Building a Scandinavian Round Table

Scandinavian or Midcentury? You Decide

When I set out to build this elegant cherry round table, there was some debate behind the scenes: Is it Scandinavian Modern or Midcentury Modern? The client, hailing from Sweden, but now needing custom furniture in Denver, CO, referred to it as Scandinavian design—so that’s the term I’m sticking with.

Prepping the Tabletop: Grain Flow and Glue-Up

The process began with prepping the cherry wood for the tabletop. After planing the wood to the right thickness, I took time to arrange the pieces for optimal grain flow, which is what makes custom furniture stand out as high quality. A careful glue-up ensured a seamless surface.

In my last video, I demonstrated how I built a simple, fully adjustable circle-cutting jig—which came in handy for cutting out the tabletop’s perfect round shape.

Creating the Pillowed Edge

To achieve the soft, pillowed edge, I used a large thumbnail router bit. Given its size, I made the cut in multiple passes, carefully shaping both the top and bottom edges.

A close inspection revealed slight ridges where the router bit stopped—these were gently blended with a sander. Hand-sanding ensured a flawless transition, feathering out any inconsistencies.

Designing the Legs: Sketching, Testing, and Refining

Unlike the tabletop, I didn’t have exact plans for the legs—just a vision in my mind. After marking guidelines for height and centerlines, I sketched various angles and curves until landing on a design I loved. I made a plywood template to ensure all legs would match. Getting the legs just right is not only important visually, but it also determines the right height for the dining table.

Straight cuts were made with a track saw, while the final curves came to life on the bandsaw. A spindle sander refined the shape, smoothing out any imperfections.

Overcoming Plywood Imperfections

Even high-grade plywood can be frustrating—voids threatened to disrupt the router’s bearing. To prevent this, I filled gaps with CA glue and sanded them flush.

After reassessing the leg angle, I adjusted the template, keeping the curve I liked but refining the slope. A fence and toggle clamps were added to the template for stability during routing.

Precision Joinery: Floating Tenons and Hand-Cut Half-Laps

Angled cuts required precision—initially done on a chop saw, but later refined at the table saw for tighter joints. Floating tenons were marked and mortised, with a clever scrap-wood jig holding pieces at their unique angles.

The cross braces required a half-lap joint—cut by hand for accuracy. After scribing with a marking knife and sawing kerfs, I chiseled out the waste, ensuring a perfect fit.

Final Shaping and Assembly

Before shaping the legs, I pre-drilled screw holes—much easier on a flat surface. To prevent the router bearing from catching in these holes, I temporarily plugged them with dowels.

A large round-over bit gave the legs their pillowed edges, while a tapered cut refined their silhouette. After the glue-up, a jack plane smoothed any misalignments at the joints.

The Finishing Touch:

Before final assembly, I applied multiple coats of satin polyurethane for protection. And for that extra touch—though most won’t see it—I hand-chiseled a refined curve where the legs meet under the table, just in case someone ends up admiring it from below.

The Final Verdict

After several adjustments, I’m thrilled with the result—a sleek, Scandinavian-inspired table with Midcentury undertones.

More Project Build Videos

Building a Dr. Seuss Inspired Coat Rack

How a straight 4x4 becomes a whimsical, Dr. Seuss-inspired coat rack using a band saw inside-out cutting technique, plus a hand-cut castle joint base.

Building a Fireplace Mantel

In this episode, I designed and built a Craftsman-style fireplace mantel for a client in Colorado Springs.  The mantel was made from hickory and stained to match some of the other millwork in the house.  

Building Modern Contemporary Doors

In this episode, I build a whole house of Modern Contemporary Doors featuring a stainless steel accent for my Colorado Springs client's home.

Asymmetrical Shelf Build

I recently completed an asymmetrical shelf unit for a client, and let me tell you, it was one of those projects that looks simple on the surface but requires serious attention to detail from start to finish.

