-style curio cabinet project its classic appeal. It looks great in the dining room or the den, and it’s ideal for displaying collections ranging from fine china and crystal to antique fishing reels and hand-carved decoys.

What you need

Utilizing mostly straight cuts, full-size patterns for the curved cuts, simple joinery techniques and readily available materials, the cabinet’s do-it-yourself construction is true to the spirit of the designers who created this style almost a century ago. The project is made from oak (the traditional choice) as pictured, but other woods will work just as well.

What you do

To build, simply trace the pieces onto wood, cut out and assemble with nails and glue. Next, hang the doors and install the tempered-glass door and side panels. To finish, install tempered-glass shelves. For a truly dramatic effect, there’s room in the top for an interior light.

The curio cabinet measures 72 inches tall by 36 inches wide by 14 inches deep.

How to order the plan

The Craftsman Curio Cabinet plan, No. 901, is $9.95 and includes step-by-step directions with photos, full-size traceable patterns, construction diagrams, a shopping list and cutting schedule and a toll-free help line for project questions.

A package of Craftsman-style furniture plans, No. C149, is $22.95 and includes this project plus plans for a grandfather clock and a bookcase with glass doors. A catalog picturing hundreds of do-it-yourself projects is $2. Please include $3 for postage and handling (except catalog-only orders) and allow about two weeks for delivery.

To order by mail, clip this article and send it with a check or money order to U-Bild Features, c/o The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2383, Van Nuys, CA 91409.

To order by credit card, call (800) 828-2453. Visit U-Bild on the web at u-bild.com.