Dish Display Shelves

2-3/4-inch x 9/16-inch solid pine crown molding
2x4 lumber
wood glue
18-gauge, 1-inch nails
1/2-inch x 3-1/2-inch lumber
2 paint trays
primer
paint (Behr Ocean Kiss #510E-3)
3-inch drywall screws
lightweight spackle
damp cloth

Tools:

miter saw
18-gauge nail gun
router with a 3/4-inch groove-cutting bit
paintbrush
drill
spackle knife

1. Cut a piece of crown molding to desired length and miter both ends at 45-degrees. Tip: Hold the crown molding at the same orientation that the crown will be assembled (figure A).
2. Cut the two end pieces with the miter saw so that from the bottom of the crown they are 1-1/2-inches from the inside corner of the miter. Tip: Cutting them at exactly 1-1/2-inches will allow room for a 2x4-inch cleat.
3. Cut a 2x4-inch cleat to the inside dimension of the mitered piece of crown with the miter saw at the zero setting.
4. Glue and nail the crown pieces together with wood glue and 18-gauge, 1-inch long nails (figure B).
5. Use the router to cut a 3/4-inch-wide groove into the 1/2-inch by 3-1/2-inch wood plank (figure C). This will make a slot to hold your plates.
6. Cut the routed wood to fit perfectly on top of the crown, keeping the miter saw at the zero setting to create 90-degree angles on both ends. Glue and nail in place to form the top of the shelf.
7. Paint the entire shelf and cleats with primer and let dry. Paint desired colors.
8. With a drill, fasten the 2x4-inch cleat to the wall with three-inch drywall screws into studs. Once the first screw is in place make sure the cleats are level.
9. Set the shelf on top of the cleat and nail into place. Nail in from the top instead of the face of the shelf so the nails won't be visible. Fill the nail holes with lightweight spackle. Once spackle is dry, touch up the paint for a flawless finish.