A Built-In Corner Seating Nook

Builder Joseph Lanza faced a challenge: how to create a seating nook in an 18th-century house where plumb, level, and square no longer existed, and to do so without help. In this article, Lanza describes the design and construction of the nook. After designing the unit in SketchUp, he decided to break down the job into four parts: start with a level plinth, install the base as four separate boxes, install the seat and the corner-cabinet unit, and finish with the solid-wood parts (seat back, nosings, and moldings). He built the boxes from Baltic-birch plywood, the seats from pine plywood, and the beadboard panels and various trim pieces from solid pine. In addition to providing a place for dining, playing games, and doing homework, the nook includes storage in the corner cabinet and in drawers that run the full length of the seating area. Detailed drawings illustrate the construction of the base units; the installation of the corner cabinet, seat panels, and back frame; and the placement of the trim pieces