How to build a Bay window seat/storage unit

Here is a bay window seat built by myself using softwood, Mdf, piano hinge and gas struts. I first put timber around the wall (roughly 25x50) and screwed it using screws and rawl plugs. A spirit level should be used. You should screw the timber at the height you want your seat minus the thickness of the top. I have made my seat unit at 400mm high and therefore screwed the timber at 375mm from the ground allowing for the 25mm top (this distance may alter if the floor isn't level).

Next the front wall should be built. I built this using cls (140x38) this is to ensure the strength is suffichant to withstand more than one persons weight. I put 4 uprights screwed up through the bottom and down through the top. They were positioned on the end and at central to the edges of the opening (to support flap). I then made 2 stud square sections made with 4 pieces of timber built to the height of the front wall and to the required depth (customer requested 610mm o/a)

I then put the front MDF in place and scribed it either end over the skirting. once in place I marked the front wall height on to the MDF panel and cut it to the same height as the wall. Rather than put lots of screws through the face of the MDF into the softwood I used angle brackets inside the unit to join the front panel to the wall. With the offcuts I cut 3 to the same size and routered a mould around 4 edges to add decor to the unit (screwed from inside).

Next I measured the 2 longest points inbetween the walls and cut the 25mm top to that. Next I mesaured the centre point from the front and squared it off to the back on the carcass of the unit, After this the distance was measured to the point in which the angle begins. The angle distance should be measured both sides and then the small straight points. Using these measurements the top can be cut. After that the top can be checked and further scribing can take place if needed. Again I used angle brackets to fix the top to the carcass.

Once fitted, the flap can then be cut out at the required size. I done this using a panel saw. Cutting across can be tricky to get started, I drilled a line of holes using a 3mm drill and then started the sawing through the holes till eventually the saw passed though and I was able to finish the cut. Once the saw marks are sanded off the piano hinge was screwed on to both the flap and the top in which it was cut. Once this was fitted I finished the project with gas struts to make the flap safe to use without getting your fingers caught.