A traditional bookcase is a great woodworking project, but adding a curved top can turn a familiar design into a real showpiece. This Round-Top Bookcase combines classic cherry construction with a graceful arched top, adjustable shelves, a lower drawer, and sculpted feet.
In this episode of the Woodsmith Shop, the guys demonstrate how the bookcase comes together and focuses on the techniques that make the design stand out. You’ll see how bending plywood and veneer are used to create the curved top, along with bandsaw techniques for shaping the distinctive base.
Building a Bookcase That Goes Beyond the Basics
At its core, this project uses many of the same techniques you’d expect when building a traditional wood bookcase. A sturdy case provides plenty of room for books, keepsakes, and display pieces, while adjustable shelves allow you to customize the storage.
What sets this design apart is the combination of details. The arched top immediately draws your eye upward, while the drawer and shaped feet give the lower portion of the bookcase the look of a finely crafted piece of furniture.
Cherry is an ideal choice for the project. Its warm color and attractive grain complement the traditional design, and the wood will continue to develop a richer color as it ages.
Creating the Curved Top
The defining feature of this bookcase is its rounded top. Rather than trying to shape the entire arch from thick pieces of solid wood, the curved section is formed using bending plywood.
A custom form establishes the shape of the arch. Layers of bending plywood are then formed around it and bonded together with epoxy. Once the adhesive cures, the laminated assembly holds the smooth, consistent curve needed for the top of the bookcase.
This technique is useful well beyond this project. Learning how to laminate thin, flexible material around a form opens the door to curved cabinet parts, furniture components, architectural details, and other woodworking projects that would be difficult to create from solid lumber.
Applying Veneer to the Curved Surface
Creating the structure is only half the job. The curved plywood also needs to visually match the rest of the cherry bookcase.
That’s where wood veneer comes in. Cherry veneer is applied over the curved substrate to give the top the appearance of solid cherry while retaining the stability and flexibility of the laminated construction underneath.
Working with veneer on a curved surface requires careful preparation, but it’s a valuable furniture-making technique to have in your skill set. The finished veneer ties the curved top into the rest of the case and creates a seamless, furniture-quality appearance.
Shaping the Bookcase Feet at the Bandsaw
The top may get most of the attention, but the bottom of the bookcase has some interesting woodworking details of its own.
Instead of resting on a plain base, the case is supported by sculpted wooden feet. Their tapered, shaped profile adds visual interest without making the design overly ornate.
The bandsaw makes quick work of cutting the profiles. After shaping and smoothing the individual parts, the feet create a light, elevated appearance that balances the substantial curved top.
Adding Adjustable Shelves and a Drawer
Inside the case, adjustable shelves make the bookcase practical for everyday use. You can reposition them to accommodate everything from books to taller display pieces.
A drawer built into the lower portion provides concealed storage and breaks up the tall, open face of the case. It's another detail that helps this project feel more like a piece of fine furniture than a basic utility bookcase.
Together, the curved top, cherry veneer, drawer, adjustable shelving, and sculpted feet create a project that offers plenty of opportunities to expand your woodworking skills.
Build Your Own Round-Top Bookcase
The Round-Top Bookcase is an excellent project for intermediate and advanced woodworkers who want to explore techniques beyond straightforward case construction. You'll gain experience with curved plywood laminations, veneering, bandsaw shaping, joinery, drawer construction, and furniture building — all in one project.
The result is a distinctive cherry bookcase that offers useful storage while showing off some woodworking skills you won't find on an ordinary bookshelf.
