Demilune Table
This accent piece will add style and elegance to your home.
A demilune(half-moon in French) is a great addition to a hall or foyer. The back fits neatly against the wall, while the curved front extends forward gracefully. The spacious top and shelf provide ample room for decorative and everyday items. Build two and you can place one on each side of a fireplace or entryway. This project will allow you to hone several skills, including kerf-bending for the apron and cutting tapers for the legs.
Good to know:
Cut and label the parts as needed, using the Cut List and Cutting Diagram as guides and adjusting for fit.

Instructions:
1 Create the leg/stretcher assembly
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a. Cut the (01) back legs and (02) front leg to length per the Cut List. Label one face of each leg as the inside face.
b. Drill two pocket holes on the inside face at the top of each leg.
c. Use the layouts in Figure 1 to measure and mark the tapers on the legs. Note: The (01) back legs will have a taper on the front and inside faces. The (02) front leg will have a taper on the inside face and on each side.
d. Cut the tapers. You can get plans for a tapering jig here.
e. Position the (03) back stretcher 10 1/2 inches from the tapered ends of the (01) back legs and flush with the back faces as shown in Figure 1. Attach with wood glue and pocket hole screws.
f. To keep the (01) back legs parallel during assembly, temporarily attach a piece of scrap board to the back faces near the top.
g. Position one end of the (04) stretcher centered on the (03) back stretcher, as shown in Figure 1, and attach with wood glue and screws.
h. Position the other end of the (04) stretcher 10 1/2 inches from the tapered end on the inside face of the (02) front leg, and attach with wood glue and pocket hole screws.
i. Attach a second piece of scrap board to the first scrap board and to the (02) front leg to keep the legs steady and parallel during assembly.
j. Scribe a centerline from the front to the back edge on the top of the (02) front leg, and then draw a perpendicular line 1/2 inch from the front edge. This line will be used later to align the front notch of the (05) shelf.
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2 Attach the shelf
a. Mark the centerline of one 16- x 36-inch edge-glued panel. Mark 14 1/2 inches on each side from the center point on one long edge. Scribe a line from each 14 1/2-inch mark for a 29-inch-long line.
b. Attach a 36-inch-long sacrificial piece of 1 x 2 to the 29-inch marked side of the edgeglued panel using pocket hole screws. Note: Do not place the screws too close to the 14 1/2-inch marks. This piece will be removed after the decorative edge has been routed onto the (05) shelf.
c. Scribe a 14 1/2-inch radius on the edge-glued panel as shown in Figure 2. Cut out the (05) shelf using a jigsaw.
d. Use a router fitted with an ogee bit to apply a decorative edge to the curved edge of the (05) shelf.
e. Remove the sacrificial piece of 1 x 2 from the (05) shelf.
f. Position the (05) shelf on top of the leg/stretcher assembly, flush with the backs of the (01) back legs and 1/2 inch in from the outside faces of the (01) back legs. Trace the cutouts for the leg notches onto the (05) shelf.
g. Position the centerline on the front edge of the (05) shelf flush with the centerline on the top of the (02) front leg, 1/2 inch back from the front face of the (02) front leg, and then trace the cutout for the leg notch.
h. Cut out the traced areas for the leg notches as shown in Figure 2.
i. Attach the shelf in place with wood glue and nails.

3 Build the apron assembly
a. Measure and mark the layout for the (06) forms on the sheet of plywood; mark a centerline as shown in Figure 3.
b. Cut out the two (06) forms.
c. Lay one of the (06) forms on a flat work surface.
d. Position the (07) back spacer and the (08) spacers as shown in Figure 3. Make sure to position the (08) spacers equidistant from each other and flush with the edge of the (06) form.
e. Attach the spacers to the (06) form with hot glue.
f. Apply wood glue to the top edges of the (07) back spacer and (08) spacers.
g. Position the remaining (06) form on top of the assembly and flush with the edges, and attach with nails.
h. Turn the assembly over and nail the other (06) form into place.
i. Cut the (09) apron per the Cut List. The length given is longer than needed and can be trimmed after assembly. Be sure to select a piece without blemishes.
j. On the back face of the (09) apron, saw 5/8-inch-deep kerfs every 1/2 inch along the entire length of the part.
k. Test-fit the (09) apron in place.
l. Apply wood glue to the edges of the form/spacer assembly and to the kerf face of the (09) apron; attach with nails.
m. Trim any overhang flush with the back of the assembly.
n. Scribe the centerline down the front of the (09) apron.
4 Attach the top
a. Attach a sacrificial board along the back edge of the edge-glued panel for the (10) top.
b. Scribe the layout, and then cut out the (10) top.
c. Use a router fitted with an ogee bit to cut a decorative edge on the (10) top.
d. Position the (10) top on top of the apron assembly, flush with the back edge and evenly overhanging the curved edge. Attach with wood glue and nails.
e. Turn the top/apron assembly upside down on a work surface.
f. Place the leg/shelf assembly upside down on the top/apron assembly.
g. Position the (01) back legs flush with the back of the apron assembly and 1/4 inch in from the face of the apron assembly. Attach with wood glue and pocket hole screws.
h. Position the (02) front leg 1/4 inch from the front face and centered from side to side on the apron assembly. Attach with wood glue and pocket hole screws.
5 Apply finishing touches
a. Fill all holes, sand, prime, and paint.
b. Attach nail-on furniture glides to the bottoms of the legs if desired.
Cut List
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#
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Part Name
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Qty.
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Material
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Size (in inches)
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01
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back legs
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2
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2 x 2
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1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 26
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02
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front leg
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1
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2 x 2
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1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 26
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03
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back stretcher
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1
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1 x 4
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3/4 x 1 1/2 x 27
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04
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stretcher
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1
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1 x 4
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3/4 x 1 1/2 x 12 3/4
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05
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shelf
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1
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edge-glued panel
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3/4 x 14 1/2 x 29
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06
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forms
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2
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plywood
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3/4 x 14 1/2 x 29
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07
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back spacer
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1
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1 x 4
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3/4 x 1 3/4 x 28 3/4
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08
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spacers
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9
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1 x 4
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3/4 x 1 3/4 x 2 1/4
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09
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apron
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1
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plywood
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3/4 x 3 1/4 x 51
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10
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top
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1
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edge-glued panel
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3/4 x 16 x 32
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