Here is an ideal starting point for you to build a robust, free-standing cabinet. With a little ingenuity, this box design can be adapted to your own specifications. Scale it down and add a door, and you have an attractive and functional bedside storage unit. Scale it up and put in shelves, and you have an effective display solution for a living area.

Decide on dimensions of your cabinet frame Mark up and cut four pieces of plywood for top and bottom and both sides

Cut dovetail halvings to join the box parts at corners:

Mark out the pins. Use a square gauge for shoulders and a marking gauge for cheeks. Use a sliding bevel to mark the dovetail angle at between 8 degrees

Cut shoulders, cheeks and angles, in that order, with dovetail saw Saw and chisel housing

Use a router or tenon saw and chisel to rebate rear edges of box so they can take a thin plywood back Glue and clamp the dovetail halvings. Allow to dry Screw back in place

If you would like shelves in your cabinet: Install metal tracks in cabinet sides and insert clips at appropriate levels, mark out and cut plywood shelves. Rest shelves on pins

If you would like your cabinet to have frame-and- panel doors (doors made up of a solid wood frame around a panel of plywood or solid wood):

Mark up and cut frame components (for each door a central panel, 2 stiles-long pieces-and 2 rails-short pieces) Mount the router upside down in a router table Cut inner frame edges with beading stile bit Cut rail ends with beading rail bit (to fit stile moulding)

Test fit the assembly. Glue and clamp assembly When doors are dry, attach to the cabinet body with butt hinges and screws. Attach handles.