Fresh herbs are a great asset to have in the kitchen or on the patio, and are the perfect companion for a creative cook to have available at their fingertips. Now you can display your favourite selection of fine herbs as tastefully as the meals they enhance.
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Select a fairly clear 2 x 8 board for the shelf and cut it to 341/2" long.
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Joint one face, then plane to 11/8" thick.
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Joint one edge, and then rip to final width.
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Install 1/8" diameter straight bit in router table so it extends 1/8" above the table's surface.
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Set fence 3/16" away from the inside edge of the bit.
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Rout two inlay grooves in the front edge of the shelf. (photo 1)
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Dress a piece of contrasting inlay wood 1" wide x 40" long.
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Plane or rip it to fit snugly, but easily, inside the routed groove. (photo 2)
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Rip it in half on a band saw, producing two inlay strips.
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Apply glue to the grooves, insert the inlay strips and let dry. (photo 3)
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Hand plane the inlay strips flush with the shelf edge and trim their ends flush.
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Layout five holes centered on the shelf's width, with even space between. (photo 4)
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Install a 4" hole saw in your drill press.
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Adjust the table's height so the centre bit drills into the table, but the hole saw's teeth do not.
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Position the shelf for the first hole, clamp the shelf in place, and drill the first hole.
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Flip the shelf over, position it, clamp it in place, and finish drilling the hole. This double-sided drilling process drastically reduces tearout. (photo 5)
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Drill the four remaining holes, clamping the shelf in place each time.
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Cut the two posts to size.
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Layout the two notches on the back edge of the shelf and cut them with a hand saw, or on-edge with a table saw and mitre gauge. Ensure the inner edges are square and even when finished.
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Ensure the posts fit in the notches nicely. Adjust the post dimension slightly, if necessary.
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Mark where the posts meet the shelf and drill two screw clearance holes in the posts between the lines. Countersink for the screw heads. (photo 6)
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To hang the shelf on a wall, countersink keyhole brackets into the backs of the posts. Use a router or a drill and chisel to create the recesses for the brackets.
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Sand the posts and shelf, and ease their edges.
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Glue and screw the posts to the shelf. (photo 7)
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Cut the angled braces to size and drill a screw clearance hole and countersink on the bottom side of the brace.
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With the braces screwed into the underside of the shelf, mark where they meet the posts.
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Drill and countersink through the backs of the posts, slightly into the braces, ensuring the screw will not break through the visible face of the brace.
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Remove the braces, break their edges and sand their surfaces.
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Apply glue to their ends and permanently attach them with screws. (photo 8)
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Apply a few coats of finish to the project, being sure to coat the end grain well.
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Attach the keyhole brackets to the backs of the posts with screws.