Project 001 · Woodworking · In planning

The Jacana Console.

A behind-the-couch table built to disappear into the room, while quietly making movie nights and Xbox sessions better.

Woodworking tools and curls of shavings on a warm oak workbench
Workshop atmosphere and inspiration; the console itself is not yet built.

The idea.

We started by hunting for a new couch for the basement. After finding a power-sliding design, one detail stood out: the space between the sofa and the wall was a chance to make something better than a store-bought shelf.

A custom console could fit the furniture exactly, hold controllers and drinks, and hide the outlets and cables. More importantly, it would be a woodworking project we could build together.

106Target length
9.25Target depth
34Target height

These dimensions are provisional, based on the selected couch's reported width. They'll be checked against its actual height and moving clearance before buying lumber or making the first cut.

Built for the room.

The direction is simple: a solid white-oak top with a warm walnut tone, slim satin-black supports, softly eased edges, and no visible tangle of cables. We want it to feel like a proper piece of furniture, not a collection of accessories.

What we're designing into it
01

Charging, quietly.

Replaceable, safety-listed AC and USB-C units, placed where we can reach them without leaving exposed adapters on the floor.

02

A place for everything.

Removable black cup holders, a home for the Xbox controllers, and an under-top raceway to organize cables.

03

Light, not glare.

A subtle warm LED strip washing the wall behind the couch rather than shining toward the TV.

Build notes.

We plan to test the entire design with a cardboard mockup before making a permanent cut. The table must remain stable, anchored against tipping, and clear of every powered moving part of the couch. The charging modules will stay accessible for service and away from spilled drinks.

Once the couch is installed, we'll measure the clearance, finalize the cut list, and pick the wood. That's when Project 001 moves from planning to building.

Read why we are building it
The next step

Measure twice. Then make.

We'll document the process as the project moves forward.

How we work