Installing a Door Lock on a Custom Door

I have installed Door locks of all varieties over the years, from different setback to full mortise locks.  In this episode, I show how to install a door lock and deadbolt set for my custom copper door project.  This was a custom door for a client in Evergreen, Colorado, just outside of Denver.

Building a Nakashima-Inspired Live-Edge Walnut Table

Crafting a live-edge walnut table inspired by the legendary woodworker George Nakashima. The build combines traditional joinery techniques with modern tools, resulting in a piece that balances elegance and functionality. Here’s how I brought this table to life for my Denver Client.

Building a Craftsman Style Bench

I built a Craftsman-style bench with storage.  The design cues for this bench came from my client's Denver home, which was built in the craftsman style.  Specific details I pulled from their home were the rope molding corresponding to the rope bolding in the wainscotting. 

Building a Platform Bed

In this episode, I build a platform bed with a sheepskin headboard for a Colorado Springs Client.  The bed is made from walnut and features four floating shelves attached to the headboard. Each side of the bed has an integrated reading light.

Building a Walnut Vanity with a Live Edge Backspalsh

In this episode, I build a Custom walnut vanity with a live-edge backsplash. This Colorado Springs client wanted a contemporary floating custom vanity with some rustic appeal. To accomplish this, we created a vanity with a beautiful contemporary look and added a live-edge backsplash to give it that Mountain Modern look.  

Custom Wood Inlay on Box Lid

This is a memorial box for a little girl who passed from epilepsy.  Her name is Clair, and the nurses who cared for her called her Clair Bear, so we decided an appropriate inlay was bear.  Each piece of wood was selected for its natural color to tell the story and was inlayed by hand.

Building an Asian Inspired Keepsake Box

In this episode, I build a custom asian inspired keepsake box. The Keepsake box sides are made from bamboo, and the top and legs are cherry. If you are into woodworking and want to make this box, I do have "How To Plans" available for this project.

Building Floating Shelves for a Client’s Master Bath

A client needed a place to display his grandfather's shaving kit and a few other collectibles. Here's how I designed and built the floating shelves to hold them.

Building a Craftsman Style Staircase and Handrail

In this episode, I help a Colorado Springs Client remodel their staircase. The existing staircase was a straight run with an outdated style. I redesigned it to have open-ended steps with a craftsman handrail.

Building a Entry Table With Walnut Cuffs

In this episode, I build a custom entry table with walnut cuffs.  The main table is made from cherry, and the feet are adorned with decorative walnut cuffs.

Learning to Patinate and Bend Metal 

Today's project is more than just building a pendant lamp. I really believe that to continue growing as an artist, you have to always be experimenting, trying new techniques, and working in new mediums.

Building a Scandinavian Round Table

I took my time building this round table. I’m thrilled with the result—a sleek, Scandinavian-inspired table with Midcentury undertones.

Building a Custom Rustic Steel Dining Table Base

Building a custom rustic steel dining table base, from welding and acid treatment to creating unique rust patinas with vinegar and finishing with weighted concrete for stability

Making a Wooden Ice Bucket

Today's project is to build a decorative wooden ice bucket for a bar cart I constructed earlier. This isn't a functional piece meant to hold water; it's a prop, designed solely to add visual interest and character to my home bar setup.

Building a Sculpture that Doubles as a Coat Rack

building a sculptural two-moon coat rack, from grain-matched bandsaw cuts and CNC joinery fixtures to hand-shaped hooks and a hidden wall-mount system.

DIY Barn Door Guide

A while ago, I built a barn door with a steel frame that encased the wood for a client in Denver, Colorado. It turned out great, but one question kept coming up: How did I keep the bottom of the door from swinging around? Most barn door hardware kits include a T-track that gets screwed into the floor, with a slot routed into the bottom of the door for guidance. But since my door had a steel base, routing a groove wasn’t an option.

Dining Tables

Big Leaf Maple Slab Dining Table

Scandinavian Modern Round Dining Table

Glass Dining Table with Steel Patinated Base

Dining Tables at Red Rocks

Red Rocks Artisan Dining Tables

Two Tone Trestle Dining Table