Coffee table books take up a lot of room. They don’t fit into a regular bookshelf. Why not turn one into its own coffee table? I was inspired by the Seinfeld episode where Kramer did the same. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyu_jbdWlj0

Although Kramer’s book was about coffee tables, you can do this with any large book. It is a great conversation piece and you can stack all your large books on it for storage. To stay true to the original, I made folding legs, however, I didn’t want to deface the book, so I made a platform with the legs attached to it instead of the book.

Supplies

Materials

Large coffee table book

Piece of wood to fit the book (I used 5/8” MDF shelving)

1” Pine (Enough to make 4 - 1” wide legs as long as your book

Scrap of thin moulding long enough to cover twice the width of your book

2 cupboard door hinges (the kind that snap closed) and screws

Optional: Velcro tape, adhesive floor protectors

Tools

Mitre saw

Panel saw with guide or table saw

Square

Brad nailer and 1,1/4” Brads

Drill, screwdriver bit to fit screws

Step 1: PLATFORM

Cut the wood platform 1” narrower in width and 1, 1/2” less in length than the book. Cut a 1” strip from each end of your platform. Number the pieces and the edges it was cut from. .

Step 2: LEGS

Cut 4- 1” strips from your pine

Cut the strips to the length of the platform minus 4”

Cut 2 pieces of moulding, each the width of the platform

Step 3: FOLDING MECHANISM

Nail 2 legs to each bottom edge of the first 1” strip you removed from the platform. Nail the moulding to the edge and to the legs as a cross- brace. Use the square to get them straight.

Nail the other 2 legs on to the second platform strip but recess them 9/16” from each edge. (This is so they will fold and not interfere with each other.) Nail the moulding the same way as the first.

Sand and paint or finish however you desire.

Step 4: ASSEMBLE

Lay the platform upside down on your workbench. Put the removed edges back in their proper places with the legs sticking up. Measure the centre of each and attach the hinges with screws, narrow side to the leg side. Hinges should snap and lock when legs are down. Legs should fold and stay in place for storage. Attach felt floor protectors to the leg bottoms.

If desired, use Velcro tape to attach the book.

Set it up in a conspicuous place and see how many of your guests make the Seinfeld connection!