Grasscloth Console Table

Directions

• Drill pocket holes in 1x2s

  Drill pocket holes in the following 1x2s from the cut list:
  - 14.5" – two pocket holes in each end
  - 13" and 45" – one pocket hole in each end, off-center (make sure the pocket holes at each end of the same 1x2 are spaced toward the same edge for attaching purposes later).
  

• Drill pocket holes in plywood

  Drill pocket holes along all edges of the two plywood sheets, with three holes on the short sides and six-eight holes on the long sides.
  

• Assemble shelf

  Assemble the shelf by attaching the 13" and 45" 1x2s to the notched plywood with 1" pocket hole screws, making sure that the pocket holes in the 1x2s are accessible and not hidden behind the plywood edge once attached.
  

• Assemble tabletop frame

  Assemble the frame for the tabletop by attaching the 14.5" 1x2s to the 48" 1x2s using 1" pocket hole screws.
  

• Drill holes in the frame

  Drill three countersunk holes in each corner of the frame. To do this, first drill pilot holes with a 3/32 drill bit and then a shallow hole centered over the top with a 5/16 drill bit.
  

• Attach tabletop frame to legs

  Attach the tabletop frame to the legs by drilling 3" cabinet screws through each of the tabletop frame's pilot holes and into the 2x2 legs. Make sure the edges of the legs are flush with the edges of the tabletop frame.
  

• Assemble tabletop

  Assemble the tabletop by attaching the remaining piece of plywood to the tabletop frame using 1" pocket hole screws.
  

• Sand table

  Use a pad sander to sand any rough areas of the table, first with coarse sandpaper and then with fine grit. The grasscloth will show bumps so get any uneven edges and surfaces as smooth as possible,
  

• Mark and cut grasscloth for tops

  Cut two pieces of grasscloth wallpaper to 53" x 21". Center the shelf upside down on one of the pieces of grasscloth and trace the outer edges, including the notched corners. Use a ruler to draw a straight line from each wallpaper corner to the inner corners of the notches. Cut the corner lines with scissors.
  

• Apply wallpaper paste

  Use a foam paintbrush to apply wallpaper paste to the surface of the wallpaper.
  

• Smooth wallpaper over shelf

  Center the shelf face side down on top of the pasted wallpaper. Flip it over and use a wallpaper smoothing tool to adhere and smooth the wallpaper to the shelf top.
  

• Staple undersides of paper on shelf

  Flip the shelf over so it's upside down. Use the wallpaper smoothing tool to crease and smooth the edges of the paper around the sides of the shelf. Use a staple gun to attach the paper to the undersides of the shelf.
  

• Finish wallpapering shelf

  Finish covering the shelf in wallpaper by folding and creasing the corners and stapling inside the notches. Trim any excess paper so there's not too much bulk inside the notches.
  

• Trim wallpaper for legs

  Cut four pieces of wallpaper to be 7.5" x 34". Place them face side down and cut two of the pieces so there is a 4.5" x 1.5" notch cut out of the left side and a 1.5" x 1.5" notch out of the right side, and the other two pieces with opposite notches (1.5x1.5 on the left and 4.5x1.5 on the right).
  

• Staple paper to leg

  Position the table so one of the long sides is in front of you. The papers with the 4.5" notches on the left (when looking at the paper front side up) will go on the right legs when facing you and the papers with the 4.5" notches on the right will go on the left legs when facing you. Spread wallpaper paste on one of the pieces of wallpaper. Take the longer-notched side of the paper and line the edge up with the inner front corner of one of the legs. The tap in between the notches should be facing the top of the table, not the bottom. Staple the paper to the leg along this inside corner.
  

• Attach paper to leg

  Use the wallpaper smoothing tool to smooth the stapled side of paper, then continue to crease and smooth the paper around the rest of the leg. The final side of the paper will cover the initial stapled side. If the paper is pulling apart at the seam, use painters tape to hold it in place. You may need to smooth the sides several times to get the paste to adhere to the leg. Repeat this process on all four legs.
  

• Fold bottoms of legs

  To finish the bottoms of the legs, crease and fold the paper over the bottom edges and staple in place.
  

• Attach paper to tabletop

  Center the table upside down on the remaining 53" x 21" piece of wallpaper and trace the edges. Use a ruler to mark lines from the outer corners of the paper to the traced table corners, as you did for the shelf. Cut along the corner lines. Spread wallpaper paste on the paper and place it on the table top, then smooth with the wallpaper smoothing tool. Crease the edges and clamp the paper in place, then use a ruler and sharp razor blade to cut a line from the outer corners to the inner corners of the sides. Remove any paper cut away with the razor blade, include paper from the legs already attached.
  

• Attach paper to sides of tabletop

  Trim any excess paper so it looks like the photo. Spread additional wallpaper paste along the sides if needed, then use the wallpaper smoothing tool to smooth and attache the paper to the sides of the table. Place painters tape over any seams to help hold them down until they dry, if needed.
  

• Finish attaching paper

  Flip the table upside down and staple the paper to the underside of the tabletop.
  

• Attach shelf and finish table

  Use painters tape to mark 11" down each leg from the top of the table. Use 1" pocket hole screws to attach the shelf to the legs so the top of the shelf falls 11" from the tabletop. To protect the grasscloth, finish by applying 3-5 coats of poly, making sure to follow the directions on the can regarding drying time between coats.